Cacao: Not a Psychedelic, But a Gentle Plant Medicine for the Heart
We are defintiely going through a phase of rediscovering ancient medicines and ways of connecting with spirit and cacao often finds itself mentioned alongside psychedelics such as ayahuasca, mushrooms, or San Pedro. Yet while cacao is indeed a sacred plant medicine that has been honoured in ceremony for thousands of years, it is important to understand that cacao is not a psychedelic.
Rather than transporting you beyond the self, cacao lovingly brings you home to yourself. It does not take you on a trip. It takes you inward, guiding you to the quiet, truthful space of your heart. At I AM BEING, this is the essence of our cacao ceremonies in London: gentle, heart-opening, and profoundly human.
What Does Plant Medicine Really Mean?
The term plant medicine refers to natural, plant-based substances used intentionally for healing, growth, and connection. Cultures around the world have worked with these medicines for centuries, from Amazonian tribes drinking ayahuasca to heal trauma, to the Mayans and Aztecs preparing cacao as a sacred offering to the gods.
However, not all plant medicines are psychedelic.
Psychedelics expand perception and can dissolve the boundaries of the self, often connecting us to vast or cosmic consciousness. They alter the brain’s serotonin system and may induce vivid visual, auditory, and emotional experiences.
Cacao, on the other hand, works through the heart, both physically and energetically. It opens rather than overwhelms. It softens rather than shatters. It connects rather than separates.
Cacao: The Gentle Teacher
Cacao is often called the medicine of the heart, and for good reason. It contains theobromine, a mild cardiovascular stimulant whose name means “food of the gods.” Rather than heightening the mind, it increases blood flow to the heart and brain, enhancing oxygen, focus, and presence.
When you drink ceremonial-grade cacao such as Keith’s Cacao, made from pure, hand-ground beans grown in the Guatemalan rainforest, you may feel:
- Warmth spreading through your chest
- A gentle buzz of energy
- Heightened clarity and emotional awareness
- A sense of peace, openness, and gratitude
Cacao feels powerful but never overwhelming. It is deeply grounding yet subtly expansive, a beautiful paradox that reflects the balance of life itself.
It Takes You to the Door, But Not Through It
There is a saying often shared among those who work with cacao:
“Cacao takes you to the door, but not through it.”
This means that cacao offers you the insight, clarity, and courage to face what is inside you, but you choose whether to step through. Unlike psychedelics, which can dissolve the ego and transport you to non-ordinary states of consciousness, cacao keeps you fully present and grounded in your body.
It holds space for your truth to emerge without forcing anything. It does not show you visions or rewrite your reality. It helps you see reality more clearly. In a world that often glorifies escape, this grounded awareness is one of cacao’s most precious gifts.
What You May Experience in a Cacao Ceremony
Every ceremony is unique because every heart is unique. At I AM BEING, we create a sacred, safe space in London for you to connect deeply with yourself and others. You might experience:
- Emotional release such as tears, laughter, or a deep sense of peace as emotions surface for healing
- Clarity and focus, with a renewed sense of direction or inspiration
- Heart connection, a tangible warmth and openness in your chest that fosters compassion and love
- Mindful awareness, allowing you to stay present, listen deeply, and engage with intention
- Community and belonging, as the shared energy enhances connection and trust
Cacao works subtly, and your experience may feel like a whisper rather than a roar. Often those whispers are the ones that stay with us, guiding, grounding, and gently transforming us over time.
The Difference Between Cacao and Psychedelics
| Aspect | Cacao | Psychedelics (Ayahuasca, Mushrooms) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of experience | Gentle and heart-opening | Intense and mind-expanding |
| Consciousness state | Grounded and embodied | Altered or visionary |
| Effect on the body | Increases blood flow, focus, and warmth | Can cause purging or disorientation |
| Integration | Naturally integrates into daily life | Requires deep post-ceremony integration |
| Intention | Connection, clarity, love | Healing, ego dissolution, awakening |
| Spirit energy | Feminine, nurturing, grounding | Transcendent, boundary-dissolving |
Both are powerful paths to awakening, but they serve different purposes. Psychedelics can shatter illusion, while cacao helps you live your truth. Psychedelics can show you the stars, while cacao helps you find your light within.
Why Cacao Is Known as the Heart Medicine
From a physical perspective, cacao’s effects on the cardiovascular system are remarkable. The theobromine and magnesium relax blood vessels while antioxidants support heart health and serotonin production. Emotionally, it nurtures feelings of safety, connection, and love, all essential for healing.
Energetically, cacao resonates with the anahata chakra, the heart centre in yogic tradition. When opened, this chakra allows us to experience unconditional love for ourselves, others, and life itself. Many people describe cacao ceremonies as deeply healing without needing to go anywhere else. The medicine works from within.
A Return to Presence
Unlike psychedelics, which may expand consciousness outward, cacao invites us back to presence. It teaches us to listen to our bodies, our breath, and our intuition. In many ways, this is a deeper transformation because it roots us in our humanity rather than pulling us beyond it.
When you drink ceremonial cacao in a space held with love, such as our I AM BEING cacao ceremonies in London, you may find that clarity, compassion, and joy begin to arise naturally. Not as a trip, but as a homecoming.
How to Work with Cacao Safely and Intentionally
Cacao deserves respect. It is not simply a drink but a relationship. To work with it intentionally:
- Set your intention. Ask yourself what you want to feel or release.
- Create space. Light a candle, play gentle music, and breathe deeply.
- Listen. Notice how your body feels as you sip slowly.
- Reflect. Journal or meditate after your experience.
- Integrate. Carry that clarity into your day. The ceremony continues in life itself.
If you are new to ceremonial cacao, always choose authentic, high-quality sources such as Keith’s Cacao, which we use exclusively at I AM BEING for its purity, potency, and heart-opening quality.
Experience Cacao in London
You can experience the magic of cacao with us at I AM BEING through:
- Group ceremonies: a shared, heart-opening journey in community
- Private ceremonies: tailored one-to-one or small group sessions, ideal for birthdays, transitions, or inner work
Our next London cacao ceremony takes place on Saturday 26 October, and you are warmly invited to join. Whether it is your first time or your fiftieth, cacao meets you exactly where you are.
Buy Cacao and Begin Your Own Practice
If you feel called to start your own journey, you can buy ceremonial-grade cacao directly through me. I use only Keith’s Cacao, known as the world’s original ceremonial-grade cacao. It is 100% pure, hand-crafted, and sustainably grown in the Guatemalan rainforest.
You can use it to:
- Support your morning meditations
- Replace coffee with a heart-centred energy boost
- Deepen your yoga, Reiki, or journaling practices
- Bring calm, focus, and creativity into your daily life
Every cup connects you back to your truth, a quiet but powerful medicine for modern times.
A Medicine for Modern Hearts
In a world that often seeks quick fixes and extreme experiences, cacao offers something rare: gentle transformation. It does not take you on a journey outside yourself; it brings you lovingly inward.
It will not make you see colours or visions, but it might help you see your life more clearly. It will not dissolve your ego, but it might dissolve the walls around your heart.
Cacao is not a psychedelic. It is a sacred plant medicine that reminds us that sometimes, the most profound journeys are the ones that bring us home.
Experience It for Yourself
Join us at I AM BEING cacao ceremonies in London, or book your own private ceremony.
Our next gathering is on Saturday 26 October, a beautiful chance to reconnect with your heart and community.
You can also begin your journey today and buy Keith’s Cacao directly through me to discover the gentle power of this heart medicine in your own home.
Being,
Gizelle Renee Xx
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