The Mayans and the Sacred Journey of Cacao

I just returned from a transformative week deep within the lands of the Maya where cacao is not just a plant, it is the heartbeat of culture, a language of spirit, and a pathway to the soul. The Maya live in close harmony with the forest and their cacao is woven into every aspect of life. Their eyes carry generations of wisdom, soft yet unwavering, reflecting the soul of a people whose connection to the earth and to cacao is profound. I want to share the history of cacao, my experience with the people and forests, the sacred process of making cacao, and how this journey inspires the ceremonial cacao work I now hold in the UK through cacao ceremonies at I AM BEING. I’ve met, sat, eaten and drunk with such inspirational and wise beings and it has changed the way I drink cacao forever.

Long before Europeans arrived, cacao was regarded as sacred by the Maya. They called it the food of the gods and believed it had the power to open the heart and strengthen the spirit. It was used in ritual, as currency, and as a gift to honour ancestors. Unlike modern chocolate, the cacao they drank was rich, foamy, and bitter. It was medicine and prayer. Every sip was a dialogue between human, plant, and divine. Today, this sacred energy still flows in every ceremonial cacao circle I hold with I AM BEING, helping people reconnect to their heart and inner wisdom.

Walking into the cacao forests I felt the life pulse beneath every step. Towering trees filtered sunlight into gold and emerald and cacao pods hung like ornaments from the trunks. The forest is alive with birdsong, insects, and the rustle of leaves, and it is tended with reverence and patience. The Maya do not cultivate cacao in rows or monoculture. It grows in harmony with the forest providing a sanctuary for wildlife and sustaining the land for future generations. This deep connection between cacao, people, and forest life is something I bring to every circle and practitioner course at I AM BEING, honouring the lineage of the plant and its intelligence.

The people I met live with a quiet presence that is magnetic. Their eyes are soft yet luminous carrying stories of ancestors and teachings that cannot be read in books. I watched them harvest cacao with hands full of care and song, listening to the trees and the pods. They shared with me that cacao is family and that to honour it is to honour life itself. It is this heart energy that I now invite participants to connect with in our cacao ceremonies at I AM BEING where cacao becomes a pathway to love, alignment, and self discovery.

The process of making cacao is sacred. Harvesting the pods requires patience and intuition. Fermentation transforms the bitter beans into rich aromatic cacao, a process guided by sun, earth, and spirit. Drying the beans under sunlight while singing is an act of devotion, a way of infusing love and gratitude into every seed. Roasting and grinding bring the beans to paste, the essence of heart medicine. Each stage is an invitation to presence, mindfulness, and reverence, qualities I weave into every ceremonial session at I AM BEING.

Cacao is more than a drink, it is a medicine for the heart. It invites us to soften and open, to release what no longer serves us, and to feel deeply. It increases circulation, warms the chest, and supports emotional clarity. When shared in community, cacao creates connection, trust, and a sense of belonging. This is why our cacao ceremonies at I AM BEING are so transformative. Participants experience emotional release, deep heart opening, connection to self and others, and a renewed sense of alignment with their purpose. It is a gentle but powerful practice that allows us to come home to ourselves.

Through my journey in the Maya lands I witnessed the deep embodiment of life and cacao. The forest teaches patience, presence, and interconnection. The elders teach respect, gratitude, and reciprocity. These lessons are what we bring into our cacao ceremonies at I AM BEING and into our practitioner courses where individuals can train to become aligned with the spirit of cacao. By joining the practitioner course you open to a profound journey of self love, heart expansion, and attunement to the energy of cacao. You learn to work with the plant in a sacred way, to hold space for others, and to facilitate healing and transformation in your own life and in the lives of those around you.

Cacao awakens the senses, deepens meditation, and fosters clarity of intention. In ceremonial practice, it becomes a tool for integration, manifestation, and spiritual growth. Many participants report feeling more aligned with their heart, more compassionate, and more capable of loving deeply after engaging in ceremonial cacao. It is a medicine that reminds us of the beauty of being fully present, of honouring our bodies, our hearts, and our connections with others. By working with cacao in a ceremonial way at I AM BEING, you step into a lineage of reverence and love that spans generations and continents.

The forest, the people, and the cacao have taught me that life is a tapestry of patience, care, and love. By bringing ceremonial cacao into the UK, I invite others to experience this magic. Whether you join a circle or embark on the practitioner course, cacao will guide you to your own heart, your own truth, and the deeper joy of being alive. You will feel the soul in your own eyes reflected back from others, you will sense the intelligence and spirit of the cacao, and you will cultivate a deep, unconditional love for yourself and your community.

If you feel called to explore this path, the practitioner course at I AM BEING is a sacred invitation. It is an opportunity to work with cacao on every level — physically, emotionally, spiritually — and to become a guide for others. By learning the ways of ceremonial cacao, you align with her spirit, deepen your capacity to love, and carry the medicine of the heart into the world. The benefits are profound, lasting, and deeply nourishing for body, mind, and soul.

Returning from the Maya lands I carry the heartbeat of the forest, the soul of the people, and the medicine of cacao. Every ceremony I hold at is a continuation of this journey, a space where the plant, the heart, and community meet. It is a space for healing, for joy, for deep connection, and for aligning with the love and wisdom that cacao offers. Joining the practitioner course allows you to fully step into this sacred lineage and share the medicine with integrity and devotion.

Cacao invites presence, it invites love, it invites transformation. By participating in ceremonial cacao at I AM BEING or through our practitioner course, you open to the intelligence of the plant, the rhythm of your heart, and the soul of the community. It is a return to yourself, a remembrance of your own capacity to love, and a reconnection to the living spirit that flows through all of us. This is the gift of cacao, the gift of the Maya, and the gift of every circle we hold. I invite you to join the movement and be part of this growing family.

Being,

Gizelle Renee Xx