How to prepare myself for a Cacao ceremony?
Raw CACAO CEREMONIES
There is a lot to be said about the medicine of Raw cacao. This page delves a little deeper into the background of sacred cacao as well as provides some practical tips on how to best prepare for a cacao ceremony at The White Arrow.
This page starts with the preparation for the cocoa ceremonies, the how and what with cocoa, tobacco and breathwork.
Further on this page you will find a lot of information about the history of cocoa, its role in the world and the effects of cocoa on our body and mind.
Maestro Tobacco
During our initiations and formation we learned to work with the spirit of the Sacred Tobacco. It is probably one of the most famous and widely used plant teachers in the Amazon. That is why we integrate the sacred tobacco in all our cocoa ceremonies. The Tobacco Rustica we use has nothing to do with the tobacco for smoking you find in the store. For ceremonial use we work with the pure tobacco from the rainforest. The dried leaves are fermented in the soil. The end of the process gives a very strong and powerful tobacco. The shamanistic use of this tobacco for smoking is known as: Mapacho. In the cocoa ceremonies we do not smoke the tobacco, but sometimes it is useful to blow smoke to clear the air of heavy energy or to calm someone's mind. The tobacco smoke is mostly used during the rituals of healing and purification. In our work and preparation with the sacred tobacco, we put the fermented leaves in pure water to rest for a day, so that the water can slowly absorb all its medicinal properties. When sniffing tobacco water through the nose, the total experience can last as little as a few minutes, while the experience of drinking the tobacco in other settings can last for several hours.
We recommend taking Tobacco slowly when taken by nose, as this phase can be a little scary the first time, but is quickly followed by a second phase where the plant's energy builds up within the system. It might feel like you are being lifted by a surge of energy. Already in that phase the energy of the Tobacco starts to focus on energy blockages, while the consciousness is greatly increased, making these blockages easier to feel. That's when the experience is at its peak, it can feel like you're hanging in the zero gravity of a roller coaster. Consciousness is then at its highest level and in this phase the removal of energetic blockages is also at its highest. With this phase, the feeling of connection also emerges. It is as if the Tobacco lowers the barriers of separation. Then the energy of the Tobacco slowly begins to dissolve in the fourth phase until a peace and tranquility arises. This final stage is a state that essentially results from the removal of lower energies from the energy system. It is this phase in which one sinks deeper into the body and a strong grounding occurs.
Maestro Tobacco, a spirit that protects, purifies and heals and communicates with spirits.
Breathwork
A permanent part of all our 'intimate cocoa ceremonies' is the Breathwork. For more than 10 years we have been adept at guiding people through a powerful breathing therapy also known as Rebirthing, Transformational breathing or Holotrophic breathing. At The White Arrow, these breathing sessions are given the unique name: SHAMANIC BREATHING. After all, we always work with live mixed music or songs played ourselves in order to closely follow the breathwork and the unfolding process and to be able to adjust or deepen it. Rebirthing or transformational breathing is mainly a breathing technique that aims to make contact with one's own life energy in a simple way. In a practical sense it is the connection of the inhalation with the exhalation in a continuous relaxed rhythm. In a series of guided sessions, the aim is to free the breathing from blockages, so that natural, complete breathing occurs.
What do I pay attention to
At the beginning of the breathing session, follow the facilitator's instructions and try to follow them as best you can, so that your breathwork will have a profound effect.Breathe in and out through the mouth.
All breathing movements are continuous, which means that you do not take a break anywhere. After inhaling, let go immediately at your highest point. After exhaling, immediately inhale strongly at your deepest point.
Count about 3 seconds before inhaling, so time enough to fill your entire body and also time enough for the alveoli to filter all the sent substances from the oxygen.
You exhale in one breath, with a deep, fairly powerful sigh.
You breathe in your belly and then go over the diaphragm to the chest, filling it all the way up to your tailbones. The chest will provide the most resistance in the long run and requires your focus to pump it up well.
Breathing in this way will create a powerful breathing rhythm, which will help you stay more present when breathingBij het begin van de ademsessie volg je de instructies van de begeleider op en tracht je deze zo goed mogleijk te volgen, waardoor jouw ademwerk een diepgaand effect zal hebben.
What can I experience?
The experience is very profound and very personal. We are therefore only going to talk about the physical sensations here.You can get mild to strong tingling sensations throughout the body.
Your hands can cramp and stiffen, this also happens to almost everyone, especially the first time. Our hands hold a lot of tension, as they are used almost continuously, not only physically but also energetically they are always grasping (my life, my partner, my child, my money, my job, my security, my...my ...mine).
You may experience pain in places where there was already a blockage. Everything gets more energy, so the blockages are also highlighted. This gives you the chance to just be present in it as a loving friend. Bring your mind to it and breathe it in.
You can hear all sorts of things in the room, people going through the process: crying, laughing, yelling... the trick is to stay true to yourself. Everyone works for and through each other. Sometimes things are picked up by someone and worked out for you, or someone's sound triggers your personal piece to get it moving... a powerful interplay: one breath, one person.
The feeling of deep healing, coming home to your body, releasing thoughts and mental patterns and the deep spiritual experience of unity consciousness can be experienced by almost everyone during a session.
Het gevoel van diepe healing, thuiskomen in je lijf, loskomen van gedachten en mentale patronen en de diepe spirituele ervaring van eenheidsbewustzijn is vrijwel bij iedereen te ervaren tijdens een sessie.
Cacao as facilitator
Maestro Cacao plays the part of the facilitator by building a bridge from your heart to the world. It helps breaking down the walls that we've build so we can open up to our selves, eachother and the world!
Super Food
Cacao contains both neurotransmitters and MAOI’s (monoamine oxidise inhibitors) allowing the brain support molecules in cacao to be more easily absorbed by the body
Icreased oxygen
Cacao brings increased blood flow and oxygen to the grey matter of the brain for enhanced cognition
Increased blood flow
Cacao facilitates a more sensual experience of the body
Dopamine
for joy and motivation. An essential neurotransmitter in the brain, supporting emotional wellbeing and motivation, present in cacao
Magnesium
Cacao is the highest food source of this essential mA small taglineineral that assists all the major muscle groups to relax
Pijnappelklier
A tiny pea-shaped gland which, among other functios, is perceived to be the spiritual centre of the brain.
Serotonine
The natural stress reducing and emotional resilience neurotransmitter in humans is also present in cacao
Anandamide
Brain support molecule most known for it’s effect of the producing ‘runner’s high’, is known to increase feelings of pleasure , improve motivation, and moderate the perception of pain supporting emotional wellbeing and motivation, present in cacao
Phenylethylamine
A naturally occurring neuromodulator in humans that brings the mediator to a new depth of focus and facilitates the perception of time standing still.
