Please note, the following review reflects my personal and subjective experience. It should not be taken as a guide or an indication of what others may feel or experience. While I provide a brief technical description of the event to assist those curious about what to expect, my interpretation of the ceremony is entirely my own and may differ from the experiences of others who attend future sessions.
The light of the Pink Moon, April’s full moon, is graciously shining over everything and everyone in the Papagayo Peninsula. An Uber is driving me up the hill to Hacienda Blu, for what is going to be my first-ever Cacao Ceremony and Sound Healing Session, and I have no idea what to expect.
Upon arrival, I was kindly greeted by Fatima, the assistant manager who led me up to the second floor where everyone was waiting for the event to begin. I was feeling slightly out of place with my jeans and t-shirt while seeing everyone else wearing yoga pants and comfortable clothing, but soon after we sat down I settled into the night.
The space was designed with all attendees sitting around an altar. Ram Singh, the facilitator of the session started the ceremony by inviting us to relax, align our minds, bodies, and spirits and immerse ourselves fully into the experience.
He helped the group loosen up, posed icebreaking questions, and led some activities which made me feel more at ease and a part of the collective. We were instructed to set a powerful intention and slowly ingest the cacao drink, which had a deep chocolate flavor but tasted nothing like any commercial beverage.
During Precolonial times the Nahualts and other nations in The Americas used cacao beans for specific ceremonies, reserved only for the Nobility. Having that millenary fuel in such a special space with the Full Moon above us was certainly a unique and unrepeatable experience.
The activation section consisted of multiple guided exercises where we used our body as a vessel to welcome the drink and the sacredness within it. During this time, we were invited to connect with ourselves and the energy within us while keeping our intention in mind. After this activation period, we had a bathroom break before moving on to the final part.
Laying down on the floor, Ram guided us through meditation and breathing exercises. By this point, I felt really calm and relaxed, connected with my respiratory system and the present. My body was in an untold stage, my mind and spirit were part of everything. I felt one with everything.
The singing bowls transported me to stages of my quest that I wasn’t consciously aware of. I was able to feel the love of my grandpa so present, his welcoming arms hugging me and his big smile pointing at me although it’s been almost 30 years since he passed away. Maybe I was understanding that he never passed away, because he is still with me, within me. He is me as I am him.
The session was coming to an end and after we had our last “solo” time, the lights of the salon went back on and we all started to integrate back into the collective. Ram asked us to describe with one word what/how we felt. I said: companionship.
After the ceremony, I felt a sense of gratitude and contentment all over me. Ram opened the space for interactions and I approached him to acknowledge and thank his time and intention: it is not easy to act yourself as a vehicle to connect so many other dots. I was extremely grateful for the opportunity.
Overall, my experience at the Cacao Ceremony and Sound Healing Session was both eye-opening and transformative. It was a reminder that while living in hyperconnectivity, now is more than necessary to pause and pay a visit to ourselves and connect inwards.
I highly recommend this experience to anyone looking to deepen their spiritual practice or simply explore new ways of connecting with themselves and others.
DelCocoBlog Contributing Author:
Santiago (Santi) Vega is a Costa Rican wonderer and entrepreneur living in Coco Beach, Guanacaste, Costa Rica since 2021. Santi lived in various countries across Europe and Central/North America and worked in the fields of international cooperation, project management, and management consulting. His current interests derive from his travels and learning experiences as well as his multicultural upbringing. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Carrillo Chamber of Commerce and is the Co-Founder and Growth Strategist of Primario Enterprises.