THE MEDICINE OF TIME AND CACAO

softens the edges of the mind and guides us inward, where truth lives beneath the noise. 

CACAO

CACAO

Cacao is more than a heart-opener—it is an ancient, living medicine that invites us into deeper connection with ourselves and one another. Revered for generations in Mesoamerican traditions, cacao gently awakens joy, courage, strength, and softness within us. It quiets the mind so we can listen more closely to the wisdom of the heart, speak with truth, and gather in authentic community. It softens the edges of the mind and guides us inward, where truth lives beneath the noise. In its presence, joy can rise, courage can return, and a deeper tenderness with ourselves becomes possible.

For generations, cacao has been honored as a bridge—between body and spirit, between the individual and the collective. It invites us to slow down, to listen, and to remember that healing and connection unfold in relationship: to ourselves, to each other, and to the unseen forces that guide life.

Cacao as medicine

LEARN MORE ABOUT CACAO CIRCLES

At Ray of Bliss, this practice is held alongside the wisdom of the Maya Cholq’ij calendar—a sacred rhythm of time that offers a mirror into our inner world. Through its 20 day energies, known as Uwach Q’ij (nawales) we are gently guided to witness the patterns, emotions, and beliefs that shape our lives.

Each day a Nawal steps forward as a guide, carrying a distinct energy, a presence that walks with us—informing how we feel, how we move, and what is ready to be seen. These energies do not ask us to force change, but to meet ourselves with honesty and compassion. In that meeting, something begins to soften.

CHOLQ'IJ CALENDAR

As we bring awareness to what has been held in the unseen—old stories, inherited patterns, quiet fears—we begin to loosen their hold. What once limited us becomes an opening. What once felt heavy becomes something we can move with, rather than be defined by.

Cacao supports this unfolding. It opens the heart just enough to stay present with what arises, reminding us that even in the depths, there is gentleness. That even in transformation, we are held.

This is a practice of remembering—of returning to ourselves, to community, and to a way of being that is rooted in truth, presence, and connection.

Your mayan Astrology

Each person is received by a set a Uwach Q'ij, nawales, who are creating and forming our sense of being from the moment we are conceived. In deepening our relationship with our guardian beings we gain the willpower to liberate our limitations and bring into harmony our thoughts and emotions into a life we enjoy. 

FAQs

Is CACAO PSYCHOACTIVE? Stimulant? caffiene?

WHAT IS CACAO?

WHO CAN DRINK CACAO?

I HAVE CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS, CAN I DRINK CACAO?

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?

I WANT TO JOIN, BUT I'M FINANCIALLY UNABLE. HOW CAN I JOIN?

Is CACAO Vegan?

What is the difference between cacao circle and ceremony?

What is the Nutritional value of cacao?

WHAT IS CACAO?

Cacao is purest version of "chocolate." It's is 100% pure cacao. More than chocolate it is an ancient mesoamerican natural medicine shared in moments of celebration, ceremony, mediation and community. Cacao in combination with other herbs have been used to treat ailments of the body. Cacao is circles and ceremonies serve to open the mind into a more calm and heart-centered state of mind. This encourages open communication, honest reflection and contemplation and integration. 

The cacao we use at Ray of Bliss is fair trade, 100% pure criollo cacao from Ixmucane Cacao prepared by the Cruz family in Lago de Atitlán, Guatemala. We serve cacao following the Maya Cholq'ij Calendar and Maya Cosmovision traditions.

FAQs

Is CACAO PSYCHOACTIVE? Stimulant? caffiene?

WHAT IS CACAO?

WHO CAN DRINK CACAO?

I HAVE CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS, CAN I DRINK CACAO?

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?

I WANT TO JOIN, BUT I'M FINANCIALLY UNABLE. HOW CAN I JOIN?

Is CACAO Vegan?

What is the difference between cacao circle and ceremony?

What is the Nutritional value of cacao?

EVERYONE! Everyone can drink cacao from food-eating babies to older adults. Cacao is safe for everyone to enjoy. Pregnant women and persons can drink cacao too. For cacao circles and ceremonies the ceremonial dose is modified to suit your bodily conditions.

WHO CAN DRINK CACAO?

FAQs

Is CACAO PSYCHOACTIVE? Stimulant? caffiene?

WHAT IS CACAO?

WHO CAN DRINK CACAO?

I HAVE CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS, CAN I DRINK CACAO?

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?

I WANT TO JOIN, BUT I'M FINANCIALLY UNABLE. HOW CAN I JOIN?

Is CACAO Vegan?

What is the difference between cacao circle and ceremony?

What is the Nutritional value of cacao?

I HAVE CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS, CAN I DRINK CACAO?

Yes. Depending on the conditions you have the ceremonial dose will be adjusted. 
Diabetic? Yes, you can have cacao, our cacao does not have sugar. 
Pregnant? Yes, your ceremonial dose will be adjusted. Maya women drink cacao throughout their pregnancy and even up to the moment of childbirth to ease birth. 
Gall Bladder? Yes, due to the high fat content it is recommended to consume a lower dose than ceremonial. 
High or Low Blood Pressure? Yes, for those with high blood pressure it is most beneficial as it can naturally lower blood pressure. For those with low blood pressure or those taking blood pressure medications or heart medications your dose will be modified. 
Ulcers? Yes, you can drink cacao, your ceremonial dose will be modified. However, if you are taking antacids or have recently finished treatment you can attend the circle or ceremony without consuming cacao. 
Taking SSRIs? Yes, your ceremonial dose will be adjusted. 
On Antibiotics? Depending the antibiotics you are taking will determine if you are able to consume cacao. 
We recommend you always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before consuming cacao. You can always join the gatherings and not drink cacao. You will gain the benefits of the collective prayer.


FAQs

Is CACAO PSYCHOACTIVE? Stimulant? caffiene?

WHAT IS CACAO?

WHO CAN DRINK CACAO?

I HAVE CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS, CAN I DRINK CACAO?

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?

I WANT TO JOIN, BUT I'M FINANCIALLY UNABLE. HOW CAN I JOIN?

Is CACAO Vegan?

What is the difference between cacao circle and ceremony?

What is the Nutritional value of cacao?

Is CACAO PSYCHOACTIVE? Stimulant? caffiene?

Cacao is not a psychedelic, psychoactive or hallucinogenic. It is a grounding sacred beverage to bring clarity, contemplation and calmness. 

Yes, cacao contains caffeine, but in relatively small amounts compared to coffee. In ceremonial cacao there is  45g per 6-ounce serving, whereas a standard cup of coffee has around 95 mg-150mg.

Cacao has theobromine is a vasodilator (widens blood vessels) increasing circulation and heart stimulant, offering a calmer energy boost without the spike-and-crash of caffeine.

FAQs

Is CACAO PSYCHOACTIVE? Stimulant? caffiene?

WHAT IS CACAO?

WHO CAN DRINK CACAO?

I HAVE CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS, CAN I DRINK CACAO?

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?

I WANT TO JOIN, BUT I'M FINANCIALLY UNABLE. HOW CAN I JOIN?

Is CACAO Vegan?

What is the difference between cacao circle and ceremony?

What is the Nutritional value of cacao?

What is the Nutritional value of cacao?

FOOD OF THE GODS

Cacao contains the alkaloid theobromine, which translates literally into “Food of the Gods” – theos, meaning "god" or "divine", and broma, meaning "food"

Similar to caffeine in terms of energetic impact but impacting the cardiovascular system rather than the nervous system. Theobromine increases energy and focus without the anxious “buzz” one gets from ingesting caffeine. Cacao is a fabulous alternative to caffeine!

ANTIOXIDANT

Cacao in its purest form rates #1 on the USDA antioxidant food scale at 55,653 ORAC ahead of blueberries, goji berries, and pomegranates. It also contains the highest amount of naturally occurring magnesium

FAQs

Is CACAO PSYCHOACTIVE? Stimulant? caffiene?

WHAT IS CACAO?

WHO CAN DRINK CACAO?

I HAVE CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS, CAN I DRINK CACAO?

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?

I WANT TO JOIN, BUT I'M FINANCIALLY UNABLE. HOW CAN I JOIN?

Is CACAO Vegan?

What is the difference between cacao circle and ceremony?

What is the Nutritional value of cacao?

What is the Nutritional value of cacao?

BRAIN POWER

Cacao increases blood flow to the brain by 10-15%, creating higher levels of mental agility, and improving awareness and focus

NUTRIENTS

Calcium - Bone problems, circulation, vericose veins
Potassium - Helps with nerve function and helps muscles contract.
Magnesium - Highest plant based source known 
Regulating muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels, blood circulation 

Cacao contains potassium, phosphorous, copper, chromium, zinc, iron and high levels of magnesium which contribute to cardiovascular health. 

FAQs

Is CACAO PSYCHOACTIVE? Stimulant? caffiene?

WHAT IS CACAO?

WHO CAN DRINK CACAO?

I HAVE CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS, CAN I DRINK CACAO?

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?

I WANT TO JOIN, BUT I'M FINANCIALLY UNABLE. HOW CAN I JOIN?

Is CACAO Vegan?

What is the difference between cacao circle and ceremony?

What is the Nutritional value of cacao?

What is the Nutritional value of cacao?

Cacao is the highest plant-based source of iron known, with 13.9 mg per 100g, which is more than beef (2.5 mg) and spinach (3.6 mg). However, cacao contains non-heme iron, which is not as easily absorbed by the body as heme iron found in animal proteins. To maximize the benefits of cacao's iron, you can consume it with vitamin C.

BLISS
Cacao contains Anandamide or the “Bliss Molecule.” Anandamide is an endocrine liquid that your body produces when you feel a workout “high”. It is a natural pleasure molecule located in the cells of the nervous system.

Anandamide, the bliss molecule and other components in cacao actually inhibit the breakdown of the body’s own cannabinoids, meaning that cacao helps to keep your stress-relief system regulated for longer and with better results. CBD supplements act similarly by attaching to endocannibinoid receptors in the body, rather than the brain. The result? A full-body calm.

FAQs

Is CACAO PSYCHOACTIVE? Stimulant? caffiene?

WHAT IS CACAO?

WHO CAN DRINK CACAO?

I HAVE CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS, CAN I DRINK CACAO?

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?

I WANT TO JOIN, BUT I'M FINANCIALLY UNABLE. HOW CAN I JOIN?

Is CACAO Vegan?

What is the difference between cacao circle and ceremony?

What is the Nutritional value of cacao?

What is the Nutritional value of cacao?

Endocannibinoid receptors - They act like traffic cops to control the levels and activity of most of the other neurotransmitters in our brain.This is how they regulate things: by immediate feedback, turning up or down the activity of whichever system needs to be adjusted, whether that is hunger, temperature, or alertness. The ECS regulates and controls many of our most critical bodily functions such as learning and memory, emotional processing, sleep, temperature control, pain control, inflammatory and immune responses, and eating. 

To stimulate these receptors, our bodies produce molecules called endocannabinoids, which have a structural similarity to molecules in the cannabis plant. The first endocannabinoid that was discovered was named anandamide after the Sanskrit word ananda for bliss. 

FAQs

Is CACAO PSYCHOACTIVE? Stimulant? caffiene?

WHAT IS CACAO?

WHO CAN DRINK CACAO?

I HAVE CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS, CAN I DRINK CACAO?

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?

I WANT TO JOIN, BUT I'M FINANCIALLY UNABLE. HOW CAN I JOIN?

Is CACAO Vegan?

What is the difference between cacao circle and ceremony?

What is the Nutritional value of cacao?

What is the Nutritional value of cacao?

MOOD ENHANCER
Cacao is natural mood enhancer releasing serotonin and dopamine which can help with easing depression and releasing negativity

Serotonin
Neurotransmitter responsible for Serotonin release in our gut. 
Associated with happiness, focus, and calmness, serotonin can create a long-lasting feeling of well-being. It also helps regulate digestive functions, body temperature, and appetite, and can help with sleep maintenance. This neurotransmitter is vital for feelings of contentment and love, and has been explained by some to be the reason that eating chocolate is so pleasurable. 
Many antidepressants (SSRIs) work by blocking the re-uptake of serotonin, but cacao may naturally help boost the body’s serotonin production to yield antidepressant effects without the need for prescription drugs.

FAQs

Is CACAO PSYCHOACTIVE? Stimulant? caffiene?

WHAT IS CACAO?

WHO CAN DRINK CACAO?

I HAVE CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS, CAN I DRINK CACAO?

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?

I WANT TO JOIN, BUT I'M FINANCIALLY UNABLE. HOW CAN I JOIN?

Is CACAO Vegan?

What is the difference between cacao circle and ceremony?

What is the Nutritional value of cacao?

What is the Nutritional value of cacao?

Dopamine
Associated with motivation and reward, dopamine can create a feeling of pleasure when released in the brain. It also controls body movements and coordination, and can help with wakefulness. 

Phenylethylamine (PEA) 
Cacao is an aphrodisiac as it releases our “love” molecule PEA
Linked to both the feeling of falling in love and the “runner’s high” 

Hormone-like substance produced at the early stages of attraction that provokes the dizzy sensation some people feel when they're falling in love. 

FAQs

Is CACAO PSYCHOACTIVE? Stimulant? caffiene?

WHAT IS CACAO?

WHO CAN DRINK CACAO?

I HAVE CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS, CAN I DRINK CACAO?

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?

I WANT TO JOIN, BUT I'M FINANCIALLY UNABLE. HOW CAN I JOIN?

Is CACAO Vegan?

What is the difference between cacao circle and ceremony?

What is the Nutritional value of cacao?

What is the Nutritional value of cacao?

Triggers the release of norepinephrine, which helps the body respond to stress, dopamine
And other chemicals that play a role in depression and other mental health disorders. 

People who don't make enough phenethylamine naturally may therefore be helped to prevent mood disorders by taking it as a supplement. 
People use phenethylamine for athletic performance, depression, obesity, and other conditions

MINERALS

Raw cacao has more than 300 phytochemicals and nearly four times the antioxidant power of regular dark chocolate, and contains protein, calcium, carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, magnesium, and sulfur.

                     truly a cup of bliss

FAQs

Is CACAO PSYCHOACTIVE? Stimulant? caffiene?

WHAT IS CACAO?

WHO CAN DRINK CACAO?

I HAVE CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS, CAN I DRINK CACAO?

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?

I WANT TO JOIN, BUT I'M FINANCIALLY UNABLE. HOW CAN I JOIN?

Is CACAO Vegan?

What is the difference between cacao circle and ceremony?

What is the Nutritional value of cacao?

What is the difference between cacao circle and ceremony?

In honoring the Maya Tz'utujil traditions and guidance (the lineage Ray of Bliss follows) a cacao circle is a gathering with the community to align our intentions, prayer and reflection with the Cholq'ij calendar. 

A ceremony is when there is a sacred fire in which offerings are given connected to the Maya Cosmsovision and the Cholq'ij calendar. Ceremonies are led by Ajq'ijs (spiritual guides) and fire keepers for healing, opening paths, clarity and support in life situations.

FAQs

Is CACAO PSYCHOACTIVE? Stimulant? caffiene?

WHAT IS CACAO?

WHO CAN DRINK CACAO?

I HAVE CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS, CAN I DRINK CACAO?

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?

I WANT TO JOIN, BUT I'M FINANCIALLY UNABLE. HOW CAN I JOIN?

Is CACAO Vegan?

What is the difference between cacao circle and ceremony?

What is the Nutritional value of cacao?

* We recommend that participants wear comfortable clothing of their choosing or preference. In consideration for the elders, we kindly ask for your clothing to cover the belly button, shoulders, and knees during the circles or ceremonies. Ceremonial clothes welcomed and encouraged.

​* Avoid coffee, matcha and other caffeinated beverages at least 3-4 hours before our gathering. Best to avoid all day, if you can.

​* Do not consume alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, vape, tobacco or any other plant medicine or mind altering substance before or during the circle. We kindly, ask to be present to the medicine of cacao.

​*  Have your meal at least 3-4 hours before our gathering.

​What to Bring
*  In following ancestral tradition, each participant is strongly encouraged to bring flowers to contribute to the community flower altar.  

Recommended
* Fruits, vegetarian snacks to have blessed and shared in community.
* Sacred items to have blessed on the alter during the circle.

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?

FAQs

Is CACAO PSYCHOACTIVE? Stimulant? caffiene?

WHAT IS CACAO?

WHO CAN DRINK CACAO?

I HAVE CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS, CAN I DRINK CACAO?

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?

I WANT TO JOIN, BUT I'M FINANCIALLY UNABLE. HOW CAN I JOIN?

Is CACAO Vegan?

What is the difference between cacao circle and ceremony?

What is the Nutritional value of cacao?

I WANT TO JOIN, BUT I'M FINANCIALLY UNABLE. HOW CAN I JOIN?

We would love for you to join us and we know life sometimes brings us challenges. One way to join us is to volunteer your time. Help us with setting up, creating content (photography or videography), and breakdown and clean up. We will let you know which volunteer options are available.