CACAO CIRCLES
THE CACAO CIRCLE EXPERIENCE
Each cacao circle is a living, breathing experience—no two gatherings are ever the same.
We begin by arriving together in presence, sharing ceremonial cacao as a way to open the heart and soften into the moment. From this place, we set a collective intention guided by the wisdom of the Maya Cholq’ij calendar and the energy of the day.
Each day carries a specific Nawal (Uwach Q’ij)—a sacred force that influences the qualities, emotions, and themes available to us. Rather than following a fixed structure, the circle unfolds in relationship to this energy. It becomes a space of listening: to the day, to the body, and to what is asking to be seen within.
Through meditation, reflection, and gentle guidance, we are invited to explore how the day’s energy is moving through our own lives. Some circles may feel expansive and expressive; others may call for stillness, introspection, or release. All are held with intention and care.
There is no pressure to share or perform—only an invitation to be present with yourself, in a space held by community. In witnessing ourselves and each other, something begins to shift. What felt separate begins to reconnect. What felt unclear begins to reveal itself.
Cacao supports this process as a quiet ally—grounding us, opening us, and helping us stay with whatever arises. It reminds us that reflection does not have to be harsh to be transformative, and that awareness, when met with compassion, naturally creates change.
Each circle becomes a doorway: into deeper self-understanding, into alignment with natural rhythms, and into a shared experience of connection that continues to ripple beyond the space.
What To Look Forward To
- Ceremonial cacao
- Meditation & reflection
- Sound healing
- Connection to the energy of the day through the Maya Cosmovision
- Community sharing & integration
Upcoming Cacao Circle
Nov 7th | 3 Tooj
2:00-7:30 pm
Forest Park, Queens
guided by Andrea of Ray of Bliss & Julius of Anahata Resonance
Forest Bliss Resonance
Urban Day Retreat
An urban retreat with forest Meditation, ceremonial cacao and sound
You don't need one more thing on your calendar. You need one thing off it.
If your weeks run on autopilot - work, family, pets, phone, repeat - your body has been in on mode longer than you realize.
This is the day you step out of it. One full day to stop, breathe all the way down, and let your nervous system settle enough to hear what the noise has been drowning out.
Not indulgence. The maintenance you keep skipping - the kind that lets you return to the people you love with something to give again.
A day like this
Who is this for?
In service, and running low - you hold space for others (as a healer, teacher, facilitator, caregiver, or parent) and rarely get held yourself. This time, you get to receive.
- Experienced and ready to simply drop in - you know cacao and ceremony, and you're craving a container you don't have to hold.
- A parent or professional running on empty, craving a few hours that are truly yours.
- New and a little curious - you've seen "cacao" and "sound bath" online and wondered what it's really about. No experience needed.
- At a threshold - between chapters, seeking clarity you can't find at your desk.
- Tired in a way sleep doesn't fix - and hungry for real connection, beyond screens and small talk.
- Whether this is your hundredth circle or your first, you belong here. All you need is the willingness to slow down.
How the day unfolds
- Arrive & settle · from 12 PM - land, breathe, and meet your circle, smudging (energetic cleansing) ritual
- In the forest - a silent walking meditation, flower altar building, and a cacao ceremony with live instruments.
- Back at the residence (across from the park) - an under-the-stars, fire-lit sound bath, a closing gratitude circle, and a home-cooked Filipino meal by Julius's mother, Luisa. We close by 9:00 PM.
Made with love - quite literally. Luisa cooks a warm, Filipino-inspired spread: a hearty vegan main and a vegetarian Filipino dessert. It's the kind of meal that turns a circle of strangers into something like family.
Please arrive on time - we begin together, and can't admit latecomers after 1pm.
Keep your evening open, too. This day goes deep. Rather than a dinner out or plans in town afterward, head home slowly and let the quiet do its work - rest, water, early sleep. The deepest nourishment comes in the hours after, as everything settles in. Treat the night as part of the practice.
What's Included
Ceremonial cacao (single-sourced from a Maya Indigenous community)
Maya Calendar Education
altar materials
your offering bundle
communal dinner
take-home ritual gift kit
Conscious Contribution
Sliding Scale
Toj Reciprocity · $222 (even exchange) - the full, true cost of your seat.
Energy of the Day
This gathering falls on 3 Toj, the day of sacred fire and reciprocal exchange.
We honor and strengthen intentions around:
For the spark that begins the fire.
Three is the number of activation — the point where energy tips into motion. On 3 Toj we don't ask what needs to be completed — we ask what asks to be lit.
For the fire that purifies and remembers.
Toj's element is fire — and Toj is the energy that feeds and nutures the fire. We give our offerings to keep our connection with the fire and our own inner fire alive.
For what is ready to be offered.
Toj is the nawal of payment, of offering, of sacred exchange. On this day of activation, we bring forth that new intention finally taking form.
For the debts we see and do not see.
Toj asks us to account not only for what we know we owe, but for what moves invisibly through our lineage — inherited patterns, ancestral wounds, karmic threads still unresolved. We offer with humility, asking for the wisdom to understand those who came before us and learn from their decisions.
For balance restored.
Toj governs the law of reciprocity — the ancient understanding that all life is exchange. Where there is imbalance between giving and receiving, between the human and the sacred, between self and community — we ask the fire, the cacao, and the four directions to help us restore what is right and true.
Your Guides
Andrea Bertucci | Ray of Bliss Founder |
Maya Cacao Ceremony Facilitator
Julius Betila | Anahata resonance Founder | Sound Healer
Andrea and Julius both come from the corporate world - and both found their way back to themselves through practices like these. They don't guide from a distance; they've lived the same overwhelm you might be carrying, and they hold this space the way they once needed it held for them.
Grounded, warm, and unpretentious, they weave practices from several traditions with one intention: that you feel at ease, at home in yourself, and part of a loving community - if only for a day.
A sliding scale keeps this day accessible while honoring the true cost of holding it ($222). Every tier keeps the circle whole. Choose what reflects your capacity - there's no wrong place to land.
Forest Bather · $80 to $221 - covers your essentials and helps sustain the dinner and take-home kit.
Forest Steward · $223+ - honors the years behind this work and sponsors another's seat.
Additional sliding-scale spots are available in exchange for retreat support - write us at
hello@rayofbliss.org
Cacao Bliss Bundle Pass
As reflected through the wisdom of the Maya Cholq’ij calendar, each day carries its own sacred tone and energy, allowing every cacao circle to unfold as a unique living experience. No ceremony is ever the same—each gathering evolves in relationship to the spirit of the day, the intentions brought into the space, and the collective journey shared in community.
Each circle is approximately 120 minutes and include:
Opening and intention setting
Ceremonial cacao serving
Guided meditation or journey
Reflection based on the day’s Nawal
Optional sharing and integration
Comfortable clothing
A journal and pen
Water
An open mind and heart
We recommend eating lightly 1–2 hours before the circle and staying well hydrated.
Please consult with a healthcare provider or reach out before attending if you:
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have a heart condition or high/low blood pressure
- Are sensitive to caffeine or stimulants
- Are taking antidepressants (especially MAOIs or SSRIs) or other medications that may interact
We serve cacao in moderate, ceremonial amounts and can always adjust your portion or offer an alternative if needed. Your well-being and comfort are always prioritized—please listen to your body and honor what feels right for you.
safety considertations
What to expect
how to prepare
You are invited to come as you are. No prior experience with cacao or the Maya Cholq’ij calendar is needed—only a willingness to be present.
CACAO FAQs
A embodied immersion of the Mayan Calendar in the Heart of the Maya World in Copan, Honduras. One of the largest sacred Maya lands preserved today. Nestled among the ancient ruins of one of the Maya world's greatest cities, Sacred Copan is an immersive retreat honoring the living wisdom of Mayan tradition — its calendar, rituals, and sacred cosmology — guided by Andrea Bertucci and a beloved Mayan teacher, Nana Marina Cruz and her team. Designed with community at its heart, this retreat offers tiered pricing to welcome both local Honduran participants and international guests into one shared, transformative experience.
