First, I would like to thank you for inviting me to your cacao ceremonies for the last couple of months. I’ve enjoyed the rites with you, and I’ve learned a lot. I’ve also taken courses on Cacao Ceremonies and how to facilitate group ceremonies since then.
Second, I would like to share with you that as part of my shamanic practice, I will also be leading cacao ceremonies specifically designed for Filipino women. I think I mentioned to you that Cacao was brought to the Philippines from Mexico by the Spanish conquistadors centuries ago during the Galleon Trade. However, Cacao was introduced as a chocolate drink by the Catholic priests and I don’t know of any historical accounts that might point to any cacao ceremonies during those times.
Certainly, there is some decolonization work that the Filipinos need to do. And I know that introducing ceremonial cacao and cacao ceremonies can facilitate the decolonization process. My cacao ceremonies will be part of a series online that I’m offering on Tools for Transformation for Filipino women.
I am sharing this information with you as a way of honoring the time that I spent with you in the cacao rituals and I hope I will still be welcome to join your ceremonies in the future.