Welcome to this meditation called Ease Your Period,
Day 4,
Kakao Ceremony to connect you to your body and earth.
I'm Sara Zanacroce and I'll guide you through this practice today.
This meditation is part of a course called Five Things to Avoid and Five Rituals for when you have your period.
So if you enjoy this meditation and would like one for each day of your period,
As well as tap into a community of compassionate women,
You'll find the course in my courses tab.
Let's get started.
Okay,
Today I also have another beautiful and delicious ritual for you,
A kakao and maka ritual.
We're borrowing this ritual from the Mayans who would host sacred kakao ceremonies.
The kakao is believed to open the heart and expand consciousness,
Allowing for deeper spiritual experiences.
After drinking the kakao,
Participants would enter a meditative state,
Focusing inward and connecting with their intentions.
The shaman would guide the group through visualizations,
Breathing exercises,
Or other techniques to deepen the experience.
And then after the ceremony,
People were invited to share their experiences,
Insights,
Or emotions that arose during the ceremony.
Each ceremony would conclude with a closing prayer or gratitude expression,
Thanking the spirits,
Deities,
And other participants for their presence and the insights gained during the ceremony.
So I invite you today to make your own warm kakao elixir to enjoy while resting,
Reading a book,
Or even while soaking in a bath.
Full disclosure,
I'm not a shaman,
So this is not a full kakao ceremony.
If you ever get the chance to attend one,
I highly recommend it.
But since we probably don't get that chance every month,
We can just make a simpler version of it on our own.
The ingredients are simple,
A cup of your favorite milk,
Some honey,
Ideally raw honey,
Kakao without sugar.
And then if you have it,
And I highly recommend it,
Add a spoon of maka powder,
Which helps you with balancing your hormones.
Maka,
M-A-C-A,
Is a native Peruvian root vegetable that has been used for centuries to promote health and balance hormone levels,
Helping women with conditions like PMS,
Estrogen dominance,
As well as improve fertility,
Libido,
And stress.
So if you'd like to make this drink right now before we do a simplified kakao ceremony together,
Just pause the recording and come back with all the ingredients.
Okay,
Start by setting an intention and step into a connected state.
Heat up the milk,
And then add a bit of honey and a big scoop of kakao.
Stir well,
And finally stir in a teaspoon of maka powder.
Now you might want to light a candle or cleanse the space with sacred smoke like sage.
You can also set up an altar with items that hold special meaning to you,
Maybe crystals,
Flowers,
Or a meaningful object that connects you to your inner self.
Once your space is ready,
Take a comfortable seat and hold your kakao elixir in both hands.
And just allow yourself now to fully settle into this moment.
Begin by closing your eyes,
And taking a deep breath in through your nose,
Filling your lungs completely.
Hold the breath for a few seconds,
And then slowly exhale through your mouth.
Releasing any tension you may be carrying.
Inhale deeply,
Allowing the breaths to reach all the way down into your belly.
And as you exhale,
Let go of any stress or worries.
Feeling the wealth away.
Letting go of any tension,
Feeling the wealth away.
Letting go of any stress or worries.
Feeling the wealth away.
Take another deep breath in.
This time imagining that you're drawing in a sense of warmth and grounding energy.
Feel it filling every corner of your body.
Feel it filling every corner of your body.
From the tips of your toes,
All the way to the top of your head.
As you exhale,
Imagine releasing any remaining tension.
Letting it dissolve into the earth below you.
Now bring your awareness to the gentle warmth of the cacao cup in your hands.
Feel its warmth spreading through your palms and up your arms,
Comforting and soothing you.
Let this warmth radiate through your entire body,
Bringing you a deep sense of comfort and ease.
Allow yourself to relax fully into this moment.
Notice how your body feels,
Your muscles softening,
Your breath becoming more gentle and natural.
There's nothing you need to do right now,
Nowhere you need to be.
Simply be present with your breath,
Your body,
And the warmth of the cacao.
Now gently set an intention for this ceremony.
What do you wish to invite into your life during this time?
Perhaps it's more self-love,
A deeper connection to the earth and your cycles,
Or simply a moment of peace amidst the busyness of life.
Whatever it may be,
Allow this intention to form naturally and hold it in your heart with tenderness.
Now allow this intention to flow naturally into your life.
And hold it in your heart with tenderness.
And now finally,
With this intention in mind,
Begin to sip your cacao slowly.
Mmmmm.
Savor the rich earthy flavors as they fill your mouth and warm your body from the inside out.
With each sip,
Feel the cacao's nourishing energy spreading through you,
Connecting you to the earth beneath your feet and the ancient wisdom of those who have used this sacred plant before you.
As you continue to sip,
As you continue to sip,
Imagine the cacao deepening your connection to your body and the earth.
Feel it grounding you,
Helping you to become more aware of your body's sensations and rhythms.
Let it anchor you to the earth,
Reminding you of your place in the natural world and the cycles that govern all life.
And now bring your attention to the following Mayan prayer.
You may choose to repeat after me.
Repeat it silently or aloud,
Letting each word resonate deeply within you.
May the heart of the sky be in my heart.
May my heart be in the heart of the earth.
May the heart of the earth be in my heart.
May my heart be in the heart of the sky.
As you recite this prayer,
Imagine your heart becoming a bridge between the sky above and the earth below.
Feel the vastness of the sky filling your heart with light and openness.
And at the same time,
Feel the grounding energy of the earth,
Bringing you stability,
Strength,
And deep nourishment.
Let's repeat the prayer again.
May the heart of the sky be in my heart.
May my heart be in the heart of the earth.
May the heart of the earth be in my heart.
May my heart be in the heart of the sky.
Let this connection bring you a profound sense of peace and balance.
Imagine yourself rooted in the earth,
Yet expansive as the sky,
Perfectly balanced between these two powerful forces.
As you continue to sip your cacao,
Take a moment to name something you're grateful for.
Allow this gratitude to fill your heart until you feel a sense of fullness and joy.
Now,
Take a moment to send love to your body,
The earth,
The sky,
And your loved ones.
Imagine that you are a part of this connection.
Imagine this love flowing from your heart down into the earth and back up through your body,
Creating a powerful cycle of connection and support.
If there's anything in your life that feels incomplete or unresolved,
Take this opportunity to ask for resolution,
Trusting that clarity and closure will come in their own time.
Let this ceremony be a time of release,
Connection,
And intention.
This is your time to nourish your body,
Mind,
And spirit,
To honor the wisdom within you,
And to embrace the natural cycles of your life.
And now,
Just enjoy this moment of deep rest and relaxation in your own personal inner sanctuary,
A place where you go to feel your true self,
Secure,
Grounded,
And a deep sense of peace and inner love for yourself and all of life around you.
And now,
Bring your awareness back to your breath and just allow your body to breathe for you with no effort whatsoever.
And when you feel ready,
Gently bring your awareness back to the room around you and maybe to the empty cacao cup in front of you and open your eyes,
Carrying the sense of grounding and connection with you as you move through the rest of your day.
Thank you so much for spending this time with me today.
Again,
This meditation is part of a course called Five Things to Avoid and Five Rituals for When You Have Your Period.
So if you enjoyed this meditation and would like one for each day of your period,
As well as tap into a community of compassionate women,
You'll find the course in my courses tab.
Have a wonderful day.
