There is a lot of magic in cacao, it has the power to take us on a journey to the heart, like no other. If we are willing to open up to it, there are many gifts to receive from its teachings.

Many of us are unaware that cacao, in its pure form, is a teacher plant with much wisdom to share. The overwhelming consensus is that cacao works with our heart energy and releases feel-good endorphins as it opens up the gates of love, so to speak. It gently awakens knowledge about self, relationships and personal areas for growth.  For this reason, it’s becoming more popular with mainstream energy workers and plant medicine practitioners alike.

Many indigenous cultures understood cacao to be a great teacher plant. Traces of its use date back to over 4000 years ago. In different cultures like Maya, Toltecs, Aztecs and Incas, cacao gained status as a sacred drink to connect to the divine. Also for centuries Mayan royalty and priests used it in ceremonies. When a large dose is ingested on an empty stomach, and when a strong intention is set, we can journey to the heart and connect to our inner guidance. When we are able to listen with our heart-mind, we see the world through perspectives of love. When we are not connected, we are dominated by our ego-mind. It can run programs of fear, lack, competition and comparison, our negative and sabotaging dialogue. In today’s world there is a need for Cacao as a heart-space connector. 

Origin of this Cacao

This particular ceremonial-grade cacao comes from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta of Colombia. The Sierra, known as the ‘heart of the world’, is gaining a reputation for its premium grade naturally-farmed cacao. The cacao plants are grown and harvested in polyculture forested habitats by The Guardians of the Forest Cooperative, who are the first coop to join the 80-20 system. Over 101 local farms, the majority of which are from the indigenous Wiwa and Kogui Tribes (guardians of the Sierra for hundreds of years), contribute to the harvests. The cooperative holds the important belief that land ethics come first, each batch of cacao also holds that same integrity, energetically. Grown in the rehabilitated and native forests of the Sierra Nevada mountains, shade, biodiversity and rainwater are proven formulas to produce a high-quality product. These many factors influence the taste, texture and quality of the cacao produced. It has earned premium-quality status by world-renowned Cacao experts and is in high demand by chocolatiers. Its rich creamy texture and sweeter finish makes it a pleasant way to ingest and benefit from its many energetic and nutritional properties. 

General Health & Nutrition Benefits of Cacao

The medicinal qualities of cacao are vast, providing a high source of iron and magnesium, as well as calcium, copper and zinc. It contains vitamins A,B,C and E and has a very high antioxidant count. Cacao in its pure form alters one's mood, stimulating feelings of bliss and euphoria. Anandamide, sometimes referred to as the “bliss molecule” derives its name from the Sanskrit word ‘ananda’ which translates into joy, bliss or happiness, and is an endocannabinoid which links up with the natural cannabinoid receptors in the body. Theobromine, from ancient Greek translates into ‘food of the gods’ and improves mood and cognitive function, along with Tryptophan which helps regulate mood. Phenylethylamine is thought to be the ‘love molecule’ and the reason cacao is an aphrodisiac. It mimics the brain chemistry produced when we fall in love, providing antidepressant qualities, which is perhaps why culturally chocolate is given to cheer people up.

Funds from the purchase of this cacao are donated to the Universal Foundation of Holistic Design’s (UFHD) efforts to educate and increase adoption of the 80-20 System. 

Universal Foundation of Holistic Design (UFHD) 

A not for profit organization created to educate, train and lead an earth-centric mission to bring our species into equilibrium with the earth. Designing, sharing and implementing holistically designed, regenerative based systems with the world.

The 80-20 System

The 80-20 System introduces incentives to farmers to adopt holistic practices. 

The plural agricultural model is co-created and adapted to location by experts in Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), agricultural sciences, and local farmers, creating an open source model that can be shared with surrounding farms and the worldwide web. The farmers get paid to protect and care for a percentage of their land that is set aside as a nature reserve. As a land ethic, 80-20 seeks to allocate up to 80% of the total area as a biological reserve and Holistically Design the remaining 20% for living and regenerative, polyculture farming. Through the unification of an entire supply chain that is further modified into a web, large losses of energy are mitigated allowing the system to pay a premium for best practices. Holistic education and better wages means less poverty, better food quality, and better land management to help save natural habitats and repair our earth. 

Experience the magical benefits of cacao for yourself. When you purchase cacao your donations directly fund the UFHD’s efforts in education and adoption of The 80-20 System. 

Learn more at ufhd.ca or contact carell@ufhd.ca to acquire some cacao.