Chocolate Magia

I was joking with the amigas on our Solstice call tonight about ceremonial cacao.

Or any spiritual/cultural practice that has been commodified and made into a craze.

The minute it’s a craze, we may want to reflect.

I have found it interesting to have people, often not of my culture, inform me about ceremonial cacao, its meaning, its uses*

These are often people who have had the time and privilege to learn but do not have the lived experience.

I was saying, with delight infused memory, how ‘ceremonial cacao’ for me is, champurrado.

And if you want to teach me about ceremonial cacao but you don’t know what that is,

and you don’t know about Ibarra, or the “bate bate chocolate” song, you’ve lost me.

In my opinion, this is the ‘ceremonial cacao’ of my people because it is the medicine that brings the familia together today. It is the cacao for everyone, not just the nobles (of today or yesterday).

We honor the ceremonial cacao in all forms, especially that which lights up our children. And I see our abuelitas smiling at this.

In my experience, most Latin gente, unless they have been Westernized, would not make a big fuss about ceremonial cacao .

Would be fine with cacao from the 99cent store.

Because ceremony is not about the material, but the spirit within and underneath.

It is the heart.

I think about all the people who have lived ceremony every day

by staying connected to their heart and other’s hearts

in the face of challenges many cannot imagine.

Those who have been initiated by life.

Who are always, always humble even when their warmth, generosity and medicine are profound.

This is the altar at which I pray.

(With some champurrado and pan dulce for me and the ancestors)

Like much that is true and whole, the magia of ceremonial cacao and its sacred medicina cannot be bought, distorted, or commodified, because the heart knows.

Love is simple, everywhere and accessible for all.

—

*one could insert many other aspects of culture that have been commodified; rebozo, etc.

**Potent artwork by Nicole Medina**