Liberation of the Heart: Cacao & Rose
Cacao has a special place in my heart because it’s one of the first herbs that naturally entered my life during a trip to Costa Rica in 2018. I had the privilege to learn from a plant expert who showed my siblings and I the ins and outs of the cacao plant, from its hard outer shell to the inner white mucilage that encapsulates the cacao beans, which is where chocolate comes from. With cacao having its origins in South and Central America, it’s an herb that has been foundational in my journey into herbalism as I’ve found that it’s one way in which I can reconnect with my Costa Rican ancestral roots and feel more at home within them.
This deep connection has led me to make cacao a central part of my slow morning routine, which has been a nourishing way to begin each day with intention. Theobroma cacao, also known as the “food of the Gods,” supports heart opening at the energetic level, while also offering tangible cardiovascular health benefits (Gallagher 2021). Because of its minimal amounts of caffeine, I prefer to drink it in the mornings to give me a natural boost of energy along with incorporating it as part of my morning meditation and intention setting for the day.
One of my favorite ways to work with cacao is to pair it with rose as a warm herbal beverage. Rose being another heart expansive medicine, these two in combination make for a truly heart liberating experience. Below is a cacao and rose recipe that I integrate in my morning routine:
RECIPE (Makes 1 Cup)
1 TBSP Organic Cacao Powder
1 TBSP of Organic Dried Rose Petals OR half a tsp of Organic Rose Powder
Organic Sweetener of Choice
Plant Based Milk
For Extra Heart Nourishment:
A pinch of cinnamon
Rose Flower Essence of Choice (2 drops)
We live in a time where now more than ever, the liberation of the heart on a collective level is one of the most radical things we can do to dismantle a world that has become so hardened. For true change to occur, it starts with the work we do within ourselves on the individual level. Following the messages of the heart to intuitively tap into the ways we can play our unique part in creating a more loving world is essential.
While a daily cup of cacao may not transform the world overnight, honoring the wisdom of plants gifted to us by Mother Earth and the traditions of our ancestors is an embodied way we can lean into the medicine of the heart.
References
Gallagher, K. (2021b). Aphrodisiac: The herbal path to healthy sexual fulfillment and vital living. Hay House, Inc.
