Valentine's Day & Real Chocolate: The True Love Combo

Using Cacao To Deepen The Love 

Though Valentine’s day may have a questionable origin and a highly over-commercialized present, that doesn’t mean we can’t reclaim this day as another excuse to celebrate real love and deepen our relationships. And alongside that, what better plant to reclaim than cacao. This Valentine’s Day, let’s make it about real love and real chocolate (i.e. pure cacao)!

The connection between love and chocolate is well established in common thinking, but most people don’t know that pure cacao does indeed have many compounds that stimulate the heart, relax the muscles and produce happy feelings. One study even suggested that people prefer chocolate to kissing!

Most of us feel closed off at times and struggle with feelings of loneliness and isolation. While common in our culture, it doesn’t have to be the norm. The starting point for any genuine change is within, so self-love is a key ingredient to deepening our relationships with others. When we love ourselves more fully, we are more open, vulnerable and authentic in our relationships, romantic or otherwise.

Cacao is a beautiful tool to help us open to deeper layers of self-love and to learn how to share that with others. It holds us as we learn to accept all aspects of ourselves, especially those that we have learned to shame or hide. When used with the intention of deepening our relationships, cacao will help us relate from a place of greater openness and vulnerability so that we experience more connection & joy as we relate with those we care about.

So whether it's with yourself, a loved one, or intimate gathering, try a cacao ceremony to deepen your capacity for love this Valentine's Day. Brew up a ceremonial dose of cacao, set up a beautiful & nurturing space (ex. an altar, incense, flowers, blankets, a candle, etc) and carve out a couple of hours to be present. 

If solo, try the following tips: 

• Begin by offering gratitude to the cacao
• Delight in the enjoyment of drinking the cacao
• Speak your intentions out loud for this time
• Meditate quietly for 10-15 minutes, allowing yourself to become aware of whatever is happening inside, welcoming whatever you are experiencing
• With journal & pen, write a love letter to yourself. Be generous and don't allow your inner critic any space on the page! 
• Leave some space for movement, stretching, yoga, dancing or whatever way your body naturally wants to flow
• Add in any other self-care rituals that make you feel beautiful, loved & worthy. A warm bath with oils, slowly cooking a delicious meal, or reading by candle light with soft music. 
• Be gentle with yourself!
• Be sure to end with gratitude for both yourself & the cacao

With others, try these tips:

• Sit facing each other and begin by offering thanks to the cacao and each other for showing up
• Delight in the enjoyment of drinking the cacao
• Share your intention for being together
• Meditate for 10-15 minutes, allowing yourself to become aware of whatever is happening inside, welcoming whatever you are experiencing
• Open your eyes and practice silent eye gazing for 10-15 minutes
• With a talking object, take turns sharing what is on your heart
• When this comes to a natural completion, leave space for movement, stretching, visioning, art, laughter, cuddling and whatever else flows easily between you
• End by sitting facing each other and find a way to express your gratitude

These practices can be deceptively simple, yet profound in the transformation they create.

So this Valentine’s day, drop the sugared chocolate & cheesy greeting cards, grab some ceremonial grade cacao and relish in the beauty of the sharing deeply with yourself or another human soul.

If you want to try an extra decadent cacao recipe, check out our Radiant Rose Cacao Bar, designed with this day of love in mind!