Ceremonial Cacao & Meditation
Get the most out of your meditation practice with this guide
A Guest Blog Post By Concetta Codding
What Is Meditation?
Meditation is a word easily spoken, but few have any true conception about and even fewer have experienced. Meditation is the journey out of the mind and inwards to the doorway of the heart, the altar at which the soul resides. Meditation is a sacred practice that allows us to experience all that is, without bias or judgement. Meditation allows us to be the witness, to observe without attachments. In Meditation, we close our eyes to see clearly. Meditation brings us to the forefront of truth and reality. We are reminded that life is sacred and who we really are. Through Meditation, we can step out of nontruth and into truth. We find that teachings are all around us and that each moment is a gift, no matter how challenging.
In order to meditate deeply, we must first be able to concentrate, or focus on one point. Practicing concentration and Meditation takes time as any real transformation does. It is important to remember that we have spent many years feeding the mind with thoughts, ideas, worries, hopes, attachments, and more. It has become “natural” or “normal” to let the mind go astray and it will take time to break free of these habits. It is essential to be patient and to practice consistently. Meditation teaches us to flow with life, as we are a part of life and life is a part of us. We learn to grow and accept change with an open heart. Meditation reminds us of the important things, such as compassion and gratitude. Meditation allows us to live life with clarity, ease, and to witness when things are uncomfortable without judgement. Illusions are lifted like fog when the sun rises.
Meditation & Awakening
Who am I? What is my purpose in life? Where did I come from and where am I going?
“A soul takes human birth in order to have a series of experiences through which it will awaken out of its illusion of separateness. The physical experience of being incarnated is the curriculum, and the purpose of the course is to awaken us from the illusion that we are the incarnation. Spiritual practices, such as meditation, are tools to help us accomplish these goals”
~ Ram Dass
When the Buddha described how long humanity had been on the journey, as he spoke of reincarnation he talked of a mountain six miles wide, six miles high, six miles long. Every hundred years a dove would fly with a silk scarf in its beak and run it over the mountain once every one hundred years. The length of time it takes the scarf to wear away the mountain is the length of time you have been evolving. The fact that you are reading this blog and even aware of the word “Meditation” shows where you are along your evolution.
Cacao & Meditation
We are on this inevitable journey of awakening. If you understand this message deeply, you are able to enter these spiritual practices with a different perspective. Drinking Cacao is another ancient practice that invites us to enter the doorway of the heart and when we combine the two, we are given the opportunity to explore meditation on a deeper level. Cacao is a gentle facilitator. It inspires spirituality, exploration, creativity, healing and transformation.
Breath Meditation With Cacao
Here is a breath meditation to try out.
About 20 minutes after drinking Cacao, find a comfortable seated position. Feel the sit bones grounded, relax the hands on the thighs or lap. Relax your shoulders and jaw. Feel the crown of your head draw up towards the sky. Begin to lower your eyes towards the ground and then slowly close the eyes. Allow yourself to be fully aware of your surroundings at first: noticing the sounds, smells, tastes, and touch. Notice your starting point: any thoughts, emotions, or anything that arises. Notice these without judgement. Begin to welcome yourself to your practice. After a few minutes, bring your awareness to your breath. Shine the light of awareness on the breath moving in and out of the nostrils. Notice the cool air moving into the nose and the warmth of the breath leaving the body. Allow the breath to be natural, without force. Stay with the breath for another 10-15 minutes. When thoughts or emotions arise, gently guide yourself back to your breath. After your meditation is complete, gently blink the eyes open, slowly noticing the surroundings. Notice the way things sparkle more, how sacred life is.
Here is a playlist that may support with a Shanti (peaceful) atmosphere created for you just by Concetta.
Concetta Codding
Concetta is a yoga & meditation teacher who leads classes that invite others to breathe, meditate, flow and ultimately heal. She offers a space to connect to one’s inner world, and make deeper connections with like-hearted people. She loves to come together with the sacred heart medicine, Cacao.
