ABOUT THE EVENT:
Welcome the winter through a heart opening and soul nourishing event! Join Madleen, Musical Mindset, botanicus and friends for a magical Cacao Ceremony and Ecstatic Dance.
Explore the depths of your heart through singing, breath work, intuitive movement, and an ecstatic dance led by botanicus with guest performer, Musical Mindset.
Gift yourself the opportunity to connect to yourself deeper as you embrace the holiday season. Join us as a community as we step into the journey of self-discovery, growth, and joy – an experience that will leave you with lasting memories and a heart full of gratitude.
ABOUT YOUR FACILITATORS:
MADLEEN: Madleen's passion for serving cacao and hosting Cacao Ceremonies developed after seeing the impact it made on her through generational and trauma healing. It has inspired her to feel compassion, forgiveness and love for herself and others. She believes her mission on earth is to inspire those around her to express their authentic self and believes cacao and yoga are wonderful tools in allowing the space and vulnerability in doing so. She loves incorporating breathwork, yoga and cacao together as they help us open up and align with the physical and energetic chakra system in the body. Madleen looks forward to connecting to one another into the same energetic frequency through the wisdom of cacao, breath and yoga practice.
MUSICAL MINDSET: As a musician who grew up with a deep passion for drums and singing, Paul's musical journey has been an enchanting one. From an early age, Paul found solace in the rhythmic beats of the drums and the expressive power of my voice. As he matured, his musical horizons expanded, leading him to discover a wide array of unique instruments like the didgeridoo, jar harp, baritone ukulele, native flute, hand percussion, and harmonica. Combining all these elements, Paul ventured into the mesmerizing world of live looping performances. He's played for audiences worldwide -- from the streets of Chicago to Athens, Greece, and across Europe.
BOTANICUS: On one side, botanicus manifests the music of the natural world, where rich harmonics, soothing melodies, and boundless progressions propel you through nature and consciousness. On the other, botanicus expresses the groove of city life, where funky hooks, syncopated rhythms, and catchy cadences invoke hypnotic movements and elevated perception. In his work, botanicus combines both sides of this dichotomy to appetize the body and mind, evoke strong emotions, and provide mindful enjoyment.
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Ecstatic dance is a form of dance in which the dancers, sometimes without the need to follow specific steps, abandon themselves to the rhythm and move freely as the music takes them, leading to trance and a feeling of ecstasy. The effects of ecstatic dance begin with ecstasy itself, which may be experienced in differing degrees. Dancers are described as feeling connected to others, and to their own emotions. The dance serves as a form of meditation, helping people to cope with stress and to attain serenity. Ecstatic dance has been practiced throughout human history, including in classical times by the maenads, followers of the wine-god Dionysus. In the ancient and widespread practice of shamanism, ecstatic dance and rhythmic drumming are used to alter consciousness in spiritual practices. Ecstatic sacred dances are known also from religious traditions around the world.
Ecstatic Dance – 3 Simple Guidelines
1. We encourage dancing barefoot to connect with mother earth.
2. We Dance without words, we use our bodies to express whatever that is living in us.
This makes it easier to be in a Meditative State
3. We Dance as We Are
No Drugs/Alcohol
No Phone
No Camera/Video
No Expectations
No Judgements
No Shoulds, No Oughts…
Just Be Yourself; With Respect for Ourselves, the Space, and One Another.
ABOUT CACAO:
Ceremonial cacao or ceremonial-grade cacao is a 100% pure cacao-bean paste that contains a much higher quantity of beneficial, health-restoring, and mood-elevating compounds than any other cacao-based product on the market (like cacao powder, non-ceremonial cacao paste, dark chocolate, etc).
The word “cacao” comes from the Mayan words “Ka’kau” meaning “heart blood,” and “Chokola’j” meaning “to drink together.” This blood connection comes from the belief that the Mayan gods bled onto the cacao pods, and cacao was considered one of the ingredients used to create humanity. It was also believed that the gods gifted cacao to the people directly. The scientific genus name for cacao is theobroma, which translates to “Food of the Gods,” and the Maya believed that cacao was a key ingredient in restoring balance and connection to the divine.
Cacao ceremonies are helpful for getting clarity, setting intentions, and doing healing work & inner-processing. Being in a sacred space helps you get out of your normal frame of mind, allowing you to experience new insights & perspectives. Depending on the intention of the ceremony they can also be wonderful places to connect with people in a safe, open-hearted environment. Sharing cacao brings us into the same energetic frequency. This often results in deeper more intimate connection with ourselves and each other.
Read more https://www.madleenalsabbah.com/cacao
IMPORTANT:It is important to not take any substances before the ceremony. Ceremony is a sacred time to enter a portal beyond space and time where we can connect to our higher self, divine spirits and guides. Plant medicines such as Cacao have their own spirit and with their own conscious gift and healing power. It is important to respect these beautiful plants such as cacao and honor them. If you are on any anti-depressant, please let us know, it is important for us to know this as Cacao has MAO inhibitor. Each person may have a different experience and please know that all emotions are welcome.