Sacred Cacao: Heart Medicine for Modern Times with Angelica Grace

Discover the ancient wisdom of ceremonial cacao as more than just chocolate – a sacred plant medicine with the power to heal your relationship with the divine feminine within. Psychic medium Angelica Grace takes us deep into the world of this heart-opening elixir, sharing how it's transformed her life and the lives of countless women seeking reconnection to their authentic selves.

Angelica reveals how ceremonial cacao differs dramatically from commercial chocolate, carrying the energy of generations of indigenous farmers who cultivate it with reverence and intention. She explains why cacao is referred to as "she," embodying the nurturing energies of Grandmother Moon and Mother Earth, serving as a bridge back to the sacred feminine that many have become disconnected from in our productivity-obsessed society.

For women – especially mothers – cacao offers profound healing for emotional burnout, anxiety, and the people-pleasing tendencies that develop when we've lost touch with our core needs. Through gentle yet powerful ceremonial practices that might incorporate elements like breathwork, movement, or drumming, cacao helps open the heart both physically (through the blood-vessel-dilating theobromine it contains) and emotionally (by creating sacred space for self-reflection).

Unlike some misconceptions, cacao doesn't create psychedelic experiences but instead grounds you deeper into your body and heart. This ancient plant medicine teaches that "there is strength in gentleness" – we can stand in our power without dominating energy. Perhaps most beautifully, cacao helps reawaken our childlike curiosity, encouraging us to follow the breadcrumbs of what brings us alive.

Ready to begin your own journey with cacao? Sometimes all it takes is declaring your intention to the universe. As Angelica shares her recommendations for trusted cacao sources and the ideal times to work with this sacred medicine, you'll feel inspired to explore how this heart-opening practice might transform your relationship with yourself and the world around you.

Episode Links:

• Find out more about Angelica and her offerings & connect with her on Instagram
• Maya Moon Cacao
• Embue Cacao
• Keith's Cacao
• Soul Lift Cacao

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Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Modern Zen Collective
• 1:29 Meeting Angelica Grace, Cacao Teacher
• 3:31 Sacred Origins of Ceremonial Cacao
• 9:52 Feminine Energy and Healing Motherhood
• 18:10 Inside a Cacao Ceremony Experience
• 25:40 Finding Authentic Cacao Sources
• 28:43 Strength in Gentleness: Cacao's Lessons
• 31:21 Follow Your Curiosity: Final Message
• 37:04 Closing Gratitude and Next Steps

Transcript

Speaker 3: 0:13

Hi, I'm Lizzie and I'm Nikki. Have you ever felt that your life was missing purpose, joy or deep connection? Welcome to the Modern Zen Collective podcast, where we embrace holistic living for a joyful, purpose-driven life.

Speaker 1: 0:29

In this podcast, we'll explore holistic practices, consciousness expansion and spiritual alignment. We will dive into personal development practices that connect mind, body, spirit and share secrets that ancient cultures have known for centuries. Together, we aim to guide, educate and connect individuals eager to transform their lives.

Speaker 3: 0:49

Join us weekly on the Modern Zen Collective podcast and elevate your mind, body and spirit. And now on to today's episode.

Speaker 1: 1:06

Welcome back everyone to the Modern Zen Collective Podcast. I'm Nikki and I'm Lizzie. Hey everybody. Today we're opening a sacred space for a very special conversation, one that's been calling Lizzie and I in our hearts for a while now. We're diving into the sacred world of cacao, not just as a delicious drink or treat, but as a powerful plant medicine, a heart opener and a guide on the path of inner healing.

Speaker 3: 1:31

So this is actually the very first time we're bringing the magic of cacao into our podcast space, and we couldn't have a more aligned guest to share her wisdom with you. She's just so awesome.

Speaker 1: 1:44

You guys are going to love her so much. Yes, it's Angelica Grace. She's on our collective and she's been on the pod before, which we are so excited to have her share today. Everything about cacao. She's a psychic, intuitive medium and co-founder of the Healing Arts Academy. She's a devoted student and teacher of cacao, using it as a sacred tool to nurture reconnection and really to connect with the divine feminine within.

Speaker 3: 2:06

So, whether you're brand new to cacao or already deep in ceremony with her, this conversation will truly speak to your soul. Angelica shares so much beauty around cacao's ancestral roots, its spiritual purpose and how we can all begin to connect with it in our own intentional heart-centered way.

Speaker 1: 2:23

So get cozy and join us as we explore the sacred medicine with the radiant Angelica, grace. Angelica, we're so excited to have you back on the podcast today. For those who may be new to your work, can you share a bit about your journey? We've talked about it before with psychic mediumship and your transition from you know hairstyling to what you're doing now and how the profound impact you have on so many from your intuitive abilities. But how has cacao helped you on your journey and became a part of it?

Speaker 2: 2:56

Yeah, thank you. Thank you guys. Thank you for having me. As I said before, anytime I can talk about cacao, I am like there for it. So thank you guys. But yeah, like you said, I'm an intuitive medium and about five years ago, a little under five years ago, I started a shamanic apprenticeship, which is now with my father-in-law, so that's how I met my husband, love.

Speaker 2: 3:19

That, yeah, and it's been a really beautiful journey and the whole apprenticeship really is centered around the Native traditions of the North, others. In a sense, the first step is your own self-healing and nurture and love. And she has been a part of my own self-healing journey and I do feel this deep, like almost responsibility in sharing the healing and the softness and the gentleness that she provides for people, especially because my work ever since becoming a mom, my work has really taken like a sharp turn but it really has been sort of shifted into the space of supporting women and mothers and just the feminine energy in everybody, because I feel that through generations and our society it does not create a space to nurture that part of us and I think so many of us are emotionally burnt out, physically burnt out and just really stretched. And when Cacao found me a couple of years ago. The best way I could describe it is I feel like she called to me. That's the best way I could describe any plant medicines including chamomile and nettle and linden and lavender Like these are medicines that are for us, for rebalancing ourselves and nurturing and self-healing, and cacao being included in that.

Speaker 2: 5:13

So when I really began the journey I didn't realize I would be sharing so much and I feel like the journey has just begun for me. So you know, with all respect to the Mayan culture and the culture of cacao, you know I'll do my best to share what I've learned, but in a respectful way, because it is information that I've learned that I hold very sacred, but also in combination, my own sort of partnership that I've grown with cacao. So what I share is kind of like a blend of both of those. Yeah.

Speaker 1: 5:47

Yeah, I absolutely get that Respecting your teacher because it's you know, it's like such a huge part of your development and what you've done and grown from there. And I've had my experience with cacao when I started my healing journey, like, just like you, but not as I don't know as much. So that's why Lizzie and I have been talking about wouldn't it be amazing with you, with you know so much in-depth knowledge right now with cacao, to help our listeners understand a little bit more, because we're curious too about you know the benefits and the history and everything that goes along with it. So I'm just going to peel it back a little bit to bring it to such a simple question of how ceremonial cacao is different from what someone might buy in terms of cocoa or something at the grocery store or something like that. What it, what? How like? Obviously it's a plant, it's. Where is it the origin? Is it where you know where it's coming from, the energy? Can you talk us through that a little bit?

Speaker 2: 6:54

Yeah, it's a great question because in the most simplest form, it's, it's the purest form of cacao. Chocolate, right, it's, but it's so much more than that. So like, let's say, chocolate that you find in the grocery store is added with milk and sugar and like all the ooey good stuff, cacao is in its purest essence, but there's such a sacredness and an integrity with the nurturing of her because it starts from the seed and it starts from the land and it starts with those that plant her, the farmers that plant her and nourish her. And it's this beautiful combination of these generations of people and families and lineages that this land and soil and cacao seeds are sort of passed through the lineage. And it comes with this really big, sacred responsibility of caring for her.

Speaker 2: 7:57

And I think you had mentioned before we got on, like why was it called? Like the milk of the gods? And it's been used for since the dawn of time as as a form of of healing. And there's this beautiful quote and I wish, I wish I would have looked it up before I got on here, cause I'm I'm not going to say it, I'm going to kind of put my own little spin on it, cause I can't remember it.

Speaker 2: 8:19

But there's this, there's this quote that says cacao sort of leaves the jungle and you know that space, when nature and humans are so out of balance.

Speaker 2: 8:33

And she's here to sort of help bring that balance and bridge that balance back together and reconnect us back to nature and connect us back to that simplicity of connection and love and sacredness.

Speaker 2: 8:47

Us back to that simplicity of connection and love and sacredness. So to me it's it's as I keep using the word responsibility, but it's the sacred medicine that really calls to you and with, like, the utmost respect while working with her, you know, particular, some of my intention as I work with her and share her is to bring that healing and that sacredness back to people. Like, again, we are so disconnected from our innate power and our innate wisdom and I'm going to use women just in this particular conversation, just just for the heck of it but we've been so disconnected from our bodies and our wombs and how we create life, and I feel like she's such a bridge back into that. So, like I said, it kind of starts from these generations of families that are really cultivating and caring for her and that's part of the medicine that she then brings to us. So, depending on what region and what lineage you are receiving cacao from, you're going to have different healing medicinal benefits and qualities and intentions.

Speaker 3: 9:49

You keep saying her or she, and I'm wondering why you're saying that.

Speaker 2: 9:56

Yeah, she to me is feminine energy. She is correlated and connected with Grandmother Moon and Mother Earth. She is correlated and connected with Grandmother Moon and Mother Earth so she brings that essence of that bridge, of the feminine and the mother nurturing energy. So a lot of the training and connection with her has been this sort of healing of that feminine side and healing of that relationship with Mother Earth and with the moon. Within ourselves that's so beautiful.

Speaker 3: 10:25

I mean honestly, when you were sharing about it before I was tearing up and getting just really emotional. Because when you talk about and I don't want to get all choked up I mean I have my baby right here with me.

Speaker 3: 10:38

So I totally feel you as a mom and all this healing of the sacred feminine things, and I'm just like you're speaking to me so much right now with everything you're sharing about cacao, and I'm just so curious about how this has helped you heal. If you feel open to sharing, like what are some of the ways that this has helped you heal? How have you used this and integrated it into your own practices to help you heal the sacred feminine? And even like the women that you worked with, because this just sounds just like incredible and something that we all, as women, need.

Speaker 2: 11:22

Yeah, I, honestly it's. I have full chills as you were saying that. So just confirmation of everything that's being spoken. Cacao, how can I say this?

Speaker 2: 11:36

And I think, as women, let me start with mothers, because and this is just my opinion, so that's again just really clarifying that Women and mothers do not have the support that they need and I don't think they have for many, many, many generations.

Speaker 2: 11:55

And we've sort of gotten out of the space of the sacredness that the feminine provides to life itself, because women hold creation and when mothers don't have the nourishment that they need, they're forced into the space of producing and overworking themselves, right. So we have to rely on that masculine energy to survive and we were kind of put into the survival mode, and particularly postpartum, because it's such a sacred time for women and there's no support. So we're going in now in this biggest depletion you know postpartum is the biggest depletion in minerals and blood loss and you know you're caring for this child and you have this, you know, wound within you that you're healing and this emotional, you know shift and you've crossed this threshold into motherhood and we don't have our elders to like, support us. You know Some people do right, but we've sort of gotten out of that connectivity in that community and women are forced back into things so quickly. So going back, so I'll go, I'll keep going on a tangent we all can.

Speaker 2: 13:08

My own journey with cacao. I come from a background of deep abuse, my whole life dissociated for most of my childhood and because of that I had this really sense, this low sense of self-worth and people-pleasing tendencies, right, and I've sort of pushed myself into, you know, to cope and to like my world was centered around productivity, like I had to prove my worth, I had to prove who I was, I had to become the best at everything, right, it was all this like force and this push, and every time that I did it it took me further and further away from who I actually was, because I was trying to prove myself like an activated healing space. But what I mean is like I was actively working through a lot of the emotions that come with processing trauma which I know so many of us can understand, you know, anxiety, depression, really really frazzled and stretched nervous system. So I was just always in fight or flight, always in the sympathetic and I was just burnt out all the time. Like when I say emotionally, I mean like I had nothing left to give and anything that I had I would give to others and not to myself. So it just prolonged the emotional disconnect, right.

Speaker 2: 14:34

So as I worked with Cacao. In the beginning I really just let her teach me. So I would sit with her in the morning and I would work with not a full dose of ceremonial cacao, just half of one, and I would listen, I would use it as my meditation and my connection and I would allow her just to like, help me feel love because honestly it was. I had a hard enough time just doing that and as I progressed forward over you know a year or two, I really worked with her to help me understand who I was, help me connect back with my heart, help me connect back with, helping me see my worth and how I'm helping people and how I can love myself deeper and things like that.

Speaker 2: 15:13

So, as I said before, I had such profound experiences over that time of just my own self-healing that's always, you know, continuing I was like there's no way I could not not share this with people, because I know I'm not the only one who experienced what I experienced.

Speaker 2: 15:29

I know I'm not the only one who experienced fear or shame or fight or flight or, you know, depleted energy, whatever it may be. So fast forward when we go into this sort of ceremonial space or this journey, it really is sort of a space to do just that, but in a collective environment. So what I find with a lot of people that I work with in the healing space community going back to right, like mothers and elders, and you know, you have the maiden, the mother and the crone it's like we need that community to reflect back to each other ourselves. So I find when we're sitting in a ceremony or just just a journey of connection, it's almost like everything is heightened. So we have this collective sort of healing that takes place. So and I can go deeper if you guys want into like what a ceremony looks like and things like that, but I just wanted to, yeah, that, actually that would be wonderful.

Speaker 3: 16:23

I'm super curious, like what your ceremonies and rituals, like what is working with cacao, look like in those, and are there any other elements that you like to you know incorporate into these, like breath work or movement, or is there anything else that you know you're really an expert in that you like to weave into these ceremonies?

Speaker 2: 16:44

Sure. So each ceremony really is different. So remember how I mentioned, depending on what cacao you're working with, you have a little different variation of healing. That takes place In addition to the energy of the farmers and those that cared for cacao and you know, dry and harvest her and get her prepared for the opportunity for others to work with her. All of that is included in the healing aspect, in addition to the energy that I'm sort of working with when I'm preparing the cacao.

Speaker 2: 17:15

So what I always tell each ceremony, each group, because we do these monthly, what I always tell each ceremony, each group, because we do these monthly, is when I'm working with her, I really have her help, show me what the group needs, and what I mean by that is I work with other healing medicinal plants in the cacao, so sometimes I might work with rose petal or cardamom or lavender or orange peel, cayenne pepper, honey. There's different aspects, but all of that sort of brings this balance and healing to the group for whatever they need. So each journey looks different. Sometimes it's centered around resting, sometimes it's centered around receiving, sometimes it's, you know, insight into yourself or your life, or what's working, what's not working. It really is different depending on who's attending the ceremony.

Speaker 2: 18:06

So the night before when I'm preparing cacao, it's like I'm receiving the information of what the group needs, which then includes, like what it actually would entail, like in the ceremony. So in the training that I have been in and will continue on the rest of my life, the North and South American Native traditions, with deep respect to them, as I share what I'm about to share. I am no expert on the traditions but I hold them very sacred, as far as what I've learned this far. So I always do incorporate some of those traditions into the ceremonies. So if that's working with stones or water or flowers or different herbs, breath work, body movement, dance, meditation, drumming, journeys, it just really depends on what the group needs needs. So it's kind of this like partnership with cacao and and with the universe, of like providing the space and then just kind of opening it, holding it and guiding people through it.

Speaker 1: 19:10

That's great. Yeah, no, no, it. It absolutely made sense and it tied in also, you know, your intuitive psychic mediumship also with you know getting the messages before for what the group needs and seeing that dynamic and how that can help them in that way. So I a question for you. You know, with many things that teach us and that have so much wisdom, if you know, let's say, lizzie and I wanted to do a cacao ceremony, do we look for someone who has, like this cacao wisdom and has done it for a while and can facilitate it? Or are we able to do it, buy it and do it ourselves with like the tools you're telling us, like what's, what's the respect for for her?

Speaker 2: 19:57

That's a great question. I want to see how I want to answer that. That's a great question. I want to see how I want to answer that no-transcript.

Speaker 2: 20:13

To me, when working with these, let's say this ancient wisdom, I always view it as a partnership. It's the same thing I view with mediumship I think I've said this before Like I'm in partnership with the ancestors and with Mother Earth and with Kakao and the moon, and so there's always this kind of give and take. You know it's like I'm showing up, they're showing up, I'm showing up, they're showing up. So there's part, this kind of give and take. You know it's like I'm showing up, they're showing up, I'm showing up, they're showing up.

Speaker 2: 20:38

So there's part of me that wants to say I do feel like working with Kakao can be or is your own personal journey with her. So like I do encourage if she does call to you and you're like I want to know how, you know how to do this. I think, of course, like reaching out to someone who has worked with cacao, just because it can just help guide you into understanding what it feels like, what to expect, what not to expect, because there's a couple of different components to the ceremonies itself, but also you're continuing to receive guidance a day, two, three days after working with cacao. So it's almost like working with a guide or a facilitator might just help you, like with expectations or maybe like what it could look like, so then you have a little bit more going into it and then from there, of course, working with your own partnership and your own self-healing I think is a great place to continue on.

Speaker 1: 21:50

Yes, okay, and a question that popped up that I was thinking of is there a certain time of day for cacao? That's better, with the way that the sun and the moon and everything aligns with our energy, with getting in touch with the feminine flow of us trying to get back in with nature. When so many things are thrown at us, that is making it difficult sometimes.

Speaker 2: 22:11

Yeah, that's another great question. So I do find so. Some cacao does have a little bit of caffeine, but it has what's called theobromine in the cacao and that is we can say like that's the stimulant of it. But what I mean by that is why cacao is called a heart opener is because that theobromine, when really absorbed in the body, is actually like opening up the blood vessels, opening up the blood, really getting things moving. So you get a little flushed, you get a little warm and things start to open. So that's why it's called that heart opener.

Speaker 2: 22:45

But what I have found is it can be stimulating for some people. So like, if you were, I'm starting training this week, actually working with a particular cacao with actually a family in Guatemala, which is just like I can talk about that in a minute, because that, just how that all happened, was just incredible. But that starts in the evening time, but that cacao is meant to be worked at that time. Right to the question generally I say morning and afternoon is like the best time to work with her, because you will have a little bit of like an uplifted energy which could keep you like awake a little bit longer, because there is a little bit of a stimulating effect.

Speaker 2: 23:27

With that being said, what also kind of wants to come through is the moon is really coming through, so, like our moon cycles, so incredibly nourishing for women when you're on your cycle because of the actual, like physical benefits with all the minerals and antioxidants that are in there, it really helps support the moon cycle. If you have any symptoms of, you know, cramping or whatever it may be, it's really really nourishing for the body. So I would say morning, afternoon being like the best time, and then also, if you're on your moon cycle or about to, it's a great place. It would be gorgeous Full moons you know what I mean Like just all of it, yeah.

Speaker 1: 24:10

Great, and what are some common myths that are out there about cacao, like anything you can think of. That's just a common thing, that is not true.

Speaker 2: 24:20

Yeah, it's so funny this gets asked a lot actually is like because it's called a plant medicine, people, and because you do journey on it, right, and people are like are you going to be like, journeying? Like, is it like, are you ayahuasca, other, correct, correct? Like are you going to be out in the ethers? Right, and you could be potentially Like. It's not. You know, cacao is the one guiding you essentially, but it's not. It doesn't have that stimulating effect. What it really is doing is helping you connect back to your body. So, if anything, you'll actually feel more grounded, more centered, more in peace and because of that, you have a deeper sense of clarity of things. So to me, it's like an intuitive, connecting piece to the physical body and the heart. But that would be like the biggest one, because I hear that all the time they're like what's this going to feel like? And I'm like it's okay, we'll talk about all this before, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1: 25:13

Yeah, you're like it's plant medicine. Let's talk about what it's going to be, how it's opening your heart no-transcript.

Speaker 2: 25:40

So in person we do at Healing Arts in Batavia, illinois. We do them monthly, so I do facilitate them there. I also actually created a whole journey online because I feel like I want to share this more and it's centered around like nurturing and awakening the feminine energy. So it's actually like a six part journey and it's all self-paced. So women when they join it, they kind of do a cacao monthly, but on their own, like fully guided, but it's all prerecorded, so it's like at your own pace. And all the cacao and the herbs that we work with because we work with a couple other plant medicines are all sent to you. So it's included in like the working together. And I've also done like private events, so like groups that want to have you know, a group of friends, like if I do group readings or things like that. I've had that with cacao as well so people that want you to like come into their home and provide the ceremony itself. So it's been a couple of different ways.

Speaker 1: 26:43

I could totally see that being something you know, for you know, if we get together, you know baby shower, bridal shower, just thinking because Lizzie just had a baby, you know, like things like that that would be such a beautiful thing to have it in the afternoon for something like that. So if someone's listening and they want to purchase cacao, are they going to a Whole Foods? Are they going online? Are they finding the farmer? What is your recommendation on something like that?

Speaker 2: 27:12

Yeah. So I would recommend going to like the source. I have a couple of sources that I deeply, deeply love and I can just kind of mention them here. But one is called Mayan Moon, which is actually really nourished by mothers in this particular village that work with the cacao. So it's a very nourishing like mother energy that comes through. Mbu is another one and you can go to just like mayanmooncom. Mbucom, that's another small family owned space that sources cacao ethically, I think. Keith's Cacao I've purchased from there but I've never personally worked with Keith's Cacao, but he's been around forever. So that's another local you know, another source that you can trust. And Soul Lift is another one.

Speaker 3: 28:04

And we can link all of these in our show notes, so that way it'll make it easy for people to find what you're talking about.

Speaker 2: 28:13

So we really appreciate your recommendations. Yeah, of course. Again, it's like my intention with this was for whoever needed to hear it for it to be, you know, whatever they needed to hear. So, absolutely, we'll share those websites so you can find them.

Speaker 3: 28:29

Well, and so I think one thing that I'd really like to know is one sacred lesson that she has taught you that you return to often in your everyday life, like something that you just fall back on. Now You're like, oh, it's like your quote. You know how we have these quotes, do you have one?

Speaker 2: 28:51

Oh, that's a great question.

Speaker 2: 28:55

I would say, oh, this is so interesting.

Speaker 2: 28:58

So what's really coming forward is, um, there is strength in gentleness and that is actually from animal medicine tarot deck that we work a lot with, from the Lakota Nation, but that is similar to deer medicine.

Speaker 2: 29:21

And the reason why I'm mentioning that is because I think life can really stretch us and harden us and there can be really really tough moments in life and I think, as we're really learning to lean into the feminine and this intuitive part and this patience and trust, really learning to stand in who you are takes a lot of courage and it doesn't have to be done in like a dominating way, because that dominating energy to me is that masculine, where it's like this big energy of like I'm here and this is how it is and we're like throwing the hammer down, and it's like we can still be self-expressive and creative and trustworthy and still set and still keep people where you know we want them to be right, we still protect our space and our solitude, and I think in doing that we can do it in a really gentle, compassionate way, but still find strength in ourselves in doing so, and to me that is like the deepest form of self-respect and self-worth, and that has been probably the biggest game changer, because I learned over so many years how much I was actually abandoning myself for other people, and that's really allowed me to like choose me, which is really hard, I think, when you don't know how to do that and you were never taught that.

Speaker 2: 30:43

So that's what I would say to that.

Speaker 3: 30:46

That's beautiful.

Speaker 2: 30:47

That's beautiful, thank you.

Speaker 3: 30:50

Yeah, I love that.

Speaker 1: 30:54

We have what you're saying about women and putting ourself almost last, and then layering anything that's happened from childhood to adulthood to have that people pleasing happening, and it just sounds like cacao can really help you return to yourself and return to the rhythms of Mother Gaia, of you know how we are supposed to be in this rhythm and not go against it so much that it can do With your, with being a you know psychic medium and also with the wisdom of Cacao. You said it a few times what's coming through? What's coming through for our listeners? What is a message for our listeners that are listening now from Cacao that she would want to say?

Speaker 2: 31:42

Yeah, so the word curiosity is really coming in and I think when we can reestablish our connection with curiosity because I think as children I mean look at toddlers, you know watch kids like that's all they're, so that's how they discover their world. And I thought about this the other day with my daughter, where I'm like where does that end? That end, like, where in our life did we become disconnected from that curiosity of like, look at this rock on the ground and this is so cool, and why does the wind blow? And look at that tree, and it's like living life, like to me, motherhood is this like initiation to view life from their eyes, and it's like it was such I have full chills. It was such a game changer for me and such a big lesson that really whacked me on the top of the head when I became a mom and when I really surrendered into that. It allowed me to also regain curiosity in my life.

Speaker 2: 32:39

And I think when we can get curious about like, well, what does my heart wanna do today? What feels really good? How do I wanna self-express today? How, what feels really good? How do I want to self-express today? How do I want to create today? How do I want to speak today Like.

Speaker 2: 32:52

It's like we get in the space of like well, how do I feel? How do I actually feel about that? And it's like we can get into the space of like, inner dialogue. And to me it's like, if cacao, if you're curious about cacao, follow it, go Google. Sometimes all you have to do is communicate that to the universe of like okay, I'm ready to work with cacao, let the teacher show up, let me know where to go.

Speaker 2: 33:20

And it's like the right people then come into that path. So sometimes it's just a decision and declaring it. So sometimes it's just a decision and declaring it. But I think what really wants to come in is like cacao, and a returning like cacao can help bring you to back to curiosity. But also, if you're curious about something, follow it, because there's something that your soul or your heart is calling to you and there's something there for you. And it's like it's. If you keep doing that consistently throughout the day, it's like you start to find that you're living in more of an aligned space, like towards your life purpose and like that's exactly what you said.

Speaker 3: 33:54

I'm like man, you know. I feel like this wisdom, like you're saying it's it can't be anything else other than channeled for people to be saying and feeling similar things in different ways and then following that guidance and then living this aligned life that you're embodying right now, like that's who you are, that's how you show up, that's why you are the person you are in this moment, sharing this kind of medicine and these kinds of gifts that you have with us, is because you've decided to follow that excitement, follow that curiosity, follow those hits that you're getting. And now you're married, you have a child. Like all of these and this incredible wisdom that you're sharing with a different generation, because while all these people, these wonderful guides that you're learning from and other people are learning from, you know, nikki and I and a lot of our listeners, like we don't have access to that. You know we have access to you. So if we weren't able to talk to you, if we weren't here to share and listen and ask with you in this moment, who knows when I would have learned this, when Nikki would have learned this, and honestly, I'm like gravitating towards this so much.

Speaker 3: 35:34

I'm like, man, I need to figure out how I can go to one in person because I really, I'm really bummed. I'm not in Illinois. Like, I'm going to be in Minnesota this summer. I'm contemplating a mini road trip. I'm going to be in Minnesota this summer. I'm contemplating a mini road trip. I'm like, how do I do this? You know, it's just it's. I just want to thank you so much for saying yes, I know you're experiencing a lot in your life and we just want to say thank you so much for being here, for sharing with us. Like I, this is my first time, just so y'all know, this is my first time talking to.

Speaker 2: 36:12

Angelica and I'm like in love.

Speaker 3: 36:17

So thank you, Nikki, for bringing us all together Anytime.

Speaker 2: 36:23

I'm happy, my two favorite people together on a podcast I wanted to share. I wanted to share this too, because I have been. I guess I'll declaring this now. Well, the last time Nikki and I were on, I had said like, oh, I'm going to try to travel to Guatemala to like really connect with the family there, and and I was not ready to leave my baby just yet, so I couldn't make it.

Speaker 2: 36:46

And now I had this opportunity like literally I'm not kidding fall into my lap of like working with a woman in Guatemala where this cacao was passed down through her lineage, where, like, I get to work with her particular cacao and like listen to her. You know everything's being translated and I'm just listening online, like at the edge of my seat, like how is this possible that I'm like here, and like it was such a moment where I'm like I declared that, like I said, I'm going to go learn from right. So, going back, I have been toying around with doing live online ceremonies as well too. So, as I say that we'll see now if that comes to fruition, but, like I said, if you're in Minnesota, as I say that we'll see now if that comes to fruition, but, like I said if you're in Minnesota, please come in person, and if not, hopefully online versions will continue to become easily available.

Speaker 3: 37:37

Yes, well, when you've got one, we're putting it all over our stuff. Keep your eyes out, because as soon as there is a virtual one, we will have it available.

Speaker 1: 37:46

Absolutely, we'd love to share it and your wisdom and your charms coming in, like your charm and your wisdom and your passion for it and your respect for it and your love for it. It's just really beautiful. I feel like Lizzie and I just got like a 30 minute PhD in cacao and it was amazing. Just you know such a well-rounded wisdom and love, just so much, and we really appreciate you, like Lizzie said, taking the time to chat with us and you know I'm sure this is the second of many, many more conversations, of course, Of course, thank you guys.

Speaker 2: 38:25

Like I said, it's interesting because I am just following the breadcrumbs where I'm like I'm so passionate about this, so I'm just like, okay, guys, you know, declaring it to the universe, and I just what I want to say is it's incredibly nourishing to hear all of that from you guys, and I just want to say thank you, because sometimes this path can be a little lonely and a little scary, particularly because of the sacredness and respect towards the traditions, and I always want to maintain that. So I just want to say thank you for your kind words, because it means more than you know. So thank you.

Speaker 3: 39:04

Absolutely.

Speaker 1: 39:05

Absolutely, it's from the heart.

Speaker 3: 39:07

And we feel you so. Thank you, and thank you to all of our listeners for being with us for this conversation. Now, please share this with anyone you think needs to hear this message today or would find this interesting. Um, thank you again and we'll see you all in the next episode to the Modern Zen Collective podcast on all major platforms and take the first steps towards elevating your mind, body and spirit For all resources mentioned in this episode and to connect with us and our conscious community. Check out the episode show notes for all links and our current offerings. See y'all next time.