Cacao Ceremony: Circles of Belonging
Open to all genders this is a journey into the heART of the slow, connected and nourishing ways of ceremonial cacao.
With gentle movement, tantra, meditation and contemplation to inspire the openness of the heart and mind.
Autumn Equinox Circle of Belonging
Saturday 21 March 6.00pm – 8.30pm | $70
Honoring the balance between light and dark join me we we celebrate the autumn equinox and the softening into the season of letting go.
Easter Heart Circle
Sunday 5 April 9.30am – 12.00pm | $70
Celebrating the joy of chocolate on Easter Sunday and honouring the spirit of cacao on this day where many receive her gifts.
A ceremony honouring the pure light of the Spiritual Heart together we pause to welcome in renewal, joy, and new beginnings.
Ceremonial cacao is an ancient plant medicine, a wisdom keeper, a teacher and facilitator.
Gently she will guide you to the door of the heart, but she won’t take you anywhere you don’t want to go, simply inviting you on a journey of connecting mind, body and heart.
“I believe the magic of the most beautiful heart centred teachers – particularly plant medicines is to reveal to you the gifts that already lay inside of you. To help you appreciate the subtleties of this beautiful life.” ~ Lani
What you receive:
▽ Gentle dose (15-20 grams) of Keith’s ceremonial grade cacao
▽ Tantric philosophy, Spiritual Heart meditation and subtle practices to invite the weaving of mind, body, soul
▽ Heart centred Yin Yoga, Hridaya Yoga and Yoga Nidra
You’ll be guided on a deep journey through the body into the Heart & Mind using gentle movement to stimulate the flow of energy through your entire physical and energetic system.
Such a beautiful space is allowed when we slow down together, connecting to our own natural rhythm – giving ourselves and each other permission to rest and be exactly as we are.
An intimate space capped at 8 magical bodies these ceremonies are suitable for beginners and experienced practitioners and the practices are tailored for sensitive nervous systems to help you feel more grounded, connected and embodied.
Through gentle heart centred movement and mindfulness, we invite cacao and the healing balm of nature to help us slow down, tune in and practice the art of Being.
Through silent and contemplative practices a sense of inner safety and freedom can be experienced where the critical or over thinking mind can begin to soften and the wise quiet voice of our soul can be heard
Through intentional time spent in nature with heart centred community we prioritise the cultivation of loving kindness, acceptance and an attitude of friendliness towards ourselves and all of life.
My Love Story with Cacao
Hi I’m Lani, a lover of ceremonial cacao and the power of this gentle heart medicine. Dedicated to a life of inner enquiry, service and embodiment I have a curiosity for truth, nature and sharing the wisdom of the Heart.
In 2012 while travelling overseas I found myself living in Guatemala sitting many cacao ceremonies with a man named Keith Wilson – affectionately known as the chocolate shaman. I lived in the very beautiful Lake Atitlan on and off for the next 4 years and my journey with the spirit of cacao connected me to something very beautiful.
“Her presence and her gentle hand holding mine is always present. I believe she stays with me because She helped me wake up to something so beautiful in me – the richness of life lived from Gentleness. Kindness. Sweetness. She helped me to Allow life to truly touch me and to connect with my own innate creativity and wisdom.”
While teaching a yoga and meditation class in Peru I discovered the magic of ceremonial cacao combined with yoga. Now I live in Perth and share my connection to cacao with others in group ceremonies and private sessions. I’m part of an international group of cacao practitioners each sharing their connection to cacao in their own unique ways (yoga, meditation, coaching, psychotherapy, dance, reiki, sound healing, corporate training just to name a few).
My passion is supporting others to find their unique connection to the spirit of cacao and their own unique gifts and strengths. With a passion for embracing life in all its beautiful humanness I gently guide you on a deep journey through the body into the Heart.
My style of somatic movement and my connection to the cacao spirit are an authentic, powerful mix that takes everyone deep into what they need in the moment.
Qualifications: I hold a 500-hour RYT Certificate as a Hridaya Hatha Yoga and Meditation instructor and a 200-hour RYT Certificate as a Yin Yoga instructor. I’ve also studied Mental Health and Compassion at Work, Tantra, Wheel of Consent, Women’s Embodiment Practices, Art of Feminine Presence and Sacred Sexuality.
Know the spirit of cacao will play wherever she is called so if you have a special event or idea in mind send me a message to see what magic wants to be woven!
How is your heart today? When the world gets busy and life pulls you in many directions – do you feel like sometimes you just need a moment out of time to reconnect to the wisdom of your own inner knowing. The wisdom of your Heart. Love’s Wisdom?
What is a Cacao Ceremony?
A cacao ceremony is an opportunity to slow down, pause and connect to the wisdom of your body, heart and mind. It’s an intentional space created to celebrate the beauty of life and the gifts of mother earth. I like to think of it as an invitation to see all life as precious and to slow down long enough to unravel stress in our bodies and to truly hear the great wisdom of mother nature and our own true nature.
During each cacao ceremony we set an intention to allow this beautiful gentle plant medicine to support us as we:
~ slow down and relax body, heart and mind
~ open to our creative potential
~ connect in with our natural state of ease and relaxation
~ connect with our heart
~ reveal warmth and joy at our very core
~ remember how to live in harmony with nature & our own true nature
I’ve been offering these ceremonies since 2014 where I discovered the magic of combining a cacao ceremony with gentle movement and meditation while living in Peru. When I returned to Perth in 2016 I began offering monthly ceremonies combining gentle movement, ritual and heart circle to help create a sense of safety and community while connecting to the purity and wisdom of the heart.
What is Ceremonial Cacao?
Ceremonial cacao is an ancient plant medicine, a wisdom keeper, a teacher and facilitator. Gently she will guide you to the door of the heart, but she won’t take you anywhere you don’t want to go, simply inviting you to join her for a journey through the veil and into the light.
From a more practical perspective cacao is C H O C O L A T E in it’s original unrefined form. That is without having any of it’s properties removed – most cacao’s that you buy in healthfood stores have had the cacao butter removed. In it’s whole form cacao has an incredible list of benefits for the mind, body & heart, including:⠀
* Theobromine, a known vasodilator that acts as a “driver” of nutrients and chemicals into the tissues.
* Magnesium for a healthy heart, brain & relaxation of muscles⠀
* Antioxidants to help defend against free radicals that cause tissue damage⠀
* Iron that is readily absorbed by your body
* Natural mood elevator – phenylethylamine (PEA) – nature’s own anti-depressant.
* Cannabinoid neurotransmitter called anandamide, the word anandamide is derived from the Sanskrit word, ananda, meaning, bliss.
If you find yourself sometimes lost in the loop of the overthinking or anxious mind or suffer from tension in the body that just doesn’t want to let go – cacao is a great way to invite in relaxation, calmness and a sense of wellbeing.⠀She is also a powerful tool for focussing and gaining clarity in creative projects and team connections.
An ancient Mayan myth tells us whenever the balance between humans and nature becomes threatened, cacao comes from the rain-forest to open people’s hearts and return the planet to harmony. In one of our chocolate shaman’s early communications with the cacao spirit, She referred to cacao as “The Food for the Shift”. Ceremonial Cacao has the quantity and balance of compounds and energies to properly support the cacao spirit in partnering with you.
What others say
“The most nourishing day of slowing down. An intimate space that feels so safe, a beautiful love bubble for sensitive souls to just be, to be held by mother nature and mamma cacao on this stunning property. The shadows on the ceremonial tent, the gentle breeze and Lani’s guidance to unwind and rest was magical. Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve sat in a circle and shared from my heart, much needed connection to self and community in a world of hustle.” ~ Jess
“Lani provides an incredible experience every time. Heart centred, gentle and graceful. I have completed several of her offerings including deep rest, new moon, women’s circle, cacao ceremonies and the full day retreats. I encourage everyone to experience this wonderful deep dive into stillness. You’ll want to come back for more… always.” ~Meg
“I loved my experience at the heART of Rest cacao ceremony. Lani was a wonderful facilitator and led by example, with authenticity. Any self consciousness I had when I arrived quickly melted away. The group were willing to share with vulnerability and honesty. We were encouraged to embrace whatever feelings arose. The property was beautiful and I left feeling nurtured, relaxed and open. Thank you so much.” ~ Satya
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people will be at this ceremony? We have a maximum of 8 (plus Lani) in each ceremony.
What should I wear? Wear clothes that you’re comfortable sitting, stretching and laying down in. Layers can be a good idea in case it gets too warm or cold.
I’m new to cacao and these sorts of things, do I need any experience to attend? No you’ll be introduced to cacao and guided throughout the session so all levels of experience are welcome, from beginners to advanced practitioners, we all meet in the heart.
Why do we combine movement with cacao? Cacao is rich in antioxidants. This super food increases the blood flow and tissue oxygenation, opening the heart and giving clarity and focus of the mind. Cacao also contains over 300 compounds including magnesium, a muscle relaxant associated with feelings of calmness. Combining cacao with gentle movement we begin to explore and unravel the messages and tension held in the body so we can feel more at home and at ease within our mind, body and Heart.
What sort of movement will be practiced? Classes will be a gentle fusion of yin and hatha yoga with different themes depending on the season. Focussing on long, slow movements maintaining awareness of the breath and Heart. We invite the spirit of cacao to support us in releasing stress, tensions and anxieties in the mind, body and Heart and to help us connect in with the full potential of our creativity.
I’ve never done yoga before can I still attend? Yes, the yoga we will practice is very gentle and you’ll be guided. We will be seated on the floor so you do need to be able to get up and down from the floor with relative ease.
I’m currently taking anti anxiety or antidepressant medication, is it still OK for me to drink ceremonial cacao? The serving we work with is between 15-20 grams which is usually OK for everyone. However if you’re on higher doses of medications please let Lani know so she can alter your serving as some medications can react with the MAIO in cacao. Read More
I’m pregnant, is this ceremony suitable for me? I like to encourage ‘mama’s to be’ to really listen in to their body. We drink a gentle dose of cacao which is generally OK all the way through pregnancy but each woman is different so you’ll need to gauge as you go. You can read more about motherhood and Cacao at Keith’s Cacao, and please let Lani know how far along you are so she can provide suggestions to alter the practices where needed.
Do I need to book in advance? Yes, this is an intimate retreat in our ceremony belle tent, there are only 8 places so please book once you know your heart wants to share in this space.
What if I can no longer attend? For cancellations received within 7 days of the event a full refund is available. For cancellations with 3 days notice a 30 day credit for a future heART of Rest event will be offered. If this event is unable to run due to government restrictions it will be offered online or rescheduled. If you’re unable to attend the rescheduled date a credit note to be used within 3 months will be offered. Please email lani@heartofrest.com.au for refunds or credits
COVID: If you’re feeling unwell, have tested positive or are considered a close contact of someone who is unwell please DO NOT attend on the day. Where we can pass your ticket on to someone else you will receive a credit note to be used over the next 30 days, if we’re unable to fill your space your ticket will be forfeited.