Inward Journeys with Olena Fosforova
You may have heard about cacao ceremonies, we decided to call them inward journeys to make it more clear.
In this article, I will share what happens in my online cacao journeys as each practitioner serving this heart opening medicine brings their flavor into the cup.
The purpose of the journey
According to a dictionary, a ceremony is a meaningful change that needs to be witnessed or celebrated. For me, a cacao ceremony happens when you want to see the truth or be seen for who you are. My ceremonies are all about self-discovery. For 30 years, I thought what I saw in a mirror was me until I was reminded of the truth. Reminding others is y passion, but just telling the story is not enough; one must experience it to believe.
Like a deep dive
Imagine life was a Caribbean beach, and you could swim, snorkel, sail, jet-ski, sky, or scuba dive. What would you choose? If you are intrigued by the underwater stillness, want to escape all the noise, find Nemo and flow like a mermaid - I would be delighted to be your scuba dive instructor. Cacao is a perfect plant medicine for beginners. It provides the most gentle and safe experience where you go at your own pace and can surface anytime. The ocean of consciousness where we live has an interesting subconscious portion that is worth exploring, and that is where we will dive into.
Safe journey
This legal and delicious plant medicine with consciousness-altering abilities is well-received by most people. And because cacao is non-hallucinogenic, you won't have a bad trip. If you have experienced deeper dives with other plant medicines that were too rough for you, you can try diving with cacao to learn how to navigate the ocean of consciousness.
You could even meditate with cacao alone, but holding someone's hand as a first-timer is much more comfortable, and you can see more fish that way.
My role
I am a certified cacao practitioner. In addition to that, I am a life coach specializing in inner child healing, introspection, and body reading. All this fancy terminology means I will be asking you questions to help you see the part of you that needs attention. I will hold the space as you enter the deeper waters where you may face the shadow aspects of your rejected and suppressed parts. I will also help you navigate through your emotions and encourage you to allow yourself the freedom to visualize the future the way you always wanted. Sometimes I channel the messages you need to hear, and if needed, I help you release the pain that surfaces if it’s ready to be transformed.
From start to finish
Although there is no script, as each ceremony flows differently, I noticed some consistency in my sessions:
Briefing. We begin by drinking a ceremonial dose of cacao medicine which is 42g of pure bliss. You will purchase your cacao before the ceremony online, but we will prepare it together. As we sip cacao and discuss your expectations, we can set an intention or a goal. Although I recommend, I recommend keeping it as loose as possible.
Descend. The heart-opening effects of the drink kick in within 15 minutes. Even if you don't notice it, it is happening. At some point in the conversation, I will ask you to close your eyes and keep them closed for the whole duration of the dive. In that sense having eyes closed, we dive; once we open them, we surface. You can also use an eye mask. My eyes will also be closed, allowing us to be in the same space despite the illusionary distance. So if you have doubts about the potency of online cacao ceremony - don’t.
Exploration. You may experience emotions, memories, aha moments, sensations, or visuals. My job is to help you explore them or move on by offering specific questions and visualizations. We will flow at your speed. You can give your full attention to your favorite fish or size up the whole reef. I also love pointing out camouflaged creatures trying to hide from you.
Ascend. Once the experience feels complete, we open our eyes, have some nourishment, and discuss our experience.
FYI
Depending on your readiness, the quality of your body and mind, and cosmic currents on that day, we may go deep or stay closer to the surface, perfecting your buoyancy skills. Both are ok because it will either make you fall in love with going inward with cacao, prepare you for a smoother dive next time, or make you try skydiving next. Setting the space is an essential part of preparing for the ceremony.
Preparing for the trip
Unlike psychedelic plant medicines, cacao doesn't ask for much preparation. However, it is best to avoid mind-altering substances, alcohol, dairy, Adderall, SSRIs, big meals, or lots of caffeine on the ceremony day. It would help to hydrate well and wear comfortable loose layered clothing. You can smudge the space, but most importantly, light a candle. Flowers or house plants can provide a sense of ceremony and ground the space. Just in case, a box of tissues and a glass of water are always good.
How long do online journeys last?
Some of the cacao ceremonies I led and experienced with the cacao shaman Keith Wilson lasted up to 7 hours. In my opinion, 3 - 5 hours is an optimal time. However, I avoid limitations and allow the journey to unfold to its full potential without checking the clock. That wouldn't be possible with my eyes closed anyway. You must create the necessary space in your schedule, not just for the ceremony but also for integration.
P.S.
This was a preview for my private 1-on-1 cacao ceremony. But I also offer cacao for couples where we dive to discover solutions for relationship issues and cacao for groups held around the new and full moon. I also want to say that while the focus is on your self-discovery, I discover something new about myself every time I dive with you. Thank you in advance for booking this adventure with me!