Ibiza&rsquo;s fascination with the esoteric knows no bounds. As Guatemala&rsquo;s Familia Cacao end a week of ceremonies on the island, we look at the heart-opening benefits of this ancient wonder plant.

A cacao ceremony is a celebratory ritual used for thousands of years by the native people of Central and South America. Traditionally cacao ceremonies were conducted by the Maya and Ancient Aztec civilization and their descendants. Ceremonies were held by shamans in order&nbsp;to prepare an individual or group for a journey, either physical or metaphysical. The use of cacao today is widespread among those seeking to explore higher realms of consciousness and to connect on a deeper and more meaningful level. Walter Quiacaian, also known as Tata Walter, is a Mayan spiritual guide, cacao ceremonialist and Mayan cosmovisionist who hails from Guatemala&rsquo;s Kaqchikel indigenous people. The Kaqchikel are one of the remaining tribes of the Mayan civilization in the area of Lake Atitlan, a location revered for its deep spiritual connection to the essence of Pacha Mama.

Tata Walter is the founder of <a href="https://www.familiacacao.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Familia Cacao</a>, a roaming collective of cacao devotees who travel the world sharing their wisdom and ceremonial rituals. They have spent this week in Ibiza. &lsquo;Cacao is the medicine of my people,&rsquo; shares Tata Walter. &lsquo;I received a gift from my ancestors to work with the sacred fire, the four elements, and the medicine of cacao. For more than a decade I have dedicated my life to the Mayan spiritual practices, the Mayan sacred calendar - Cholq'Ij - and the 20 sacred energies &ndash; Nawales - which my ancestors received from the Universe.&rsquo;&nbsp;Familia Cacao travel the world to spread the ancient wisdom as their grandfathers and grandmothers did.

A ceremony &ndash; such as those held by Tata Walter in Ibiza this week &ndash; will include the lighting of a sacred fire and the blessing of those surrounding it. Indigenous wisdom will be shared as the ceremonial cacao &ndash; an unprocessed form of virgin cacao &ndash; is drunk by participants. While not classified as a drug, cacao contains a molecule called theobromine, which acts a sister molecule to caffeine. Unlike caffeine, however, its stimulating effects focus on blood flow and the heart, as opposed to the nervous system. The effect of cacao is described as mildly euphoric and heart-opening, with people often feeling a grounded energy. The ceremony may last many hours, with singing, dancing and the sharing of thoughts and stories and closes with prayers for one and other and the community. Participants report feeling energised, euphoric and deeply held by the group. In this fractured world where true belonging is a commodity, could cacao be a solution for redefining our connection to one another?

Cacao in Ibiza: an ancient ritual for the modern day

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