Heart & Soul of Cacao is a modern ceremonial cacao facilitation service, offered by Andrea Bakacs (she/her), a Portland, Oregon based cacao worker. Andrea began personally working with cacao two years ago, during an accelerated immersion into an ongoing healing journey she’s been on for a couple of decades. She found that the subtle healing energy of cacao prompted her to offer this medicine through contemporary ritual, and now uses cacao to help gently guide others onto their own unique path of healing. Andrea completed training and received her “Cacao-Powered Facilitator” certification under Nick Meador using the Soul Lift Cacao method, learning to safely guide transformational experiences in an ethical and responsible way, through a trauma informed and neurodivergent lens. She has traveled to Guatemala visiting several collectives to learn more about the history and art of cacao, while participating in traditional Mayan ceremonies, which deepened her relationship and respect to the land, people, and culture that bring us this sacred plant medicine.

Cacao allows Andrea to move from living in a rapid fire, external deadline driven, high stress, and disconnected work environment and career, to one that is slower, introspective, intentional, and based on the power of connection. Connection to ourselves, connection to each other, connection to the world, and connection to that which is greater than us. The wisdom of this food of the gods offers her glimmers that whisper that life is worth slowing down for, worth savoring, and asks her to show up in a different way– to pay attention, to notice, to feel, to find what feels good, to play, to allow, to accept, to hope, to dream. Andrea offers both public and private group and one-on-one experiences. She can incorporate meditation, reflection, communication, and embodiment + movement practices.

Some things you might expect or experience at a modern cacao ceremony facilitated by Heart & Soul Cacao:

• Authentic intention setting

• Ethically sourced, direct trade, sustainably farmed Guatemalan cacao tested for safe levels of heavy metals and mold

• A protected container to experience and share, with consent and permission agreements in place

• Altar building

• Self compassion, grace, and intuition

• Guided meditation, including alternatives to visualization for aphants

• Pranayama techniques

• Creative practices

• Journaling exercises

• Movement and dance

Andrea is also interested in collaborating with like minded individuals through other healing modalities, so please feel free to get in touch if you are a sound healer, breath worker, energy healer, or otherwise for co-led events.

You can find and reach her on Instagram @HeartAndSoulCacao or contact directly at HeartAndSoulCacao@gmail.com to schedule a ceremony for you or your group.