About the experience:
Join us for this 3 hour sensory and immersive journey that melds sacred ritual, sound, and reiki. A deeply restorative combination to honour the heart, our nervous system and soul during one of the most chaotic months of the year. Hosted by two facilitators your journey will be deeply supportive allowing you to surrender in stillness, shift away from the distractions of outside world and reconnect to wholeness.
What to expect:
At its heart, a cacao ceremony is a spiritual journey, and cacao is the vessel guiding this journey. In indigenous traditions, cacao is not just seen as a plant but as a sentient being with its own consciousness and wisdom.
The ceremony will include intention setting, gentle movement and breathwork to begin fostering a deep connection between mind, body, and spirit.
The Cacao element will include sacred ritual practices while the soothing tones of the gong initiate a meditative journey, each reverberation of sound carrying its own unique frequency, resonating through the space. As the gong's vibrations envelop the participants, it creates an otherworldly harmony, amplifying the effects of the cacao and guiding individuals into a state of heightened awareness and relaxation.
The combination of cacao's natural compounds, which stimulate the release of endorphins and open the heart, and the gong's sonorous waves, which promote deep relaxation and mental clarity, synergize to facilitate a profound inward exploration. The experience may lead to enhanced introspection, emotional release, and a sense of oneness with oneself and the surrounding energy.
Benefits may include:
The Heart-Opening Qualities: Many who partake in cacao ceremonies describe a sensation of the heart 'opening'. This is both a physiological response – due to the active compounds in cacao that increase blood flow – and a spiritual experience, as participants often report feelings of love, empathy, and connection.
Meditative Depth: Cacao can deepen meditative practices. Its mild stimulating effects can enhance focus and awareness, making it easier for participants to enter a meditative or contemplative state.
Connection to Higher Self and Universe: Indigenous cultures believe that consuming cacao allows one to connect with their higher self and the universe. This sense of interconnectedness is often reported in modern cacao ceremonies as well.
Stress Reduction: The vibrations and sounds produced by gongs can induce a deep state of relaxation, reducing stress and anxiety. The rhythmic sound can help calm the mind and body.
Energetic Balancing: Proponents believe that the healing vibrations of reiki can help balance the body's energy. This can aid in aligning the chakras, promoting overall well-being.
Mental Clarity: The deep meditative state induced by the gong's sound can help clear the mind, enhancing mental clarity and focus.
Emotional Release: The frequency of the heart opening can facilitate emotional release, allowing individuals to let go of emotional blockages and find a sense of inner peace.
About your facilitators:
Elyse - @spiritofcacao_
Elyse is the co-founder of SPIRIT OF CACAO, here to share the healing and sacred benefits of sacred cacao with the world through ceremony and facilitation. Her passion for wellness and self-mastery, Elyse is and Ayurvedic Practitioner and Reiki Master who felt the call to share the sacred Spirit Of Cacao and it’s deep healing abilities with the world. Each batch of cacao is infused with Reiki energy to amplify its effects. This means you not only receive the nutritional benefits of cacao, but the physical, spiritual and emotional healing of Reiki.
Website: https://www.spiritofcacao.com.au/
Chelsey - @mana.temple
Chelsey is the founder of MANA TEMPLE; a trauma-informed private practice and sacred event space. As Somatic Therapist, Kinesiologist, Sound and Breath Facilitator, she holds workshops and healing experiences focusing on the intricate connection between the body and mind and utilizes a variety of modalities to guide individuals through their healing journeys. Chelsey orchestrates therapeutic sonic experiences, tapping into the vibrational healing properties of sound to help regulate and restore the nervous system. Her approach offers a safe and nurturing space for participants to explore what regulation in the body may feel like while integrating the healing power of sound.
Things to note:
Centre of You has plenty of bolsters, blankets, and cushions for you to get cosy with. A journal is recommended as are any familiar personal items that will aid you in feeling grounded (crystal, teddy, scarf, etc). You are welcome to bring your own pillow if you prefer, and your water bottle.
Personal responsibility: Please make an assessment on whether you are feeling stable and resourced enough to explore the practices on offer in this event.
Arrival: Endeavour to arrive between 5:45pm - 6:00pm. To preserve the experience for all involved, doors will close at 6:15pm. Truly, it breaks our heart to have to turn latecomers away yet the disruption to the whole group experience by virtue of lateness does require management. We ask that you find understanding and consideration for the timebound nature of the container and make every effort to arrive on time.
Driving: Know Centre of You is on Chapel St and ample time to find a car spot is best to be factored into your plans. Park direct on Chapel St (spots unmetered after 5pm) or in Anchor Place, the open-air parking lot in the side street that runs opposite Centre of You (unmetered after 4pm).
Public transport - tram: Both the number 6 tram & 78 tram stop on the corner of High St/Chapel St. This is stop 31 on the number 6 tram (Moreland/Glen Iris) & stop 45 on the number 78 tram (North Richmond/Balaclava).
Public transport - train: Both Prahran & Windsor stations along the Sandringham Line will get you walking distance to Centre of You.
Finding Centre of You: Centre of You is nestled within the arcade that Chapel St Bazaar is in (217 Chapel St). It is up a flight of stairs with a wide landing at the half-way-point. Unfortunately, this current version of Centre of You does not have a wheelchair accessible lift. If you could use support in getting up the stairs or would like to discuss ways to make your experience at Centre of You more comfortable, please reach out via grace@centreofyou.com.au or via DM over on Centre of You Instagram.
Accessibility: At COY we aim to ensure our community and events are inclusive and accessible while alongside upholding the needs and responsibilities of our business and the businesses of our collaborating facilitators. Should you be in a time of financial challenge and unable to pay the full ticket price comfortably, please reach out to grace@centreofyou.com.au
Ticketing T&Cs: We get it, life happens, therefore we will gladly refund you up until 24hrs before the event start time. After that, we have a strict no refund/no transfer to future events policy.
If you are no longer able to attend and wish to pay forward your ticket to someone within the community, be in touch via grace@centreofyou.com.au or via DM over on Centre of You Instagram.
Questions? Email grace@centreofyou.com.au or reach out via Instagram DM.
Tickets: $66.00