The Benefits of Cacao & Sacred Sound Ceremonies

Dom Hatcher
Sep 10
4 min read

A cacao pod and Himalayan sound bowls are set up on an altar, prepared for a cacao ceremony.

There’s a moment in every ceremony when the room shifts.

The last bit of chatter softens. Breathing slows. The heart opens.

And something deeper begins to speak.

This is the medicine of a Cacao & Sacred Sound Ceremony.

This isn’t just a Spiritual experience. There’s a growing body of science showing how cacao and sound affect us physically, mentally, energetically, and spiritually. When we bring them together, the effects are profound.

Cacao: The Heart-Opening Medicine & Healer

Cacao has been honoured for thousands of years as a sacred plant teacher. It isn’t just a drink — it’s a doorway. A gentle teacher that awakens the heart, softens the mind, and reminds us of our natural state of connection and belonging.

When we sit with cacao in ceremony, we invite presence.

We invite openness.

We invite the wisdom of the heart & the teacher that lives within us.

Today, we’re starting to understand why it feels so different to drink ceremonial Cacao compared to coffee or hot chocolate.

Physically: Cacao is rich in theobromine, a gentle stimulant that increases circulation and energy without the spikes and crashes of caffeine. It also contains magnesium (supporting relaxation and nervous system balance) and antioxidants that nourish the body (Franco et al., 2013).
Mentally: Studies show cacao flavanols improve mood, memory, and focus by increasing blood flow to the brain (Scholey et al., 2010).
Energetically & spiritually: Cacao is often described as a “heart opener.” It boosts serotonin and anandamide (the “bliss molecule”), helping us feel more connected, compassionate, and open to deeper states of awareness (Nehlig, 2013).

In ceremony, this means cacao gently prepares the body and mind, creating the perfect state to receive the medicine of sound.

Dom, founder of Cacao Sita, plays the Native American flute during a Cacao & Sacred Sound Ceremony in Henley, surrounded by an array of musical instruments and a large gong.

Sound: The Language of Frequency

Sound reaches places words cannot. The deep pulse of the drum, the shimmering waves of the gong, the song of the bowls — they move through the body, loosening what’s heavy, calming what’s restless, and carrying us inward.

Sound therapy works on multiple levels at once — through frequency, rhythm, and resonance. Instruments like gongs, singing bowls, and drums don’t just “relax” us; they shift our brainwaves and nervous system.

Physically: The deep vibrations of gongs and bowls are felt through the body, stimulating circulation and promoting release of tension. Studies show that rhythmic drumming at 4–7 beats per second can help the brain enter theta states — the same states linked to creativity, meditation, and deep relaxation (Maxfield, 1994; Gingras et al., 2014).
Mentally: Theta states allow the mind to slow down. This is where insights, clarity, and creative ideas often emerge. Research has found that sound-based practices reduce anxiety, improve mood, and even lower cortisol (the stress hormone) after just a single session (Wahbeh et al., 2007; West et al., 2017).

Energetically & spiritually: Sound has been used across cultures to access expanded states of consciousness. Gongs and bowls produce complex overtones that create a sense of spaciousness, helping people journey inward or feel connected to something greater.

In a group, sound also creates coherence — a shared field of harmony where individuals feel more connected and supported.

The Combination: Why Cacao & Sound Together?

When cacao and sound are woven together, they amplify each other.

Cacao opens the heart ~ Sound carries you deeper.
Cacao sharpens focus ~ Sound clears the mind.
Cacao softens resistance ~ Sound helps release it.
Cacao creates connection ~ Sound weaves it into the group.

Many people describe the combination as transformational — leaving not only relaxed, but also clear, connected, and inspired.

People often leave these journeys saying they feel:

• lighter in their body

• calmer in their mind

• more open hearted

• clearer in their connection to them sleves and others

On a physical level, cacao prepares the body with heart centred energy and openness, while sound entrains the brain and nervous system into balance. On a spiritual level, cacao connects us to the heart, and sound guides us into states of expanded awareness.

It’s not about escaping life, but returning to it — renewed, reconnected, realigned and in rememberence of our true Self.

What People Often Experience in Cacao & Sound Ceremonies

Deep relaxation and release of stress
Heightened clarity, intuition, and insight
A sense of connection — to self, others, and spirit
Emotional release & heart-opening experiences
Renewed energy and inspiration

Every Cacao & Sound journey is unique, but the common thread is that people leave lighter, clearer, and more connected than when they arrived.

Final Thoughts

For me, Cacao & Sound Journeys are a way of remembering.

Remembering the wisdom we already carry.

Remembering the connection we already are.

Remembering that we belong to the Earth & to each other.

And remembering that healing doesn’t have to be hard — sometimes it can be as simple as sitting together, drinking cacao, listening deeply and sharing our truths.

In Love & Gratitude,

Dom x

References

Franco, R., Oñatibia-Astibia, A., & Martínez-Pinilla, E. (2013). Health benefits of methylxanthines in cacao and chocolate. Nutrients, 5(10).
Gingras, B., Pohler, G., & Fitch, W.T. (2014). Exploring shamanic journeying: EEG correlates of altered states of consciousness during drumming. PLoS ONE, 9(7).
Maxfield, M. (1994). The journey of the drum: rhythmic entrainment and altered states of consciousness. Music Therapy, 12(2).
Nehlig, A. (2013). The neuroprotective effects of cocoa flavanol and caffeine. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 75(3).
Scholey, A.B., et al. (2010). Consumption of cocoa flavanols results in acute improvements in mood and cognitive performance. Appetite, 54(3).
Wahbeh, H., Calabrese, C., & Zwickey, H. (2007). Binaural beat technology in humans: a pilot study to assess psychologic and physiologic effects. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 13(1).
West, J., Otte, C., Geher, K., Johnson, J., & Mohr, D.C. (2017). Effects of Hatha yoga and sound-based relaxation on stress and mood. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 27(4).