Inner Shaman Adventures - Cacao Ceremony 22

St Ouen's beach - taken by me

I decided to journey with cacao alone to deepen my connection with her and continue the work.

I opened space, set up my altar and then cooked, sang, rattled, danced smudged, and called in the spirits - whilst allowing her to bubble and melt and become thick enough for drinking.

I sat in front of cacao, in front of the altar, and prayed my intentions to create space in me for my next steps, whatever they may be and I drank her deeply, breathing her in. I pulled the card, 'Courage.'

I laid down to the sound of drumming and instantly I was on St Ouen beach, in Jersey. I walked to the edge of the sea and found myself swimming in very dangerous rip tides, the waves huge and overwhelming as the surf crushed my body repeatedly. I became aware that my understanding of the sea is so very different when I am at the edge compared to being in its midst, but as I saw a dolphin nearby, I understood I would also never have the perspective of the sea the dolphin has. I rode the waves back to the shore and walked towards a tunnel and gate, which opened up to a jungle.

As soon as I was there a jaguar was beside me. As I walked deeper and deeper into the jungle she padded alongside. Soon I found the clearing and waited on my tree stump for Old Mother Cacao. The jaguar paced around me, unable to settle, until Old Mother Cacao entered.

The drumming took over and I wove in and out of consciousness, I felt the drum on my base, heart and throat chakra - every beat dug a deeper hole. Soon black sludge vomited out of me and with every drum beat a little more until black poured out at an alarming rate, my body too small to have physically kept all this in.

As soon as the black leaves, my body became clear and I started to shake violently on the floor. I shook until colour entered each chakra and I lay there, the brightest rainbow. Old Mother Cacao walked up to me and blew mapacho on to me and said, 'Very good.'

  'Allow yourself to shine, my darling. Do not be afraid of who you are. You need to take me further, take me to those who are suffering.'

  'You need to take the next steps in Shamanism, you need to find a Master.'

I agreed I would.

  'The jaguar is your spirit guide, she will protect you in the lower world.'

Glowing, I hugged Old Mother Cacao and she entered into my energetic body. The jaguar and I walked back to the gate and I told her that I would return.

Once I returned to St Ouen, I walked back to the edge of the sea and then swam in her magical waters. The sea was much calmer and I surfed the waves with ease, playing in the water.

Aho.

You can find more adventures in Shamanism here: Inner Shaman Adventures

Follow me here...

Twitter: Gracie's Twitter Page

Facebook: Gracie's FB page

The Sea - Short Story

She stared at the blank day ahead and wondered what to do with herself. The curse of this western mentality… this need to do. She thought that she didn't want waste even a moment of this life she had been given. She scrolled through names of people she knew in her head but still she was at a loss. She didn’t want to talk, she didn’t want to share, but she couldn’t stay inside for one more minute.

She heard classical music playing in the background. It was Sunday morning and her housemates were up and making breakfast. She knew if she walked into the kitchen they would ask her what she would do with her day. She knew she would reply vaguely, content to throw them off the scent of her enforced solitude, the unsettled feeling she sat with each day, this feeling of fragility that peaked with every interaction and movement she made.

She didn't want to share this day with someone yet if she lived it alone who would know that she lived? Who would know that her day was not wasted? Later, when someone asked her who she was out with what would she say? She breathed deeply and safely maneuvered herself from questions, and walked into the sunlight. She looked at the most important gift she has received since she had been here - her bicycle.

Within minutes she was out of the garden and safely circling the road, her music on and her heart free now she could go anywhere she chose. It was no secret that she was in love with this city, her heart soared at the sight of the skyline or the diamond glitter of the river but still she pushed her bike on until she reached her true home, the clear salt water that washed away any worry. 

She laid her bike down, stripped off her clothes and walked into the warm waters. As she lay there, floating, she realised she no longer needed an anchor, raft or boat to help keep her safe. She no longer needed someone to give her words to help define her day. She lay bare, floating under the warm sun, allowing the support of the water to help her ride the waves, trusting the universe and its plan, no longer caring what was next. 

She felt complete surrender. 

You can read my short stories here: Gracie's short stories

Follow me here...

Twitter: Gracie's Twitter Page
Facebook: Gracie's FB page
Google +: Gracie's Google + page