The Heart & Mind Festival, Golden Drum, and MAISC, Inc. invite you to join us in sacred prayer during a special series of events in conjunction with Climate Week NYC and the United Nations General Assembly. These events aim to amplify the mission of Climate Week to drive climate action, fast. Our events will include prayers for the Earth and supporting the protection of the vision, voices, actions, and sacred practices of Indigenous leaders and nations worldwide.
The cacao ceremony is a sacred gathering in which participants gather to connect to their hearts and experience new life through the healing qualities of cacao.
A plant revered by the indigenous people of the Americas, cacao has received widespread recognition through its usage as the key ingredient in chocolate. For the Mayan people, cacao is utilized as a rebirthing medicine, helping people get rid of negativity, release emotional suffering, and experience universal love.
Preparation for a Cacao Ceremony:
Cacao contains caffeine, so please do NOT DRINK COFFEE or any other stimulants at least 3 hours before the ceremony. Please also refrain from using drugs or alcohol. We recommend that you do not eat for at least three hours prior to the ceremony. Dress in comfortable loose clothing.
Please drink plenty of water both before and after the ceremony to stay hydrated.
Register in advance to reserve your space. No one turned away for lack of funds; contact us for assistance.
Donation: $40; no one turned away for lack of funds. Contact us for assistance.
This event is SOLD OUT, limited space available at the door, first come first serve. Thank you!
Bio:
Nana Marina Cruz is an Ajq'ij (spiritual guide) of the Tz ́utujil People of Guatemaya. She is the daughter of Tata Pedro & works not just as a healer and therapist with natural folk methods, but as a ceremonial leader of fire, tobacco, cacao and temazcal. She is a teacher of the Mayan calendar and the Mayan cosmovision. She works closely with the midwives of her community to coordinate prenatal, birth, and postpartum care. She emphasizes the importance of being truly connected in body and spirit. She believes that all things have a meaning, every emotion, every disease, and that these energies all have their origin. It is by finding the origin, that we can truly heal the spirit and body.