Walk the Path of the Cacao Shaman
Join a deeply transformative retreat in Peru, and become more than a cacao ceremony facilitator: become a modern-day cacao medicine keeper.
CACAO INITIATION TRAINING — 9 DAY RETREAT IN PERU
Become a confident cacao ritualist. Join a unique in-person retreat in Northern Peru, the birthplace of cacao on the planet.
DATES: MARCH 4-13, 2024DURATION: 9 DAYS / 9 NIGHTSLOCATION: AMAZONAS, NORTHERN PERUGo back in time. More than 5000 years ago.
In a valley of Northern Peru where dinosaurs used to roam the Earth. A place filled with energy vortexes and cleansing waterfalls.
A time when sacred plants were used ceremonially by ancient shamans, helping humans live in harmony with nature.
For thousands of years, these natural medicines of the Amazon were kept secret from the rest of the world.
But about 500 years ago, one of them — just one — disseminated all over the planet. Over time, almost everybody on Earth got to know it.
Except for one thing: the full extent of its healing potential.
5000 years ago, loneliness, stress, and exhaustion were mostly inexistent.
Today, it is a common source of suffering.
For many, it has become their normal. Under the surface, limiting beliefs keep circling around:
“I am not enough… I am unworthy… I am alone…”
Because of that, many people are hard on themselves.
Caught in an infinite loop of self-improvement and self-sabotage, life is rarely fulfilling. The cycle of stress and exhaustion, anxiety and depression, starts forming a downward spiral.
Things begin to break apart, while many feel that they are about to break down.
But it does not have to be that way.
An ancient medicine is waiting to be rediscovered.
It is hiding in plain sight, inside something everyone knows well: chocolate, or cocoa — XOCOLATL, in the ancient language of Mesoamerica.
Found in its purest form, it is a powerful medicine called ceremonial cacao — BAKAU, in the ancient Awajun language of Northern Peru.
Now is the time to rediscover the path of the cacao shaman.
On this journey of breakthrough, liberation, and purpose, some are now called to carve a new shamanic path adapted to the needs of contemporary life.
A path where you can become a free-spirited and modern-day cacao shaman.
Our feelings and needs become priority again, as we learn to honor ourselves, and the quality of life we are blessed to have here and now. Everyone’s relationship with cacao is unique, and its teachings are sacred.
Enjoy fresh cacao in nature
Experience cleansing waterfalls
Prepare ceremonial cacao in nature
Learn how to hold safe spaces that provide deep healing, with the support of the sacred medicine of cacao.
Discover how ceremonial cacao can help liberate energy blockages caused by emotional core wounds and trauma. Become a trusted and respected cacao practitioner in your community, and bring deep healing to the world. This is a calling from Spirit, intended for all people of this Earth.
Join a transformative journey of self discovery.
This training is a complete initiation for you to become a confident & compassionate facilitator. Learn how to be true to your heart, and receive the tools you need to create and guide cacao ceremonies with your own unique gifts.
Meet this beautiful plant ally at its birthplace.
Connect with your heart like never before. Join us for a unique cacao retreat in Northern Peru.
Restore Your Whole Being While Learning the Ways of the Cacao Shaman
Relax in an eco-lodge with pool and inspiring waterfall view
What You Will Learn
Experience a Transformative Journey on the Land of the Ancient Medicine of Cacao
As you connect and work with the sacred medicine of cacao, on the land where it originated on Earth, you will embody its essence, and serve from a place of integrity. You will learn how to hold space for people, so they feel safe to connect with their vulnerability, and transform with the energy of ceremonial cacao. And you will develop the self-confidence to create and guide your own unique ceremonies.
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Enhance Your Life & How You Serve Others
Cacao enhances the connection with yourself, and your life choices, simply by cultivating presence, gratitude, and welcoming all that you are. Cacao has many medicinal benefits, bio-chemical properties boosting serotonin and mood, and allows you to tune into the creative gifts you wish to share with the world. When you fill your cup, you can then serve, and inspire others to do the same. Be that guiding life force and example of how rich and fulfilling life can be.
2.
Learn How to Safely Guide People with Your Own Unique Gifts
When you learn to create a safe space to welcome your emotions and personal transformation, you can then do the same for others. When we work with a plant medicine like cacao, set and setting are key, as feeling safe is priority. Once that foundation is layed out, there is a sense of trust and opening for people to receive your guidance. Cacao has a gentle presence of unconditional love, that will help you feel confident in what you have to share, and how you can support people on their pathway to heart wisdom and connection.
3.
Embrace a Meaningful Life in Service to Humanity
Learning ancestral cacao practices that have been revered for many generations will enrich your spirit, and the way you participate to weave a blessed path for generations to come. Connect with the Earth, and learn how to balance masculine and feminine energy within. This supports you as an individual, as a guide, and how you show up in the world, to create and present your sacred offerings.
“During the cacao training with Aynua, I experienced significant shifts within. I felt completely supported by Diana & Alku, who offer a safe space to work with cacao.”
— Kerry, Australia
Content of the Training Included in this Retreat
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History is being re-written regarding the origin of cacao on the planet. Learn the history of cacao from ancient times to now, its use as a sacred medicine, and what makes cacao ceremonial. Discover the amazing benefits of this sacred tree, for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Become familiar with all the steps, from the tree to your cup, and how the sacred medicine of cacao can change the world.
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Learn all the steps to prepare the best ceremonial cacao for a small or large group. This includes: intention setting, ancient cacao preparation, and quality of presence. Receive guidance on how to connect to the spirit of cacao, and the shamanic experience this sacred medicine provides.
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Your structure acts as a grounding guide for you and your participants to feel safe. This allows you to focus on your original intention as well as explore your feminine side throughout the structure. It encompasses a theme, a journey from beginning to end, and the grace of making the ceremony your own creation, coming from the wisdom of your heart. The structure assists in offering a safe foundation for you and your participants to receive a valuable offering.
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Learn how to offer a prayer and calling of the directions based on the Andean medicine wheel, and develop your own unique way to open the ceremony. Connect with the tradition of your choice, to thank Mother Earth, Father Sky, the elements, and the Spirit of Cacao. This opening prayer is meant to honor life, nature, and allows each participant to open up to the practice of gratitude, for the transformation they are looking for.
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We teach you how to guide your participants through the lower, middle, and upper world of consciousness, and how to balance feminine and masculine energy. When offering a guided meditation, you can experience yourself in a new way. The receptive and creative channels open, and being of service in this way will raise your vibration, as well as those who will receive you. Through this exploration, you will discover and enable yourself to transcend energies, and help others welcome the cycles of nature within, with grace and humility.
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Learn to identify which of the 6 emotional core wounds you carry, as well as the limiting beliefs associated, so you can help others become conscious on their healing path. This is an essential foundation for self healing and empowerment. Harness the ability to hold a compassionate space for your participants, as you begin to recognize which wounds they carry. Learn how to cultivate the antidotes for each wound, so you can hold space for them with loving presence.
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Learn the importance of cultivating self-respect, and how to set healthy boundaries around your sacred space and offerings. We share inspiration on how to manage the container of your ceremony, and offer you appropriate guidelines to keep the participants stay on topic, as well as time management tools. Having clear boundaries in and around yourself, will inspire participants to awaken self love in their lives as well.
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Learn how the different roles you may play, unconsciously, as a cacao ceremony facilitator, can have a great impact, positive or negative, on the journey of your participants. Learn to identify and recognize the polarities of the shadow archetypes, so you can consciously aim to embrace the role of the mature guide.
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Receive crucial information on how to create and guide a safe sharing circle. Everyone who comes to your offering will need to be heard and seen, as part of their healing journey. Learn how to prepare yourself for this important part of the ceremony, as you offer the quality of presence needed for your participants to be able to express themselves inside a safe container.
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Set and setting are key components in providing exceptional ceremonial experiences of growth, transformation, and evolution. Checking in on your participants and their specific needs already sets the tone that you are a mature guide. It builds a sense of trust and safety. Learn how to navigate emotions when difficult characters or situations arise, during your time as a space holder. And develop new skills of communication to support your journey as a guide.
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Sound healing and music expression is a beautiful addition to a cacao ceremony. You will learn how to harmonize your participants, and explore different possibilities of using your voice and music to support transformation. If you are deeply connected to the medicine of cacao, you may even begin to receive a song from spirit, and sing when you are preparing cacao.
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As important as the opening of a ceremony, the conclusion is just as necessary to honor the important work and transformation that has been experienced during a ceremony. Learn how to bring people back in their body, and ground the energy, to maintain the sacred space within each person. Cleansing ritual and closing prayer are the main components of this part of the ceremony.
Experience Emotional & Creative Breakthroughs
Connect Deeply with Cacao & Yourself
Day 1
Arrival in Amazonas, Peru
Lunch
Opening Cacao Ceremony
Guided Workshop
Breathwork
Dinner
Day 2
Morning Yoga
Breakfast
Waterfall Hike
Lunch
Cacao Preparation & Ritual in Nature
Dinner
Day 3
Breakfast
Visit to a Cacao Farm Full Day (Lunch at the farm)
Cacao Fire Ceremony
Dinner
Day 4
Morning Yoga
Breakfast
Guided Workshop
Lunch
Guided Workshop
Breathwork
Dinner
Day 5
Breakfast
Horseback Ride & Waterfall hike
Lunch
Afternoon Gentle Yoga
Dinner
Day 6
Morning Yoga
Breakfast
Guided Workshop
Lunch
Free Time
Cacao Ceremony
Dinner
Day 7
Breakfast
Guided Workshop
Lunch
Guided Workshop
Dinner
Day 8
Breakfast
Guided Workshop
Lunch
Guided Workshop
Dinner
Day 9
Breakfast
Free Time
Lunch
Final Practice
Dinner
Day 10
Breakfast
Departure
Included in this Retreat
24 Hours of Training with Diana & Alku
9 Nights Deluxe Eco Lodge / Shared or Private Room
3 Organic Vegetarian Meals per Day / Vegan & Gluten Free Option
1 Kilo of Aynua Organic Ceremonial Cacao
Safe Space for You to Practice and Receive Feedback
Certificate of Completion
Exclusive to this Retreat
Visit to a Cacao Farm
Waterfall & River Excursion
Horseback Riding
Rewilding Ritual in Nature
Natural Pool
Horseback riding to the 3rd highest waterfall in Peru
Certificate of completion
Is this Training for Me?
If you are on a spiritual or shamanic path, this training will inspire you to bring your gifts to life.
If you feel blocked, and want to liberate your potential as a guide, you will be given the tools to feel more confident in yourself. This is a spiritual and transformative experience that will enable you to go deep into your own healing process. As you learn to be present with yourself, you will develop the capacity to hold space for others. If you are looking to be a more connected person and facilitator, and work with the incredible medicinal benefits of ceremonial cacao, this training is for you.
“The best journey I’ve ever taken! Spiritually and physically… I’d go back in a heartbeat! If you’re thinking about it, book it!”
— Grainne, Ireland
“Diana & Alku teach and guide gently, while holding an energetically nourishing space for one to be successful on their healing journey.”
— Tatiana, Ukraine
Meet Your Teachers
Be guided by two spiritual teachers who live in Peru and share more than 12 years of experience working with ceremonial cacao.
Diana Deer Hawk, Founder & Teacher
Alku Mateus, Founder & TeacherDiana Deer Hawk & Alku Mateus were first introduced to ceremonial cacao in Central America, more than 10 years ago. Since 2017, they live in Peru, where cacao originated on Earth. They are continuously participating and learning about ancient cacao cultivation and preservation, archaeological discoveries related to cacao history, and sharing this with people from all over the world.
They teach how cacao is helping humanity rise to its full potential, one heart connection at a time. Experiencing this sacred medicine can revive and activate the roots of an ancient heart wisdom, within you, and in the people you serve.
With Aynua Amazonas, Diana & Alku support indigenous communities of Northern Peru, growing the finest quality of cacao on the planet, and steward a space for cacao education, preservation, and indigenous wisdom.
With their 30 years of combined experience in the field of personal transformation and spiritual growth, they can help you become the most confident and trusted guide, in service to humanity.
Free Clarity Call
If you need to make sure this retreat is the right fit for you, schedule a free 20min clarity call on Zoom, with Diana & Alku.
Register
In Person Retreat in Peru: MARCH 4-13, 2024The Aynua Cacao Initiation Retreat is a unique in person training in Northern Peru. After completing your registration and payment below, you will receive all the information necessary for you to plan your travel. This training includes 20 hours of teaching, over a period of 9 days, in the majestic mountains of the Amazonas region, in Northern Peru (flight not included).
$3,690.00 USD
SHARED ROOM$3,990.00 USD
PRIVATE ROOM$5,990.00 USD
PRICE FOR COUPLETo Register, Follow These 3 Simple Steps:
1) Apply with a Free Clarity Call
Apply by booking a free 20min clarity call with Diana & Alku. This is to ensure that this retreat is the right fit for you.
2) Receive the Secured Linked
Once your application is accepted, you will receive a secured link to make your payment and reserve your spot for the retreat.
3) Book Your Retreat
With the secured link that you received, you can make your payment using a credit card, debit card, or Apple Pay.
You can pay by debit or credit card.
Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Apple Pay.
during the retreat, transportation, food, accommodation, and all costs related to the activities of the retreat, are included in the price of the retreat.The cost of your flight tickets is not included in the price of the retreat. 100% refundable until 2 months before the retreat / 50% refundable until 1 month before the retreat / not refundable after.a copy of your travel insurance, covering all medical expenses in case of injury, sickness, or disease, must be provided to us before your arrival.