Sacred Cacao Tree

Sacred Cacao Tree. A 6 month in-depth, in-person cacao ceremonial leadership training and initiation.

Discover how to work with cacao as a medicine of the heart for body, mind and spirit healing, activation and expansion.

Learn to powerfully hold sacred space and facilitate ceremonies for yourself and others.

Your apprenticeship begins April 2024.

Over 6 months you'll be guided into a deep connection with Mama Cacao and yourself.

A unique combination of 5 day intensive, followed by 5 weekend trainings, and extensive personal and spiritual development practices.

You will discover the subtle yet powerful ally that is cacao. You will learn to be guided by intuition, by cacao, and by subtle energies to support others to transform their lives as they reclaim the path of their heart.

This deep immersion and initiation is fully supported by experienced teachers in cacao, ceremony, holistic arts, movement, and much more.

This program has been lovingly crafted by experienced teachers and ceremonial leaders. Blending sacred circle time, group and individual ceremonies, nature practices, discussion and exploration. Guided and supported all the way by Mama Cacao.

Explore The Magic Of Cacao

Through consistent personal practice and ritual, you will develop your own relationship with the cacao spirit. A powerful plant ally that can support, guide and heal.

Experience The Power Of Ceremony

Discover the foundations to safe, heart-centered ceremonies. Be confident and present holding the frequency of cacao for you and your community.

Expand Your Sacred Connection

Supported by the elements, you will tap into your inner leader, find your own ceremonial style and unique gifts, bringing those to the world.

The Essentials

This advanced training takes place over 6 months, specially designed to enable you to develop a deep connection with Mama Cacao and be supported as you step into your heart-centred ceremonial leadership.

5 Day Intensive

15 - 19 April 2024
(Mon - Fri, 9 - 5pm)

Plus 5 weekends

3 - 5 May 2024
31 May - 2 Jun
28 - 30 Jun
12 - 14 July
6 - 8 Sep
(Fri - Sun, 9 - 5pm)

Training Investment

£3456 (£555 deposit)

Early bird £2992 until 1 Jan 2024.
Payment plan available.

I'm Ready To Register

Location

This training will take place within the sacred space of Deborah's vibrant retreat home and temple studio in the beautiful Vale of the White Horse in West Oxfordshire.

During the training, we will visit the ancient sites of White Horse Hill and Wayland Smithy Neolithic burial chamber for ritual and energy activation.

You will also be given homework, self-study and integration practices.

Sacred Cacao Tree is for you if...

You are a yoga teacher, ecstatic dancer, holistic practitioner, or shamanic healer wishing to extend your skills
You have a calling to explore cacao more deeply and to work with her safely and powerfully
You wish to learn how to hold heart-centred ceremonies with integrity
You are committed to a deep transformational journey

You will...

Experience profound personal and spiritual development
Discover tools and techniques to support transformation in those you work with
Learn how to hold clear and powerful space for others
Understand and embody the responsibility of the seat of a teacher and facilitator
Enter into a deep connection to the Spirit of Cacao and to yourself

Your training includes...

140 hours in-person over 6 months
Extensive self-study practices
A comprehensive workbook
An exclusive Cacao Journal
Private WhatsApp/Facebook group
Ongoing support from experienced teachers
Laughter, tears, challenge and lots of fun

I Want To Register

Course Outline

Week Intensive: 15 - 19 Apr 2024
Journey to meet Mama Cacao, inviting her into your life, setting your intention and asking for guidance.
Initiation into the 4 elements: Earth, Water, Air and Fire

Weekend 1: 3 - 5 May
Be rooted with the element of EARTH as you find your ground.

Weekend 2: 31 May - 2 Jun
Immersed in the element of WATER you will ease into your natural flow.

Weekend 3: 28 - 30 Jun
Take flight with the element of AIR as your intuition opens up.

Weekend 4: 12 - 14 Jul
Ignite your passion with the element of FIRE as your gifts are revealed.

Weekend 5: 6 - 8 Sep
Declaring your purpose and intention as you STEP OUT into the world.
Your final Initiation holding the Sacred Cacao Tree in your heart.

Curriculum

Origins of cacao and its journey through time

Discover the long and varied history of cacao and humans
Explore the types of cacao grown around the world
The colonisation of cacao
Cacao in the 21st century

Sacred Science - Sacred Medicine

Cacao and health - learn about the wide range of nutrients in cacao
Contraindications
Exploring how cacao may support emotional and physical health
Heart healing, healing the trauma of the heart, past life
Sacred preparation of cacao elixirs

Sacred Ceremony, Sacred Leadership

What is heart-centred ceremony and leadership?
Intention, sacred space, altar, energy clearing
Trauma-aware facilitation
Leading from the Not-I
Listening to the power of your intuition
Sacred responsibility and supporting your participants

Sacred Connection

Developing your connection to the Spirit of Cacao
Connection with yourself, living from the heart
Connection to others, to nature
Combining cacao with other modalities
Working with Mama Cacao for deep transformation

Sacred Sound, Sacred Movement, Sacred Play

Exploring and expanding your senses
Be embodied through movement practices
A breathe of fresh air

Sacred Land, Sacred Elements

Initiation into the elements
Honouring the land in ceremony
Tuning in to natural rhythms and cycles
Every moment is sacred in the Wheel of Life

Frequently asked questions

You’ve got questions. We’ve got answers.

What are the prerequisites for this training?

Sacre Cacao Tree is an advanced training and still widely accessible. Previous experience of being part of cacao ceremonies is essential. Above all, does your heart say YES?

What are the dates for the training?

The Sacred Cacao training begins with a 5 day intensive 15 - 19 Apr 2024 2024 (Mon - Fri, 9 - 5pm)

Followed by 5 weekends (Fri - Sun, 9 - 5pm) 3 - 5 May, 31 May - 2 Jun, 28 - 30 Jun, 12 - 14 Jul, 6 - 8 Sep

What happens if I can't make all the dates?

Being part of the Sacred Cacao Tree program is a big commitment and the course content has been carefully crafted to take you on a deepening personal journey. Attendance of 90% of the course is required (this equates to all but 1 or 2 days). Download our full terms here.

Being in-person, where does the training take place?

We will gather at Deborah's vibrant retreat home and temple studio in the beautiful Vale of the White Horse in West Oxfordshire.

During the training, we will visit the ancient sites of White Horse Hill and Wayland Smithy neolithic burial chamber for ritual and energy activation.

Is this residential?

There is limited space for camping (in your own tent or a communal tipi), or staying in your own camper van at our venue, with a contribution for utilities, etc. This is on a first come first booked basis.

Alternatively, there is a wide range of (Air)B&Bs within easy reach (to be arranged yourself at your own expense).

Is food provided?

Plenty of drinks will be available throughout our time together.

We ask the people to bring their own lunches.

Evening meals can be communal, solo, going out, or eating in. Let the magic reveal that as we come together.

I can't make these dates, will you be running it again?

Yes, but not until 2025

Your Guides

Dan Knowlson

Dan has been on an unfolding exploration of personal healing and growth for more than 2 decades.

Working with cacao since 2010, he makes award-winning raw chocolate goodies, teaches workshops, holds regular cacao & fire ceremonies, and collaborates with musicians and healers.

Founding Cacao Mastery in 2020, Dan teaches and mentors people around the world to step fully into the role of ceremonial leader, through the path of their heart.

Dan's path includes fire and water through his training with sweat lodges, and re-connecting ever more with nature.

He is an experienced facilitator and ceremonial leader, has initiated as a New Warrior with the ManKind Project, and volunteers with Journeyman UK as a mentor to teenage boys.

Dan's mission is...
To bring change through connection to heart, nature, spirit and cacao.

Deborah Curtis

Deborah is a Spiritual Teacher, a Sacred Ceremonial Facilitator, and a healer of the ‘Shamanka’ Medicine Woman Lineage.

She is known as a catalyst for uplifting and inspiring the message of celebration and
oneness and weaving tribal ways into evolving conscious communities.

As co-founder and creatrix of One Heart One Tribe, Sacred Adventures and Mama Cacao,
Deborah holds Sacred Space for others to find their ‘true path’ of joy and fulfilment - with the deep intention of raising the planetary vibration.

She began her path of service as a Yoga Teacher and Reiki Healer 22 years ago. Now a Senior Yoga Trainer and Mentor, she leads her ‘Wild Shakti’ Yoga Teacher Trainings on her sacred land in Oxfordshire.

She has Initiated a tribe of incredible teachers into her lineage of sacred space holders.

Deborah’s mission is to bring Cacao Ceremonies and Ceremonial Training back to the Heart Centre - for true alignment, balance, growth, and expansion.

Visiting Teachers, Practitioners & Facilitators

Through the 6 month course we will be joined by a variety of experienced teachers, practitioners and facilitators. All bring unique gifts and breadth of skills adding richness to the Sacred Cacao Tree training.

Your Next Steps

The Sacred Cacao Tree ceremonial leadership training and initiation is not for everyone.

If you hear the call of Mama Cacao in your heart and are committed to learning and transforming, even when fear and self-doubt appear, take the next step.

Click the button, complete the short form and we'll be in touch.

I'm Ready For the Next Step