*Registration for 2023 is now closed. If you would like to join a circle in 2024, please let me know by submitting your comments in the form at the bottom of this page. 🤎
Ritual: Self-Care & Cacao
Daily rituals—those activities I wake up excited to immerse myself in every morning and afternoon because they inspire, energize, and ground me—have become an integral part of my ability to embody my healthiest and happiest self. I believe in the power of stillness. The power of reverence. The power of the healer inside each of us. This is why I drink sacred cacao and come home to myself every single day.
Add to that the love and support of a circle of beautiful souls, and a recipe for true healing is manifested. There is joy in belonging. Power in connection. And it’s been taken from many of us over the past few years. It doesn’t have to be that way. I found ways to gather in community despite the restrictions, and my experiences with others in these sacred spaces have been nothing short of magical. I would love for you to experience that magic as well!
some say it takes 21 days to create a habit…
Others say 30, 60, or even 254! There are too many variables to simplify the amount of time it takes to develop a habit that sticks. I want to see you make it happen. I want to help you make peace with self-care and embrace it with love instead of feeling as though it’s another wellness “to do.”
With a repertoire of heart-opening cacao ceremonies, a small group of supportive souls by your side, and a program designed for ultimate engagement, you will learn how to create and sustain a daily ritual of coming home to yourself. And, you’ll enjoy it so much that when the journey comes to a close, you won’t want to go back to living without this loving daily ritual of self-care.
but that word “ritual,” hmm?
The word ritual, for some, evokes images of superstitious, unscientific customs and outdated cultural practices. But even in our more secularized modern society, rituals play important roles in our lives and have stood the test of time. Consider the sacredness of Christian baptisms, the coming of age festivities of Jewish bar or bat mitzvahs, the pomp and circumstance of graduation ceremonies, or even the long-standing practice of shooting off fireworks on the 4th of July. These rituals help us celebrate, remember, and connect with one another.
While those are mostly one-time or yearly events, we all engage in daily rituals. Think about making the bed with decorative pillows each morning, putting on your favorite pieces of jewelry before leaving the house, or making that stop at the coffee shop on the way to work. These activities may seem trivial, but you wouldn’t do them if they didn’t bring joy and meaning in some way.
I want to help you gain a deeper understanding of value of creating beautiful rituals in your life. Rituals that heal. Rituals that calm. Rituals that connect you to the most important person in your life and the one you will undoubtedly know the longest—you.
enter sacred cacao
Ceremonial-grade cacao is a very special plant medicine that gently pulls you into your heart. You can learn more about how this healing elixir has benefitted me and how it differs from commercial chocolate here: Cacao is Love If you aren’t able to drink cacao for any reason, I have several suggestions for heart-opening and calming teas that will also support you on this self-care journey.
testimonials
“The universe and divine timing presented me with the opportunity to participate in Carrie’s Ritual: Self-Care & Cacao program. I had no idea what to expect but knew that gifts were waiting within this opportunity. The space that Carrie created for this group was simply amazing; it was safety, comfort, connection with self, cacao, and women. I have experienced the power of circles before in my life and truly feel it is within these circles that such amazing gifts lie waiting for us—and this was exactly that! This program was a wonderful and gentle respite in my very intense healing journey that gave way for playfulness, laughs, learning and enlightenment. I am so thankful for the lessons, connections and love that emerged from this program.”
-Christie
“Before the Ritual: Self-Care & Cacao program with Carrie I was feeling a bit scattered, but generally pretty good. I wasn’t expecting to have the profound breakthroughs that I did! The daily prompts and questions are so gentle yet deeply powerful, and invited me into spaces of myself I hadn’t visited for a long time. Because of Carrie’s 22-day circle I was able to realize that I had been in a state of hypervigilance around food and my body, and was actually at war with myself! Even though I was doing all of the “self-love” stuff, it wasn’t until working with Carrie that I realized that I really wasn’t my own side, I was constantly at battle with myself. Through my time with Carrie I was able to tune into her soft, loving and nurturing nature and begin to really let all parts of me begin to play in harmony again. This was a huge shift and transformation in my life, and it was thanks to Carrie and the way she beautifully facilitates and invites you deeper to know yourself. Carrie is an absolutely magical, beautiful, intuitive, wise, gentle and powerful soul. It is truly an honour and a blessing to work with Carrie!“
-Alexandra
ritual: self-care & cacao
The program I created is a magical, beautiful, and sometimes messy 22-day journey (I threw in an extra day for good measure) into the heart as a portal to creating and sustaining a daily ritual of coming home to yourself.
An intimate circle will surround you with love and support as you learn about and explore the beauty of ritual, develop a newfound appreciation of the innate wisdom of your body, and reconnect with the playful child still alive inside of you.
By the end of this journey, you will have cultivated a habit of and deep desire for spending time in peaceful solitude with the incredible human that you are—your strength, your softness, your messiness, your scars… all of you.
what’s included?
Four LIVE group cacao ceremonies comprised of teachings, meditations, talking circles, music, and open discussions.
A 15-minute daily reflection or activity sent to you in a private Signal group, including meditations, creative endeavors, activities, journaling prompts, and more.
Daily check-ins, discussions, and group support to accompany you on your quest to create and sustain a self-care practice.
Custom RITUAL journal
Cacao/tea recipes and tips
In this sacred circle, you will bond and communicate with the ever-present, loving divinity within you while being witnessed and held by a loving intimate group of caring souls.
dates & times
2024 dates TBD
Contact Carrie if you would like to begin planting the seeds for a circle with your friends. We can discuss ideal days/times for the weekly Zoom or in-person ceremonies together!
Four live virtual group calls will be held weekly on [days/time TBD in 2024] with 21 daily prompts and conversations to deepen participants’ cacao practice in between.
more testimonials
“I had the privilege of attending one of Carrie’s Ritual: Self Care & Cacao circles this year and it was absolutely beautiful! Not only was I introduced to the beauty of cacao but also to a group of amazing, supportive, and lovely woman! It was nice to change up my daily rituals and try something different. For those like me with sensitive tummies, I used damiana tea for my daily ritual. It was beautiful to sit down with my tea, read our journal prompt for the day, and dive in to my own feminine creativity. Some days are mind opening and awe-inspiring, and others take you into your past to dive into what may need attention. All together the 22-day journey was full of love, nature, emotion, awe, wonder, and much healing. I recommend joining a cacao journey with Carrie if you’re looking to connect to your divine feminine, want to connect with other like-minded women, and need a moment to be still each day to come home to yourself and just be!”
-Francesca
“I participated in Carrie's summer Ritual: Self Care & Cacao circle. I had never hear of cacao or these daily rituals until Carrie introduced me to them. She taught us about the benefits of a daily self-care practice and guided us each day through different activities. The activities were a thoughtful mix of self-exploration and reflection; some were difficult, many were fun and delightful. By the end of the 22 days, I had fully embraced this technique. It is one that has been healing for me!”
-Natalie von Suskil, MS, RD
“Carrie facilitates a beautiful 22-day ritual! If you have any curiosity about deepening your understanding of who you are and want to explore your feminine side, sign up!! Everyday you have a new prompt to explore! It’s fun, it’s deep, and it’s a beautiful experience. I looked forward to having my cacao and spending time with myself every morning! Meeting up as a group every Friday was also a highlight of my week. It was a safe space where I was able to open up and talk about things I’ve never been able to open up about. All I can say is thank you Carrie for teaching me how to open and how to continue the ritual on my own. ♥️”
-Stayce
“My experience with Carrie Eckert leading the cacao ritual group was extremely healing. I didn't know what to expect at first but I quickly caught on. Carrie did a great job of leading the group, providing thoughtful prompts and created a safe space for our group to share openly. Taking the time to ponder a time in our life, either past, present or future, is very therapeutic. The cacao opens the heart and allows the feelings to flow. The cacao ritual is now a daily ritual for me.”
-Shannon
exchange
$277 $222 USD (The maiden LIVE in-person group will be offered at a discount.) Plus, bring a friend along for the journey and you both receive 10% off!
If you don’t have ceremonial cacao, you can order ahead on your own or request that I have 32 ounces (2 lbs) ready for you at our first circle for $75.
These are my favorites as I’ve enjoyed them all and know that they are sourced with love using heirloom strains of cacao from agroforestry, eco-friendly farms:
Cacao Laboratory (use code cacaoislove for10% off)
Ora Cacao ($10 off first order)
frequently asked questions
What do we do on the live online calls or in-person circles?
Our group meet-ups will be open and fluid with a mix of instruction, guided meditations, Q&A, and ample room for sharing! This is not a coaching program, though the space will be co-created as we move through the days and weeks together. If I sense that a certain coaching “tool” will benefit the group then I will certainly introduce it.
What if I’ve never had ceremonial cacao before?
That’s great! Most participants have little or no experience with this heart-opening plant “medicine.” That’s part of the beauty of this experience. Many of us have conscious (or subconscious) blocks around creating a self-care practice. I have found that bringing in the ritual of preparing and drinking sacred cacao helps open to the door to allowing ourselves the gift of coming home to ourselves in a unique way. I will answer all your questions and provide step-by-step preparation instructions. No worries!
What if I can’t have chocolate because I’m on a certain healing diet?
I always suggest consulting with your health care practitioner and listening to your body. While chocolate can be problematic for some, others find that this minimally processed plant from heirloom strains of cacao affects the body differently than commercial chocolate with its processing and unhealthy additives. I’m happy to send a sample for you to try if you would prefer not to commit to a full block of cacao. If it doesn’t resonate, I can suggest several heart-opening teas to support you in this program.
What if I’ve already participated in one of your Ritual circles? Can I do it again?
Yes, of course! While some of the daily prompts will be the same, many will be different from circle to circle. Just like our group calls are fluid, the daily rituals I provide along the way are part of a co-creative process. I sense the needs of the women participating and often provide new activities along the way to best support the energy of the group.
How do we stay connected between calls?
Using the simple Signal app, we’ll communicate with one another daily. The app allows for photos, voice memos, videos, and text messages to be privately shared amongst the group. Each morning you’ll find a journaling prompt or creative activity to enjoy along with your daily cacao. Sharing your experience is always optional, but most participants find that having their voice heard is very powerful and healing in and of itself.
What if I still have questions?
You can schedule a 20-minute call with me here!
save my place!
Space in these groups is limited to allow ample time for everyone to share. If you feel like you would be a good fit for an upcoming group and would like to join or have any questions, then please let me know by filling out the form below. I will email registration info to you shortly!