About Us
Hi! I'm Samantha...
Ayurvedic doula, world traveler, mother and fully outed chocoholic! I started Emerging Wisdom Cacao as an offshoot of my doula business in 2023 and I would like to share some of my story.
Cycle tracking was introduced to me in 2013 when I walked into a workshop, quite by accident, on the shores of Lake Atitlan, Guatamala. On this same trip I also experienced my first cacao ceremony with the legend that was Keith the cacao shaman. Looking back, it was these magically aligned occurrences that sowed the seeds for what would become Emerging Wisdom Cacao and set the stage for the lifestyle I now lead.
Ayurvedic Postpartum and my work with new mamas...
I trained to become an Ayurvedic postpartum doula whilst pregnant with my son. Discovering my dosha, the signs for imbalance and how to course correct with food, herbs and environment tweaks, were so crucial during those first tumultuous years. As a began to work with other new mamas, I saw how similar the journey and challenges were, and how I could offer support in very simple ways. One of these things was bringing intention and ritual into the mundane. Micro-moments of reflection between feeds and naps.
One such simple offering, that was always gratefully received, was a hot beverage made with fresh nut milk, ayurvedic herbs, perhaps some cardamom or saffron and some honey or blended dates. I would start making cacao versions of this when mamas expressed a desire for chocolate, adding milk boosting herbs and warming spices. This is how the first blend, Awaken, came to be!
During my last few days with each mama I would offer a more intentional cacao sharing where we would reflect on our time together and set intentions for the future unfolding of this new mothers journey.
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Cacao Immersion at Choqueiro
When my son was about a year old I started work at Choquiero, an amazing cacao cafe and store in the little mountain town of Nevada City California. It was here where I was really immersed in the world of cacao and saw its huge potential for healing and heart opening.
During this time I made thousands of cacao beverages, took part in numerous ceremonies with different facilitators, and learnt the energetic and flavour profiles of dozens of different ceremonial cacaos.
Advising customers on which would be right for them and how to get it from a block of paste, into a delicious drink for intentional ritual was one of my favorite parts of the job!
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From treat to ritual
When I prepared cacao for myself, I started to tune into where I was in my cycle, and chose herbs and additions that would match that energy. I delved into the world of cycle syncing and blood mysteries, the red tent network and indigenous practices for menstruation. Cacao amplified the ritual element of paying closer attention to my cycle as well as increasing absorption of whatever I added to it, thus becoming the perfect vehicle for hormone balancing herbs.
I formulated each blend during the time I was in the correlating cycle phase and found I was naturally drawn to the ingredients that supported me. Making cacao was no longer just a delicious treat but it was a chance to check in with where I was currently cycling, and if I was living attuned to that or not. I began to see that this check-in was the most profound part of cycle syncing with these blends and it's that moment that I am hoping to bring into the lives of more women and those that support them.
Costa Rica
I moved to Costa Rica in February 2023 with my son and his father. We built a little earthern home within an ecovillage with the intention of living simply with closer connection to the earth. I am excited to be also living closer to cacao and many of the medicinal plants I use in these blends. Stay tuned for cacao offerings from these lands and potentially even cacao retreats and guided tours.
Blessings and thanks for being witness to this journey!