by Marc-John Brown

Sacred plant medicine has guided humanity for millennia, but few have the power to open hearts like Ceremonial Cacao.

Today, across the globe, a profound shift is occurring—women are reclaiming their ancestral connection to this medicine, stepping into leadership roles that honour both tradition and transformation.

My wife's journey with Sacred Cacao stands as testament to this power—a story of profound healing that saved our marriage, transformed our family, and birthed a community dedicated to honoring indigenous wisdom. Her path from personal struggle to spiritual leadership reflects the journey that many women are now embracing as they answer cacao's sacred call.

From Darkness to Light: Erika’s Journey with Cacao

There was a time when our marriage stood on the brink of separation. The weight of our struggles, pain, and disconnection threatened to pull us apart. Yet, in that darkness, I witnessed something extraordinary—Erika digging deep into the core of her being, transforming her suffering into strength. And it was with the guidance of Mama Cacao that she reclaimed her power, not just for herself, but for our family and our community.

Cacao was reawakened as her ally, her medicine, her source of clarity and purpose. Having had an entwinement of her spirit with the spirit of Cacao since before birth, this was an intrinsic connection that had been waiting to be stirred to life for a long time.

Through ceremony, Erika found the resilience to heal wounds, both personal and ancestral. She stepped into a leadership role, not because she sought power, but because she had become a vessel for something greater—a movement of feminine wisdom, ancestral knowledge, and sacred service. What I began to witness was a deep transformation of her bloodlines and ancestral story.

Building a Community, Awakening a Movement

From the depths of her transformation, Erika emerged with a mission: to create spaces of healing, connection, and empowerment through cacao, and in doing so, to keep the wisdom of her grandmother alive whilst protecting the continuity of her native language and traditions. She founded a thriving community, bringing people together to share in the wisdom of this sacred plant.

Through women’s circles, ceremonies, and teachings, she honours the ancestral lineage of cacao while weaving it into the modern world in a way that is both respectful and revolutionary. 

Women have always been the keepers of wisdom, the nurturers, the storytellers. Today, they are reclaiming their rightful place at the heart of cacao ceremonies, not as participants, but as guides, teachers, and guardians of its sacred traditions.

Erika's work is not just about cacao—it’s about the rebirth of feminine leadership in sacred traditions. 

Cacao and the Feminine Path of Healing

The journey Erika has taken is one that numerous women are beginning to walk today. Cacao calls to those who are ready to heal—to break cycles of pain, to rediscover their inner strength, and to step into their power. It is no coincidence that so many women are answering this call. The feminine rising in cacao is a reflection of something much deeper: a global awakening of feminine energy, a return to balance, a remembering of the wisdom that has always been there.

For me, witnessing Erika’s transformation has not only healed our marriage but has solidified our family in ways I could never have imagined. Her leadership, her courage, and her deep connection to Mama Cacao have created a foundation of love, strength, and unity within our home. And from there, it has radiated outward—touching lives, building communities, and carrying forth the ancient yet ever-renewing wisdom of cacao.

The rise of women in cacao is a reclamation. A movement of transformation and empowerment. It is a return to a way of being that honours both the sacred plant and the people who carry its wisdom.

As Erika’s journey has shown, when a woman rises in her truth, she does not rise alone—she lifts her family, her community, and generations to come.

Begin Your Sacred Journey with Cacao

Deepen Your Personal Practice

Download our free guide "The Heart of Ceremonial Cacao: 3 Ways to Deepen Your Personal Practice" and receive practical wisdom from Erika's ancestral lineage to transform your relationship with this heart-opening medicine. 

Purchase Ceremonial Cacao

Bring the sacred medicine into your home with our ethically-sourced, traditionally-prepared cacao, direct from Peru. Each purchase supports indigenous communities and sustainable farming practices. 

Step Into Authentic Leadership

Only 15 spaces remain for our transformative 8-week Cacao Leadership Training beginning April 18th, 2025. Learn directly from Erika's indigenous wisdom and receive your certification during our special in-person weekend in June.

"Marc and Erika's cacao leadership training was truly transformative. It provided a deep understanding of cacao, emphasising responsibility in its use while covering every detail from origin to ceremonial practice." — Sarah B., 2024 Graduate