Tapping into Heart-Centered Motherhood: A Cacao Circle Reflection

In the rhythm of motherhood, it’s easy to lose ourselves in the constant doing. From school pickups to snack prepping, from work meetings to bedtime stories—modern mothers are often left yearning for a moment to simply be. In a recent episode of the Wand(HER)Wild podcast, host Monica Verga Alborno opened a sacred window into such a moment: a virtual cacao circle intentionally designed for mothers to pause, reflect, and ground themselves in the present.

Cacao, known for its heart-opening properties, was the gentle guide of this communal experience. The circle wasn’t just about sipping a warm drink—it was a ceremony, a ritual, a collective breath of relief for five women navigating motherhood. Through intentional movement, breathwork, gratitude, and quiet reflection, the circle became a sanctuary—a return to self within the sacred chaos of parenting.

Grounding in Stillness

As Monica led the group into stillness, she invited them to close their eyes and feel into their bodies. The session began with a grounding meditation, inviting participants to visualize roots extending from their tailbones into the warming winter soil. She reminded mothers that even in the quiet rest of winter, there are stirrings—gentle awakenings—just beneath the surface.

This meditative practice emphasized connection: to the body, to the breath, and to the Earth. Monica’s words painted vivid imagery of tree roots and mycelium networks, encouraging mothers to explore what grounding looked like for them. Was it sturdy and anchored? Fluid and interconnected? This part of the practice reminded listeners that grounding is not one-size-fits-all—it is deeply personal, shifting with each season of life.

Releasing Tension and Returning to the Senses

From this place of rooted presence, Monica gently guided the women into somatic movement. With eyes still closed, hands moved to the face, tracing gentle lines along the forehead, cheeks, and behind the ears. The movement wasn’t just physical—it was emotional, energetic. Through simple self-touch, participants were invited to release tension and awaken sensory awareness.

This tactile practice—stroking, massaging, sweeping the body—was a reminder that healing often begins at the surface. When we soften the jaw, relax the shoulders, and breathe into our bellies, we signal to our nervous systems: it is safe to let go.

The Power of Collective Breath

Throughout the episode, breath served as an anchor. Monica’s cadence invited deep inhalations and audible sighs—something many mothers don’t realize they desperately need until they try it. With each shared breath, the space between the women softened. A subtle invitation emerged: let your guard down. Exhale what you no longer need.

This theme of release was a recurring rhythm: physically through breath, energetically through movement, and spiritually through reflection. Monica wove these threads together as the group moved through the ritual, reminding listeners that breath is both an individual and communal tool for healing.

Cacao as Heart Medicine

As the cacao returned to their hands, Monica honored its sacred origins. She named the ancestors, the sun, the soil, the water, and the countless hands who made it possible for this plant medicine to reach them. This practice of gratitude added depth to the ceremony, connecting the women not only to one another, but to the broader ecosystem of life.

Cacao, she explained, is a frequency match for the heart. It expands communication, encourages emotional expression, and has traditionally been used throughout Central America during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. This wasn’t just a beverage—it was medicine.

As each mother held her cup to her chest, sipping in rhythm with others, an energetic web was formed. They weren’t just drinking cacao—they were embodying the values of presence, intention, and reverence.

Intention Setting for the Season Ahead

The circle concluded with space for each participant to share their intentions for the season ahead. Monica invited reflection: What are you calling in right now within your motherhood? What excites you? What feels possible?

By pairing each share with a collective sip of cacao, the women ritualized their visions. The sharing became sacred—not because it was grand or perfect—but because it was honest. Through their words, they created a container of hope, possibility, and mutual support.

Monica reminded everyone that cacao doesn’t demand perfection. It simply asks us to show up with open hearts and willing minds. The intention wasn’t to fix motherhood—but to feel it, honor it, and walk it with grace.

A Portal Back to Presence

This episode of Wand(HER)Wild wasn’t about giving advice or outlining productivity hacks. Instead, it offered something far more rare in the parenting world: presence. Through ritual and remembrance, Monica created a space for mothers to be witnessed, held, and heard—not for what they do, but for who they are.

The virtual cacao circle is a reminder that deep within the routines of motherhood lies a portal back to the self. Through breath, movement, and sacred pause, we can reconnect to the feminine wisdom that resides in our bodies. We can let go of the urgency. We can remember we’re not alone.

As Monica so beautifully facilitated, even five women gathered in a Zoom room, cacao in hand, can spark something ancient. A remembering. A returning. A reclaiming of what it means to mother from the heart.

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Want more real-talk episodes like this? Listen to The Wand(HER)wild Podcast and connect with our community over on Instagram @wandherwild or through our digital events at wandherwild.com/community and retreats at wanderwildfamilyretreats.com.