Show Notes
An episode filled with story & song from the talented Cyrus Henry.
Cyrus is a proud indigenous Maori, skilled Shamanic Medicine Man, Healer, Coach, Men’s work facilitator, Talented Creative Artist, Performer, Dancer, Musician.
Like how people say someone has a heart of gold, I feel Cyrus has a heart of 'Cacao Love',
He loves life how cacao teaches us to, living with passion, presence and giving his all to everything he does.
He first began a career in performance art, living in Australia for many years, and then, some years back Spirit surprised him by leading Cyrus to live in Nicaragua for 3 whole years! There he had to let go of his identity as a performer and commit to the shamanice healing path and lean into his healing gifts.
Since then he has been able to come back to the world of performing arts and he is now weaving the two together in beautiful ways.
So we talk about how he got to each pivotal moment on his path, how they influenced his life and also brought him to cacao and other special plant medicines.
To connect with Cyrus:
Instagram @theshamanic.kaiako
Website https://www.ngamanuwayfinders.com/
The Song he sang at the end was the medicine song ‘Cuatro Vientos’ by Danit.
Loved by Cacao Instagram: @lovedbycacaco
A big thank you to Kamal Ortiz for creating the mini soundscape for Loved by Cacao!
Kamal is a DJ & medicine music weaver, find his music on Soundcloud https://on.soundcloud.com/xem5CT38SGxFQexa8
More from Loved by Cacao
In this episode I had the opportunity to speak with Jeff from the Cacao embassy He is Co-owner and operations architect at the Cacao Embassy in Christchurch New Zealand. I had heard lots about the embassy and wanted to visit while on my NZ tour last year. It was amazing to be welcomed in with open arms and to chat with Jeff about his shift into the world of cacao and all about the Cacao Embassy and so much more. The Cacao Embassy was started by Oonagh of The Cacao Ambassador, and you can listen to her story in Episode6! We talked about: Their latest blend ‘Eiru’ & their process of making blends. How Jeff got started working with cacao after his background as a chef. His emotional reaction to his first cacao. How he and his wife Ngawai began working with the Cacao Embassy Being a man joining an all women business to learn about cacao. Visiting the Solomon Islands The disconnect between farming cacao and the use of cacao The Cacao Ambassador bringing that connection back Knowing where our food comes from Connecting with the Solomon Islanders Running the Cacao Embassy as a family Getting Playful with Cacao Men connecting with and healing with Cacao The impact of working with cacao farmers
In this episode we get taken by Rachel into the plant realms, into the earth,into the fairy realms and into light and lumeria. This is the second conversation in my 6 part Aotearoa tour series. As soon as I touched down in the south island Te Wai Pounamu after being away for 2 years, my whole body and being relaxed, I breathed a sigh of relief and felt magnetised into the earth like my roots were pulled deeper and I could truly slow down. This conversation feels like that relaxation and deep connection to nature. Because it’s the essence Rachel brings with her deep love and knowledge of the earth, plant wisdom, Te Rongoa Maori and so much more. Rachel is a teacher, practitioner of angelic Reiki and Te Rongoa Māori, and she facilitates cacao circles. I met up with Rachel in Blenheim and we shared cacao from Kakao drinking chocolate together in my motorhome parked up in her driveway. Rachel shares a beautiful Karakia (prayer) at the beginning and Pania shares a cacao blessing.
We have a firecracker of an episode today. I can’t believe I’ve been sitting on this for so long because listening back through it I thought people need to hear this! Irma has a real knack for making me laugh & feel so much joy while also talking about profound subjects and sharing from her deep well of knowledge. I’m very happy you’ll get to hear her speak. I got to sit in person with Irma of Mamamuti Cacao in Raglan last October and it was so much fun. We had an amazing conversation and I think you’ll love this one. Some of the things we talked about: How Irma began her path with Cacao How Mamamuti came into being and the meaning of the name Irma’s upbringing in Africa Her times dancing with the dark and how cacao has been her ally throughout. Welcoming a pleasure era How to move through shadow into pleasure Flipping the Script on Perimenopause Liberation from numbness and shame Why Cacao helps us experience pleasure How the very popular Mamamuti Vanilla Blend came into existence Messages & Love from Cacao
Today we get to hear from anthropologist Daillen Culver who wrote her masters thesis on ceremonial grade cacao and the ceremonial cacao movement. Her research is fascinating and today she shares with us how she went about it, what she found and so much she has learned along the way. We spoke about: Her Masters Thesis on the emerging market for ceremonial grade cacao. Her research and findings. Her time in Guatemala Is cacao medicine? Being on the ground with the farmers. Understanding where our cacao comes from. The current global climate of cacao. What it means to truly have a relationship with cacao. Cacao as a doorway to working with the plant realms. Cultural appropriation. Ceremonial consumption behind cacao. The possible future of cacao.
Have your cacao ready, get cosy, light a candle and enjoy this drop in with CACAO and with LIGHT currently pouring through on Easter Weekend 2026 while I recorded this.