I was one of 34 fortunate souls who participated in a cacao ceremony led by Tish in Costa Rica in February. It was part of the Yoga Girl (Rachel Brathen) retreat that preceded Envision Festival. I am at a very strange time in my life. I have spent the last 18 months searching for my son in Peru, and I am now also searching for a way to live, to survive, to be “happy”. There are few things that capture my interest and allow me to focus on the present moment, but the cacao ceremony was exactly that. Wearing white made us feel pure, and open to anything. The outdoor bamboo temple in the jungle of Costa Rica provided the perfect backdrop, but the highlight was Tish. Her voice, her instructions, the journey she led us on as we sipped the cacao was magical. She ensured we were relaxed and feeling a bit “silly” as we passed cup after cup to each other and repeated the same line over and over again. And once we were all in it together, she took us on a very spiritual journey, that I’m certain was different for each of us, and allowed us to let our minds open. I look forward to seeing Tish again and feeling the magic again.