Shaman Chocolate

Shaman chocolate… doesn’t that just sound intriguing?  Sweet, mystical chocolatey goodness!  So you probably know by now how I love to promote sweet goodness (as last month I featured Endangered Species Chocolate and Dolphin Natural Chocolate).  Today I happened to come across Shaman Chocolates.  Since we’re on our way in a week and a half to South America (Wow!  Our trip is really coming up now!), the home of many shamanic traditions–I’ve been reading up on shamanism. Shamanism is an ancient healing tradition and, for those who practice,  a way of life.  Shamanism honors all of creation, especially the spirit of nature- the power of animals, minerals, and plants.  Shamanic tradition involves healing and empowerment through personal transformation and direct experience as well as the healing of  families, communities and our environment.

So this Shaman chocolate bar caught my eye and I started to read the package to learn more.  When I saw that it was an organic fair trade product that donated 100 percent of its profits to a humanitarian cause, I knew I had to have it.

Shaman Chocolates was started by Brant Secunda, a shaman and leader from the Huichol Indian tribe, a small tribe of 15,000 indigenous people, considered one of the last in the Americas to retain their ancient shamanic traditions.  Secunda envisioned people eating this chocolate and having their bodies filled with love.  As well, he wanted all the proceeds from the chocolate sales to directly benefit the economic and cultural survival of the Huichols.

One interesting thing I found about the Huichol Indians is that they have no history of war. Rather than training for war, they train their hearts to open to the healing powers of love and to the celebrations of life.  Today, I’ll take that thought with me as I eat (or rather Matt eats and leaves me just a little piece of) this delicious chocolate!