Indigenous Wisdom & Cacao Ceremony w/ Manari Ushigua, Florencia Fridman, Orlando Villarraga

Join us for a day immersed in the beautiful land of upstate NY in Accord, NY for a summer day of community, nature, indigenous wisdom, sacred plants, guided sound experience, ceremony, picnic, and so much more with Manari Ushigua, Florencia Fridman, and Orlando Villarraga. The program will be from 11 am to 6 pm (with a break from 3 pm to 4 pm).

We are so honored and excited to have Manari Ushigua from the Sápara Nation visiting us all the way from the Ecuadorian Amazon forest. 

From 11 am to 3 pm:
We will begin the day with an optional tobacco ceremony followed by words of wisdom from Manari. We will then take a walk through nature and a meditation supported by Orlando in the forest. We will then share a community vegetarian meal. 

From 4 pm to 6 pm:

We will finish the day in a Cacao ceremony, Icaros, and a sound meditation guided by Florencia, Manari, and Orlando.

Cacao invites us to connect deeper with our hearts, with one another, and the natural world. During the ceremony, Florencia will share about the history and physical benefits of the sacred spirit of Cacao, while exploring conversations of indigenous communities that use Cacao as a sacred drink to reflect upon and honor the earthly elements. 

Ceremonial Cacao invites us to explore our connection to the heartspace; to open ourselves to the exploration of the self and connection to the natural world. Indigenous nations from Mesoamerica have connected with Cacao in ritual and ceremony for thousands of years to communicate with our inner guide, the natural world, and the energies that support us. 

During our journey we will share a cup of Cacao, get to know this powerful ally and the history of Cacao, physical benefits, while exploring conversations of the natural world. We will integrate the messages shared during our time together. 

How to prepare for an optimal experience: 

- Avoid coffee and alcohol up to 6 hours before; avoid heavy foods the day of; eat a light meal you to 2 hours before; and hydrate during the day.

Manari Ushigua is the leader of the Sápara Nation in the Ecuadorian Amazon. He is a traditional healer, dreamer, and defender of indigenous rights and lands. He also has founded the Naku Center which is an ecotourism project that intends to protect the rainforest, connect visitors with the spirit world, and immerse themselves in the magic of the Amazon rainforest. Manari is the guide and teacher of the 4-week virtual program, Dream World Program. For more information about Manari and his work, visit his website at: www.manariushigua.com

Florencia Fridman is a self-empowerment artist working with heart opening therapies involving Ceremonial Grade Cacao, yoga, sound journeys, and breath as instruments for transformation. Among being a mediating voice for indigenous communities and the founder of Florecer and Cacao Laboratory, Florencia is a heart-centered visionary, teacher, and medicine for her community. She leads Cacao circles and ceremonies, educational offerings, and workshops. Through her songs and personal sharings, she brings us back into the sanctuary of the heart. It is her mission to create a global community of earth guardians and wellness advocates who embody a deep love and reverence for all beings. Florencia is passionate about supporting the voices of indigenous nations, wisdom keepers, and guardians of the sacred lands. She studies under Tz’utujil Mayan elder Nana Marina Cruz from Guatemala and Manari Ushigua from the Sapara Nation of Ecuador. Florencia travels internationally, sharing her passion for Theobroma Cacao. Florencia opened for Deepak Chopra and facilitated ceremonies for the corporate world at Spotify. She was a ceremony guide resident at The Assemblage, NYC. For more information about Florencia and her work, visit her websites at: www.flourishingoneness.com & www.cacaolaboratory.com

Orlando Villarraga loves to express himself as a poet, musician, and sound artist.  Orlando often finds himself living “in-between” worlds and draws inspiration from that complex and nuanced space.  His approach for his work has come at an intersection of studying under the Teyuna indigenous cultures of Colombia, and undertaking mentorship in contemporary sound meditation practices. His work intends to hold a mirror to our own meaningfulness and connection to nature, which is fertile soil for catalyzing connection within, and with each other. Recent collaborations include MoMA and Wisdome.LA. For more information about Orlando and his work, visit: www.orlandovillarraga.bandcamp.com/releases & www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFc8C8KSFMs