Meet the Spirit of Hummingbird: A Shamanic Cacao Ceremony Journey
Welcome to the Journey
There is something extraordinary about the hummingbird. Tiny, luminous, fearless — she navigates a migration of thousands of miles from Brazil to Canada and back again, trusting the path completely, one flutter of her wings at a time. And that is exactly the medicine she offers us.
In the Mayan tradition I work with, Hummingbird sits in the North direction of the medicine wheel, connecting us with our ancestors — our grandmothers, our grandfathers, and those who are yet to be born. She carries the thread of ancient wisdom, and when we journey with her, we are invited to remember our own.
This ceremony weaves together ceremonial cacao, shamanic journeying, and live gong sound healing to help you meet the spirit of Hummingbird — and through her, to meet a wiser, more courageous version of yourself. Whether you are new to ceremony or a seasoned journeyer, you are welcome here exactly as you are.
What Hummingbird Teaches Us
Hummingbird connects us to change, evolution, and personal growth. She teaches us that we are limitless — that our perception of what is possible can expand, that we can have more courage, more trust, more willingness to follow the path even when we cannot see where it leads.
Whenever we feel we do not have enough — not enough money, not enough time, not enough courage, not enough knowledge to manifest what we desire — we can call on Hummingbird. She reminds us that she makes that extraordinary migration every year, not because she has a map, but because she trusts. One flutter of the wings at a time.
As you set your intention before this ceremony, you might ask yourself: where in my life could I use a little more of that trust? Where am I being called to expand my perception of what is possible?
The Healing Properties of Ceremonial Cacao
Cacao is a profound plant spirit ally, and her effects are both chemical and energetic. As she moves through the digestive system, she begins stimulating the release of dopamine and serotonin — the body's own feel-good hormones — almost immediately. She also encourages a rush of oxytocin, the love hormone, that beautiful feeling of warmth and expansion we associate with falling in love or watching a perfect sunset.
Cacao is rich in magnesium salts, which help the physical body soften and relax — particularly helpful for those who carry tension in their muscles or live with conditions like fibromyalgia.
On an energetic level, cacao is a heart-opener. She gently dissolves the heavy, sticky energies that can accumulate around the heart chakra — sometimes this arrives as a few unexpected tears (entirely welcome), after which people often find themselves filling up with joy. She also awakens the third eye, the pineal gland, making it easier to drop into trance states and receive the imagery of the journey.
A ceremonial dose is typically between 28 and 42 grams. If you are new to cacao, I recommend starting closer to 28. You do not need to drink cacao to take part — a cup of passionflower or blue lotus tea works beautifully for the Hummingbird journey.
How Shamanic Journeying Works
Shamanic journeying is, at its heart, a form of deep meditation — but the ritual container we build around it, the cacao, the sacred directions, the gongs, all serve to deepen and amplify that experience.
One way of interpreting the word 'shaman' is 'to see without seeing' — which beautifully describes what can happen in a journey. Some people receive vivid, psychedelic imagery with their eyes closed. Others feel sensations in the body, or arrive at a knowing — a clear sense of understanding that needs no visual form. Both are equally valid. The most important thing is to release any expectation, go with what comes, and trust.
In this ceremony, we journey into what is called the lower realm — or the inner realm — which corresponds to the subconscious. We travel through the layers of the earth, through crystal caves, to emerge into a landscape where we call on Hummingbird to guide us. What she shows us reflects the wisdom already within us, waiting to be remembered.
The gong portion of the ceremony carries you through the deepest layers of the journey. You may drift, you may float, you may receive extraordinary visions. Afterwards, take a few minutes to journal before the experience fades — often the symbolism becomes clearer as you write it down.
Opening Sacred Space: Calling in the Directions
Before we begin the journey, we open sacred space by calling in the seven directions of the Mayan and Quero Peruvian traditions — East, South, West, North, Earth below, Sky above, and the direction within: Great Spirit.
In the East, we welcome Eagle, the new dawn, and the fire of new beginnings. In the South, we welcome the water, the flow of life, the warmth of the noon sun — and the passion rising within us. In the West, we welcome the earth energies, the setting sun, and the person we have already become. And in the North, we welcome Hummingbird herself, and the ancient wisdom of the grandmothers and grandfathers.
We offer our cacao to each direction as we call them in — a gesture of reciprocity, of reverence, of relationship. And when the ceremony is complete, we close the circle, releasing each direction with gratitude.
The Gongs: Sound Healing in Ceremony
The gongs are sacred instruments, and each one carries its own unique frequency and personality. In this ceremony, the primary gong that worked with the group was Bronze Gong Number Eight — a relatively new instrument, still at the beginning of her journey on earth. With the infinity symbol in her number, she carries something of Hummingbird's own energy: limitless possibility, the beginning of something new.
Sound healing through the gongs works at a cellular level. The vibrations move through water — and the body is largely water — creating a kind of sonic massage that loosens what has been held, dissolves what no longer serves, and opens channels for healing. Many people experience profound visual and emotional releases during the gong portion of ceremony.
If you are curious about exploring gong sound healing more deeply outside of ceremony, you are very welcome to join one of my gong sessions.
How to Prepare for Your Hummingbird Journey
Create a quiet, comfortable sacred space where you will not be disturbed
Prepare your ceremonial cacao: 28–42g blended with hot water, a little chilli or cinnamon if you like — or brew a cup of passionflower or blue lotus tea
Have a candle to hand — white is the colour of the North direction
Gather sage, palo santo, copal, or frankincense for an energy cleanse before the ceremony
Have your journal and pen within reach for integration afterwards
Wear comfortable, loose clothing and have a blanket nearby
Set a clear, simple intention — where would you like Hummingbird's medicine most in your life right now?
Allow 90 minutes to two hours for the full experience, including journalling.
Continue Your Journey
If the Hummingbird ceremony has opened something in you, there are many ways to go deeper with this work.
→ Learn About Shamanic Healing
