I just wrote about stories as being a type of crystallization, a preservation of passing moments over time. And this idea that when we see these stories for what they are, crystallizations which break down over time, we begin to see through them all into a deeper layer of who we are.

Of course, because I’m a cacao lover, this makes me think about ceremonial cacao, and the process of drinking it. It comes in a block, solid and crystallized. It may not be the beautifully tempered and glossy crystallization which the chocolatiers prefer, but it is crystallized nevertheless. Yet when we heat it up and melt it down, and then drink it, we are reminded that solid structures can become fluid. The biochemical compounds of the cacao are broken down and absorb into our bloodstream, and in effect the vasodilating properties of the theobromine open up our vessels and our blood flows stronger.

Our cells are flooded with more blood, and if breathing deep, more oxygen, coupled with more lymph being circulated and I’d make the case that the cascade trickles down to affect the hydration of our tissues. More blood flow, and hence more water flow throughout our body.

And fascinatingly enough (because interestingly doesn’t quite capture the feeling I’m trying to get at), when we are in these states of more flow, and our hearts are more and our tissues start to loosen, our mind opens up a bit as well. The limitations, fears, anxieties and doubts we often hold begin to fade a bit, and new possibilities, ideas and dreams emerge to the forefront.

In the same way the cacao is liquified in our cups, our minds and bodies liquify in the container of our being… the old stories begin to dissolve and we are faced with the opportunity to see new ones emerge.