More Than Chocolate: Cacao, Ceremony, & Syncretism zine by Riordan Regan
Phrases like “cacao ceremony” and “ceremonial-grade cacao” get used often in wellness and spirituality circles, but do these phrases actually mean anything, and—more importantly—are they doing harm to the cultures that have cultivated this plant for millennia?
“Histories were written by the invaders, and the words we use for things matter. A lot of the complicated conversations around the ways cacao is being used today come down to what we call it, but this goes far deeper than semantics. Peoples whose lives, cultures, cosmologies, and sacred plants have been stolen and repackaged as consumer products for millennia without reciprocity—and to the great detriment of everyone, including the planet—are rightfully tired of being made monoliths and used as marketing tools. Perhaps reclaiming the language helps tell the real stories of cultures, peoples, and plants, provoking more respect all around.”
—from the author’s note
In More Than Chocolate, Riordan Regan unpacks the language we use around cacao, explores its history and modern usage as physical and spiritual medicine, and suggests responsible paths forward for those who wish to interact with cacao and the cultures of its lands of origin.
A portion of proceeds from this zine have been donated to Popoljay, a Maya-run nonprofit in Guatemala whose goal is to defend and promote Indigenous rights and cultures.
This zine is 8.5” x 5.5”, 60 pages, and staple-bound. It’s extensively researched, and is illustrated with color photography and drawings.
If you’re a media member interested in reviewing this title, please use the Contact page to share with us your name, media outlet, and expected coverage (podcast episode, written review, interview, etc).
If you’re a Zinester or Sponsor on our Patreon, you’ll receive this title automatically. Sign up here!
Phrases like “cacao ceremony” and “ceremonial-grade cacao” get used often in wellness and spirituality circles, but do these phrases actually mean anything, and—more importantly—are they doing harm to the cultures that have cultivated this plant for millennia?
“Histories were written by the invaders, and the words we use for things matter. A lot of the complicated conversations around the ways cacao is being used today come down to what we call it, but this goes far deeper than semantics. Peoples whose lives, cultures, cosmologies, and sacred plants have been stolen and repackaged as consumer products for millennia without reciprocity—and to the great detriment of everyone, including the planet—are rightfully tired of being made monoliths and used as marketing tools. Perhaps reclaiming the language helps tell the real stories of cultures, peoples, and plants, provoking more respect all around.”
—from the author’s note
In More Than Chocolate, Riordan Regan unpacks the language we use around cacao, explores its history and modern usage as physical and spiritual medicine, and suggests responsible paths forward for those who wish to interact with cacao and the cultures of its lands of origin.
A portion of proceeds from this zine have been donated to Popoljay, a Maya-run nonprofit in Guatemala whose goal is to defend and promote Indigenous rights and cultures.
This zine is 8.5” x 5.5”, 60 pages, and staple-bound. It’s extensively researched, and is illustrated with color photography and drawings.
If you’re a media member interested in reviewing this title, please use the Contact page to share with us your name, media outlet, and expected coverage (podcast episode, written review, interview, etc).
If you’re a Zinester or Sponsor on our Patreon, you’ll receive this title automatically. Sign up here!
Phrases like “cacao ceremony” and “ceremonial-grade cacao” get used often in wellness and spirituality circles, but do these phrases actually mean anything, and—more importantly—are they doing harm to the cultures that have cultivated this plant for millennia?
“Histories were written by the invaders, and the words we use for things matter. A lot of the complicated conversations around the ways cacao is being used today come down to what we call it, but this goes far deeper than semantics. Peoples whose lives, cultures, cosmologies, and sacred plants have been stolen and repackaged as consumer products for millennia without reciprocity—and to the great detriment of everyone, including the planet—are rightfully tired of being made monoliths and used as marketing tools. Perhaps reclaiming the language helps tell the real stories of cultures, peoples, and plants, provoking more respect all around.”
—from the author’s note
In More Than Chocolate, Riordan Regan unpacks the language we use around cacao, explores its history and modern usage as physical and spiritual medicine, and suggests responsible paths forward for those who wish to interact with cacao and the cultures of its lands of origin.
A portion of proceeds from this zine have been donated to Popoljay, a Maya-run nonprofit in Guatemala whose goal is to defend and promote Indigenous rights and cultures.
This zine is 8.5” x 5.5”, 60 pages, and staple-bound. It’s extensively researched, and is illustrated with color photography and drawings.
If you’re a media member interested in reviewing this title, please use the Contact page to share with us your name, media outlet, and expected coverage (podcast episode, written review, interview, etc).
If you’re a Zinester or Sponsor on our Patreon, you’ll receive this title automatically. Sign up here!