Reiki or a cacao ceremony: which one fits what you need right now?
By Vanessa Chugani · Updated August 2026
Reiki suits you if you want quiet, one-to-one rest for a nervous system that has been running hot for too long, lying down with almost no talking. A cacao ceremony suits you if you want company: a group, movement, and a chance to process feelings out loud with other people. Neither is a medical treatment or cure for anything.
The real difference is not which one works better. It is how much stimulation you want and whether you want to be alone with it or in a room full of people. A Reiki session is quiet and one to one: you lie down, fully clothed, and Vanessa works with her hands resting lightly on or above you, with little to no talking. A cacao ceremony is usually a group event built around a ceremonial cacao drink, often with music, movement, chanting or open sharing, guided by a facilitator. One is designed to bring your system down. The other is often designed to bring feeling up and out, in company.
| Reiki | a cacao ceremony | |
|---|---|---|
| What happens | You lie down, fully clothed. Vanessa rests her hands lightly on or above you. Mostly quiet, one to one, with little talking. | You sit in a group circle, drink ceremonial cacao, and take part in shared practices: chanting, movement, journaling or open sharing. |
| Setting | Private, usually just you and Vanessa, in a treatment room in Canggu or by distance session. | Communal, usually a group of strangers and regulars together, often in a larger open space or venue. |
| Pace | Still and quiet. Little or no talking, no music unless you ask, nothing to perform or share. | Active and often emotional, with periods of movement, music and open group sharing built into the format. |
| What it suits | A nervous system that has been running hot for a long time: poor sleep, exhaustion, grief, anxiety, a body that will not settle. | Wanting to feel connected to other people, to move and make noise, and to process feelings out loud in company. |
| Time commitment | A single session runs about an hour, whether in person in Canggu or by distance. | A ceremony usually runs longer, often two to four hours, with time to gather, share and settle afterward. |
| Afterward | Many people go straight home to rest. Some fall asleep during or after a session. | You leave having spoken or been witnessed by the group, which some find energising and others find like a lot. |
Which one suits you
Reiki suits someone who wants to be still and be left alone with what she is carrying: the person who cannot switch off at 2am, the one too raw from grief to make conversation, anyone who wants support without an audience. A cacao ceremony suits someone who wants the opposite: company, movement, and a room full of people working through something together, especially if what you are carrying is loneliness, or you want ritual built around connection rather than rest. If you are recently bereaved and want to grieve out loud among people who will not look away, a cacao ceremony can do something a quiet one-to-one session was never built to do. If you are exhausted, touched-out and want an hour where nothing is asked of you and no one needs anything back, Reiki is for that: rest and support for a nervous system that has been running on empty for too long.
Related questions
Can I do Reiki and a cacao ceremony, or do I need to choose one?
You do not need to choose. Some people go to a cacao ceremony for connection and release, then book a Reiki session before or after for quiet integration. They work at different paces, for different reasons, and there is no conflict between them.
Is a cacao ceremony safe during pregnancy?
Ceremonial cacao is a stimulant, and some ceremonies include movement or fasting, so check with the facilitator and your midwife first. Pregnancy Reiki is gentler, adapted to each trimester, and worth asking about if a quieter option feels right for this stage.
Which one is better for anxiety?
Both can support you, in different ways. Reiki works with a nervous system that will not settle, offering stillness and quiet company. A cacao ceremony works through connection, sitting with a group of people who are all feeling something too.