We Heal Wild

January 1, 2025

Ancient Wisdom: Cacao and Maca Energy Bites for New Beginnings

I find the practice of starting a new year according to the Gregorian calendar to be counter intuitive. In ancient times, the new year started with the spring equinox and that is more aligned energetically. Our culture overlooks the signs of nature resting around us. It urges us to maintain peak productivity all year. I like to think of this time of year as a trial period for the new year. During this time, I can shift my intentions or rituals, as needed, as the spring approaches the northern hemisphere. New Years Eve 2024 was a day after a potent black new moon. This event is the second occurrence of a new moon within a month. The new moon in Capricorn on December 30th inspires themes of authenticity. It encourages finding balance between societal demands and our creative desires.

I was inspired to create an easy and healthy recipe for the new year. It aims to boost energy as this time has clashing themes of rest and going full force. I incorporated two sacred plants from South America. I use cacao often in my diet and spiritual practice, and I’m so grateful for the nourishment it provides. Maca, also known as Peruvian ginseng, aids in energy and stamina. I topped off the energy bites with organic dried rose petals. It looks pretty and has a nice calming energy to balance the strong energetics of the other powders.

New Years Energy Bites

Ingredients

16 ounce raw, unsalted cashews
1/4 cup maca powder
1/3 cup cacao powder
14 dates, little over 6.5 ounces
Water as needed, I used up to 1/2 cup
Extra cacao powder for rolling and dusting

Instructions

1. Soak the cashews
  - This is a good opportunity to make cashew milk. After the cashews are softened for at least a few hours, blend and then use a nut milk bag to strain for cashew milk. Save the leftover cashews for this recipe. They can sit in the fridge in a container for a few days before using, if desired.
  - You can skip making the cashew milk by draining the water and blending them using a food processor or high powered blender for this recipe.
2. Add dates to your cashews
  - You can choose to presoak your dates if they are cold or hard. I chose to add extra water to help them blend instead of soaking them. I used 1/2 cup of hot water as my dates and leftover cashews from making milk was very cold.
3. Once the cashews and dates are well blended, add the maca and cacao powders.
4. Option 1) roll into balls and coat in cacao powder to prevent sticking.
5. Options 2) line a square pan with parchment paper and dust with cacao powder, then add mixture, smooth out with a knife, and dust the top with cacao powder.
6. Store in the fridge and sprinkle crushed, dried food grade rose petals.