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Cacao Ceremony: Belonging in Compassionate Community

  • yogazan 2901 Ocean Park Boulevard Santa Monica, CA, 90405 United States (map)

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Join Crystal Soto, Leanne Whitney & Steph Palomino for an evening of heart-opening ritual, reflection, and connection.

In the warmth of summer, we gather in community to honor the power of belonging—within ourselves, with each other, and with those at the margins of society whose dignity and rights call for our care. 



Cacao, a sacred plant revered by Indigenous cultures for its ability to open the heart and connect us with the Divine, will be our guide. Known for its healing properties and loving energy, Cacao nurtures emotional and physical well-being, promotes spiritual clarity, and restores balance.

The evening will include journaling, intention setting, meditation, and an extended savasana accompanied by live sound healing with crystal singing bowls and other instruments—inviting deep restoration, clarity, and a renewed sense of communal care.

You’ll leave feeling grounded, nourished, and connected—to yourself and to the collective. We look forward to welcoming you!

This special ceremony will support essential legal services and advocacy that safeguard immigrant rights, with 100% of the proceeds donated to The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) chirla.org.

If you are interested in contributing but cannot make the event, you can venmo Crystal directly: @crystal_wellnessmedicina

Wear comfortable clothing and please bring...


- a special or sacred object to set on the altar


- journal & pen


- water bottle

- optional: a simple flower or a stone as an offering for our community altar

- optional: eye cover for sound bath portion of the evening

Ceremony Facilitators:

Crystal Soto is a Microdosing Facilitator / Coach, Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach, and Yoga Teacher. With a strong emphasis on integration, Crystal is helping others live connected and balanced lives through various healing modalities such as mind-body medicine and building relationships with sacred Earth medicines. Through her years of self-study, formal studies, and training, Crystal has allowed her healing journey and direct work with sacred medicines to be the catalyst for her work in supporting others through their journeys of transformation. She is the founder of Wellness Medicina and currently studying to receive credentials as a Certified Transformational Coach, Somatic Integration Therapist, and Certified Meditation and Breathwork Teacher. For more information, please visit her website at crystalsoto.com

Dr. Leanne Whitney is a Jungian-oriented Therapist, Transformational Coach, author and educator who holds a Doctoral Degree in depth psychology and specializes in the intersection of Western psychology and the liberatory and shamanic traditions. Dr. Whitney is the founder and executive director of Center for Transformation and Integration, an online community-based platform that offers therapeutic resources and a certified training in Transformational Coaching with an Emphasis in Somatic Integration Therapy. She is the author of Consciousness in Jung and Patañjali (2018) and has published in the International Journal of Jungian Studies and Psychological Perspectives: A Quarterly Journal of Jungian Thought. Dr. Whitney is a recurring guest host on the New Thinking Allowed YouTube Channel and Podcast, where she has also been interviewed several times. For more information, please visit her website at leannewhitney.com

Live Sound Healing:

Steph is a first generation Latina who was born and raised in LA. The first time she fell in love with yoga was over 15 years ago.  Once she landed her dream job as a NICU RN at one of LA’s top hospitals, she had the opportunity to do a yoga teacher training in Thailand. Steph has now been teaching yoga for over 5.5 years meanwhile still working night shifts for over a decade. She remains committed to honoring and respecting the practice by remaining a student of yoga. Most recently, she completed a yoga teacher mentorship and graduated from a Sound Practitioner training. She’s also engaged in hospital committees to integrate yoga and sound. Steph loves the fusion and joy of bringing sound and yoga together in all of her classes. For more information, please visit her website at yogabysteph.com

Space is limited to 20 participants. Early registration is strongly encouraged.

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$45 before Wednesday July 16

$60 thereafter

Unlimited Members get 20% off

Limited Members get 10% off

All discounts automatic in cart

Earlier Event: June 28
Coming Home to Your Body