Socially Responsible Chocolate?

Shaman Chocolates is pleased to announce it has expanded its collection of gourmet, organic chocolate bars to include two new flavors. All profits from the sale of the certified organic and Fair Trade Shaman Chocolates help support the Huichol Indians, a tribe living in central western Mexico in the Sierra Madre Mountains, who are said to be the last Indigenous Tribe in North America to have maintained their pre-Columbian traditions.

Shaman Chocolates blends only the purest certified organic and Fair Trade chocolate with the finest organic ingredients available. The two new flavors are Organic Milk Chocolate with Macadamia Nuts & Hawaiian Pink Sea Salt and Organic Extra Dark Chocolate which features 82% cacao.

Shaman Chocolates was created by Brant Secunda, shaman, healer and ceremonial leader in the Huichol (pronounced we-chul) Indian tradition. He started the business as an economic vehicle to help the Huichol Indians preserve their ancient ceremonial and healing traditions, vibrant mythology and visionary artwork. Secunda realized that chocolate would be a way to help support the Huichols economic and cultural survival after having a visionary dream that people were eating chocolate and it was filling their bodies with love.

"The Huichol Indians consider chocolate a sacred gift from paradise and have used it in ceremonies since time immemorial, leaving it as offerings to show their love for Mother Earth," says Secunda. "The Huichols know that gifts of chocolate help people develop and strengthen a mutual love with the earth and with each other," adds Secunda.

The Huichols, who were recognized by former Mexican President Vicente Fox as a national treasure of Mexico, are under tremendous economic and social pressure to assimilate with modern society, to leave their traditional villages and go to work in cities or on tobacco plantations where they are often exposed to harmful pesticides. By providing an outlet for their visionary yarn paintings and beaded artwork, by donating a portion of the tuition from each seminar and pilgrimage he leads, and donating all profits from the sale of Shaman Chocolates, Secunda provides continuing economic support that enables the Huichols to continue to live in their traditional ways and to continue being Indian. Three villages and approximately 500 people are directly helped through these efforts.

Shamanism is an ancient healing tradition, and a way of life. Shamanism involves healing and empowerment through personal transformation and direct experience as well as the healing of families, communities and the environment. By following the shaman's path people can truly learn to inhabit the earth and their being with gentleness and respect.

"Shamanism pervades every aspect of Huichol life, from the way they plant their corn to the way they raise their children," says Secunda. "Their joyful way of life reflects a dynamic shamanic tradition that we are proud to be supporting," adds Secunda.

Ceremony, sacred dance, vision quest, and pilgrimages to places of power in nature are all essential aspects of Shamanism. Through these techniques the shamanic circle embraces people, unifying their lives with strength, healing and love.