Solstice & Equinox Awakening Cacao Ceremony & Soundbath
A heart opening cacao ceremony and sound bath immersion for the changing seasons
with David Mostyn (gong master) & Jayne Spenceley (cacao ceremony)
- Summer Solstice : Sunday 14th June 4.00 – 6.15pm
- Autumn Equinox : Sunday 13th Sept 11.00 – 1.15pm
- Winter Solstice : Sunday 13th Dec 4.00 – 6.15pm
The journey begins with a heart opening Cacao ceremony, Cacao is a rich, sacred drink known to enhance clarity, creativity and emotional well being. Set your intention and let the warmth of cacao guide you inwards.
Then immerse yourself in the healing vibrations of a gong & soundbath. As waves of sound washes over you, stress melts away and your mind can enter a profound calm.
About the sessions
Join us on a journey back in time remembering ancient traditions and ceremonies. Let go and relax into a scared space and take part in a traditional cacao ceremony followed by a sound bath, emulating nature’s sounds along with the energy & power of planetary gongs, all timed to welcome the approaching solstices and equinoxes of 2026!
In our virtual, screen obsessed, outrage culture, more and more of us are craving reconnection with the beauty of simplicity. We are desperate to feel more, to open our hearts, to feel more alive and to connect more intensely with what we intrinsically know – that we are all one with everything and everyone.
Appreciating the simplicity of life by opening the heart and feeling emotion; being alongside and connecting with others; the changing of the seasons; appreciating all of nature; grounding with the Earth.
We’ve forgotten what our ancestors knew, understood and worshiped – that marking the seasonal changes each equinox and solstice brought, be it balance and harmony with an equinox, or the chance to make a shift with a solstice was an opportunity to connect and remember who we are.
This unique experience is perfect for anyone seeking:
- Emotional release and clarity
- Deep relaxation and stress relief
- A sense of connection and mindfulness
What is a cacao ceremony?
A cacao ceremony is a ritual that brings people together in intention, presence, and connection.
Rooted in ancient Mesoamerican traditions, ceremonial cacao has long been used as a gentle plant medicine to support clarity, emotional release, creativity, and a deeper connection to self and life.
Cacao works subtly and lovingly, opening the heart, softening the mind, and helping you move out of “doing” and into “being.” This creates space to pause, reflect, release what’s heavy, and reconnect to what truly matters.
For the cacao ceremony, the cacao will be made into a drink using oat milk, water and two superfood powders; maca and lucuma. The drink will be sweetened with the natural sweetener Organic Argave. The drink tastes like a warming, sweet hot chocolate. Its suitable for vegans.
What is a sound bath?
Different to a gong bath!
A sound bath is broader in scope than a gong bath; It’s a sonic meditative experience where participants are immersed in sound waves produced by a broader scope of instruments including singing bowls, chimes and other instruments as well as gongs.
The experience tends to be gentler, layered with harmonics that soothe the nervous system and aligns either with nature’s shift during a solstice or embracing the turning Point of an equinox to lead to renewal.
During a sound bath, individuals lie down and allow the soothing sounds to wash over them, promoting deep relaxation and an improved state of well-being. This practice helps reduce stress, fatigue & symptoms of depression, creating a calming environment that enhances mental and emotional health.
Cost, Venue, Dates & Times
The fee for the cacao ceremony & sound bath is £35
If you can’t afford the full fee you can pay £30
The sessions are held in Sheffield Yoga School, in a beautiful warm room with good acoustics, right in the heart of Walkley!
The dates and times :
- Summer Solstice : Sunday 14th June 4.00 – 6.15pm
- Autumn Equinox : Sunday 13th Sept 11.00 – 1.15pm
- Winter Solstice : Sunday 13th Dec 4.00 – 6.15pm
Please arrive at least 10 minutes early for a prompt start.
The door will be locked 5 minutes before the session begins.
What to bring
We have Yoga mats at the venue but if you want to bring your own please do. Also a blanket, cushion, and anything you need to be warm and comfortable.
If you have a favorite cup for your cacao drink please bring it along.
A pen / paper / journal.
Why in the lead up to Solstice & Equinox?
Solstice
The approach of an impending solstice has been described as transitional & anticipatory. The emphasis in these sessions is of a process or lengthening rather than the instant of the solstice itself.
Greeks and Romans described it as a time ‘toward’ the solstice rather than a phase. In Celtic traditions, solstices were doorways and the time before was liminal. In middle eastern traditions, the lead up to solstice was a time of ritual preparation. In indigenous traditions, the weeks before solstice often marked final preparations and watching for signs of change.
Step into the powerful energy of the solstice—a time of transformation, balance, and new beginnings. This sacred turning point in nature offers the perfect opportunity to pause, reflect, and realign.
Our Solstice Cacao Ceremony Sound Bath is designed to help you harness this cosmic energy and restore harmony within.
Equinox
The lead up to an equinox is a period of balancing, adjustment & correction. Where solstice feels like a door opening, equinox feels like a crossing.
The Greeks would mark this period of imbalance to correct, the Celts marked the loosening of winter or the fading of summer as a sense of mixing light & dark, the Norse a sense of the equinox confirming what was unfolding. The ancient middle east traditions marked the lead up to it with purification processes and an emphasis on balance being restored before renewal can occur.
The equinox marks a moment of perfect balance—day and night in harmony, light and darkness in equal measure. It’s a powerful time to pause, reflect, and realign your energy with nature’s rhythm.
This Equinox cacao ceremony and sound bath is designed to help you embrace this equilibrium and set intentions for the season ahead.
Choose which seasonal change feels right for you, or try more than 1, or come to all 4!
Gong master : David Mostyn
David started practicing yoga in 2007 and quickly discovered the other benefits of meditation, breath awareness and relaxation. Enrolling on a yoga foundation and then a 3 year teacher training course allowed him to deepen his understanding of the tradition and enable a desire to begin teaching yoga on a regular basis.
He studied Gong Master Level 1&2 gong training with Mark Swan in 2020/21 UK as well as completing Further Journeys in Gong Mastery with Aidan Mcintyre and Tim Byford in 2024. He has been hosting full moon gong baths at Sheffield Yoga School for over 2 years and has a full programme for 2026.
Cacao Ceremony : Jayne Spenceley (Espiritu Cacao)
In 2020, Jayne had a heart-opening experience with ceremonial cacao that awakened a deep calling to explore its wisdom and share its benefits with others. Since then, she has been holding Cacao Ceremonies and working with only the finest organic, ceremonial-grade cacao, which she imports directly from Central and South America.
Jayne has undergone formal training in Cacao Mastery and has studied with the Mayan Cacao lineage, a path she continues to walk with ongoing devotion and learning. She has travelled to the jungle to learn first-hand about the farming, growing, and production of pure cacao. Above all, her greatest teacher continues to be the spirit of the cacao plant itself.
Please note : Contra-indications
Cacao
For cacao, you should be aware of some possible contraindications if you take other medications. Pure cacao has a very low risk of interacting with some anti-depressants and other heart medications. Please feel free to reach out in confidence with any queries or concerns around this.
Gong & Sound bath
Sound & gong baths may not be suitable for the following: Epilepsy, Meniere’s disease, Severe Osteoporosis, Tinnitus, 1st trimester of pregnancy, fitted pacemakers, defibrillator or other metal implants, schizophrenia or psychosis, drug or alcohol dependency.
If unsure, please contact David.
