Athena Montanari
Founder of The Sacred Cacao Path

My Story 

With a background in Clinical Psycology and over 15 years of guiding transformative expereiences, I specialize in facilitating meaningful changes for couples, leaders, and conscious proffesionals. My work  focuses on clarity, emotional intelligence, and measurable growth, helping people transform theirrelationships, communication, and patterns for long term success. Based in Sedona, I work with clients globally. 

I grew up connected to the medicine of cacao. My grandmother, born in 1910, began our family tradition of making cacao—a tradition later carried forward by my mother and her siblings. My mother eventually stepped into the role of facilitating cacao ceremonies, which led her to move us to the highlands of Guatemala, near the sacred Mayan temples.As a child, I experienced cacao in its raw, transformative form—running through cacao trees, tasting it in different ways, and witnessing the entire process of turning raw cacao into a sacred, edible form. Observing this journey inspired the name The Sacred Cacao Path, a reflection of the personal transformation we undergo as we return to our true essence. 

When my mother moved closer to the temples, I went with her. I was the only one in my family who felt called to participate in the ceremonies and other sacred rituals, spending most weekends at the Mayan temples just five miles from our home. Over time, this became more than a practice—it became part of who I am. 

​In our Mayan tradition, when someone is meant to carry on the ceremonial path, the lineage is passed intentionally through ritual and blessing. My mother did this with me, entrusting me to continue our family’s ceremonial work with cacao. This transmission marked the beginning of my path as a ceremonial facilitator, carrying cacao forward as both medicine and teacher.  

​My Mission

​Through The Sacred Cacao Path, I help leaders, visionaries, and couples break through emotional barriers and elevate their relationships. Rooted in anciente Mayan wisdome and grounded in modern psychology, I create transformative expereinces that support deep healing, heart-centered leadership,and conscious connection.  

Cacao as a Bridge to Love and Celebration

Cacao is a sacred ally in relationship healing and connection. When used with intention, it opens the heart, softens emotional defenses, and creates a powerful space for truth, intimacy, and renewal. It supports couples and individuals in dissolving old patterns, communicating with clarity, and returning to each other with compassion and devotion. Beyond healing, cacao is also used to celebrate life, welcoming new beginnings, honoring commitments, and marking meaningful milestones. It’s more than a plant, it’s a bridge back to love, presence, and shared humanity.