A Thanksgiving Invitation: Cacao Ceremony, Sound Bath and Community in Red Deer

Thanksgiving weekend brings people to the table. We cook, we gather, and before the meal someone usually asks everyone to name what they're thankful for. Then the dishes pile up, Tuesday arrives, and ordinary life takes over again.

I'd like to give you a second chance at that feeling of gratitude. On Saturday, October 24, I'm hosting Return at O₂xy Wellness in Red Deer County. The afternoon brings together a cacao ceremony, integrative community drumming, a crystal bowl sound bath and a shared meal of Ayurvedic khichari. Think of this as a Thanksgiving gathering where someone else does the cooking and your only job is to show up.

Gratitude needs room

Gratitude is easy to talk about and harder to practise. Most of us feel thankful in passing, somewhere between errands, and rarely stop long enough to let the feeling settle into our bones. I built Return around the concept of stopping. Each part of the afternoon slows you down a little more than the one before.

Begin with intention: the cacao ceremony

We open with a cacao ceremony. On Thanksgiving, the pause comes when someone raises a glass. At Return, it comes with a cup of cacao and a shared moment for intention and reflection. It's a chance to decide what you want to carry into the rest of the day or even the rest of your life. Our cacao is organic, non-GMO and gluten-free.

Let go: integrative community drumming

Next comes integrative community drumming. Drumming together invites joy and childlike abandon, the kind most adults rarely give themselves permission to feel. Bring your own drum if you have one. If you don't, don’t worry about it, everything you need will be provided.

Be still: a crystal bowl sound bath in Red Deer

Then the room grows quiet for a crystal bowl sound bath. The sound creates space to settle, listen and reconnect. It's the stillest part of the afternoon and a good time to notice what you're thankful for without needing to put it into words.

What is a sound bath like?

If you've never been to a sound bath in Red Deer, or anywhere else, here's what to expect. You sit or lie down comfortably, close your eyes if you like, and listen as the crystal bowls are played. There's nothing you need to do and nothing to get right. Bring a blanket or yoga mat if it helps you get comfortable.

Share a meal: Ayurvedic khichari

Return ends the way Thanksgiving does, around food. We'll share a meal of Ayurvedic khichari, a simple dish of rice and lentils, and take time to visit. The meal is vegan and gluten-free.

What the afternoon might hold

The afternoon might bring laughter, tears or a new sense of openness. Whatever happens, you're welcome exactly as you are.

What to bring

You're welcome to bring a blanket, yoga mat or drum. However, you don't need to, because everything you require will be provided.

Event details

• Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026

• Time: Noon to 4 p.m.

• Location: O₂xy Wellness, 293 Burnt Park Drive, Red Deer County

• Cost: $50 per person

• Space: Limited to 20 guests

  
  

Carry your gratitude forward

At O₂xy Wellness, our guiding words are "Breathe deeply. Heal well." My last article, The 10-Second Rhythm Hidden in Prayer, showed how much a slower pace can do for the body. Return is an afternoon to practise that pace together.

If Thanksgiving left you grateful, tired or both, bring it to Return. Space is limited to 20 guests, so I encourage you to register early. To reserve your place, send me a message for e-transfer details or call me at 403-352-8755. I'd love to see you there.

Peace & Love,

Al