Initiation (Kanzo) is a huge commitment to make in someone's life. Becoming an initiate also involves committing two weeks of your time for travel to Haiti for the Kanzo. Initiation can not and does not take place in the States. It would be very complicated and nearly impossible to perform due to various reasons. We teach our new members or "ti fey" which means little leaf that all initiations are performed in Haiti. All the things that make Haiti what Haiti is, can not be recreated. The people, the spirits, the air, earth and water are all very vital parts to the Vodou as a whole. To witness a kanzo ceremony is a life changing event. This truly is an amazing celebration!!!
Papa Loko
An uninitiated person who attends ceremonies, receives counsel and medical treatment from a Houngan or Mambo, and takes part in Vodou related activities is called a Vodouisant. This is a general term, like "Christian" or "Buddhist".
An uninitiated person who is associated with a particular peristyle , attends ceremonies regularly, and appears to be preparing for initiation is sometimes referred to as a hounsi bossale. Hounsi is from the Fon language of
Kanzo involves the total obligation and responsibility to the Lwa. Initiation has three official ranks;
Hounsi Kanzo; this is typically the easiest of all the initiatory ranks. Hounsi translates to "Bride of the Spirit" and both men and women assume this rank after Kanzo. The Hounsi is vital to the stability and growth of a house, it is the Hounsi who support the house and keep it going, they are usually the ones to get mounted during a ceremony. This keeps the Houngan's and Mambo's free to work with the Lwa upon arrival as the Hounsi are not as familiar with that aspect of the Sevis.
Su Pwen (On Point); This rank is the second rank in the initiation phase and is the first rank of the Vodou Priesthood. A Su Pwen initiate usually works with their Met Tet, but that is not always the case. Hougan and Mambo Su Pwen can perform any service that Asogwe is capable of performing, with the exception of making new initiates. They do not own the asson as Asogwe does. They use the asson of Papa Loko.
Asogwe; This is the highest rank acheived in the Vodou Priesthood. Whereas the Houngan and Mambo Su Pwen work with and use the asson of Papa Loko, Asogwe owns the asson given to them from Papa Loko. Since they have been given the asson, this inturn means that they may also give the asson or initiate members. Asogwe should also be able to serve all of the Lwa of Ginea as well as start their own house or sosyete to establish a relationship with the community and make children of their own.
The sacred asson
During the Kanzo process, the are many ceremonies and rituals that are performed. Some of which are done in the peristyle and some that are done in the D'jevo. The events that take place in the D'jevo are secret and known only to initiates. The events that take place at our Kanzo ceremonies are as follows;
Bat Ge (Beat a war)
the initiating house is going into war on behalf of the initiates against any negativety. This is a two night ritual. Sacred herbs are prepared at this time for the initiates. This is done on the Petro rite. Hounsi's and Mambo's dance with machete's while the Houngan's call out the Lwa.
Mare Paket (tying paket)
the binding and preparation of the sacred pakets that the initiates will receive. Several days after the mare paket they (the pakets) are presented to the crossroads at a ritual for heating and energizing.
Kanzo Baths
a sequential series of 21 baths made of amasi kay are given to the initiates to cleanse and remove all negativity, spirits and witch craft prior to there entrance into the sacred D'jevo. It is essential that the initiate meet the Lwa in a state of ritual purity.
Kouche Kanzo (laying to bed)
This is when you enter the sacred D'jevo. We place our initiates into the D'jevo for one week. Of course what happens in the D'jevo, stays in the D'jevo. Once in, you will be exposed to all the riches and knowledge of the Vodou and Ginea, as well as being a part some of the most spiritualy moving events you've ever experienced! Until having been inside the D'jevo which can be considered a portal to endless time and space, trying to explain the feeling in words will never do...
Manje Tet (feeding the head)
This takes place in the D'jevo and is secret only to initiates. This is when the head of the initiate is "fed". The head is fed of many secrets of the knowledge of Vodou. The Manje Tet is one of the most spiritualy awakening and moving events during the Kanzo.
Suleliye
This event is more of a secret than the Manje Tet. During the night of the Suleliye, the initiates whose rank is Asogwe are removed from the Hounfor and taken to a undisclosed location for a very private event.
Leve Kanzo (rising)
The Leve Kanzo is when you emerge from the sacred D'jevo dressed in all white, wearing a straw hat, with the Lwa; Ayizan. You also have your kolye (necklace). There is also the party for the Lwa which is open to the public and marks the new Houngan's and Mambo's for the baptism or (baptem). The initiates participate in a ritual which includes them using their Asson for the first time in a type of call and respond rhythm using the Asson between the new initiates and the Mambo's of the community to prove the new initiates are worthy of the Asson.
Baptem (baptism)
When your God Parents or Marin and Parin give you your initiatory name (nom vayan) which is either based on or a reflection of your powers and knowledge of being a Mambo or Houngan. This part of the ceremony is performed your pret savan which is a type of bush priest. They have a great knowledge of the Catholic religion and liturgy and are not always a Mambo or Houngan. Once your baptism is complete and you've received your nom vayan, you may then remove your "veil" and partake in the party that the community, the Lwa and all the spirits have prepared for you as a way of celebrating your new spiritual birthday!!!