 Lave TetThe Lave tet Ceremony is the fortifying and cleansing of the head or, 'Seat of the soul' It cleanses ones self of a lifetime of negativity and opens the initiates sub-conscious mind to a higher level of learning. It also allows that spirit or, "met tet" that has been with you since birth to be reveled through the process of washing. The ceremony usually lasts for 3 consecutive nights, during which time you will have dreams, readings and personal time with the spirits. |
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 candlesGreat time and effort is made during every ceremony to insure that all spirits are represented. One of the ways is by candle. Our Ancestors are the reason that we're here today. Veneration is always a must at ceremony. Sacred songs and dances are performed as well as the lighting of candles to welcome our sacred spirit's to join us and bless us in our work. Colors are very important as well as each iconography of the saint of spirit as well. You can also use candles in magic. |
 KanzoIn Kanzo there are 3 major steps that can be chosen by the spirits for an individual. the first is the Hounsi kanzo. This rank is the beginning of your journey into Haitian Vodou. You will be taught songs, offerings and how to serve your spirits. The next is Kanzo Semp (simple) This rank is the second level of Vodou. At this level you will learn even more songs and dances for the spirits, serve the house and learn the practices of ceremony. The last is Asogwe and all of the Reglamen is taught. |
 Le Priye Ginen (prayer of Africa)The prayer of Africa is one of the most sacred pieces of the Regleman in Haitian Vodou. It is sung at the beginning of every ceremony and can last for more than an hour, depending on the house's preference. Many Vodouissants spend years learning this song and others, to give honor and respect to our Ancestors, The Spirits, and God. |
 Posession-In Ceremony there will be times of 'Cheval' or what we call, Possession of the spirit. It is a mystery and magical experience that everyone should see in vodou. When a person is 'mounted' by a spirit they are not themselves, nor will they remember it at all. The spirits mount others to relay messages, bring healing and meet new members of a house or potential initiates. A good Manbo and Houngan will take you to formally be introduced to each spirit that arrives and you will be blessed. |
 VeverVeve's are sacred symbols, to some they would be considered a sigil for calling a spirit. Veve's offer up a supernatural lighthouse if you would for the spirits to see that we're calling them and respond to the image. Drawing them takes lots of practice and some skill. They can be made of corn meal, flour and sometimes coffee or gunpowder. These sacred lines and designs are learned after one does kanzo so that he/she can evoke the spirits to work for them and their clients. |
What is a Lave Tet ceremony?
A lave tet (from the French laver tete, to wash the head), is just exactly
that, it is a ceremonial washing of the head.
The purpose of a lave tet is to spiritually cleanse the head. This may be
done in order to make possessions easier and less violent for an uninitiated person who has lwa, it may be done during a kanzo ceremony at the end of the cycle to cleanse the head after all the sacrifices that have been made and all the ceremonial activity directed at the initiates' heads, it may be done for a person, initiated or not, who has in some way offended their lwa, or it may be done for any person who merely wishes to "refresh" their head. Only initiation can do that.
A lave tet in and of itself is not an initiation and it does not make a
person a member of a peristyle or a Vodou society. The person's head may be washed once, three times, or seven times, depending on the house and the degree of cleansing considered to be required. After the washing, if the person is not dressed in white already they are then so dressed, and their head is wrapped in a white kerchief. They are made to lie down and rest on a mat covered with a white sheet, and should remain in the peristyle for 3 nights.
What is a Kanzo?
Our House has a traditional method of finding out where you belong. Not everyone is called to become an initiate, but those who are find that our house is the superior place to be. Our Lwa will instruct us if Kanzo is the path for you. Along with giving us this knowledge, the Lwa will tell us at which rank you are to initiate, and whether our House is the House for you. All candidates are required to undergo this divination/screening.
Once this information is obtained, you are free to do as you wish with it. If you are allowed to, and desire to, become Kanzo in our House, you are free to initiate at the rank which the Lwa communicated to us, or any lower rank you may feel is right for you.
Kanzo is the name for the initiation ceremony within the Vodou tradition. It is a sacrament, and considered to be one of the most sacred events within a Vodouisant's life. Quite naturally, the ceremonies are empowering, exhilarating, and life-altering. They will change your life, making it better, easier, and revolutionary.
You are welcome to come and participate with our Sosyete in our yearly Kanzo.
Classes and courses
Pre Kanzo classes, introduction into Haitian Vodoun is available through Zebate Bon Manbo at House Ginen found on Facebook. The courses last for 6 months (8) classes. They are a Non-intiate course with introduction to haitian culture, history, revolution, how to serve your spirits, ancestors altar making the different nations of Rada, Nago, Petro and Ghede as well as the basics of magick, herbalism and other information that the initiate will learn before entering the Djevo. The course also educates the student on ritual protocal and some common creole vocabulary as well as dance and correspondences of the spirits. It is recommended, but not required that every student attend at least one ritual or fet before choosing to kanzo and be a dedicated member of the house.
Each student is responsible for turning in any homework assignments and or visiting the house for one on one training before they kanzo. Our house does offer initiates to kanzo in Haiti. Out mother house is there, all other information about travel and things to be done for kanzo will be discussed between the student and teather before arrangements are made to go.
Kanzo is a very spiritual and life changing ceremony that should not be taken lightly. Vodou is a Religion and a lifestyle, a community- not a weekend bible camp, this is serious and vows to the Spirits cannot be broken!! The rituals are sacred and the traditional information that is passed down by the word is not to be misused in any way, be sure that you are ready for the journey that is ahead of you and your spirits will guide the way.
Our liniage goes back 500 years and is very important for the student to be trusted as well as his/her manbo and houngan who is trianing them, the house and all the responsibilities that come with the title. The Lwa choose what our potential or 'calling' is to be NOT the person or a person!
Should you decided that this house is for you and you are a serious student, a downpayment will be made to secure your place within our house and then training can begin that will lead you to on your path, be it serving the spirits, healing, helping within the congregation or kanzo.
Our House Liniage:
A moi Zebate Bon Manbo pitit Yasaisi Bon Houngan Pitit Simanto Bon manbo pitit pitit Taille Fer Bon Houngan (Nickel Jasmin) Pitit pitit Satela Bon Manbo ( Yvrose Nelson Cantave) Pitit pitit pitit Kousipran Bon Houngan (Paul Saint Ville) Pitit Pitit Pitit Dlo Kouche Bon Manbo ( Madanm Paul) Ki di ( Liliane Moise. De Sosyete L'Afrik Ginen Sans Rancune.
