Kanzo


	S O S Y E T E D U M A R C H E , I N C


	M A M B O V Y E Z O K O M A N D E L A M E N F O S O S Y E T E D U M A R C H E T H E F O U R C I R C L E S H O U S E O F T H E W A L K E R

KANZO

The Holy Kanzo is a huge undertaking and a long journey into your soul. It is at it's most mundane sense, a seven day adventure into Vodou. At it's best, it's a rebirth of your soul, as you leave one life, and begin another. Each step of the process is designed to change you, physically, mentally and spiritually. It is not for the faint of heart. Oaths made cannot be easily broken. One doesn't kanzo today and not do the work tomorrow. The Lwa are magnanimous in their generosity and vindictive in in their punishments. It's why we say Vodou is for everyone, but not everyone is for Vodou.

21 BATHES	CHIRE AYIZAN	KOUCHE	BRULE ZIN	BATEM

21 BATHES OF DISSOLUTION

It begins with a bath - as all journeys should. 21 bathes, to be precise, representing the 21 Nations of Vodou. Leaves, herbs, perfumes, oils and liquors all make the river of spirituality that you will sail down, as you begin your journey. Here at Sosyete du Marche, we grow all our own herbs. We do service monthly on the land. The land is fed, the Lwa are fetted, They live on the land and in the plants. We harvest the plants with ritual, prayer and service, so the ashe is in the material we use. The circle is complete.

CHIRE AYZIAN

The opening ritual purifies and cleanses the space, preparing the way for the Lwa to come through. A royal palm frond is shredded, danced around the peristyle and then taken into the djevo, where it is ritually prepared for the hunyos and their kouche

KOUCHE

Kouche means "sleep" in kreyol, and that is precisely what happens - the candidates lay down and "sleep" for a proscribed number of days, depending on the rank they are being raised to hold. Kouche also means many secret services that cannot be described here. But this is the most important part of the work, and so it is held in close communion by those who have been through the doors of the djevo.

BRULE ZIN

"Fire the Zins is a term used to describe the action of raising the dead back to life. At the conclusion of the kouche, a Brule Zin is held, to heat up, toughen and enliven the candidates. It is an offering to them, the ancestors, and the Lwa of the house. Electric, hot and fast paced, the Brule is one of the public components of the Kanzo, and so may be attended by people who are not a part of the hosting sosyete.

BATEM

The Batem is the final ritual of Kanzo. A rebirth, accompanied by a special naming ceremony, giftingand grace, the batem concludes the cycle of Kanzo. A bamboche or party is often held afterwards, to celebrate the new initiates coming out into the community. This is also a public component and may be attended by friends, family and the community that the sosyete serves.