Vodóun Goddess Ayizan

Ayizan, or Ayizan Velekete (pronounced: EYE-zan VELL-ah-keet), is a Goddess, or loa, of the faith called Vodóun or Voodoo. We are more familiar with the term Vodóun. Ayizan is a powerful Goddess and is present at the initiation ceremony called Kanzo. 



In fact, Ayizan is said to be Mother of all Initiates. She is imagined as a woman going to market, wearing a white dress and an apron with bottomless pockets containing candles, coins, or candy to give to her children. The earthly plane of existence is seen as a vast marketplace and melting pot. Ayizan is a Mambo, a high priestess, in her religion. Most of her rites are secret because of the nature of initiation, but she is associated with cleansing, blessing, and empowering. A variety of geometric designs, called veves, are drawn to invoke the Lwa, who are the powerful spirit beings of Vodun. The Yoruba people of western Africa, after they were taken as slaves, usually overlaid their spirit beings with Catholic saints, and Ayizan became associated with Saint Claire.