Damballah & Ayida Wedo are the basic principles of creation, male and female. They are the fertile forces that combine to form all things in our universe. They are symbolised as twin serpents, and when they appear in a Voudou ceremony, the worshippers who are possessed by them will writhe around like snakes, often trying to climb up the centre pole of the temple or trying to dive into a large basin of water to swim. Their vever shows snakes coiled around a pole.
[Translation of the Gnostic Chant:]
Io Io Io IAO Sabao Lord Abrasax Lord Meithras Lord Phallos. Io Pan Io Pan Pan Io Mighty One, Io Deathless One, Io Immortal One, Io IAO. Hail Phallus, Hail All-Devourer, Hail All-Begetter. Holy, Holy, Holy, IAO.
[Translation of the Gnostic Chant:]
Io Io Io IAO Sabao Lord Abrasax Lord Meithras Lord Phallos. Io Pan Io Pan Pan Io Mighty One, Io Deathless One, Io Immortal One, Io IAO. Hail Phallus, Hail All-Devourer, Hail All-Begetter. Holy, Holy, Holy, IAO.