Erzulie Dantor is the Voodoo goddess of love, romance, art, jealousy, passion, & sex. Dantor supports independent business women and is the patron of women’s finances. She is also the patron loa of lesbian women, a fierce protector of women and children experiencing domestic violence, and is the patron loa of New Orleans. Erzulie Dantor offers protection and possibilities beyond the imagination.
Erzulie Dantor is a mulatto woman who is often portrayed as the Black Madonna, or the Roman Catholic “Saint Barbara Africana”. In New Orleans, she is often portrayed as Our Lady of Perpetual Help. She has tribal scars on her cheek, and is considered heterosexual because she has children, but she is also the patron loa of lesbian women. She loves women fiercely and will defend them to the death. Dantor loves knives and is considered the protector of newly consecrated Voodoo priests and priestesses, as well as of women who have been betrayed by a lover. She is highly respected and much feared due to her Woman Power. Most Haitian women serve Dantor, as do voodooists in New Orleans. Enlightened men also serve Dantor, especially men who honor, love and respect women. Many women invoke Erzulie Dantor against their partners (male or female) should they become violent.
Erzulie’s personal story is a tragedy. She was a warrioress who fought with her people during the Haitian revolution. However, her own people cut out her tongue so that she would not tell their secrets should she be captured. Thus, she is mute and can only speak a stammering monosyllable, “ke-ke-ke-ke-ke!” This is the sound of her tongue clicking on the roof of her mouth. She is often pictured with her daughter Anais, who serves as her translator and interpreter.