The Mystic Voodoo
Where Art, Psychology, and Mythology Collide
The Mystic Voodoo Where Art, Psychology, and Mythology Collide
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Voodoo Goddess of Love
How to use an Erzulie Voodoo Doll
In the Voodoo Pantheon, there is an important group of female loa (goddesses) whose first name is Erzulie. While all of them share in their role as Goddess of love, art, and sex, each has additional areas of life which is theirs to defend and assist. Erzulie is three in aspect: she can be Erzulie Freda, a virgin goddess likened to the Virgin Mary; Erzulie Dantor, loa of jealousy and passion; or La Siren, a personification of the sea and goddess of motherhood. Her color is pink, her animal a white dove. She is associated with the Lukumi Orisha Oshun, and sometimes Chango (as Erzulie Dantor). Erzulie Dantor is the Voodoo goddess of love, romance, art, jealousy,passion, & sex. Erzulie Dantor is the patron loa of lesbian women, fierce protector of women experiencing domestic violence and patron loa of New Orleans. Beauty, love, and sensuality are her Creations. Emotions are what link her to the endless reservoir of universal creativity. Erzulie Dantor offers to you 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". 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. Thus, she loves women fiercely, and will defend them to the death. She loves knives and is considered the protector of newly consecrated Voodoo priests and priestesses, as well as of women and children who are victims of domestic violence, and 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, and she is also the patron loa of New Orleans and so she is served by many there as well. She also supports independent business women and is the patron of women's finances. Many women invoked Erzulie Dantor against their partners (male or female) should they become violent. And enlightened men also serve Dantor, especially men who honor, love and respect women.
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.
Ideally, you will begin at your altar. It is advisable to have altar candles and spiritual incense burning at the time of use. To begin, you will need to ask Papa Legba to open the gates to the spirit world so that you can ask Erzulie Dantor for a favor. To do so, recite the following three times:
Odu Legba, Papa Legba, open the door, Your children are waiting. Papa Legba, open the door, your children await!
You can now use your Voodoo doll as a focusing tool for creating the change you seek. Erzulie is particularly useful for improving love, happiness, and emotional strength. Concentrate on the outcome you wish to occur and greet Erzulie with the appropriate ritual greeting: Ori Ye Ye O
You may now ask her for assistance in creating the change you seek. You may write a petition if you wish. Make an offering for three days following your request. Appropriate offerings include lighting a special candle, placing a small plate of food from your dinner on her altar, or flowers. Erzulie is particularly fond of cinnamon, honey, oranges, pumpkins, gold, mirrors, and French pastries. Her favorite colors are yellow, green, and coral, her favorite day is Thursday, and her favorite number is the number 5. Be creative!
When you are finished, place Erzulie Dantor in your kitchen or in the bedroom as these are the best places in the home for her. Finally, be sure to thank her for the favor, and be sure to thank Papa Legba for connecting you to her.
The following is from The VODOU Page -http://members.aol.com/racine125/index.html Erzulie Dantor's colors are navy blue and golden yellow. She is represented by the image of Santa Barbara Africana (not the Santa Barbara used to represent Chango in the Lukumi tradition). She is depicted as a black woman with tribal scars on her cheeks, a boy child in one arm, rich robes and a crown.
black female pigs, Reve d'Or perfume, and daggers. When she possesses a person she is all but mute - she points at what she wants and she says "Ke-ke-ke-ke-ke-ke!" and "Te-te-te-te-te-te!" Here is a song about Dantor which describes her affinity for knives and her indestructibility: Set kout kouto, set kout pwenya, Prete m dedin a pou m al vomi sang mwen, Set kout kouto, set kout pwenya, Prete m dedin a pou m al vomi sang mwen, Sang mwen ape koule. Seven stabs of the knife, seven stabs of the dagger, Lend me the basin so I can vomit my blood, Seven stabs of the knife, seven stabs of the dagger, Lend me the basin so I can vomit my blood, My blood is pouring down. She is a Petro lwa, but she is not served with red. Erzulie Dantor offers her devotees her protection, but more than that she is a capital magician! She has two husbands, Simbi Makaya and Ti-Jean Petro, both important magicians in their own right. Because of her fierce nature, although she is a lwa of orthodox Vodou, she is frequently referred to as a "djab". Here is another song for Dantor which points to her magical abilities: Erzulie fanm Ti-Jean metres kay la, Erzulie fanm Ti-Jean metres kay la, Pa rele, se ou pote Houngan nivo, Pa rele, so ou pote wanga pi fo, Erzulie fanm Ti-Jean metres kay la, Paket mwen a tout mare. Erzulie Ti-Jean's woman, mistress of the house, Erzulie Ti-Jean's woman, mistress of the house, Don't cry out, it's you who carries the new Houngan, Don't cry out, it's you who carries the strongest spells, Erzulie Ti-Jean's woman, mistress of the house, My paket is all tied up. A paket is a power object made during the bat guerre, the opening ceremony of Vodou initiation. Interestingly, pakets are among the very few Petro-related objects permitted in the initiatory djevo. Most Haitian women serve Dantor. She is the patron of women's finances, and supports independant businesswomen. She is also the defender of women against violence by men, so Haitian women invoke her against their domestic partners should they become violent. Lesbian women in particular are considered to be under the patronage of Dantor, but of course one need not be a lesbian woman to serve her. And men also serve Dantor, especially men who really love to be with women. To serve Erzulie Dantor, here is what to do: Prepare an altar draped in navy blue and yellow. Provide offerings of Creme de Cacao and cooked pork. You can offer her cooked sweet potatos as well. Put the food offerings in bowls or plates that you only use for Dantor. In each food offering place a small dark blue or yellow candle. If you have more than one food offering, use both colors. You may also place on your altar silver chains, daggers, and rich perfumes such as Amarige, since Reve d'Or is unavailable in the USA except in Haitian botanicas. If you are an initiate, do NOT use your asson, Erzulie Dantor is a Petro lwa and is therefore served with a maraca, which even non-initiates may use. Light a dark blue or golden yellow candle, spray yourself and the altar with perfume. Say the Lord's Prayer or some other appropriate prayer. Then invoke the lwa Legba in the Petro branch with the following words: Legba, Papa Legba, open the gate for the lwa! Open the gate for the djab, Papa Legba! Open the gate for the lwa! We have arrived, we wait for them. Let us go, Papa Legba, let us go! Let us go, Papa Legba, let us go! We will go see what is happening in that house, We will go see where Legba commands. Now call on Dantor! If you know the songs for Dantor above, sing them, if not, repeat the words. Shake your maraca and call Dantor. Say this: "Erzulie Dantor, strong and fierce! Make magic for me. I offer you these things to eat and drink, these beautiful objects for you." At this point, present each thing you offer Dantor to the four directions, that is, lift them to the east, west, north and south. "Erzulie Dantor, wife of Ti-Jean, wife of Simbi Makaya, mother of a child, be my mother too! Help me, protect me, fight for me!" Then name your specific requests. If there is a person or a problem which is particularly bothering you, write down the person's name or a description of the problem on a piece of rich paper decorated in blue and gold. Fold the paper several times. When you fold it, fold it away from you, rather than towards you. Then place the paper on the altar and STAB IT! Stab it seven times, and say, "I win! I overcome! You can't beat me, you have no power over me! Erzulie Dantor is my mother, and you can't hurt me any more! Down with you! DOWN WITH YOU!" After this is done, sit quietly in front of your altar for a time, then leave the room and let the candles in the food offerings burn out. Watch and see what happens, and especially pay attention to your dreams and to your relationships with other women. ...do this ceremony alone in your own house or together with others. Peace and love, Bon Mambo Racine Sans Bout Sa Te La Daginen "Se bon ki ra", Good is rare - Haitian Proverb The VODOU Page - http://members.aol.com/racine125/index.html |
Dantor loves silver chains and other items of silver jewelry, Creme de Cacao, 
