COWRIE SHELL
What is Cowrie Shell Divination (Búzios)?
Cowrie shell divination (known as "búzios" in Brazil) is a form of omen divination that grew out of West African Yoruba religious traditions carried into Brazil’s Candomblé and Cuba’s Santería. Around sixteen cowrie shells are thrown, and the answer is read from the combination of shells that land open or closed.
Overview
- System
- Omen Reading (reads the combination of open and closed shells after they are thrown)
- Origin
- West Africa → Brazil / Cuba
- What You Need
- Around sixteen cowrie shells
- Best For
- Life, love, work
- Time Frame
- Days ahead, 90 days
Origins & History
Cowrie shell divination developed from the divination practices of the West African Yoruba religion, which were carried across the Atlantic slave trade and passed down and further developed within Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Cuban religious traditions such as Candomblé and Santería. It is known as "búzios" in Brazil and "dilogún" in Cuba and elsewhere. Around sixteen cowrie shells are thrown, and a priest reads the message of the spirits from the combination in which the shells land face up or face down.
As in Ifá, a large number of signs (odù) are passed down, and the practice extends beyond simple either-or judgments to address a wide range of concerns, including life, love, and work. It continues to be practiced today by trained priests within the Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Cuban religious communities.
How It Works
- 01Decide on the question you want to ask.
- 02Throw the cowrie shells together (a digital version uses a random draw).
- 03Check the combination of shells that land open and closed.
- 04Read the meaning associated with that combination alongside the question.
What It Reveals
This is well suited to a wide range of concerns about life direction, love, and work. It is properly a system read by trained priests after long study, and a simplified version can reproduce only part of the depth and ceremonial meaning found in the traditional practice.
Related Methods
References
- Wikipedia: Cowrie-shell divination (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowrie-shell_divination)