Cowrie Shells. African Imports, n.d. (Barbara Walker, The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols & Sacred Objects, p 508.) Though best-documented in West Africa as well as in Afro-American religions, such as Santería, Candomblé, and Umbanda, cowrie-shell divination has also been recorded in other regions, notably East Africa and India. The cowrie shells were used to buy slaves for transport to the colonies in the New World. Some people chose to have the tops of the shells cut off so that they shells will lay flat and there is no ambiguous reading with if the shell is up or down. !The Language of Cowrie-Shells… Cowrie-Shells Divination refers to several distinct forms of divination using Cowrie-Shells that are part of the rituals and religious beliefs of certain religions. It has shown up in the form of money, jewelry, and religious accessories in almost every part of the world. The four shells represent the past and the future and are considered to be male or female. These sacred shells are said to be the doorway through which we can access the world of the ancestors, the world that holds infinite knowledge and wisdom and a timeless view we cannot otherwise tap into. Cowries were also thought to be the mouth of Orishas in the Yoruba religion. Cowrie Shell. Bibliography “The Meaning and History of the Cowrie Shell.” Cowrie Shells, Cowry Shells: The Meaning and History | Africa Imports. Cowrie shells are used since there is a definite top and bottom to the shell. They quickly became popular for use in divination rituals. The cowrie shell was the first symbol … Cowrie Shell Meaning. Cowrie, any of several marine snails of the subclass Prosobranchia (class Gastropoda) comprising the genus Cypraea, family Cypraeidae. The famous hidden city spoken of by various religions and cultures is the numerical and geometric world concealed in cowries. Not just a good look - they are a symbol of traditional African spirituality, a tool to help increase fertility, a gift from the Ocean Goddess (Mami Wata) and have been a currency that dates back thousands of years. The Romans called Cowrie Shells matriculus, which means little matrix or little womb. Cowrie shell is a hexagram, the symbol of identity of the nation of Israel. The Symbolism of the Cowry Shell The ever popular cowry (also spelled cowrie) shell has many uses and meanings. It has been a symbol of rebirth from at least 20,000 BCE. Cowries came to West Africa through trade with Arabia in the 14th century; they became an important means of buying slaves. Found in the islands of the Indian Ocean, the cowrie shell soon gained popularity throughout much of ancient Africa. The Cowrie Shell may be one of the original Goddess symbols. Unlike the State of Israel in the Middle East, Israel in Africa is a kingdom revolving around the cowrie shell. The humped, thick shell is beautifully coloured (often speckled) and glossy; the apertural lips, which open into the first whorl in the shell, are inrolled and may It is no surprise that these shells were brought to the Americas to serve as talismans against enslavement. The rounded side of the shell is the top and the open part (or 'mouth' as it is called) is the bottom. Cowrie-shell divination refers to several distinct forms of divination using cowrie shells that are part of the rituals and religious beliefs of certain religions. It represents the female Gate of Life - the yoni. The cowrie shell has protective properties and was first used by shaman and sorcerers for magical protection. The cowrie shell has been used as money in many parts of the world, including Africa, Arabia, and Asia. !!
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