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. Cowrie Shells. The cowrie shell has protective properties and was first used by shaman and sorcerers for magical protection. Found in the islands of the Indian Ocean, the cowrie shell soon gained popularity throughout much of ancient Africa. Cowries came to West Africa through trade with Arabia in the 14th century; they became an important means of buying slaves. The cowrie shell has been used as money in many parts of the world, including Africa, Arabia, and Asia. Unlike the State of Israel in the Middle East, Israel in Africa is a kingdom revolving around the cowrie shell. 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. The Symbolism of the Cowry Shell The ever popular cowry (also spelled cowrie) shell has many uses and meanings. 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 The famous hidden city spoken of by various religions and cultures is the numerical and geometric world concealed in cowries. Bibliography “The Meaning and History of the Cowrie Shell.” Cowrie Shells, Cowry Shells: The Meaning and History | Africa Imports. The Cowrie Shell may be one of the original Goddess symbols. Cowries were also thought to be the mouth of Orishas in the Yoruba religion. 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. (Barbara Walker, The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols & Sacred Objects, p 508.) The cowrie shells were used to buy slaves for transport to the colonies in the New World. It has been a symbol of rebirth from at least 20,000 BCE. The cowrie shell was the first symbol … 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. 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. African Imports, n.d. The rounded side of the shell is the top and the open part (or 'mouth' as it is called) is the bottom. Cowrie Shell. The four shells represent the past and the future and are considered to be male or female. !! It represents the female Gate of Life - the yoni. It is no surprise that these shells were brought to the Americas to serve as talismans against enslavement. 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. Cowrie Shell Meaning. They quickly became popular for use in divination rituals. !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. Cowrie shells are used since there is a definite top and bottom to the shell. It has shown up in the form of money, jewelry, and religious accessories in almost every part of the world. Cowrie, any of several marine snails of the subclass Prosobranchia (class Gastropoda) comprising the genus Cypraea, family Cypraeidae.
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