Cowrie shells

Cowrie shells are small seashells, once used as currency in Africa and Asia, that serve as a divinatory tool in many African and African diaspora traditions. They are cast onto a mat or tray, and the reading is based on how many land with the opening facing up or down. In the Yoruba tradition, the casting of sixteen cowries, called erindinlogun, is associated with the orishas. These practices belong to living religions and deserve to be approached with respect.