by Tony Hemrix

Since time immemorial, cowries have been more than just shells in Africa. They are the breath of the ancestors, the voice of the deities, and the mirror of human destiny. Each throw is a dialogue between the visible and the invisible, a sacred exchange where spirits reveal hidden truths.

In the heart of Vodou temples in Benin, under the sacred trees of Mandinka healers, or at the foot of Baoulé altars, cowries whisper messages that only the initiated can understand. But before they reveal their wisdom, an ancestral ritual is necessary to awaken their power.

Selection and Consecration: The Calling of the Spirits

Not all cowries are destined to speak. Their selection is a sacred act. Only a priest, diviner, or initiated person can recognize those that will carry the voice of the ancestors. Once chosen, they undergo a series of rituals to be imbued with unseen forces.

• Ritual cleansing: Spring water, mystical leaves, bark decoctions, and sometimes animal blood purify them and connect them to the spirit world.

• Spiritual awakening: Prayers, incantations, and energy breaths make them receptive to messages from the beyond.

• Mystical charge: Some cowries are placed in contact with fetishes, talismans, or sacred altars to be infused with a unique vibrational force.

This process can take days or even weeks, depending on the tradition. Only after this initiation are the cowries ready to deliver their revelations.

The Art of Throwing: When Chance Becomes Destiny

Throwing cowries is not a trivial act. It requires a hand guided by the invisible, a breath aligned with the spirit world. Each throw is a dance between matter and energy, a precise ritual where the diviner channels divine forces.

The cowries can be cast on a mat, an animal skin, or a sacred tray. The priest holds them in their hands, whispers prayers, invokes the spirits, and then releases them like stars dictating human fate.

The message is revealed through the way they fall:

1. Open faces (mouths of the cowries) and closed faces (backs of the cowries)

• More open mouths → The universe is in agreement, the spirits are favorable.

• More closed mouths → The message is veiled, further inquiry or a ritual may be needed to clear the way.

2. Specific formations

• A perfect circle: Protection, harmony, blessing from the ancestors.

• A straight line: A clear decision must be made, the paths are laid out.

• A scattered arrangement: Confusion, the need for clarification or a sacrifice to receive a clearer answer.

3. Significant numbers

• 4 open cowries out of 4: A positive response, full blessing from the deities.

• 3 open, 1 closed: A favorable answer but with challenges to overcome.

• 2 open, 2 closed: A fragile balance, caution is advised.

• 1 open, 3 closed: Major obstacles, patience and an alternative approach are needed.

• 0 open, 4 closed: The spirits refuse to speak, a ritual must be performed before retrying.

Each tradition has its variations, but the essence of the message remains: there is no coincidence, everything is written by the unseen.

Sacred Questions: Keys to Deciphering the Invisible

Cowries do not answer just any question. The priest or priestess must formulate inquiries with precision, as the spiritual world demands clarity and respect.

Questions are often asked in a yes/no format or with clear alternatives:

• “Is this union blessed by the ancestors?”

• “Is the unborn child a messenger of the spirits?”

• “Is the purification ritual sufficient?”

• “What is the obstacle blocking this family?”

• “Which spirit or ancestor is requesting an offering?”

Sometimes, multiple throws are necessary to refine the answer. One must listen to the cowries with patience, as their language is coded.

Cowries: An Ancient Science Still Alive

Despite the centuries, cowries continue to guide those who know how to listen. They illuminate destinies, reveal hidden truths, and connect people to their spiritual roots.

In a world where modernity tries to erase traditions, they remain a pillar of ancestral wisdom. Understanding cowries means understanding that nothing happens by chance, that every breath, every event, every choice is written somewhere—between the stars and the earth, between the visible and the invisible.

Thus, each throw of cowries is a doorway to eternity, an invitation to converse with the sacred, to listen to the voice of the ancestors, and to follow the path laid out by the deities.