Changó is still a skilled diviner, but now he does divination using the dilogún (cowrie shells), not the opuele (divination chain) and tablero (wooden divining board), which belong solely to Orúnmila and his priests, the Babalawos. Try to concentrate as calmly and as unemotionally as you can on the question, rather than willing the oracle to answer in a certain way. The shells are often shaved back on the convex side and thrown onto a board. Keep in mind that with online readings, everything from the way you click or touch the oracle's buttons to how fast you touch them will shape your reading. Santería, also known as Regla de Ocha, Regla Lucumí, or Lucumí, is an African diasporic religion that developed in Cuba between the 16th and 19th centuries. Most oracles answer best when asked the question "How will this situation turn out?" He is the key to any of our religious practices, for without Elegua’s blessings nothing can proceed, transpire nor succeed in the world. The shells are often shaved back on the convex side and thrown onto a board. Instead, try asking about the situation from another viewpoint to gain a deeper understanding. Legal notice: Serena's Guide to Divination assumes no liability or responsibility for any actions carried out based upon the advice given. Usually the stone is shaped into a head with a cement outer layer and cowrie shells for eyes and mouth. Atlantic travel. Through a special ceremony, a stone representing Elegua is prepared and charged with the Oricha's aché, or special energy. Chango is the orisha of drumming, dancing, thunder, fire, male virility, and leadership. Although 16 cowrie shells is the usual number used, it is also performed in some parts of Africa using from only 8 up to 21 cowrie shells. Like Queen Isis of the Ancient Egyptian Kemitic Pantheon, Oshun was taught the art of divination with the cowrie shells, cards, tarots, visions, possessions, songs, chants and meditations by her father Obatala, the first of the created gods. All information offered in the course of a reading is offered as entertainment only. The open or the light side is the side with the slit with "teeth" facing upwards. Do not constantly ask the oracle the same question over and over if you are unhappy with the answer. The mask maker carves the mask using a traditional tool called an adze. Those healers, sometimes called "sorcerers," often divine with plants, perfumes, cowrie shells, and other means. Serena's Guide to Divination is not liable for your interpretation of the divination scripts offered at this site. The pigments and dyes used to color the wood are natural materials such as clay, seeds, tree bark and leaves. So, take your time, concentrate and relax. In every case, when you do a reading, you should take your time and think about the question you are about to ask. You can choose from the "Quick Readings" block or the "In-depth Readings" block. Frame the question in your mind. and click on the "Throw" button below to receive your answer. rather than a simple yes/no type question. A common divination tool is known as Okuele, a larger size necklace with 6 or 8 rinds of coconut. With in-depth features, Expatica brings the international community closer together. The closed or dark side is with the convex back facing upwards. Expatica is the international community’s online home away from home. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Choose a Quick Reading or scroll down to In-Depth Readings. Less than 0.1% of the time it took for a Rapa Nui islander to painstakingly carve a moai by hand. For true "yes/no" readings, you can click on the "Yes/No Reading" in the Quick Readings block. In rural communities, traditional practitioners remain important. Coconut rinds or cowrie shells and a straw mat are used as divination tools. Take a calming breath, concentrate on your question Choose the reading you would like from the blocks below. The relics and artifacts of these cultures and others are contained within this archive, with all … The open or the light side is the side with the slit with "teeth" facing upwards. The Atlantic slave trade developed after trade contacts were established between the "Old World" (Afro-Eurasia) and the "New World" (the Americas).For centuries, tidal currents had made ocean travel particularly difficult and risky for the ships that were then available. Obi divination is a quick and easy form of West African fortune-telling using four coconut pieces, four cowrie shells, or four coins. Merindilogun (Mẹ́rìndílógún, Diloggún in Cuba) uses sixteen cowrie shells. The amount of labour once needed to earn a handful of cowrie shells in the Maldives. Thus, there had been very little, if any, maritime contact between the peoples living in these continents. The best practice with respect to religious items in a correctional setting may be to authorize the number, In 1986, over 4,000 objects, including cowrie shells, bronze face masks, jades and life-size bronze statues encased in gold sheet, were discovered at the walled city of Sanxingdui in Sichuan, southern China. The closed or dark side is with the convex back facing upwards. the open or light side is the shaved-back convex side. A must-read for English-speaking expatriates and internationals across Europe, Expatica provides a tailored local news service and essential information on living, working, and moving to your country of choice. Traditionally, players in pachisi and chaupar moved their pieces around the board according to a throw of six or seven cowrie shells, which could fall … In the Candomblé Ketu sect of Brazil, the opposite is valid, ie. Islamic scholars heal with verses from the Koran and perform Koranic ritual divination and social and psychiatric counseling. It arose through a process of syncretism between the traditional Yoruba religion of West Africa and the Roman Catholic form of Christianity.Adherents are known as creyente ("believers"). Like Isis, She brought the teaching of divinations, mysticism, agriculture and culture to humans. Click the "Clear" button and repeat if the reading suggests it. Merindilogun (Mẹ́rìndílógún, Diloggún in Cuba) uses sixteen cowrie shells. The Mask Making Process. Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates. He was once a living king on earth as the fourth Alafin of Oyó in Yoruba land. Sometimes Eleguá is given alone, and sometimes with the other warriors. Changó (also spelled Shangó, Ṣango, or Xango) is one of the most popular orishas in Santeria and is the king of our religion on earth. A sungka board has seven cups for each of the two players–six cups will hold the cowrie shells (stones or fruit seeds can also be used), while the seventh cup will serve as the player’s home base. In Yoruba mythology,the number sixteen is very important as it was considered the number of original divinities that established life on earth. Decorative elements they apply to masks include cowrie shells, beads, bone, animal skins, feathers, and vegetable fibers. Diloggun divination is used by initiates in the African Diasporic religion of La Regla de Ocha to ask questions of the Orishas. Eleggua (also spelled Elegua, Elewa, Elegba or Legba) is the most important of the orishas in Santeria.Elegua was the first orisha created by Olodumare and he existed prior to and witnessed creation unfold.