Beautiful facts and breakdowns. To note though, Okanran isn't always an absolute no. It's a strong no but not definite Ummm...NO! Like Oyeku. Most times it may mean ask differently or there's something else that needs to be asked with the question. Also I say H E Double Hockey Sticks as well. For years! Love it. Definitely a new subscriber if only to support another sister in the tradition. I also teach and I teach my house to cleanse the Obi when that falls and appease them after the second Oyeku falls. Cause they get HOT and pissed off when that falls.😩 Iré ní sis!! Asé
This is BY FAR the best explanation/demonstration I’ve come across as a beginner! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this! Sending so much gratitude your way!
Thank you so much.I never knew one can use cowries for divination.I felt it was only kolánuts. It's a great relief especially when it's difficult to see kolánuts.God bless you.💖
First time on your channel. Blessings to you. Great clear lesson. Beautifully done! Thank you! Aché I’m a Santero, I was born in Cuba where we pierce the back of the shells to flatten the back symbolizing the black side when throwing for divination. It helps with clarification and serves as a firm read. Reducing the teetering of the shell. Before throwing the shells onto the place mat we ask the person receiving the divination blow into the hands then toss. As we say in Cuba, each house has its traditions. Much Respects, Love and Light!🙏🏾
Thank you so much for this. 🖤 i found some cowrie shells over a week ago. I remember seeing 4 of them, but i realized i had actually only found 3. Just two minutes into this video, i pressed pause because i felt called to go find the ‘missing’ fourth. I abruptly left and walked quickly to the same spot, where i spotted a fourth cowrie, half-buried in the sand. It honestly took only 10 seconds or so for me to find it amongst many other shells. I really believe i was meant to see this tonight and greatly appreciate you and your wisdom so much 💗 Much Love and Peace
Greetings sis. I appreciate you. It's amazing how we can continue to grow, even in areas we are already strong in. I have been reading for 10 years and the insight on when higher vibrational beings are coming through to speak (All 4 down more than once) really resonated with me. That would be a cue for me to take it to a higher form of communication (I like blending Oracle devices). I appreciate that gold nugget. 🙏🏿
Alafia Jamal. Spirit gives us what we need right when we need it to take us to another level. We need to grow into the shoes they have already laid out for us, don't we? Bless.
Phenomenonal, thank you clears up everything for me now. I agree with your comment about the pendulum. If my anxiety is high I can make the pendulum turn my way. So being relaxed will get you the right answer. Your 100 percent correct. The cowie shells is something I want to work with. Is the client throwing the shells or do you throw them always.
lexuscarrington Morning Lexus! So glad this feels right to you. And yes, you always throw the cowries. The cowries should also sit with your altar/spirit table/Orishas/deities at all times.
Thank so much for this video & very detail demonstration☺️💗 for about a year now eye was interested in obi readings & now eye finally feel reconnected to another tool that can help me connect to my Orishas & spirit guides
Yohadji Tareem Bey You’re quite welcome. Pls let me know if you have any questions about any aspect of Cowrie divination. I’ve been meaning to do a video about how to formulate your questions.
@@Azurite22 Spirit has been telling me to get cowrie shells and start reading. I finally ordered some tonight. Thank you so much for this video and a video on how to formulate questions would be most appreciated.
Does it mean I have yoruba ancestry ? I dreamed of cowrie shells being thrown in front of me but in where I'm from no diviner uses cowrie shells alone and I was strictly told to use them alone.
Hi thank you. Listening now. Encountered cowrie shell psychic reading in a dream. Did not know this was a thing❤️🙏💜 spirit is wanting me to remember I think.
Hello HumanFairy! Anyone can use this simple system to begin communicating with their spiritual family. Cleanse them, bless them and use them. Store in a clean (sacred) space. Bless.
Thank you. I enjoyed your video. I'm of quite a mixed background. A mutt if I was a dog. My cuban side of the family is into Santeria and I love to see its origins in yoruba culture. Thanks again
Lol -- we're all mutts, I think! Many of us have roots in disparate parts of the world and we now are here to bring all of the paths together in one melting pot of a whole. Wishing you many blessings on your journey!! And, thanks for watching.
So glad this was confirmation for you. Sometimes that is all we need to continue growing the relationship with our ancestors. Many blessings to you on your path.
Thank You Very much for this. You explained it really well. I have taken notes. I do several other forms of divination but I feel really drawn to the Cowrie shells.
It absolutely does. This is a system of communication that goes back a long time. The same way that people use the pendulum, or the Tarot, this is a simple system of Yes/No.
All four down (Oyekhu) is NO. 3 up and 1 Down (Itagua) is, the way I was trained, MAYBE. Other schools of thought say that 3 up and 1 Down is Maybe, and to throw again to get a FULL answer. As this has traditionally been an ORAL tradition, passed down from one godchild to the next via Godparents, Spiritual Elders, you must go back to your Elders and ascertain what they follow. This video is geared to those who may not yet have an Elder in the Lucumi/Santeria/Yoruba/Ifa tradition. IF you do have an Elder in any of the formentioned traditions, please go to them and seek their way of reading. I am sharing how I have learned it and incorporating things I am learning from Elders I work with and trust. Blessings to you on your path. Zurri
When you receive an Itagua, in the house I learned this, you throw again to get your full answer. So, you can get: Itagua - Itagua = Itague Meji -- which is a Yes, and it also means you already new the answer Itagua - Iyife - also a Yes Itagua - Alafia - Yes Itagua - Okaran - No Itagua - Oyekhu - No
Is it safe to ask your questions out loud? I know this is an odd question, but I ask because I’ve always thought that malevolent or trickster spirits can hijack a reading and lead one astray. I am new to this but on my first reading I got a lot of mixed answers that just didn’t make since so I asked the question, “are my spirit guides present ?”, the answer was No... So I asked if I was speaking to a spirit with the intent to harm me.... the answer was yes, then yes again. What do I do with that?
Please start off your sessions with prayer, lighting a white candle, and saging your space. Ask your spirits guides, who have your best interests at heart, to surround you as you ask your spirit guides for guidance. I will do a video in the next couple of days on a suggested way to pray prior to casting and speaking to your spirit guides. Right now, I would suggest you do a spiritual bath to remove negativity/unhexing bath. Take it for 3 days, and wear white, or light colored clothing to bed each evening. As you take these spiritual baths, pray for your spiritual aura to be cleared and cleaned by your spirit guides of light who have your best interests at heart.
This was very helpful thank you very much! Question: do you recommend a certain way to store the cowrie? I’ve heard once in ocean water but could regular water or Florida water work as well? Thank you again 🤍✨
Each of us have our spiritual families and the way they did things (actual bloodlines) and our not of this Earth Spiritual Guardians. You can throw and ask them how they prefer you to store the items that you use to communicate with them. If you feel comfortable keeping them in ocean water -- do so. But know that you need to change/refresh that water from time to time. Even if the weather is cold, you may at some point need to refresh the water at a time that is not convenient to get to the ocean. This is something for your to think and plan for should you go this route (ocean, river, pond, any natural body of water would be the same consideration).
Thank you...great video..i appreciate your humbleness..i have one question...you said that sometimes (3 down 1 up or all 4 down) it could be spirit speaking and we need to consult with spirit...how do YOU consult with spirit? Blessings to you and your house
wwall4ay This whole video is a lesson on how to sit & speak with your spirit guides. Ask clear yes, or I questions. Stop & breathe & meditate to hear what they are telling you. Then, you throw & ask to “confirm” what you heard.
Alafia Sister Efunlayo Ade'Bola. Thank you for stopping by my channel and commenting. I appreciate it. As I mention in this video (ruclips.net/video/fnMGihto1BM/видео.html), I've had a journey in regards to my Godparent journey. However, the ile I crowned with is in Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY. It is a Lucumi house that is headed by an Obatala Priest. Curious. Why do you ask? Btw, really enjoyed your 1st video! "Patience paired with Purpose." - A powerful gem to share with the spiritual community. Blessing to you on your path.
You got this, SiStar! The Ancestors and Eggun move in ways that are perfect for our progression and development. Please email me: 22azurite [at] gmail [dot] com. Bless.
Hi Azurite 22, Thank you so much for this teaching to understand cowrie divination, especially if ego or intentions get in the way of a true reading. Would it be more helpful when a divination is being done about a person, that the person be present to get a more accurate reading because the person who is doing the reading ego or negative intentions may get in the way of an accurate divination?
Shay R Alafia Shay R. It’s always best to have the querent in the room. However, if you clear your energies before the reading, get quiet and tap into the querent’s energy, your reading will be on point. That said, as long as the person casting the cowries is not part of the reading question, this is best. No conflicts of interest to muddy the energies. While I am sure you realize this, I wanted to make sure it is noted in the comments.
@@Azurite22 Alafia Azurite 22, I am grateful for your reply. The reason for asking, the person just asked me to look at the cowrie where the lay on an Odu, never explained the meaning but says they tell the truth. Then say, do you think I would do what I do and not do it without truth. This person keeps saying that I keep doing something when I haven't done anything that they keep accusing me of doing and I need to find out why they are so headstrong to say I did. My spirit speaks to me that this person doesn't want me to consciously awaken and connect with my ancestors to protect and guide me into my destiny. Again, I am humbly grateful to you 🤲🏾 💛 Asé
Shay R Hello Shay. You should always pay attention to your intuition. Your spirits are watching & hearing all you hear & experience. When you stop listening to them, they will eventually stop speaking to you. Pls listen to them. If you would like to chat further, please email me.
Sol Usually I use this prayer before pouring libation to the ancestors. You can use this prayer, and sprinkle your cowries with water every time you use them to speak w/your spiritual family. If you do, make that your ritualistic way of communication & do it every time.
Hi Star Wise. You can most definitely bless the cowrie shells. As everyone comes from a different cultural background, you can bless the cowries in a manner that is suitable/appropriate for the spirits/spiritual agencies you work with. You can use Florida Water, Kanaga Water, or some other cologne. You could use sage, fire, incense, or blessed water. You can use a combination of any of the above things. You can leave them under the moonlight, or the sunlight with crystals, or without. It is entirely up to you, and what your spiritual family advises you to do to clean and clear your cowries before your first use of them. Namaste.
Greetings Queen I have been trying to get an official idea of the number of cowrie shells that is needed. I have 16. I see mostly 16 , However I have also seen 13 and 4. What is your thoughts on this topic? Please if you don't mind.
Alafia Accomplice on standby! Thank you for stopping by my channel and commenting! Yes, you are correct. For Diloggun readings (traditionally thrown by Babalawos, high priests), they use 16 cowrie shells. However, most sets come with 18 (in case one, or two, are lost along the way). Each Orisha comes with their own set of blessed and consecrated cowrie shells in sets of 18 (you read with only 16). Ellegua comes with 21 cowrie shells (yet, you still only read with 16). Ellegua is used more often than the other Orishas shells, hence giving you more consecrated shells to work with in case of loss. Hope this answers your question! Please reach out and let me know your thoughts. - Namaste.
@@Azurite22 Azurite 22 Queen THANK YOU for such a detailed and thoughtful answer. Yemoja had been trying to get my attention for my whole life apparently and i wasnt seeing it. Im learning all this on my own through trial and error. I had this belt made of shell s that i had been picking off of for some years to make jewelry. Fairly recently learned about Obi Divination and that belt was the only thing i had with cowrie shells on it. I stripped the rest of the belt off and after all these years of using from it.... There was only 16 cowrie shells left . Synchronicity is Some real stuff Queen. Truly amazing. Thank You. We'll speak again most definitely.
Obi is Obi aka Kola Nut which is not the same thing as Eridilogun. Obi is used to feed the shrines as well as divine. Eridilogun is Eridlogun which is cowrie shells and the terms Obi Eridilogun is a farce It also doesnt depend on what you see from a position or vantage point with eridilogun... its what is touching the bottom of the mat. If the face is down on the mat its down on the mat and viceversa with the back.
I feel overwhelmed learning Ifa practices when so many different beliefs emergent from so many different tribes each of which believe their method is THE method And with Ebo being such a strict process with Orishas, I always freeze up and wind up not practicing for fear of doing it incorrectly. Thank you for this video I feel like once I get the tossing down I can be guided better by the orisha and my ancestors on how-to better serve them. Axè
You ask if you can close, then throw. If you get a no, you have to check and see what messages are still in need of being shared with you. Check to see if the reason you cannot close is because of yourself, someone else, your job, your spouse, etc. Once you find out why you cannot close, then you delve into that subject and see what Spirit wants to share. Once the message is received, ask if you can now close. Repeat until you get an Iyife to close, or and Itagua-Meji (two Itaguas in a row).
Hello there! When one received an Oyekhu, this is an all-out no. There is no more throwing once you receive Oyekhu first. If you receive an Itagua-Oyekhu - it is still a NO. :-) There is no such thing as an Oyekhu-Itagua. Warm regards, Zurri
Hiii!! Thank you so much this was incredibly helpful I am just a baby witch and I am try to start working my way into these kinds of things. I just have one question you may have said it in the video but I have a very hard time understanding things so just to clarify. When you showed the card with all of the different ones put together for example, Itagua- Alafia. Is that shaking the shells and getting the Itagua and then shaking again and getting the Alafia and putting the 2 together to help answer your question? Thank you so much!
Hi Annalie! Congrats on your path thus far! And, welcome! :-) To answer your question, YES. The way I learned it, once you receive an Itagua, you throw again to see if it is a Yes, or a No. Itagua - Iyife - is a Yes Itagua - Alafia - is a Yes Itagua - Okaran - is a No Itagua - Oyekhu - is a No Hope this clarifies things for you! Thanks for watching & commenting! Warm regards, Zurri
So can anyone do this or do they have to be initiated in Ifa or some other African/Afro-caribbean religion? I don't want to disrespect tradition but I am interested in doing this for myself.
Richie Perry Hi Ritchie. Yes, anyone can do this to communicate with their ancestors & spiritual family. Use a dedicated quartet of Cowrie shells that you keep on your altar/sacred space. Be respectful & let them know what you are doing and why. Speak to them as you would speak to a good long time friend. 🙏
Richie Perry you should at least have your Egun stick and your warriors. Idkw or who taught this lady this info but I’m under the tuteledge of the only Araba in the US from Nigeria.
This is a Diloggun reading and only 16 are actually used to read with; not all 21. It takes a lot of time and study to master this system of reading with cowries. Many elder Santeria priests offer Diloggun readings. I am not one who does. My first tradition is the Kamitic tradition with the Metu Neter. Bless.
J B Hi JB, many thanks for sharing this. I will add that if the person throwing is initiated, their Ile generally has their own preferences and the person should defer to the preferences of the leader of the house. 🙏🏽
Hi Mike, as my latest video shares, I've been working my way through school and still maintaining a 3D life. I am just like all of you -- working to balance my regular life with the spiritual life. Using spiritual tools to move ahead in the 3D. I, like all of you, are working out the kinks in how to maintain that we need to do and still give focus to all of the things. :-) I've posted 2 videos in the last 2 weeks and I am working on my backlog of reading comments. Many thanks for being here and supporting this spirituality channel. Love and Light, Zurri
If Itagua shows up twice, it becomes ITAGUA MEJI, which means. Why did you ask? You already know. Itagua two times is a confirmation of what you know already and they are telling you that you know. 🙏🏽
Correct. The back is the back even if the rounded portion is removed. As mentioned in the comments by a Cuban priest, the backs are removed to give a clear yes or no as the cowries will land firmly on one side, or the other. Many blessings on your Path. 🙏🏽
The bitter truth is if you're not a specialist, a priest, or a priestess you Can't throw cowries it's dangerous, you might be slapped by spirits cause problem to yourself 👂👂👂
All of us can communicate with our spirit guides. We do not need to be ordained/crowned/etc. to speak with those that have been with us from birth. Should you want to say that the form of communication you'd prefer non-initiated people to use is something different. Okay, I get that. However, how I was trained is you can use pennies instead of cowries and still communicate with them. You can use the I Ching system and communicate with them. You can use Tarot and communicate with them. You can use divination/oracle cards and communicate with them. You can use tea leaves and communicate with them. There are so MANY ways to communicate with your spirit guides. THIS videos is but ONE way to do so. If it resonates for the viewer; if it even shows up in a person's feed, that is a way that the ancestors/spirit guides are helping their charge out. They are guiding them to something that can assist them. They may START with this and evolve to what most resonates with them, and their spiritual family. The spiritual path is an evolutionary process. By shutting doors at the outset, you keep ppl from ascending as they should -- as they need to. Sending you love and light.
hello! I was wondering if this was a closed practice? I just discovered this type of divination but I am Filipino. If not, that's ok, I'm totally ok with just learning!
- Alafia (yes, blessings) - iwa (character / throw again ) - oyan - (yes) - okan (no) - segun (protection or for the omos protection) This is the traditional YORUBA Isese lagba IFA way ♥️ We use Iya Obi 4 or 5 lobes (kola nut) Not Coconut, using coconut as obi etc. is a separate religions theology called lucumi / santeria. This video is ths santeria/ lukumi diaspora way. Not the way of west Africa. Odabo 🙏
Alafia 1:49
Iyife 5:27
Itagua 7:06
Okaran 9:56
Oyekhu 10:22
🙏
What language is that?
Thank you
Beautiful facts and breakdowns. To note though, Okanran isn't always an absolute no. It's a strong no but not definite Ummm...NO! Like Oyeku. Most times it may mean ask differently or there's something else that needs to be asked with the question. Also I say H E Double Hockey Sticks as well. For years! Love it. Definitely a new subscriber if only to support another sister in the tradition. I also teach and I teach my house to cleanse the Obi when that falls and appease them after the second Oyeku falls. Cause they get HOT and pissed off when that falls.😩 Iré ní sis!! Asé
This is BY FAR the best explanation/demonstration I’ve come across as a beginner! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this! Sending so much gratitude your way!
Thank you so much.I never knew one can use cowries for divination.I felt it was only kolánuts. It's a great relief especially when it's difficult to see kolánuts.God bless you.💖
First time on your channel. Blessings to you. Great clear lesson. Beautifully done! Thank you! Aché
I’m a Santero, I was born in Cuba where we pierce the back of the shells to flatten the back symbolizing the black side when throwing for divination. It helps with clarification and serves as a firm read. Reducing the teetering of the shell. Before throwing the shells onto the place mat we ask the person receiving the divination blow into the hands then toss.
As we say in Cuba, each house has its traditions. Much Respects, Love and Light!🙏🏾
Bendicion! Thank you for sharing this with us. It is much appreciated. 🙏🏽💜🙏🏽💜
Thank you so much for this. 🖤 i found some cowrie shells over a week ago. I remember seeing 4 of them, but i realized i had actually only found 3. Just two minutes into this video, i pressed pause because i felt called to go find the ‘missing’ fourth. I abruptly left and walked quickly to the same spot, where i spotted a fourth cowrie, half-buried in the sand. It honestly took only 10 seconds or so for me to find it amongst many other shells. I really believe i was meant to see this tonight and greatly appreciate you and your wisdom so much 💗 Much Love and Peace
Thank you!
What a beautiful, detailed, yet comprehendible lesson.
Blessings.........!
I appreciate it collective ❤️ 👍 ✔️ 🙏 💯 happy to hear that collective
Sis, thank you so much for this. Very clear teaching and very helpful. Much appreciated. Much love 💚💛
i am making these postcards learning tool. Thank you Sista, I appreciate you!
You are so welcome!
Blessings and many gratitude for this explaination
Greetings sis. I appreciate you. It's amazing how we can continue to grow, even in areas we are already strong in. I have been reading for 10 years and the insight on when higher vibrational beings are coming through to speak (All 4 down more than once) really resonated with me. That would be a cue for me to take it to a higher form of communication (I like blending Oracle devices). I appreciate that gold nugget. 🙏🏿
Alafia Jamal. Spirit gives us what we need right when we need it to take us to another level. We need to grow into the shoes they have already laid out for us, don't we? Bless.
Thank you sooo much!! I'm a beginner. Exactly what I've been needing. Perfectly Articulated!
Phenomenonal, thank you clears up everything for me now. I agree with your comment about the pendulum. If my anxiety is high I can make the pendulum turn my way. So being relaxed will get you the right answer. Your 100 percent correct. The cowie shells is something I want to work with.
Is the client throwing the shells or do you throw them always.
lexuscarrington Morning Lexus! So glad this feels right to you. And yes, you always throw the cowries. The cowries should also sit with your altar/spirit table/Orishas/deities at all times.
When I get a cowrie divination I'm usually the one to give the first throw and the reader throws everytime after that
Amazing. Thank you. I learned a lot and adopted your idea of the note cards.
Thanks for sharing this ancient wisdom with the family. Many blessings to you 💖🙏🏾🐚
Thank you 🤗
Got Alafia this morning from Eshu and Ejife from my ancestors this morning :)
Yay! :-)
All the best to you.
This was an amazing video. Gratitude
Thankyou, by far the most informative RUclips video on
Cowrie Shell Divination .....so relaxing too. Blessings 🕯
Wow, thank you! Appreciate the love. May you ever be blessed.
Thank so much for this video & very detail demonstration☺️💗 for about a year now eye was interested in obi readings & now eye finally feel reconnected to another tool that can help me connect to my Orishas & spirit guides
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you. I'm very new to cowrie shell divination.
Yohadji Tareem Bey You’re quite welcome. Pls let me know if you have any questions about any aspect of Cowrie divination. I’ve been meaning to do a video about how to formulate your questions.
@@Azurite22 Spirit has been telling me to get cowrie shells and start reading. I finally ordered some tonight. Thank you so much for this video and a video on how to formulate questions would be most appreciated.
Does it mean I have yoruba ancestry ? I dreamed of cowrie shells being thrown in front of me but in where I'm from no diviner uses cowrie shells alone and I was strictly told to use them alone.
thank u i just buy my iwn cowrie for this , i wanna practice this.. thank u very much and GOD BLESS U 🙏😍🇵🇭❤️☺️🦀🌄
Mariang Maangas You are very welcome! If you’d like, you can receive your cowries from me. Please email me. 🙏🏽
ur so kind it thanks but i already buy cowrie , GOD BLESS U 🙏😍
Hi thank you. Listening now. Encountered cowrie shell psychic reading in a dream. Did not know this was a thing❤️🙏💜 spirit is wanting me to remember I think.
Definitely sounds like it.
Thank you for sharing
thanks ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Wow thanks I appreciate your reading
Thank you so much for this information! Do I have to be blessed to read cowrie shells or can I just go buy shells and begin to learn?
Hello HumanFairy! Anyone can use this simple system to begin communicating with their spiritual family. Cleanse them, bless them and use them. Store in a clean (sacred) space. Bless.
Thank you. This was helpful ❤
Thank you. I enjoyed your video. I'm of quite a mixed background. A mutt if I was a dog. My cuban side of the family is into Santeria and I love to see its origins in yoruba culture. Thanks again
Lol -- we're all mutts, I think! Many of us have roots in disparate parts of the world and we now are here to bring all of the paths together in one melting pot of a whole. Wishing you many blessings on your journey!! And, thanks for watching.
Beautiful
Greetings great information, could you do a book list video, on some books in your personal library to help with the spiritual growth path?
Asé
by far the best vlog on this subject ever...KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! MORE!
Thank you. That was wonderful.
Thank you! Many thanks for your comment and your support of me and this channel.
I like how you explain it and I have been wondering for a long time know if we could use the Shell's without the backs cut off
So glad this was confirmation for you. Sometimes that is all we need to continue growing the relationship with our ancestors. Many blessings to you on your path.
Great information!
Thanks Ase Wa 📿
Moudupe!
Much appreciated sister, bliss you x
Thank You Very much for this. You explained it really well. I have taken notes. I do several other forms of divination but I feel really drawn to the Cowrie shells.
So glad this resonated for you.
May you always be blessed.
If you ask one question twice but it answers no the first time and then the second time it answers yes or vice versa, what does that mean?
Amazing!!! Thank you...🕊
Glad you enjoyed it!
I needed this so bad! Thank youuu!
You are so welcome! Ashe to you.
I do not know why it won't allow me to thumbs up your wonderful video but I def am trying! You should contact RUclips about that non sense
So odd! Thanks for letting me know.
Any recommendations on where to get cowrie shells?
Alafia Deedee! Yes, you can find them in my Etsy Shop. www.etsy.com/listing/826470850/cowrie-shells-with-backs-for-divination
Best to you, and yours!
Beautiful! New subscriber.
Thanks for subbing! Appreciate it muchly!
@@Azurite22 Does this really work for people because there are a lot of fake videos out there
It absolutely does.
This is a system of communication that goes back a long time.
The same way that people use the pendulum, or the Tarot, this is a simple system of Yes/No.
Thank You
You are most welcome. Thank you for watching. 🙏🏽
Ok ok ok ok is 4 shells down Eshe Gun meaning victory or does it mean hell no ?? I heard after 3 up 1 down is the only time it means no
All four down (Oyekhu) is NO.
3 up and 1 Down (Itagua) is, the way I was trained, MAYBE. Other schools of thought say that 3 up and 1 Down is Maybe, and to throw again to get a FULL answer.
As this has traditionally been an ORAL tradition, passed down from one godchild to the next via Godparents, Spiritual Elders, you must go back to your Elders and ascertain what they follow.
This video is geared to those who may not yet have an Elder in the Lucumi/Santeria/Yoruba/Ifa tradition.
IF you do have an Elder in any of the formentioned traditions, please go to them and seek their way of reading.
I am sharing how I have learned it and incorporating things I am learning from Elders I work with and trust.
Blessings to you on your path.
Zurri
How do you get the scent of palo Santo in a spray?
There are colognes & sprays available in your local botanica. 🙏🏽
This is great
The last card u pulled out, the combo ur getting is that from asking the question twice?
When you receive an Itagua, in the house I learned this, you throw again to get your full answer.
So, you can get:
Itagua - Itagua = Itague Meji -- which is a Yes, and it also means you already new the answer
Itagua - Iyife - also a Yes
Itagua - Alafia - Yes
Itagua - Okaran - No
Itagua - Oyekhu - No
Is it safe to ask your questions out loud? I know this is an odd question, but I ask because I’ve always thought that malevolent or trickster spirits can hijack a reading and lead one astray. I am new to this but on my first reading I got a lot of mixed answers that just didn’t make since so I asked the question, “are my spirit guides present ?”, the answer was No... So I asked if I was speaking to a spirit with the intent to harm me.... the answer was yes, then yes again. What do I do with that?
Please start off your sessions with prayer, lighting a white candle, and saging your space. Ask your spirits guides, who have your best interests at heart, to surround you as you ask your spirit guides for guidance. I will do a video in the next couple of days on a suggested way to pray prior to casting and speaking to your spirit guides.
Right now, I would suggest you do a spiritual bath to remove negativity/unhexing bath. Take it for 3 days, and wear white, or light colored clothing to bed each evening. As you take these spiritual baths, pray for your spiritual aura to be cleared and cleaned by your spirit guides of light who have your best interests at heart.
Azurite 22 Thank you so much for responding, thank you so much for the information. I would love a video on this subject!
This was very helpful thank you very much! Question: do you recommend a certain way to store the cowrie? I’ve heard once in ocean water but could regular water or Florida water work as well? Thank you again 🤍✨
Each of us have our spiritual families and the way they did things (actual bloodlines) and our not of this Earth Spiritual Guardians. You can throw and ask them how they prefer you to store the items that you use to communicate with them. If you feel comfortable keeping them in ocean water -- do so. But know that you need to change/refresh that water from time to time. Even if the weather is cold, you may at some point need to refresh the water at a time that is not convenient to get to the ocean. This is something for your to think and plan for should you go this route (ocean, river, pond, any natural body of water would be the same consideration).
What do you say with the obi again ?
Thank you...great video..i appreciate your humbleness..i have one question...you said that sometimes (3 down 1 up or all 4 down) it could be spirit speaking and we need to consult with spirit...how do YOU consult with spirit? Blessings to you and your house
wwall4ay 😆You want me to tell ALL of my secrets?
@@Azurite22 maybe not all...but some...i need an ally
wwall4ay This whole video is a lesson on how to sit & speak with your spirit guides. Ask clear yes, or I questions. Stop & breathe & meditate to hear what they are telling you. Then, you throw & ask to “confirm” what you heard.
@@Azurite22 ok
wwall4ay Pls email me if you have further questions, or concerns. It seems you have both. 😊
Alafia, who is your spiritual teacher? Or the lineage in which your teachings.
Alafia Sister Efunlayo Ade'Bola. Thank you for stopping by my channel and commenting. I appreciate it. As I mention in this video (ruclips.net/video/fnMGihto1BM/видео.html), I've had a journey in regards to my Godparent journey. However, the ile I crowned with is in Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY. It is a Lucumi house that is headed by an Obatala Priest. Curious. Why do you ask?
Btw, really enjoyed your 1st video! "Patience paired with Purpose." - A powerful gem to share with the spiritual community.
Blessing to you on your path.
I’ve been wanting to learn this and you came up on my channel list 🙏🏽❤️🙏🏽 I’m all in replaying til I get it sunken in my Ori 💫💪🏽
You got this, SiStar! The Ancestors and Eggun move in ways that are perfect for our progression and development. Please email me: 22azurite [at] gmail [dot] com. Bless.
Thank you! So very helpful
Glad it was helpful!
Hi Azurite 22, Thank you so much for this teaching to understand cowrie divination, especially if ego or intentions get in the way of a true reading. Would it be more helpful when a divination is being done about a person, that the person be present to get a more accurate reading because the person who is doing the reading ego or negative intentions may get in the way of an accurate divination?
Shay R Alafia Shay R. It’s always best to have the querent in the room. However, if you clear your energies before the reading, get quiet and tap into the querent’s energy, your reading will be on point. That said, as long as the person casting the cowries is not part of the reading question, this is best. No conflicts of interest to muddy the energies. While I am sure you realize this, I wanted to make sure it is noted in the comments.
@@Azurite22 Alafia Azurite 22, I am grateful for your reply. The reason for asking, the person just asked me to look at the cowrie where the lay on an Odu, never explained the meaning but says they tell the truth. Then say, do you think I would do what I do and not do it without truth. This person keeps saying that I keep doing something when I haven't done anything that they keep accusing me of doing and I need to find out why they are so headstrong to say I did. My spirit speaks to me that this person doesn't want me to consciously awaken and connect with my ancestors to protect and guide me into my destiny. Again, I am humbly grateful to you 🤲🏾 💛 Asé
Shay R Hello Shay. You should always pay attention to your intuition. Your spirits are watching & hearing all you hear & experience. When you stop listening to them, they will eventually stop speaking to you. Pls listen to them. If you would like to chat further, please email me.
@@Azurite22 Alafia, how can I email you...I don't see your email address?
Shay R Hi, it’s here: 22azurite@gmail.com
Do you have to say nomi tu tu ana tu tu before starting?
Sol Usually I use this prayer before pouring libation to the ancestors. You can use this prayer, and sprinkle your cowries with water every time you use them to speak w/your spiritual family. If you do, make that your ritualistic way of communication & do it every time.
@@Azurite22 thanks again!
Do the cowrie shells needs to be blessed? Like Orunmila bless cowrie shells, for his wife, in order for her to Divine With when he's away?
Hi Star Wise. You can most definitely bless the cowrie shells. As everyone comes from a different cultural background, you can bless the cowries in a manner that is suitable/appropriate for the spirits/spiritual agencies you work with. You can use Florida Water, Kanaga Water, or some other cologne. You could use sage, fire, incense, or blessed water. You can use a combination of any of the above things. You can leave them under the moonlight, or the sunlight with crystals, or without. It is entirely up to you, and what your spiritual family advises you to do to clean and clear your cowries before your first use of them. Namaste.
🙏🙏Q. could a reading be done with two shells?
Hi Valerie. No, not with this system.
Good
Thanks
Greetings Queen I have been trying to get an official idea of the number of cowrie shells that is needed.
I have 16.
I see mostly 16 ,
However I have also seen 13 and 4.
What is your thoughts on this topic?
Please if you don't mind.
Alafia Accomplice on standby! Thank you for stopping by my channel and commenting! Yes, you are correct. For Diloggun readings (traditionally thrown by Babalawos, high priests), they use 16 cowrie shells. However, most sets come with 18 (in case one, or two, are lost along the way). Each Orisha comes with their own set of blessed and consecrated cowrie shells in sets of 18 (you read with only 16). Ellegua comes with 21 cowrie shells (yet, you still only read with 16). Ellegua is used more often than the other Orishas shells, hence giving you more consecrated shells to work with in case of loss. Hope this answers your question! Please reach out and let me know your thoughts. - Namaste.
@@Azurite22 Azurite 22
Queen THANK YOU for such a detailed and thoughtful answer.
Yemoja had been trying to get my attention for my whole life apparently and i wasnt seeing it. Im learning all this on my own through trial and error.
I had this belt made of shell s that i had been picking off of for some years to make jewelry.
Fairly recently learned about Obi Divination and that belt was the only thing i had with cowrie shells on it.
I stripped the rest of the belt off and after all these years of using from it....
There was only
16 cowrie shells left .
Synchronicity is Some real stuff Queen.
Truly amazing.
Thank You.
We'll speak again most definitely.
Shouldn't u break the back open so shell can lay flat?
Depending upon your ile/house this is done, or not.
Each ile/house does things their way.
Obi is Obi aka Kola Nut which is not the same thing as Eridilogun. Obi is used to feed the shrines as well as divine. Eridilogun is Eridlogun which is cowrie shells and the terms Obi Eridilogun is a farce
It also doesnt depend on what you see from a position or vantage point with eridilogun... its what is touching the bottom of the mat. If the face is down on the mat its down on the mat and viceversa with the back.
Thank you for sharing. Each godparent, or ile, has their own way of reading/interpreting. 🙏🏽
I feel overwhelmed learning Ifa practices when so many different beliefs emergent from so many different tribes each of which believe their method is THE method
And with Ebo being such a strict process with Orishas, I always freeze up and wind up not practicing for fear of doing it incorrectly. Thank you for this video I feel like once I get the tossing down I can be guided better by the orisha and my ancestors on how-to better serve them.
Axè
Im not understanding can anyone narrate briefly wat itd for
How can one get moon water please
You can “make” it yourself by putting a glass jar in moonlight. Make sure to remove before dawn.
How do you close the reading after your done reading
You ask if you can close, then throw. If you get a no, you have to check and see what messages are still in need of being shared with you. Check to see if the reason you cannot close is because of yourself, someone else, your job, your spouse, etc. Once you find out why you cannot close, then you delve into that subject and see what Spirit wants to share. Once the message is received, ask if you can now close. Repeat until you get an Iyife to close, or and Itagua-Meji (two Itaguas in a row).
Please thank you very much please how do you close the reading after your done reading please
So recently I asked a question and got oyekhu-itagua. so how would I going about this answer?
Hello there! When one received an Oyekhu, this is an all-out no. There is no more throwing once you receive Oyekhu first.
If you receive an Itagua-Oyekhu - it is still a NO. :-)
There is no such thing as an Oyekhu-Itagua.
Warm regards,
Zurri
Very helpful 💛 thank you
Hiii!! Thank you so much this was incredibly helpful I am just a baby witch and I am try to start working my way into these kinds of things. I just have one question you may have said it in the video but I have a very hard time understanding things so just to clarify. When you showed the card with all of the different ones put together for example, Itagua- Alafia. Is that shaking the shells and getting the Itagua and then shaking again and getting the Alafia and putting the 2 together to help answer your question? Thank you so much!
Hi Annalie! Congrats on your path thus far! And, welcome! :-)
To answer your question, YES. The way I learned it, once you receive an Itagua, you throw again to see if it is a Yes, or a No.
Itagua - Iyife - is a Yes
Itagua - Alafia - is a Yes
Itagua - Okaran - is a No
Itagua - Oyekhu - is a No
Hope this clarifies things for you!
Thanks for watching & commenting!
Warm regards,
Zurri
So can anyone do this or do they have to be initiated in Ifa or some other African/Afro-caribbean religion? I don't want to disrespect tradition but I am interested in doing this for myself.
Richie Perry Hi Ritchie. Yes, anyone can do this to communicate with their ancestors & spiritual family. Use a dedicated quartet of Cowrie shells that you keep on your altar/sacred space. Be respectful & let them know what you are doing and why. Speak to them as you would speak to a good long time friend. 🙏
Richie Perry you should at least have your Egun stick and your warriors. Idkw or who taught this lady this info but I’m under the tuteledge of the only Araba in the US from Nigeria.
Everyone can do this. You must not be an initiate to do this
@@egytpianbluobi is for non initiates and initiates lol
So are we only to use four or any even number as long as the majority agree? 🤔
Use only 4 just as the video shares. 🙏
@@Azurite22 Thanks a lot!
@@monaabankwa6741 You’re most welcome!
thanks but can u use 21 of them if so how to read
This is a Diloggun reading and only 16 are actually used to read with; not all 21. It takes a lot of time and study to master this system of reading with cowries. Many elder Santeria priests offer Diloggun readings. I am not one who does. My first tradition is the Kamitic tradition with the Metu Neter. Bless.
If you get Etawa to Yemoya you do not have to throw again, this is yes.
J B Hi JB, many thanks for sharing this. I will add that if the person throwing is initiated, their Ile generally has their own preferences and the person should defer to the preferences of the leader of the house. 🙏🏽
Why haven't you answered any of your viewers questions?
Hi Mike, as my latest video shares, I've been working my way through school and still maintaining a 3D life. I am just like all of you -- working to balance my regular life with the spiritual life. Using spiritual tools to move ahead in the 3D. I, like all of you, are working out the kinks in how to maintain that we need to do and still give focus to all of the things. :-)
I've posted 2 videos in the last 2 weeks and I am working on my backlog of reading comments.
Many thanks for being here and supporting this spirituality channel.
Love and Light,
Zurri
What if itagua shows up twice
If Itagua shows up twice, it becomes ITAGUA MEJI, which means. Why did you ask? You already know. Itagua two times is a confirmation of what you know already and they are telling you that you know. 🙏🏽
@@Azurite22 thank you so much for your response!! Also if open backs are used is the open backs on the shells the no and the rigid front the yes
Correct. The back is the back even if the rounded portion is removed. As mentioned in the comments by a Cuban priest, the backs are removed to give a clear yes or no as the cowries will land firmly on one side, or the other. Many blessings on your Path. 🙏🏽
@@Azurite22 thank you so much I appreciate you!!
🙏🏽🙏🏽💜💜🙏🏽🙏🏽 And I appreciate you too! Thank you so much for watching my video & commenting. Alafia!
Do you need to have 4
Yes, you need 4 cowrie shells.
The bitter truth is if you're not a specialist, a priest, or a priestess you Can't throw cowries it's dangerous, you might be slapped by spirits cause problem to yourself 👂👂👂
All of us can communicate with our spirit guides. We do not need to be ordained/crowned/etc. to speak with those that have been with us from birth.
Should you want to say that the form of communication you'd prefer non-initiated people to use is something different. Okay, I get that.
However, how I was trained is you can use pennies instead of cowries and still communicate with them.
You can use the I Ching system and communicate with them.
You can use Tarot and communicate with them.
You can use divination/oracle cards and communicate with them.
You can use tea leaves and communicate with them.
There are so MANY ways to communicate with your spirit guides.
THIS videos is but ONE way to do so. If it resonates for the viewer; if it even shows up in a person's feed, that is a way that the ancestors/spirit guides are helping their charge out. They are guiding them to something that can assist them.
They may START with this and evolve to what most resonates with them, and their spiritual family.
The spiritual path is an evolutionary process. By shutting doors at the outset, you keep ppl from ascending as they should -- as they need to.
Sending you love and light.
hello! I was wondering if this was a closed practice? I just discovered this type of divination but I am Filipino. If not, that's ok, I'm totally ok with just learning!
Hello OtterPopArt. If you found this video, I would say that you were guided to this information. Bless.
@@Azurite22 Thank you so much! Bless
- Alafia (yes, blessings)
- iwa (character / throw again )
- oyan - (yes)
- okan (no)
- segun (protection or for the omos protection)
This is the traditional YORUBA Isese lagba IFA way ♥️
We use Iya Obi 4 or 5 lobes (kola nut)
Not Coconut, using coconut as obi etc. is a separate religions theology called lucumi / santeria.
This video is ths santeria/ lukumi diaspora way. Not the way of west Africa.
Odabo 🙏
It absolutely is the Santeria/Lucumi/Lukumi way of reading. May your ancestors always guide your steps.