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Cowrie Speaks COWRIE SHELL CENTER (The Sanctuary).... Concious-ness-raising, supportive, therapeutic, respect for individual spiritual pratices. HIgh frequency community in which to grow spiritually and culturally. Re-eastablish leadership and responsibillity by realining ourselves with spirit. A place to be intimately known, a setting to create ritual, to sing, to dance. A collective forum where we could ask for and recieve spirits' guidance. The Cowrie Shell Center is a micro community, at it's essence, this sacred space is a tool for discovering how spirit is meant to manifest in your unique life. It will help you to find the river of your life and supports you in surrendering to its' current. Cowrie Shell- pronounced kou 're or cowry..... A marine gastropod belonging to the family of marine snails found in the tropics. They may also be found in abundance in the Indian Ocean. Cowrie shells can grow to be about 4 inches in length. Cowrie shells are associated with Yemaya, a Yoruba ocean deity who is also known as Earth Mother and wealth. * Used for currency, they were the most popular form of money in Afrakah. Ancient Khamites ( Egyptians) revered them as magical. Archaeologists have excavated millions of them in the tombs of the royal families in Khamet. In the 13th century, cowrie shell were brought to Afrakah from the Maldives in the Indian Ocean by Arab traders. They first came to the Khamit, then across the Saharah to the western Sudan region. Later, they were brought in by dutch and english traders through the Guinea Coast Ports of West Afrakah. The Europeans were suprised that Afrakans revered cowrie shells. Gold was used for larger items, while the cowrie shell were used to purchase smaller necessities. Cowrie Shells were used in many othey ways, one use was as; bride wealth, payment for fines, divination ( known as the mouth of spirit) or ( money of Ifa) Funerals, initiation into secret societies. Another way, was as decoration: on clothing, drums, divining chains, headresses, ritual masks, furniture and in games. Cowrie Shells are symbolic of grounding and protection. Cowrie Shells are similair in appearance to the female genitialia. By the late 1960s', earlier forms of money like cowrie shells were disappearing from use in most countries. Cowrie shells continue to be a huge part of Brazilian culture as well, also used in spiritual ceremonies. Since the late 1970's cowrie shells have re-emerged to take it's place as a powerful symbol amongst Afrakans in America.....about Afrakans. |