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| Obi Divination Using Coconut or Cowrie Shells |
Its History and Purpose in Divination
The concept of communication with the Spirits and Guardian Angels in the African
Diaspora religions is an intricate part of the spiritual development of the
practitioners, whether initiate or life long spiritual head of an ile (or "house of
worship"). Obi divination is the methodology of obtaining an answer as guidance for
movement in a situation or the outcome of current events. Questions posed before
Obi must be in a way to elect an affirmative or negative (“Yes” or “No”) answer, each
answer will give clarity like a map, which way to turn and which option to take.
Depending on the answer, various rituals as sprinkling water on the Obi or even
taking the coconut out of the home when an extremely negative answer is given.
The Yoruba based religions have many branches with variations in their ways of
worship but the religions and belif systems that have crossed the Atlantic Ocean
with the Diaspora to the New World have given blessing for the opportunity and the
permission to use Obi as a method of divination in the New World. From the highest
ranks of the religions, the Babalawo (High Priest), to the Babalorisha (male priests
or Santeros), Iyalorishas (female priestesses or Santeras) and Aborisha (those not
fully initiated into the religion), Obi is available for all the use. My Madrina has
used four pennies in a quick method to divine whether I should go on a small trip
with her or not. Luck has it that I should and I packed my bags for our "road trip".
The traditional method of divination with Obi instructs us to take a fresh coconut
and split it into four equal parts by using a small mallet on the coconut while on a
counter or tabletop. We are not to open the coconut by throwing the coconut
against the floor, which is an insult to Obi. Obi is a basic tool of divination for any
believer of orisha-based religions and in Spanish it is called dar el coco. When
using Obi for divination, most of the time the orisha Ellegua (Elegua,Legba) will be
consulted, as he sees what is down the "road" or "path" for you as Ellegua, guardian
of the crossroads. Sometimes, the situation necessitates calling on any of other
orishas; the nature based gods and Goddesses of the religions. In lieu of fresh
coconut, sometimes cowrie shells are used for divination. I have also seen four
coco shells with the cowries embedded in them.
Obi is used to ask “Yes” or “No” questions of the orishas, the ancestors of the family
of the querent or their Ori (Soul). Obi is also used to determine whether an offering
to the orishas to change or propiate the Spirit is needed or is an offering is
sufficient and acceptable to the orisha.
Obi Shell Patterns that Occurs during Divination
The coconut or shells are considered as two "male" and two "female". The person
doing the divination will note and interpret the pattern on how they fall; whether
they fall as “open” or “white coconut insides up” or “closed” or “dark coconut
outside rind up”.
The five patterns are as follows (see photos right of definition):
· Alafia (all four white sides of coconut showing or all four “open” sides of
cowrie shells) means “Yes, with Blessings!”. This means that whatever the querent
asked in the fall of the shells, it would happen most definitely and even with much
more than they believed would occur.
· Etawa (three white coconut sides and one dark rind side or three “open”
shells and one “closed” shell) means “You will probably receive or achieve what you
asked but you will have to work for it and there will be delays and obstacles to work
through.”
· Ejife (two white coconut sides, two dark rind sides or two “open” and two
“closed” shells) means “Yes, definitely, and there is no need to ask any further”.
When you get this answer, traditionally there is no need to ask any further on the
subject, lest you irritate the orisha speaking to you.
· Okana (Okana Sode) (three dark rind coconut sides and one white or three
“closed” shells and one “open” shell) “No.”
· Oyeku (four dark rind coconut sides or four “closed” shells) “No!” A strong
"NO!" or negative answer that indicates negativity and will need additional
spiritual cleansing; hence a visit to a higher spiritual head (Babalawo) for works
done for the querent to clear this negativity.
Using Obi during a Card Reading and asking a question and receiving an "Alafia"
(meaning "Yes, with blessings!") as an answer
Back to Home Page
The concept of communication with the Spirits and Guardian Angels in the African
Diaspora religions is an intricate part of the spiritual development of the
practitioners, whether initiate or life long spiritual head of an ile (or "house of
worship"). Obi divination is the methodology of obtaining an answer as guidance for
movement in a situation or the outcome of current events. Questions posed before
Obi must be in a way to elect an affirmative or negative (“Yes” or “No”) answer, each
answer will give clarity like a map, which way to turn and which option to take.
Depending on the answer, various rituals as sprinkling water on the Obi or even
taking the coconut out of the home when an extremely negative answer is given.
The Yoruba based religions have many branches with variations in their ways of
worship but the religions and belif systems that have crossed the Atlantic Ocean
with the Diaspora to the New World have given blessing for the opportunity and the
permission to use Obi as a method of divination in the New World. From the highest
ranks of the religions, the Babalawo (High Priest), to the Babalorisha (male priests
or Santeros), Iyalorishas (female priestesses or Santeras) and Aborisha (those not
fully initiated into the religion), Obi is available for all the use. My Madrina has
used four pennies in a quick method to divine whether I should go on a small trip
with her or not. Luck has it that I should and I packed my bags for our "road trip".
The traditional method of divination with Obi instructs us to take a fresh coconut
and split it into four equal parts by using a small mallet on the coconut while on a
counter or tabletop. We are not to open the coconut by throwing the coconut
against the floor, which is an insult to Obi. Obi is a basic tool of divination for any
believer of orisha-based religions and in Spanish it is called dar el coco. When
using Obi for divination, most of the time the orisha Ellegua (Elegua,Legba) will be
consulted, as he sees what is down the "road" or "path" for you as Ellegua, guardian
of the crossroads. Sometimes, the situation necessitates calling on any of other
orishas; the nature based gods and Goddesses of the religions. In lieu of fresh
coconut, sometimes cowrie shells are used for divination. I have also seen four
coco shells with the cowries embedded in them.
Obi is used to ask “Yes” or “No” questions of the orishas, the ancestors of the family
of the querent or their Ori (Soul). Obi is also used to determine whether an offering
to the orishas to change or propiate the Spirit is needed or is an offering is
sufficient and acceptable to the orisha.
Obi Shell Patterns that Occurs during Divination
The coconut or shells are considered as two "male" and two "female". The person
doing the divination will note and interpret the pattern on how they fall; whether
they fall as “open” or “white coconut insides up” or “closed” or “dark coconut
outside rind up”.
The five patterns are as follows (see photos right of definition):
· Alafia (all four white sides of coconut showing or all four “open” sides of
cowrie shells) means “Yes, with Blessings!”. This means that whatever the querent
asked in the fall of the shells, it would happen most definitely and even with much
more than they believed would occur.
· Etawa (three white coconut sides and one dark rind side or three “open”
shells and one “closed” shell) means “You will probably receive or achieve what you
asked but you will have to work for it and there will be delays and obstacles to work
through.”
· Ejife (two white coconut sides, two dark rind sides or two “open” and two
“closed” shells) means “Yes, definitely, and there is no need to ask any further”.
When you get this answer, traditionally there is no need to ask any further on the
subject, lest you irritate the orisha speaking to you.
· Okana (Okana Sode) (three dark rind coconut sides and one white or three
“closed” shells and one “open” shell) “No.”
· Oyeku (four dark rind coconut sides or four “closed” shells) “No!” A strong
"NO!" or negative answer that indicates negativity and will need additional
spiritual cleansing; hence a visit to a higher spiritual head (Babalawo) for works
done for the querent to clear this negativity.
Using Obi during a Card Reading and asking a question and receiving an "Alafia"
(meaning "Yes, with blessings!") as an answer
Back to Home Page
| Want to learn more about Santeria and other Afro Caribbean Religions? Click on the Llewellyn box |
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