Editing Cowrie-shell divination (section)

==In the African diaspora==
Cowrie-shell divination is found in [[Latin America]] where it plays an important role in religions like Santería and Candomblé.

In [[Cuba]], [[Dominican Republic]], and [[Puerto Rico]], it is called {{lang|es|dilogun}}.<ref>Ocha ni'lele (2003). ''The Diloggun: The Orishas, Sacrifices, Proverbs, and Prohibitions of Cuban Santeria''. Destiny Books.</ref>

In [[Brazil]], it is called {{lang|pt-br|jogo de búzios}} or {{lang|pt-br|merindinlogun}}.

Though they share a common root, Caribbean and South American cowrie shell divination have subsequently developed in independence from West African practice. For example, among Caribbean diviners, the first throw of the shells involves throwing them twice to derive a composite ''Odu.'' While there are regional practices in Yorubaland where this is also the case, it is not as standardized and uniform as it is in Cuba, suggesting a weaker quality control by Cuban Ifá priests.

===In Santería===
The cowrie-shells, called Diloggún, are used by priests and priestesses of [[Santería]], who are called Santeros and Santeras, respectively. Both men and women who have been initiated into Santería can read cowrie shells.<ref>[http://www.aboutsanteria.com Cynthia Duncan, Ph.D. About Santeria]</ref> There are a combination of 256 possible odu and a skilled diviner can interpret the meaning of each one, depending on the orientation of the reading. If the reading comes in Ire, the client will experience good fortune, and if it comes in Osogbo, the client faces obstacles that can be overcome with the help of the Orichás.

===In Candomblé===
{{multiple image
 | footer    = Cowrie shell modified for divination, showing the natural and contrived openings.
 | width     = 150
 | image1    = Buzio aberto.jpg
 | alt1      = Natural opening
 | image2    = Buzio fechado.jpg
 | alt2      = Artificial opening
}}
The cowrie shell, as collected from a beach, has a flattened side with a longitudinal slit, and a smooth, rounded side. Like a [[coin]], the shell has only two stable positions on a flat surface, with the slit side facing either up or down. A few cowrie-shell diviners use the shells in this natural state; then the outcome of the throw, for each piece, is either "open" (slit up) or "closed" (slit down). Some modern day witches also use cowrie shell divination.

Most priests, however, use modified shells whose rounded part has been ground away, creating a second, artificial opening. The two stable positions of the shell are still called "open" or "closed" for divination purposes. In most [[Candomblé]] houses, "open" still means that the natural opening is facing up; but some traditions (mainly in [[Candomblé Ketu]]) use the opposite convention.
The number of "open" shells is used to select an item (''odú'') which direct the diviner to a fixed list of oracular verses.