BOOK REVIEW - Buzios Divination Shells Kit
Mike
by Llewellyn Worldwide) ISBN 978-0-7387-1392-2 $34.95 (U.S.) $39.95
(Canada)
Many, if not most, people are at least semi-familiar with the use of
runes as divinatory tools. Fewer are familiar with the use of cowry
shells as such tools. Followers of Santeria (and other African
Diaspora religions) are familiar with them, but they are a relatively
small group. For those who wish to learn more about them, this kit is
a good way to start. It contains a white bag with sixteen prepared
(but unconsecrated) shells. The rounded portion has been ground down
to represent an “open” mouth (female, good, positive and reassuring)
while the untouched is “closed” (male, unpleasant, evil and
uncertain).
On a personal level, I dislike Ms. Tuan’s reference to this divinatory
system as a “game”, but I do understand that there are those
individuals that will treat it as such. Another personal dislike is
the lack of indentation (or line spacing) for paragraphs. As a
formatting choice, I feel it tends to make a page of type look like
one, unbroken block of words.
Although sixteen shells are provided in this kit (and may be utilized
by a properly trained and initiated individual), it is merely as a
convenience. Non-initiates are only permitted to use four shells
(since they lack the proper connections to the appropriate
divinities).
The fifteen possible combinations (all shells “open” or all “closed”
are discounted) are briefly examined over the course of 10 pages.
Obviously, there is far more information which could be conveyed, but
you won’t find it here. To gain that knowledge, you need to be
trained and initiated by a Babalao. As such, this information is
provided as a kind of guideline.
One the other hand, the five possible combinations available with four
shells are examined in far more detail. This is to be expected, as
this method is open to anyone. However, in both cases, it must be
realized that certain rules must be adhered to and certain obligations
are incurred. If you don’t feel capable of dealing with these
restrictions, you would be better off finding another divinatory
system.
There are a few overstatements which raised an eyebrow or two (page
26: “In the table3s on pages 62, 63, and 64 you will find all the
information on the Orixa…”). Wrong. Some information, certainly, but
it is by no means all-inclusive. But, overall it is a good
informative book.
I did find one error which will need to be corrected in future
editions on page 27. While describing the fourth combination (Okaran)
it is described as “three shells open and one closed” while it should
be “three shells closed and one open.” If one follows the sequence
they may not notice it. Still it does need to be corrected.