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Cowrie shells have many symbolic meanings across cultures, including:
Fertility and femininity
In Mende culture, cowrie shells symbolize fertility, birth, and womanhood. The curved back of the shell can also represent a pregnant woman. Women often wear cowrie shells to help them conceive and give birth safely.
Protection
Cowrie shells are believed to protect the wearer's spirit. Historians speculate that Africans may have brought cowries to America as talismans to resist enslavement.
Good luck
In Senegal, cowrie shells are used in spiritual ceremonies to bring good luck.
Ocean goddess energy
Cowrie shells are said to have the energy of an ocean goddess, bringing prosperity and good health.
Divination
Cowrie shells are used in divination sets in Latin American religions like Santería and Candomblé. Their white color and maritime origin are said to anchor divination in notions of ancestry, fertility, and healing.