During an Obi divination session, the practitioner, an Oloricha (priest or priestess of Santeria), throws 4 cowrie shells onto a flat surface to interpret their arrangement. Depending on the position of the cowries, open (opening facing up) or closed (opening facing down), different scenarios can be interpreted, with up to sixteen possible combinations grouped into five main categories:
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Alafia: 4 open cowries. This extremely positive response suggests an absolute "yes" to the question asked, with potentially greater benefits than expected.
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Etawa: 3 open cowries, 1 closed. This response indicates a "maybe," signaling some uncertainty in the outcome, often inviting a new throw for clarification.
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Ejife: 2 open cowries, 2 closed. This is a clear and definitive "yes," symbolizing a balance between positive and negative forces.
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Okanran: 1 open cowrie, 3 closed. A categorical "no," indicating strong opposition to the querent's desires.
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Oyekun: 4 closed cowries. A very pronounced "no," suggesting the need for spiritual cleansing to remove negative energies related to the question.
This method therefore allows for very clear and precise answers to questions.
Note that before each session, it is mandatory to purify the space to eliminate energies that could influence the outcome of the reading.
