Diloggún
The oracle of the Orisha.
Much of the Lucumí religion revolves around the practice of divination. By consulting with the Orisha and Egún, we can find out how to best achieve our destiny, and how to protect ourselves from some of the difficulties in life. Decisions both big and small are brought before the oracles. Three main oracular systems exists in Lucumí - ObÍ, the coconut; Diloggún, the sacred cowrie shells of the Orisha; and, Ifá, the palm nuts and divining chain of the Babalawós.
Diloggún, the sixteen sacred cowrie shells, are the “mouth” of the Orisha. Not only do the cowries themselves remind us of mouths, they speak directly on behalf of the Orisha themselves. They are not just ordinary shells, but have been born in the initiation process of the priest who casts them. Most readings consult with Eleggua, the messenger Orisha of the crossroads who was the witness to destiny at the beginning of time. Through Eleggua, all of the other Orisha and Egún may speak.
When we cast the diloggún, they fall in patterns which are called Odú. There are 256 Odú, each a container of wisdom that holds a vast array of knowledge, proverbs, songs, advice, myths, and offerings that can be made to improve whatever circumstances are affecting the person who has come to consult the oracle. The study of Odú is a rigorous, lifelong process, as the Odú Ogbe’dí (8-7) reminds us: knowledge is spread out from oldest to youngest, no one head can contain it all.
It is through diloggún that we determine how we should live our lives, and what, if any changes we need to make. It is also through diloggún that we determine if a person needs to work more closely with the Orisha by going through one or more initiations into the religion.
