búzios

Búzios are the shells of certain marine snails (búzio) that are used as ritual objects in Afro-Brazilian religious traditions. The term comes from Portuguese and refers to the sea snail shells commonly used in Brazil for spiritual purposes. In practices such as Candomblé and Umbanda, the divination method known as jogo de búzios uses a set of natural shells as an oracle. A trained practitioner, often a mãe-de-santo or pai-de-santo, shakes or casts the shells and interprets the resulting pattern to provide guidance on questions related to personal decisions, healing, or spiritual matters.

The typical set contains a standardized number of shells, commonly sixteen, though some traditions use twenty-one or other configurations depending on regional or lineage differences. Each shell is read in relation to established correspondences with orixás, spirits, or spiritual paths, and the interpretation depends on the shells’ positions after they settle. Reading búzios is a central ritual activity in which the shells function as a divinatory tool and reflective aid for practitioners and practitioners’ communities.

Beyond their ritual use, búzios are also collected and sold as decorative items or jewelry, reflecting their cultural significance and aesthetic value. The use of shells in these contexts has raised discussions about sustainable harvesting and the protection of marine species, leading to emphasis on sourcing from legal and ethical suppliers.

Originating from West African religious and cultural practices, the practice of using búzios was brought to Brazil through the African diaspora and has become a distinctive element of Afro-Brazilian spirituality, evolving with regional variations in Candomblé and Umbanda.