Cowrie (my precious)

Silver, cowrie shell

A client brought me a cowrie shell from his travels. As a gift for his wife, he requested a silver frame for the shell. Cowries have traditionally been regarded by many cultures as good luck amulets. Some believed that they helped with matters of fertility (becuse of their suggestive shape), and this association with birth and health led many to use cowrie shells as lucky charms to attract wealth - abundance - money. I had one when I was little. My granny called it a 'money stone' and said I should keep in in my purse to attact money.

Because of their small and uniform shape they were actually used as 'coins' (money) by many peoples of the past. Whatever it is that attracts us to this little shell, they are simply precious.