Cowrie shells are known to bring good luck and to protect the spirit of the wearer, and many tribes use them in spiritual ceremonies. They also are a sign of femininity and fertility, with women often wearing them not only to help them conceive, but to help them give birth safely. If you are drawn to a cowrie shell, it is said that you carry the strength of the ocean within you. This stems from the ancient legend of Yemaya (the Ocean Goddess). Affectionately known as the ‘Mommy of Water’, Yemaya is seen as a powerful Goddess that can connect to and influence all humans on earth, as well as other deities. When people pleased her, she made the ocean wash out cowrie shells onto the beach.