Ceremonial
Fans
It has
been said that the winged ones carry the thoughts and prayers to and
from our Creator and that these messengers are sacred. Over the centuries
Native peoples of North America have collected and coveted the beautiful
feathers of the many types of birds throughout the land.
For thousands
of years Native Medicine People and Shamans have decorated feathers
with beads and other adornments. Feathers were often arranged in a
fan shape and then fitted with a handle made of wood, bone or antler.
The handles were decorated or painted with special or significant patterns
or symbols.
Feather
fans were used in combination with sacred herbs and materials to purify
one's self and others, as well as dwellings and ceremonial areas. This
smudging ritual cleared the way of all negative energy or evil spirits.
Purification
with a Smudging Feather or Fan consisted of using a smudging material
placed in an abalone shell or other kind of vessel, or as a bundle
of herbs tied for convenience. It was then ignited and when it was
smoldering the smoke was fanned with the Smudging Feather or Fan in
a direction towards the intended person or item to be purified.
Our Smudging
Fans and Feathers are created with great care and all materials are
handled with great respect. They are approximately 16 to 20 inches
in length and are handmade with turkey, parrot feathers, and other
legal bird feathers. These feathers are wrapped with deerskin and hand
beaded, or have been put in driftwood handles, keeping in mind the
sacred mission of these objects.
It is
hoped that you enjoy our fine products for many years to come and that
you have an abundance of blessings from our Creator.
