What you need
1 square of red cloth such as cotton, linen or wool – keep it natural. The material should be approximately as long as your longest feather.
Ceremonial herbs (sage,
Wax-treated leather twine
1 square of leather
Leather cording
Instructions
Don’t use feathers if you don’t know what they are. From a spiritual perspective every bird carries its own “medicine” and feathers represent that energy. Use a resource like Jamie Sams’ Medicine Cards or the book Animal Speak by Ted Andrews to better understand the symbolism of specific birds. Be aware that possessing feathers from raptors such as eagles, hawks or owls may be a crime –even if you found the feathers on the ground.
Clear and center your mind. Hold a handful of sacred herbs and “put” a prayer into them, in other words, imagine that the herbs represent your intent to use this fan in a respectable way, for bringing positive energy and benefiting your family or community. Sprinkle the herbs into the square of material and fold it in half. As you work keep the open end of the fold “up” so the herbs don’t fall out.
Assemble your feathers in a pleasing way. All the feathers should be placed with their fronts forward. The back of a feather typically has lighter colored plumage and the shafts are more prominent. Use your intuition; if a certain feather doesn’t seem to fit or won’t stay in position maybe it shouldn’t be there. Wind the waxed twine around the shaft ends to secure them.
Place the bundled feathers at the edge of the red fabric. Roll the wound shafts cinnamon-roll style in the material. Cut and adjust the size of the material if needed, it should be only as long as the end of the feather shafts and not too bulky for the number and size of feathers.
Start at the top, closest to the plumage and wind a length of waxed twine around the material in a criss-cross pattern (cross the twine ends in back the tuck one end under the other in the front as if tying a shoe). Keep the twine taut to create a firm handle for your fan. Tie off the twine at the bottom.
Measure and cut the leather so it’s approximately ½ wider than the circumference of the red handle. If you wish to make fringe at the bottom the leather can be any length you desire. If you don’t want fringe cut the leather long enough to cover the shafts by about ¼ inch.
Complete fringe before moving to the next step.
Place the fan handle in the center of the leather so the “seam” will be in the center front. Pull the leather snugly from both sides and secure it with leather cording – use the same criss-cross pattern you used with the waxed twine. This process requires patience: pull the leather, wrap one section and repeat, while all the time keeping the seam straight and the leather cording taut. If you have difficulty just get the leather secured on the handle then go back and make adjustments. Tie the cording at the bottom.
To make perfect fringe: It’s nearly impossible for a beginner to hand-cut fringe and make it even. Use a straight edge and a pen to mark your cuts on the wrong side of the leather then cut with a very sharp pair of scissors or utility blade.
Add a crystal, stone or embellishment to the handle by tucking it under the leather cording as you wrap the handle.
The word you want to use is spelled “taut” not “taught” for keeping the cording tight. “Taut is an adjective that is most often used to refer to something that is pulled tight, like ‘a taut rope'”.
as well as any predator birds such as hawks and eagles. Actually Federal felony if found in possession of them.
Thank-you…………
Just be aware that it is also illegal to possess the feathers of migratory birds, even if they are found on the ground while walking or underneath the bird feeder. This is supposed to prevent illegal hunting/killing of the birds.
But if ur intent is just to collect the feather and not hunt or kill, then why would it still be illegal? I mean its not a kept trophy of a kill. So having them would have to have another reason for being illegal besides killing . I’m just curious because i didn’t know that
The Migratory Treaty Bird Act was written that way to prevent people find killing birds for feathers and then claiming they found it on the ground. But realistically, nobody’s coming after you for your molted feather collection…Unless it’s from an eagle and you’re not Native.
I love the leather, and feathers, and that you go and pick up the feathers outside yourself. Also that it means something, the idea of ridding yourself of negative energy is awesome. Thanks for showing us this. Louella