Feather Magick

Namaste...

Finding a feather is a gift from the Great Spirit

Has it ever happened to you that you’re walking down a road or avenue and a large feather on the ground catches your eye? It’s soft and delicate and seems to be calling out to you or beckoning you in some way as it really stands out from other feathers you’ve seen; you can’t help but give it your attention and admiration. The feather is beautiful and wondrous and it has changed your state of mind and suddenly given you a different feeling inside, a different mood, and a new perspective on your day or on life and your connection to the universe. The power of feather magic is in the way we feel a breath of fresh air is blown into our lives.

Birds have long been regarded as messengers of the gods; ancient people believed they would carry messages to and from the heavens. Birds were one of the few creatures who could defy gravity, and so, they were regarded as sacred in many cultures around the world and their feathers were considered to be magical gifts.  Finding feathers can be a special and sacred moment to discover a message and/or usher in good things into our lives. Feathers are magically connected to the element of Air and this makes them especially helpful for messages and magic related to communication. Each feather has its own special power depending on the bird of origin, the colour/s, the place in which it is found, and other factors.

A small collection of feathers I've found - Placed inside a seashell

Feather meanings

Different feathers have different meanings depending on the bird of origin. The colours of the feather are often a clear indicator of the bird from which it came. However, it can be difficult to identify the bird from the feather we find, as many birds have similar or same colours, but don’t let that worry you, as you can still work with the magical energies of the feather without knowing which bird it has come from. Knowing the bird of origin can help you better understand the symbolic meaning associated with the animal and the messages and energies that the feather brings to you. If you are able to identify the bird from which the feather/s came, then you might also like to do a little research into whether the bird is connected with a particular deity.

But, even without that information, feather magic, as all magic, is intuitive and you can personally connect with the feather you find. Through meditation, or your own personal practices and rituals, feel the power and the meaning of the feather magic. You will bring your own powerful energy into the feather through your concentration and focus.

My smudging wand (gifted to me by a talented friend) and a smudging bowl I made 

How you can use feathers in your magical and/or spiritual practice

Here are some suggestions:

·         Decorate your altar or other magical arrangements – you can use feathers in connection with the element of Air and the cardinal direction which you associate with this element. They are often used in spells and ceremonies to promote change. You can also help the energy of the feather to flow through a sacred space, or your entire home (which is a sacred space itself!) by placing it/them in a small vase in a special spot or amongst your favourite crystals

·         Meditation – you can hold the feather/s in your hand to connect with the Bird spirit and/or blow gently on them to communicate your spiritual intention

·         Medicine bags, power pouches, wands, rattles, talking sticks – all these magical items often include special feathers, which have specific meaning for the wearer or one who carries it. Talking sticks especially are adorned with feathers because they carry the power to help people express themselves with authenticity and truth, and communicate with compassion and understanding of the self and others. Many ritual tools can be adorned with feather magic

·         Dream bags – you can always place a feather into a small dream bag, or pouch, and combine this with the appropriate herbs to induce lucid dreaming. You can also just pop one under your pillow and ask the Great Spirit to help you connect with power of the feather and the symbolic magic of the bird of origin, as well as help you better discern or interpret the message that the feather has brought you

·         Smudging – you can use a bundle of feathers as a smudging wand or use a large feather to fan the smoke in the direction you desire for cleansing, including the body, and this lends additional power to the smudging ritual

You will know when you find a special magical feather. It won’t be like any other you’ve come across, it will wave at you and speak to you and you will feel that you must take it with you. They are often clean and undamaged, as though they literally just lightly floated onto your path like a little gift!  These gifts I’ve received have come home with me and are tucked away in special boxes, wrapped in cloth, or placed inside the pages of books and I let their energies lay there, effervescent, until they call to me again to use them. I often use my magical feathers for the abovementioned magical and spiritual practices and I let myself be open to the Great Spirit, the spirit of the Bird, and the pulsating energy of the Air. My Anamchara and I were recently gifted with these beautiful Myna bird feathers (see below) which we found on our path one sunny afternoon. I’ve popped them in a little glass vase with some small crystals and I am letting their magical flow freely throughout my sacred space! 

Myna bird feathers, celestite, citrine, and seashells

           x love & light x