Prayer Fans
It is believed by Native Americans that prayer fans and feathers represent the type of gift that is able to heal a heart. Significant traditions and fundamental beliefs are incorporated into the very concept of prayer fans and it is thought that the healing power can considerably change the life of whom ever it affects.
There are an almost unbelievable variety of different feathers that can be used in the construction of prayer fans and they are selected and picked from different birds according to the occasion, the ceremony, ritual or powwow being celebrated. A great deal of care is put into the selection and creation of these products due to the associated beliefs and it is a fundamental realization that the spirit of the bird in question is transferred with the feathers and is thus incorporated into the prayer or smudging fan itself.
When prayer fans are used in the ceremony a specific message and prayer is dispatched to the heavens and the great spirits above. A fire is used and when the fan is moved back and forth during the ritual dance it creates a “base” enabling the smoke from the fire to carry the prayers up to the heavens.
There are different fans according to different locations, beliefs and tribal affairs. Loose and flat fans, stiff and flat or double-sided concepts may be found. Normally, they will work just like a concertina, opening and closing according to the ritual. The complexity of their use results in a lot of time and effort being put into their construction and you will see different fans according to whether they are used by women or men.
Different human elements are said to exist within individual prayer fans according to the style and type of feathers selected. These can include social, spiritual, emotional and physical and when mounted on the left side of the fan they can represent the father figure, with the other side is selected to represent the mother.
The amount of time and devotion required to put together prayer fans should be seen to be believed. It is estimated that it can take as much as a couple of months to construct a single fan as after all the feathers have been selected according to their right type and configuration they must be brought together in pairs. The selected feathers are then washed using specific herbal recipes before being dried as part of the tradition. Right feathers are lengthened through the use of bamboo and can then be brought together for the finished item.
Many different birds provide feathers for prayer fans and it is not permissible to select specific feathers from endangered species unless you are part of a recognized Indian tribe or live on a particular reservation.
When prayer fans are produced for purchase they are generally composed of feathers which are said to be “given” naturally, or have fallen off the birds. These make great items to store or display at home, but it is highly recommended that you give them the respect and recognition for the efforts and beliefs that have been put in to their creation.
