Collection: Feathers

What Is a Feather Used For on an Altar?

A feather is used to fan incense and herb smoke, and to stand for the element of air. Many Wiccan-style altars place it in the east alongside the incense, as our guide to the Wiccan quarters explains. Practitioners also tuck feathers into spell jars, tie them to wands and besoms, lay one beside a candle in a matching color, and keep a long quill for writing petitions.

What I love about a feather is how quietly it works. You don't need to blow on an herb bundle or wave your hand through the smoke; a few slow strokes and the smoke goes exactly where you want it.

How Do You Use a Feather for Smoke Cleansing?

Light your incense or herb bundle, let the flame settle to a smolder, and hold a dish under it to catch the ash. Then sweep the feather in slow strokes to push the smoke toward the corners of the room, along doorways and windows, or over an object you want to cleanse. Short, gentle strokes move smoke better than fast flapping, which can scatter ash.

Many people call this smudging. Smudging in its full sense is a ceremony from many Native American nations, and it is best learned from practitioners within those traditions. Smoke cleansing is the wider practice of moving cleansing smoke through a space, and it is found in cultures all over the world.

What You Will Find in This Collection

Natural feathers. The bronze turkey tail feather is long and stiff for sweeping a whole room, and the bronze pre-tail turkey feather is broader and rounder. The natural gray goose feather and the guinea hen wing feather are smaller and finely patterned, and the barred wing feather is a single feather sized for everyday smoke cleansing.

Leather-wrapped fans. A 12 inch smoke cleansing feather and a set of two 10 inch feathers come wrapped in leather at the handle, which gives a steady grip and keeps your hand away from heat and ash.

Sets of 10 colored feathers. Twelve inch turkey feathers come in black, white, red, pink, yellow, green, and blue. Many practitioners match the color to the work, like black for protection and banishing, green for money and luck, pink and red for love, and blue for calm and communication.

Peacock feathers. This set holds 100 natural peacock feathers with the full iridescent eye, for decor, crafts, and altar displays.

Is It Legal to Own Feathers?

Feathers from domestic and farmed birds, such as turkeys, chickens, ducks, guinea fowl, and peafowl, are legal to own in the US. Feathers from most native wild birds are not. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it illegal to keep feathers from protected species like hawks, owls, crows, and most songbirds, even if you found the feather on the ground. Our posts on hawk and owl meanings explain more. If you find a wild feather you love, take a photo and leave the feather where it is.

Related Collections

A feather works best with something to fan. Browse smudge sticks and cleansing herbs and bundles, catch the ash in an abalone shell or smudge burner, or start with everything in one box from our spiritual cleansing kits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a feather used for in witchcraft?
In witchcraft a feather is used to fan incense and herb smoke, to stand for the element of air on the altar, and as an ingredient in spell jars and charms. A long feather can also be cut into a quill for writing petitions.

What do feather colors mean in witchcraft?
Many practitioners choose feather colors the same way they choose candle colors: black for protection and banishing, white for cleansing, green for money and luck, pink and red for love, yellow for joy and confidence, and blue for calm and communication.

What kind of feather is best for smoke cleansing?
A long, stiff feather like a turkey tail feather moves the most smoke with each stroke, which suits cleansing a whole room. A smaller wing feather or a leather-wrapped fan is easier to control for cleansing a person or an object.

Can I use a feather I found outside?
Only if it came from a domestic bird. In the US the Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it illegal to keep feathers from most native wild birds, including hawks, owls, crows, and songbirds, even when they are found on the ground.

How do you cleanse a feather?
Pass it through incense smoke, leave it in moonlight, or set it on a dish of salt overnight. Avoid soaking it in water, which can split the vanes, and store it flat or upright so it keeps its shape.