The meaning of the Feathers plays a very important role in the context of the sacredness of American Indians. For them all the natural things of this universe of ours have a soul or a spirit. Stones, all animals and the human being have a soul or spirit. Even all natural phenomena such as thunder, rain and lightning have a soul or spirit.

The western world wanted to give a name to this form of devotion by calling it Animism which, by definition, assumes that everything in the Universe is alive and that everything has its own virtue, a certain power and wisdom. Is it really Animism what the American Indians perceives and sense for all that surrounds them and for the whole Universe? I'm not sure! Allow me to express my humble opinion. Instead, I see something more complex and personal. Probably enclosed in their profound respect for everything that surrounds us in the natural world and perhaps this is precisely what makes them seeing Life and Beauty in everything that surrounds us, in the Creation Itself. Since, like everything else, we too are a small fragment of this whole.

Thank you

Let's go back to the Feathers ...

Feathers have an immense value, they symbolize honor and unite, so to speak, the one who possesses them with the Creator, together with the bird to which these feathers came from. They are perceived as real gifts from the sky, from the sea and from the trees. They arrive unexpectedly but, always with an important purpose. That's why giving a Feather is a great gift! And to receive it is an honor!

For this reason, the warriors received a feather when they showed much courage in battle or, when they were wounded in battle. Then, during their old age, all these feathers will be used to build a crown. Another interesting thing is that the one who owns a feather must prevent it from falling to the ground, because it is considered a serious lack of respect. It is also a shared opinion or rather, a shared "devotion" among the American Indians that when a feather detaches from the bird's body and falls to the ground it has a sort of vital energy and that this vital energy from the bird can be transmitted entirely to the man or the woman who finds it.

Birds, then, are messengers, they are the true representation of pure and carefree freedom. They symbolize change, transformation! For the American Indian, birds are guiding spirits! That is why, the feather of a spirit guide has such an important value in the American Indian sacredness.

A sacred ceremony will never be without feathers, even the prayer sticks are decorated with feathers. Each bird's feather has a specific meaning, for example; the feather of an eagle symbolizes great strength, courage, esteem, prestige and command. And that of a dove symbolizes kindness, delicacy and love.

Feathers (as well as the Talking Stick) are used during conferences. Speaking with a feather in your hand, especially if it is from a bird of prey, means that the one speaking with the feather in his hand is telling the truth! He or She is saying what he/she feels from his/her own heart, therefore, we must offer him/her respect and must not be interrupted. Interrupting the speaker who holds a feather is a bad deed. It's a serious lack of respect!

Thank you.