If you want to make a smudge fan, then probably you already know what it is. But just in case you heard the term somewhere and are curious about it, a smudge fan is what you can use to fan the smoke from burning herbs like sage and sweet grass. It is made out of few feathers of different birds, hold together with a handle that is usually made out of wood, leather or even some animal skin.

It is used mostly for cleansing and ceremonial rituals. Making a smudge fan for most people is a traditional craft learned from Native Americans. But you can make one too, just to fit your needs and taste.

Get some feathers that can be from a turkey, pheasant, parrot, peacock, or even a duck, and arrange them in a way that you like. Put the base of the feathers together with one another, and with a threat that is strong enough, tie them up so they’ll hold together. Try to use natural materials to keep with the traditions, and take a stick of cedar or a little stick from a tree, no more than half and inch wide and 4 to 6 inches long, and tie the stick to the bundle of feathers. Just to make sure the feathers wont get loose, you can glue them to the handle after they are tied up.

Then, with a piece of leather, make a pocket that will cover the base of the feathers and the handle, and saw it or glue it together. Just be creative, or look up for pictures of traditional smudge fans so you can have an idea of how to make your own smudge fan.