What Does It Mean?

A ritual fan is a uniquely assembled fan constructed of elements important to the owner. We love using unique materials, adding stone, metal, and other earthly items. Our ritual fans are inspired by the traditions of many cultures throughout the world. Handmade with unique and meaningful ingredients and named after goddesses and other mythological inspirations. Our fans have a story and are intended to assist you in your spiritual journey and rituals. ​ A common practice throughout history, the burning of herbs, flowers, or specific plants to create a cleansing smoke to clear a space, person, aura, or items, or to prepare for a ritual has some truly spiritual roots. Incenses, smudging sticks, bowls of dried plants are all tools that can be utilized to create a cleansing smoke bath. A single plant or mixture of plants can be burned, with each ingredient providing unique benefits. For centuries many cultures have used smoke baths to achieve spiritual goals. The term smudging comes from the custom of Native Americans and other indigenous cultures. Smudging calls on the spirits of sacred plants to drive away negative energies and restore balance. Plants are burned and the smoke is directed with a single feather or a fan made of several feathers. In native cultures birds are highly revered because of their closeness to Grandfather Creator in the heavens. It is believed the feather possesses the spirit qualities of the bird– to be the breath of life as well as connecting us to the heavens above and mother earth below. Because of the way they are constructed, it is believed that feathers have the ability to comb someone's energy or aura of blockages therefore aiding in the cleansing smoke bath. Ceremonial & dance fans are made by Native Americans from all or part of a wing of an eagle. Some indigenous peoples may use other raptor or exotic bird feathers. Southwestern, Central and South American tribes often use macaw feathers, especially for prayer fans. ​ To prepare for your smoke cleanse, have a shell or fireproof bowl to place your burning cleansing stick in. One the stick is lit, use your fan to wave the smoke over the item or space you wish to cleanse. The smoke is used to remove negative energy while helping to center and heal. Raise your vibration and your intentions and give smoke cleansing a try! Thanks to Becky at PowWow Power for being our guru on the topic.

A common practice throughout the world, the burning of herbs, flowers, or specific plants to create a cleansing smoke to clear a space, person, aura, or items, or to prepare for a ritual has some truly spiritual roots. Incenses, smudging sticks, bowls of dried plants are all tools that can be utilized to create a cleansing smoke bath. A single plant or mixture of plants can be burned, with each ingredient providing unique benefits. For centuries many cultures have used smoke baths to achieve spiritual goals. The term smudging comes from the custom of Native Americans and other indigenous cultures. Smudging calls on the spirits of sacred plants to drive away negative energies and restore balance. Plants are burned and the smoke is directed with a single feather or a fan made of several feathers. ​ To prepare for your smoke cleanse, have a shell or fireproof bowl to place your burning cleansing stick in. One the stick is lit, use your fan, feather or hand to wave the smoke over the item or space you wish to cleanse. The smoke is used to remove negative energy while helping to center and heal. Raise your vibration and your intentions and give smoke cleansing a try!

Dried plants that are tied into bundles are called smudge sticks or wands, which are lit and burned on one end. Loose plants can be burned in a shell or bowl or placed directly onto burning wood or crumbled over a piece of charcoal You may use a single plant or a mix of plants depending on your desired cleansing. Thanks to Becky at PowWow Power for being our guru on the topic.

Plants such as tobacco, sage, cedar, sweet grass, juniper, lavender and copal are burned. Sage is said to purify and drive out negative energy, sweet grass to attract positive energy, beauty and sweetness, cedar to ward off sickness, lavender to bring spiritual blessing. Many tribes consider tobacco to be the most sacred plant, chasing away bad or negative feelings and bringing on good and positive thoughts and to connect people with the spiritual world. Thanks to Becky at PowWow Power for being our guru on the topic.

There are different points of view on this. Those who practice intention setting and believe in charging a ritual with their intentions could see the benefit to blowing their thoughts, intentions and energy into the smudging stick and smoke. Some Native Peoples practice contains the belief that blowing onto the smudging stick blows one's negativity into the mixture as well as blows away the effectiveness of the plant. (Thanks to Becky at PowWow Power for being our guru on the topic!) We encourage you to find the practice that resonates with you.

Traditionally used in Buddhism as prayer beads, a mala's origianl purpose was to assist in counting the number of times a mantra, prayer, or Buddha's name was said. Now worn to encourage the wearer to focus on groundedness, inner peace, and to celebrate the yogi life style.

A mala is made of a colored cord or thread, 108 beads, a guru bead and a tassel. The beads may be made of all sorts of materials, semi-precious stones, wood, seeds, etc. The material of the bead adds additional power to the mala. A guru bead is the "teacher" bead, larger than the rest of the beads and signifies the start and end of your meditation or prayers. The tassel symbolizes a lotus blossom representing enlightenment. The significance of 108 beads ties back to several powerful scientific and spiritual items. There are 108 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet. Vedic mathematicians measured the Sun’s diameter to be 108 times larger than the diameter of the Earth, measured the distance between the Sun and Earth to be 108 times the Sun’s diameter. In the yogic tradition, we find 108 sacred texts of the Upanishads, 108 sacred holy sites in India, and 108 marma (acupressure-like) points on the body. In the bhakti yoga tradition stories are told of 108 gopis dancing with Krishna in Vrindavan, and there are 108 names of the goddess. In tantric yoga, 108 energy lines are described throughout the body and they all converge and connect at the heart chakra. Thanks to Japa Mala Beads for being our guru on this topic.

Traditionally malas from India usually have knots between each bead, while malas from Tibet, Nepal, and China are not knotted between the beads. Some Tibetan style malas will have two counters attached to each side of the mala. Thanks to Japa Mala Beads for being our guru on this topic.

1. Increases focus during mantra meditation. 2. An efficient and practical tool to count mantras. 3. An easy way to keep track of the number of mantras recited. 4. Physical contact with prayer beads transmits their inherent healing powers. 5. Once mala is empowered it can be used for even more powerful healing of yourself and others. 6. Choosing a mala to purchase can help in process of determining goals and intentions and spiritual pursuits. 7. Seeing or wearing a mala can serve as a reminder of one’s intention and goals. It can also be used as a reward or symbol for accomplishing a difficult task. Thanks to Japa Mala Beads for being our guru on this topic.

Honoring both old and new we have two kinds of gazing mirrors. New mirrors are pristine and ready for their first home. While "Rescued & Renewed" mirrors are collected from the nooks and crannies, previously loved with their own unique characteristics. There are also two ways the mirrors are painted. If the mirror was originally a picture frame, then the glass will be painted on the backside, giving a deep, smooth black finish. If the mirror was originally a true mirror, then the surface of the mirror will be painted creating a slightly textured lacquered finish. Both are beautiful and create distinct looks. ​ Gazing or Scrying is the practice of looking into a highly reflective surface, in the hope of detecting significant messages or visions. The objective might be personal guidance, prophecy, revelation, or inspiration, but down the ages, scrying in various forms also has been a prominent means of divination or fortune-telling. Many mediums have been used, the flame of a fire, dark stones, bowls of water, crystal balls, and black mirrors. ​ Believed to provide insight to the past, present or future, some practitioners assert that visions that come when one stares into the gazing/scrying mirror are from the subconscious or imagination, while others say that they come from gods, spirits, devils, or the psychic mind, depending on the culture and practice. Scrying has been practiced throughout the centuries by countless cultures and religions. Even Nostradamus practiced scrying; he would stare into a bowl of water or a "magic mirror" to see the future while he was in trance. ​ Utilize your gazing mirror for a focal point during meditation, prayer, or repeating mantras. Or dive into the journey of self reflection and connectedness in glimpsing beyond the veil.