Feathers appear in magick as messengers of the air. A goose or turkey feather cut into a quill pen is the traditional way to write petitions, seals and sigils with magickal inks such as Dragon’s Blood or Dove’s Blood, as old grimoires instruct. Feathers are also used to fan smoke during smudging, to dress altars for air and the east, and in charm bags and talismans where the bird’s qualities are wanted: the peacock’s eyes for watchfulness and beauty, the guinea hen’s spots in protective work, black feathers for protection and banishing. Many practitioners cleanse a feather in smoke before use, and keep dedicated quills just for ritual writing so their petitions stay set apart from everyday notes.
