Have you ever seen a random feather lying on the ground and felt drawn to it? Did you pick it up? Look at it? Did you leave it on the ground and think about it for a while? In my practice, I have found that when a seemingly mundane item draws our attention so strongly, it was in our path with purpose. Many times, when someone starts out on a nature-based spiritual path they will feel strong pulls to feathers, stones and plants. Through these experiences I have learned and developed my method for feather reading and was surprised to find that few people in the world practice feather reading. Despite feathers having strong elemental connections (air) and a strong meaning in numerous cultures around the world, feather reading is nearly unheard of.
What is feather reading?
In short, feather reading is a form of augury divination based upon feathers. Unlike other forms of avian augury, a feather reading does not rely on live animals or watching their actions. Reading a feather requires only the feather and the reader. Feather readings tend to differ from other forms of avian augury in that the readings most often are about the person whom found the feather and their situation oppose to coming weather, crop growth or even seismic activity which augury tends to read.
A feather reading can sound similar to other forms of divination such as tarot, runes or oracle cards. However, there are no sets within feather readings as would be found within the previously mentioned methods. The best way to understand the messages of a feather are to study the feather and know it’s purpose for the bird it once belonged to.