A Navajo friend recently made me a beautiful necklace that included a turquoise medicine wheel and two eagle feathers carved from bone.

In Native culture, the eagle is considered the strongest and bravest of all birds. Eagle feathers symbolize what is highest, bravest, strongest and holiest. It represents strong medicine and healing.

An eagle’s feathers are given in honor and are displayed with dignity and pride. They are handled with great regard. In fact, if an eagle feather is dropped during a dance, a special ceremony is performed before picking it up, and the owner takes great care to avoid dropping it again.

The eagle feather is also used to adorn the sacred pipe because it is a symbol of the Great Spirit, who is above all and from whom all strength and power flows.

Like many Native American symbols, some people tattoo feather images on their bodies to help them on their journey or to tell their story. Waving the eagle feather over anyone conveys a blessing of peace, prosperity and happiness.