At the time when the sacred waters of orisa Osun are taken in brass bowls from the river to the shrine, the priestess carries her fan as an insignia of office. As a mediator between this world and the "other world", the priestess is able to interpret messages from the river deity Osun to her supplicants in response to their questions. She is also in touch with spirits of nature, using these natural forces to help people in a variety of ways.

The amazing abstract design on this fan contains three stylized lizards, two birds and another upside down, and two large snakes. They occupy four sections created by a cross composed of four separate bands each with striated bars and circles. A cross within a circle, i.e. the fan itself, symbolizes a place of meeting; in this case, the meeting of the powers of the gods and nature.