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 frm the river deity Osun to her suppliants 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 center of this fan is dominated by a vertical row of "palm leaves" made of fine line striations with circles down the middle. A horizontal row of small open circles floats across the center. Larger concentric circles decorate the rim. The elegant simplicity of the design presents an abstract impression of nature, delicate and powerful, and perhaps an allusion to the supernatural; both of which must be appeased in order to be utilized.