thread cross

thread cross

Object made typically of two sticks bound together in the shape of a cross, with coloured threads wound around their ends to resemble a cobweb, used in Tibetan magical rituals to entrap evil spirits. Similar devices have been found in South Africa, Peru, Australia, and Sweden. They vary from simple diamond shapes to complex wheel- or box-shaped combinations reaching 11 ft (3 m) high. They are often highly decorated, with wool, feather, and bits of paper.