This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Ky Tanella. Find them on Instagram at @ky.tanella. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
“Familiars” in witchcraft have long dominated the fantasy, supernatural, and gothic media genres. Most commonly, they are portrayed as black cats, snakes, or toads! But… what are familiars, and how have they evolved through modern-day witchcraft?
History
First, let’s get into the rich history of the “familiar.” The concept of familiar spirits can be traced back to Medieval Europe, during the height of the Witch Persecutions throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. Witches were often believed to communicate with spirits, which acted as guides sent by the devil (or inherited from another witch) to aid and assist the witches in their craft. In folklore, they were lower-ranking demons, shape-shifters that usually took on the form of an animal to disguise themselves.
Interestingly, the familiars were believed to support their life force by sucking blood from a witch’s finger, or other growths on her skin like moles or warts. Therefore, if a suspected witch had a matching skin growth, it would be considered proof of her guilt!
However, we can look back before the Medieval Period. Familiar spirits were originally observed as spirit guides or guardian angels in Ancient Rome and Greece. The Greeks believed in the “daimon,” a non-malevolent, lesser-ranking spirit that acted as a personal messenger or guide. In Rome, they were believed to be a protector of their home, property, and land.
Modern Times
Many modern-day practitioners and Pagans refer to their favorite pets as their “familiars,” especially if they have some sort of emotional or spiritual awareness. Even though the term has evolved a little bit, it still represents their general definition – an assistant spirit/guide to a magic-user, normally brought by the universe, deity, or powerful spirit. Familiars can really take on any form, although their animal form is the most popularized/observed, and witches can often have multiple familiars/guides. However, it’s not essential to have one! Familiar spirits can also come and go as they please, usually after they’ve successfully helped you with something in your spiritual practice, have aided you to move through something emotionally, or by the death of said physical form.
While it’s unlikely that your pet is your familiar, it doesn’t make your connection or relationship with them any less special! If you feel comfortable calling your pet that, please continue to do so if it helps with your practice!!
How Do I “Get” A Familiar?
Disclaimer: it’s not as simple as adopting a pet or “getting” a familiar. Familiars just sort of find you, they choose to be your familiar. Your familiars normally aid you with your magic – they might meditate with you, bring you gifts, or help with offerings, they would not destroy your altar space. Another thing to keep in mind, familiars could come in literally any form (not just animals). Snakes, cats, dogs, mice, rats, ravens, insects, spiders, and toads could all be a familiar – it all just depends on your connection. It’s a fated meeting between two spirits.
For example, my partner and I have this running joke that their cat – aptly named Oracle – is their familiar. While my partner doesn’t practice, Oracle usually seems interested in anything I bring witchcraft-wise and is very emotionally intelligent. He’s a one-eyed, geriatric black cat (a former stray) that would exclusively come to my partner’s house to be fed at night. While they were never able to contact the original owner, the chip inside Oracle indicated that he was born in Canada, and met my partner all the way in Georgia! It seemed fated! My partner described him as “a moving shadow amongst a starry night sky,” and it seemed like they had an instant connection. They legally adopted Oracle in 2021, and now he’s traveled cross-state with them!
So… how do you attract a familiar? Forms of meditation, visualization, and lucid dreaming are excellent ways to connect to and attract a spirit. Divination practices (like tarot, pendulum readings, scrying, etc.) are also great ways to confirm if a suspected being is your familiar!
If you worship a deity or have a specific spiritual guide, ask them for a little guidance in your spiritual journey to find your familiar. Journalistic manifestation (or however you choose to manifest) is a great way to attract that guidance from the universe! You can also ask the universe for a sign in your meditations and manifestation, asking for specifics could be imperative. However, keep in mind that a familiar isn’t necessary, or it might not be the right time to find yours! Don’t stress about it!
Animal Associations
Now that we’ve discussed lore and attraction rituals, here are some quick associations! In case you need some examples, guidance with keyword manifestation, or are looking for some keywords to help in your quest, look no further. There are some niche ones out there, but I will say, please never interact with a wild animal unless you know it’s safe, or if you’re trained in such handling! Asking if a wolf is your familiar is great, but we wouldn’t want any injuries in the process!
Pets
- Cat – independence, grace, may work to protect you or bring you gifts
- Dog – loyalty, devotion
- Rabbit – creativity, peace, fertility
- Frog – abundance, health
- Lizard – dreams, healing
- Rat – adaptation, determination
- Ferret – cleverness, flexibility
- Hedgehog – curiosity, and creativity, may give you quills
- Snake – transformation, focus
- Horse – freedom, force, courage
Wild-ish/Niche
- Wolf – wild spirit, loyalty
- Fox – playful, mischievous
- Raven – intelligence, rebirth
- Owl – wisdom, observance, courage
- Butterfly – metamorphosis, release
- Dragonfly – intelligence, meditation
- Swan – purity, innocence, transformation
- Bee – connection, wisdom
- Deer – vitality, gentleness
- Cow – abundance, luck
I also just want to re-emphasize that it’s more likely your pet is a familiar if they consistently aid you in your magical craft! This doesn’t mean that your bond with your pet isn’t sacred, but it’s unlikely that they’re your familiar spirit. However, I am not the boss of you, if you and your animal have a special connection, feel free to call them your familiar!
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about familiars and their history/connection to witchcraft! If you have a familiar, or have any other information on familiars, make sure to leave a comment down below! I’d love to learn about everyone’s familiars! As always, blessed be, and I wish you a fulfilling year!
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