"{the} familiar ... always works with her in everything"
(Malleus Maleficarum Part II, Chapter 14)
Probably the only quote from the Witches Hammer that I kinda support. But familiars are no demons in disguise send to the witches by the devil to simplify the communication between the witch and satan and to be the witches servant in their evil practice, as Heinrich Kramer wanted the people to believe - and like people believed for hundreds of years!
Familiars are neither servants nor slaves to witches! They are our helper, assistant and companion. Also called spirit companion, the witches familiar often takes the form of an animal. Cats, bats, rats, snakes and toads are the most common. Especially in Pop culture, a familiar is depicted as black cat, slimy toad or mischievous bat. But familiars are not limited to animal forms! They can take the form of any object, but also appear in spiritual semblance. Your familiar can be a skull, a plant, a crystal, a book or appear in spirit-form, anything you fell bounded to.
A witch can have more than one familiar, but it is more common to only have one.
Sidenote: You don't have to have a familiar to be a witch. Your familiar will appear when the time is right!
In general, familiars help the witch witch their craft, drawing power or act as guide.
Animal familiars can, in addition, be connected to certain deities. For example a rat or a cat is sacred to the goddesses Freya and Diana, the horse is connected to Hecate, as well as wolves. They can symbolize your connection with a specific god or goddess, but that is not necessary the case. You can have a sacred animal as familiar and not work with any deities at all.
If you are questioning whether your pet is your familiar or you already met your familiar the answer is ... no. You will know when you meet your familiar. The connection will be strong and lasts a live time. Some tales say a witch can not die before their familiar is dead, some say a familiar can't live without its witch and will die shortly after the witch passes.
Some witches are loyal to their familiar even after its death and won't take another one. Others have multiple familiars. One witch can take on another familiar only in the rarest situations. The witches are somehow deeply connected, maybe related in some way (not specifically blood related).
Some witch families pass down the same kind of familiar over generations. Maybe a family of witches breeds dogs or other animals, these are often meant to be a witches familiar.
Horses are the sacred animal of the greek god of ocean and water, Poseidon, associated with the ancient mother goddess of witches and crossroads, Hecate, and connected to the Celtic goddess, Rhiannon, goddess of magic, fertility and queen of high fae. A horse as familiar may indicate a strong sense of freedom and a drive of expression yourself as well as a bond to one of these deities.
It is the familiar spirit of the place; It judges, presides, inspires Everything in its empire; It is perhaps a fairy or a god? When my eyes, drawn like a magnet. To this cat that I love…
(Charles Baudelaire, French poet and cat fancier)
A familiar can be used in spell work with using their fur or shredded skin or nail clips or fallen out teeth etc. For example if your familiar is a snake, you can use their shredded skin in healing spells, since the serpent is strongly associated with healing and rebirth. But never ever take from your familiar (or pet, talking about this matter) without their permission or by force! You will loose their trust and it is simply just mean. Don't be mean to your pets!
It is a common believe, that a witch shares the characteristics of their familiar. The wits of a fox, wisdom of a owl, healing abilities of a snake, strength of a bear, etc.
Don´t confuse a familiar as totem animal, though. A totem animal can be called upon to in order to invoke certain skills or powers owned by the specific totem. In comparison to a familiar, the totem can only take the form of animals, where as the familiar is an entity that can take any form.
The History of familiars
Familiars are no initial part of witchcraft but were adapted, during the medieval age. They are a judeo -christian believe, same as demons from hell. In witchcraft, demons are often referred to as evil beings, but the original meaning comes from the Ancient Greek word daimon, which simply means spirit. No positive or negative conjunction here. Christianity later started to call out evil entities as demons, which marked the beginning of nowadays believes in demon-demons.
There are some unbelievable behaviors because of the idea, a familiar is a witches personal demon.
Rabbits and rats found during the month of Ostara (spring equinox in march) were believed to be witches in disguise and hunted and killed in wide parts of Europe, since witched were widely feared. Kittens born in the month of Imbolc (Febuar) were drowned in litters, because they were believed to be born to be a witches familiar.
During the burning times (roughly 15s till 19s century when witches were burnt on stag or tortured or drowned because of their evil doings), an evidence to accuse someone of witchcraft was the witches mark, also called third tit. The witches mark was said to be the familiars mark. The demon in form of an animal would feed from the witch and leave a mark similar to what looks like a mole or birth mark. These marks were nothing uncommon. During an `investigation` - or rather torture - the one kept captive would be poked with a needle in those marks to prove their doing in witchcraft.
Image of a witch feeding her toad like familiars from a publication that dealt with the witch trials of Elizabeth Stile in Windsor, 1579
If you already encountered your familiar and wish happiness and a long life upon it, it already is blessed, but if you want to perform a blessing spell, I put a chant down here:
A familiars blessing
Mother Goddess of all life that shines
bless this creature with your heart divine;
I ask for your blessing to this lifetime bond,
strengthen and keep it and hold it strong;
Bless {familiars name} with happiness and health,
protect it and keep it save;
Give me the wisdom to know its heart,
hold it close so we never part;
Mother Goddess, all above, I thank you for {familiars name} companionship;
I ask you to bless {familiars name} with your divine,
to keep it save their long and happy lifetime -
I hope you enjoyed this post and learned something new!
Blessed by and till next time,
Silver
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