Familiar Spirits
Familiars A Familiar is known as a low-ranking Demon who’s soul purpose is carrying out certain spells and bewitchments as ordered by a Witch. A Familiar usually assumes an animal form – cats, owls, wolves, and even mice are the most common – although any animal or insect may be suspect. Familiars – also known as Imps – were thought to be given to Witches, courtesy of the Devil himself – but may have also been inherited or bought from other Witches. A Familiar was given a name, as any household pet. A cat was the favored form of a Familiar which is one of the reasons for the infamous “cat massacres” which plagued medieval Europe.
More benevolent familiars were said to exist, serving Wise Men (or Women), and Wizards as well. Magicians were said to have conjured them in rituals, then locked them up in stones, rings and bottles. Some were even sold as “good luck “ charms. Some familiars were said to even be Faeries. Even to this day, modern Witches claim to have Familiars, usually cats as their magical helpers. These are not believed by Witches to be Demons. They are merely animals whose psychic attunement aids in their magical workings. Familiars are never to be “pets”, and should never be treated as such. Familiars are thought to be sensitive to all psychic vibrations, and serve as some sort of psychic radar, visibly reacting to any evil or negative presence. Whether it be otherworldly, or in human form. Many Witches give their Familiars psychic protection . In many cultures throughout the world, Shamans and Sorcerers also enlist the aid of these “helpers”. The physical shape of a Familiar varies throughout.
New Guinea Sorcerers usually use the aid of crocodiles, and snakes, while in Malaya, a badger or an owl is passed down through time. In Africa, a familiar is usually a hyena, a black cobra, a monkey screeching in the dark, a leopard, owl, bat, frog, toad, lizard, snake, and even corpses which were dug up from the grave and magically reanimated. A Shaman usually enlists birds or reptiles. An Eskimo, oddly enough, uses that of an artificial seal, not a live one, to embody a Familiar.
