Familiars

To most people today, a familiar is a witch's companion, a small animal "pet" that helps the witch with magic. The idea of the familiar is a very ancient concept and is generally applied to such creatures as cats, dogs, ferrets, toads, snakes, and some birds. Unfortunately, familiars have been given negative connotations by those who know nothing about them and don't bother to separate fact from propaganda.

Anyone can have a familiar. You may already have an actual physical familiar living in your home in the guise of a pet. You can also attract an astral-bodied animal familiar. This can be a particular creature that is impossible to have as a "pet" in the physical.

Most people have at least a little knowledge about the power animals of the Native American traditions. However, the Native Americans were not the only ones who knew of and used the powers of familiar, which is what power animals are. For centuries, European cultures called upon animal allies in shamanistic rites. European shamanism eventually evolved into Wicca and Paganism.

Types of Familiars

There are different types of familiars. The first kind is an actual physical creature who lives with and has a rapport with a human. These familiars are the ones who establish a psychic link with the human of their choice. They can communicate their needs without vocalizing and are usually very good at telepathy.

The second kind of familiar is an astral creature of animal form that attaches itself to a human for the purpose of aiding the human. This type of familiar can be a creature that can't be kept in the house, and can be drawn to the human by the person's intense rapport with it. It may also appear because of a specific need within the human's life. Deceased pets sometimes return in this capacity.

The third category of familiar is an elemental spirit or otherworld entity. Although ceremonial magicians sometimes call upon such an elemental to inhabit an object, such as a talisman, statue, crystal, magic mirror, or piece of jewelry, most magicians do not command or imprison such beings. The mythical, fantastic beasts and such entities as faeries and brownies often work as familiars and co-magicians in magic.

Even if your circumstances prohibit you from having a physical "pet," you are never barred from having an astral familiar. Common sense should tell you that having a panther or bear in the house is impossible, if not illegal. Allergies may prohibit you from sharing your life with an animal, but you can enjoy the companionship of an astral creature safely and completely. The only restriction are your own desires to be friends with such a familiar, to learn from them, and to grow spiritually and magically.

Benefits of Familiars

The familiar (physical, astral, or elemental) can help you by strengtening your magical power. Some physical creatures do this by actually being in the room whenever you work a ritual.

Familiars can improve your life by warning you of danger, or defending you when danger arises. Animals, such as cats and dogs, can warn you when danger is present by hissing, growling, and even refusing to enter a room if someone they consider questionable is there. They will also awaken their owners during the night to alert them to fires, intruders, or other potential disasters. Quite often they will refuse to enter an area that has a malicious, troublesome ghost.

An example of subtle warning is when a cat or dog leaves the room when a particular person enters, or when the animal avoids a person altogether. The animal may also sit and stare at the questionable person. If you listen to these warnings, and are truthful to yourself about the person in question, you will find in some way that the person is not compatible with or healthy for you.

Animals are also good healers. They seem to know when someone they care about is sick. It doesn't matter to them whether the illness is emotional or physical. They get as close as they can and send comforting, healing vibrations.

When it comes to strengthening magical power during a ritual or spell working, there is nothing better than a familiar. Some physical creatures simply can't be kept out of the room when magical happenings are in progress. The buildup of energy draws them like a magnet. You can tell if your "pet" is a true familiar if the power builds even more with his or her presence. A very few pets, like some people, siphon off energy, but this is rarer in the animal kingdom than it is among humans.

A good familiar can also let you know by telepathy and subtle actions whether or not you are using the appropriate type of magical procedure. If you aren't, they sometimes become disruptive until you listen to them. Usually only an adjustment in viewpoint of the desired result is necessary to bring back their help.

Another benefit of familiars is learning certain techniques from them. By studying a creature a magician can learn how to temporarily adopt some of their traits which may be necessary to cope with a situation. For example, you may find yourself wanting to make a stealthy exit from a crowded room. By concentrating on the quietness of a mouse or the cunning of a fox, it is possible to leave the room without being noticed. In a way, this is becoming "invisible."

Physical or astral familiars are frequent companions during astral travels or meditations. They are protectors and guides in otherworld realms. Often by following them, you are led to new sources of information and understanding, particularly those of a spiritual nature.

There is nothing evil about having a familiar, whether they are creatures of the earth plane or the astral plane. Non-pagans sometimes do not understand the companionship and working relationship between Pagans and their familiars, and sometimes fear the very idea of familiars. However, having a familiar makes one more aware of the connection between humans and all other creatures, and the more intricate connection between all creatures (human and otherwise) and the universal source of spiritual power.

All information was taken from Llewellyn's Witches' Calendar 1998.

The Making of A Familiar

Choosing the right Familiar for yourself is a challenging and rewarding task. Some points that prospective animal magic workers should think about before selection of a domestic Familiar include:

Is the expense of a domestic animal feasible? Remember, vaccinations, food, grooming supplies, and licensing are just a few of the standard animal expenditures.

Think about your accomodations. Does your home provide enough windows, light, and fresh air for a domestic Familiar? Is there adequate space to house a domestic Familar? Obviously, if you are living in a one-room aprartment in a complex that does not allow pets, it would be unrealistic to embark on training.

Is there already a domestic animal in your life? If so, consider the possiblility of working with it. This is not to say that every domestic animal will want to aprticipate in magickal work, but some definitely will. If you already live with an animal you feel is unsuitiable for magicakl partnership and you therefore wish to train another one, consider that it will need to be compatible with the one(s) you already have.

There is an old tradition governing the acquisition of a Familiar: a Familiar must be inherited form another Witch. A contemporary adaptation of this tradition dictates that one never "buy" an animal for magical purposes. The reason, I suspect, is that no one can really "own" another life form. Paying money for just that purpose seems to take the magical charge out of the animal.

With this in mind, the local animal shelter or ASPCA makes the best hunting grounds for potential domestic Familiars. You may have to pay a small fee at the pound, but this covers the cost of vaccinations, staff, food, provision, and keeping the public facility open as a refuge for neglected or lost domestic animals. The fee is not to "buy" another life form.

For People Who Already Have A Pet They Wish To Make Their Familiar

Your pet, of course, must make his/her wishes to participate in your magical endeavors known. Since your pet cannot verbalize (forgive me if I am mistaken), observe its body language. Animals have ways of letting us know what they want. All you need is sensitivity to the possibilities inherent in their body language. Most pet owners already know their pets' language and can respond accordingly.

Consider, for example, the signals that a cat gives when it wants to go outside; these are not mysterious. Usually the animal will sit near the door and scratch at it. Another example is the dog who displays "begging" behaviors at meal times; staring at the food and licking its chops are enough to indicate that it wants food. Likewise, when trying to discover whether or not your pet wants to be your magical partner, consider its nonverbal communication on the subject. Look for signs of "Familiarship" in your domestic entity:

Does your pet like to join you in your magic circle? Or does it avoid your circle?
Does your pet make its sleeping place on/under/near your magical supplies? Or does it shy away from them?
Does your pet get excited at the beginning of a ceremony? Or does it go off  into some corner and go to sleep?
If you leave your magical tools out, will your pet explore or play with them? Or does it leave them alone?
If you have observed two or more positive behaviors on more than one occasion, your animal is likely a Familar candidate. If not, don't worry; your domestic animal may be "normal," but that doesn't mean it cannot or will not lend power to your magical workings. A domestic animal's mere presence adds power to magic.

The Call

One way to bring a magical animal presence into your life is to first announce your magical intentions on the astral plane. This is done through the ritual of the Call. This is a good rite to perform if you already have a domestic animal you would like to include in your magical workings, or if you have a particualr animal you're considering after some searching.

The purpose of performing the Call is to test the magical waters first. You want to make certain that your animal wants to participate with you on a spiritual level.

What You'll Need

The usual tools to construct a magical circle
Totem Spirit Incense (recipe follows)
A deck of Tarot cards
A small brown candle with the name of the animal inscribed upon it.
Cast your circle as usual.

Use dancing or drumming to raise magical energy.

After dancing and drumming, when you have enough energy raised, light up some of the Shapeshifter incense. Light the brown candle as well.

Close your eyes and imagine your potential Familiar in front of you. If you have a photograph of the animal. hold it between your hands and say:

THE BEASTS ARE CALLED

BY MY WILL AND BY ALL WHO

DANCE TO RHYTHMS TREAD BY FEW.

TO HOOVES AND BRAYING FLAMES

OF ANCIENT SONG ARE BEAT

ON SKINS OF THE HUNTED

DEEP ON  MOONLESS NIGHTS.

COME TO THE CALL! COME TO THE DANCE,

CREATURES OF THE EARTH AND STARS!

Continue to imagine your animal before you. Ask if it wants to help you and wait for the psychic response. Sometimes the answer comes in words. Sometimes the animal gives a visual cue on the psychic level. Sometimes the answer will come later in a dream. Finally, know that the response may come on the physical level; the animal may join you in the circle. Wait, listen, watch, and be aware.

In some cases there may be no response on either the psychic or physical level. This is a sign that the animal does nto want to participate in your magical work.

If your domestic animal does nto respond physically (by entereing the circle or making noises at the time of the Call), but agrees in your meditation to do magical work - or vice versa - consider the Tarot divination described below as a backup means of response. However, if one method says yes and the other says no, delay the dedication of your animal. After some days have passed, go ahead and try the Call ritual again.

Be patient and open to the possibilities. If the answer is yes on all levels, go on to the dedication ceremony.

Tarot Divination For The Familiar

Misinterpretation can happen. After all, little Scruffy entered your circle, he might have been trying to tell you all along that he needed to go wee-wee outside. But being the good magical worker that you are, you read your animal's body language and construed his presence as a sign of psychic prowness. The easiest way to avoid such errors is to consult a divinatory oracle, such as the Tarot, as part of your Call rite.

This is an accurate method and needs to be performed only once to get the answer. It's not always a good idea to try the "two out of three" method of divination. Be satisfied with the resulting answer, regardless of the outcome. After all, an animal no more wants to be forced into magical work than you want to be coerced into activities that are uncomfortable for you.

To begin the reading, hold the deck over the candle flame and again visualize an animal before you. Imagine you touch your animal between the eyes. (By the way, animals do have psychic sensitivity centers, one of which is similar to our third eye.) While mentally contacting your animal this way, ask this question aloud:

DO YOU WISH TO ASSIST ME IN MAGICAL WORK AS A FAMILIAR, APPRENTICE, AND HELPER?

Shuffle the cards with this question in mind. When you sense it is time to stop shuffling, spread them out face down and select any three. Turn them over and lay them in a row from left to right.

Interpretation

If two or three cards are right side up (picture is right side up, facing you), the answer is yes.

If two or three cards are reversed (picture is upside down, facing away from you), then the answer is no.

To enhance the reading, or to obtain greater details as to why the answer is yes or no, apply this formula to the existing card layout:

Card One = Past
Card Two = Present
Card Three = Future

Card One, or the card of the past, shows the foundation of the question. It shows past situations that have led to the answer. Card Two, represents the present and shows the current attitude of the animal toward magical work. Card Three indicates the future of the work with your Familar.

Closing the Circle

After you have your response, end your magic circle. Be sure to let the brown candle burn all the way down after the ritual. This will attract a different animal if you received a "no" answer, and it will bless and protect the "yes" answer.

Now What??

After you have completed the divinatory process, and assuming the answer was a resounding yes, it is time to proceed with the dedication ceremony.

Below are listed some practical guidelines for work with the animal not only in the dedication ceremony, but in the context of all rites involving the presence of the physical Familiar. Remember that animals are free spirits and sometimes are not aware of simple dangers. For this reason, you must take care to remove as much of that element as you can from the circle in which you involve the animal.

Some general rules for working with a pet in the dedication circle and thereafter are:

Always treat your Familiar with respect and dignity. Never, ever, force an animal to participate in your rites. Animals will usually let you know if they want to help you or not.
If your Familiar leaves during the dedication ceremony, allow it to go. Never manipulate an animal in any way to stay within the circle. Before the dedication, it's a good idea to make a fetich that reprsents your physical Familiar. This you can use in place of the animal in the event he or she decides to wander outside of the ritual space.
Never let your Familiar get too close to an open flame or dripping candle wax. It is very difficult to get candle wax out of animal fur; you may end up having to cut it off. Use covered, votive candles in your ceremonies.
Cover all ritual food before you begin; otherwise you may not have your celebratory meal for later! Also cover sharp objects and any cutting utensils you might use. Keep loose incense in a covered container, or your Familiar may get a nose full of snuff! Be as cautious in your circle as if you had a child present and your Familiar will stay safe.

Dedication Ritual

What You'll Need

A red candle
Some sage or mint leaves
Wand (or bell)
Salt
Water
A fetich of your Familiar
Oil
A white candle (with the animals magical name inscribed)

Cast a magic circle. After this done, stand facing the East. Use your athame to cut out of the circle. Be certain to cover your athame and place it safely away before allowing your animal into the circle. Usher your Familiar in and close the circle. If the animal leaves at any time, resume the rite using the fetich you made prior to the circle.

Present the animal to the four quarters. You begin in the east saying:

MIGHTY ONES OF THE EAST,

SEE BEFORE YOU THY MAGICAL BEAST

_________(animal's mundane name), READY TO BE MADE A FAMILIAR.

Moving clockwise, take the animal to the South:

MIGHTY ONES OF THE SOUTH,

FLAMES BURST FORTH FROM THE SNOUT AND MOUTH  OF

________, READY TO BE MADE A FAMILIAR.

Now move to the West still holding your animal:

MIGHTY ONES OF THE WEST,

HERE, SUCKLED BY THE MOTHER'S BREAST, IS

________, READY TO BE MADE A FAMILIAR.

Finally, present the animal to the North:

MIGHTY ONES OF THE NORTH,

GNOMES HAVE ALREADY SUMMONED FORTH

_________, READY TO BE MADE A FAMILIAR.

Take some sage or mint leaves, dip them in your consecrated salt and water mixture, and lightly sprinkle the animal, saying:

EARTH AND WATER,

WATER AND EARTH,

AID_________(Familiar's name)

IN (HIS/HER) SPIRITUAL BIRTH!!

Take the wand and wave it over your Familiar. Light the red candle and hold it toward your Familiar saying:

FIRE AND AIR,

AIR AND FIRE,

LEAD ______ (Familiar's name)

IN THE GOD'S DESIRE!

Next, read the following invocation with your hands outstretched over the animal:

AS ONCE WAS DONE IN CERRIDWEN'S NAME,

THE CAULDRON WOMB IS SET AFLAME.

AND FROM ITS DEPTHS IS FOUND REBIRTH,

AND KNOWLEDGE FROM OUR MOTHER EARTH.

CONJURE WELL THE GRAND ASSAY

FAMILIAR ART FROM THIS DAY!

BY MOON AND SUN - BY LAND AND SEA,

THY PATH AWAITS, SO MOTE IT BE!

Put some oil on your index finger and anoint the animal on the brow or chest region, saying:

I CONSECRATE THEE A FAMILIAR AND LIVING EXPRESSION OF MAGIC!

Anoint your white, inscribed candle with the same oil. Then light the candle as a symbol of the beginning of your work with the new Familiar saying:

BE THOU KNOWN AMONG GODS AND WISE ONES

AS _________ (new magical name), A LIVING

ELEMENTAL AND CREATURE OF THE TWO WORLDS!

Present your dedicated Familar to the four quarters. If the animal has left your circle, present the lighted white candle and the fetich at each of the quarters saying:

COME YE SYLPHS OF THE EAST!

BEFORE YOU STANDS _______,

A NEWLY CONSECRATED FAMILAR.



COME YE SALAMANDERS OF THE SOUTH!

BEFORE YOU STANDS ________,

A NEWLY CONSECRATED FAMILIAR.



COME YE UNDINES OF THE WEST!

BEFORE YOU STANDS _______,

A NEWLY CONSECRATED FAMILIAR.



COME YE GNOMES OF THE NORTH!

BEFORE YOU STANDS ________,

A NEWLY CONSECRATED FAMILIAR.

As a celebratory meal, you can share some cakes with your new Familiar either within the circle at this time or after the circle. This is your formal grounding of the magical energy raised.

Close the circle as usual.

Notes

Never leave lit candles or smoldering incense where your pet can disturb them. Always observe "Safe Ritual." Also, never force the animal to be in the room with you by leashing or caging it. Simply bring the animal into the room at the time of the ritual; if it leaves, simply allow it. Animals have the uncanny ability to move into and out of a magical space without breaking its energy. I was once told "animals and fools (meaning true innocents) can move through the magic circle without breaking its flow." Use the fetich instead of the animal when necessary and appropriate.
If your pet is afraid of the loud noise the drums make, skip it! Use chanting or meditation to get into an altered state.
Remember that some animals are afraid of smoke. It is best to use the wand as your symbolic representation of Air.

Totem Spirit Incense

3 parts sandlewood (preferably powdered)
1 part patchouli leaf
2 parts cinnamon (cassia chips or powder)
5 drops musk fragrance oil
2 drops eucalyptus oil
Totem Spirit Oil

Mix the following into safflower oil or grapeseed oil (one ounce per part of dried herb):

1 part patchouli leaf
1/2 part cinnamon (cassia chips)
1 part eucalyptus leaf

Set the mixture on a sunny windowsill for 10 to 15 days. Strain out the herbs. To this oil add:

5 drops musk fragrance oil


Blessing Oil

This mixture is for blessing and protecting the fetich or physical Familar as well as non-Familar animals, and for blessing yourself before meditations.

Mix the following into safflower oil or grapeseed oil (one ounce oil per part of dried herb):

1 part juniper
1 part basil
1 part jasmine blossoms

Set the mixture on a sunny windowsill for 10 to 15 days. Strain out the herbs. To this oil add:

3 drops jasmine oil

One of these days I would like a physical familiar.  Taffy is happy being an only dog, and does NOT want to be a familiar.  She does, strangely enough, act as somewhat of a guardian though, she carefully avoids the circle, as if she can see it, but will lie right outside and stare at me, and if I let my mind drift or whatever she'll shift her weight or make some small noise to ground me back where i want to be.  does not want to touch my tools, will not come into the circle, even if I cut her a door, and just over all does not want me to notice her when I'm working magick.  But she'll stay right on my heels when I tend to my herbs, and when I'm doing witchy things in the kitchen she'll lie quietly in the corner never taking her eyes off me... it's very strange, but I actually really like the strength she lends me, without me having to worry about her getting in the way.

I would like to add another option for familiars.  90% of my magical work is in an open air field in the woods behind my house.  This allows for the association with wild, or at least undomesticated, animals.

As part starting my proceedings I call to the animals of the area to join and guide my actions with good intents.  My most regular attendee and participant is a male fox.  He sits in the center of my circle until I move to the center and then sits in my lap while I do what seems right.  He lets me know if something is not being done right.

I am fairly certain that he is the same fox I saved in his first year.  I had found him with a leg pinned beneath a shifted rock in a creek that I cross coming into the woods.  He was near drowning when I pulled him from the water.  I spoke to him, called to his mother, and sat with him until I felt he was safe with my departure.  This happened when his mother came to the area.

Other animals that have been part of my working include owls, deer, squirels, and on one night a wolf.  Because of the variety of animals out there, I would only suggest this method be done with great care.  Call to the animals to watch and participate as they wish; but as they are wild in nature do not expect to make regular familiars of any of them.  I believe Fox only comes to me with regularity because of the care I offered to him without further expectation.

The Solitary Druid
a.k.a. COpagan