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A familiar is a supernatural being that aids a witch or wizard, often taking the form of an animal or humanoid. The black cat is a common stereotype, but familiars can be any animal. In the past, close animal companions were considered evidence of witchcraft. Familiars can be interpreted as demons by Christians, but for Wiccans, they are more like guardian angels. They offer moral support, special knowledge, and physical healing. Some believe they can be sought through meditation or divination.
In legend, a familiar or familiar spirit is a supernatural being who aids and supports a witch or wizard. Traditionally, it is an animal, but some are said to be humanoid. Familiars often have special powers of their own. When witchcraft is depicted as a type of communication or alliance with evil forces to obtain magical powers, this being can be considered a type of demon.
The familiar stereotype in Western culture is the black cat. Because black cats are strongly associated with witchcraft, there are a number of superstitions surrounding them. One that crosses a person’s path is said to be a harbinger of doom, for example. A familiar can be almost any animal, however, and other common forms it can take are a dog, an owl, and a toad.
In the days of widespread witch persecution, it was believed that every witch had a familiar, and close animal companions were sometimes considered evidence that a person was a witch. In addition to animals, humanoid creatures were believed to fulfill this role; sometimes, they were said to look like ordinary people, and other times, they were said to have a strange appearance, with some deformity, or to look like stereotypical images of demons. The legends of this period also often attribute the habit of drinking blood to family members. They were considered to be at least as dangerous as witches, as they were thought to be supernatural beings that looked like normal animals and could spy on or wreak havoc for their witch without being easily spotted.
While Christians traditionally interpret familiars as demons, for Wiccans and neo-pagans, they are more like the Christian concept of a guardian angel. A witch’s familiar may be her closest companion, offering moral support, special knowledge, and/or physical healing. Wiccans can seek one through meditation or divination, but most do not believe they can be summoned, contrary to traditional Western legend regarding witches and black magic. Author Phillip Pullman offers an interesting take on the idea in his His Dark Materials trilogy, in which every human has a “daemon” in animal form that has parallels to various cultural interpretations of the soul.
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