I have been practicing witchcraft for a few years, so I consider myself a witch. I have had cats come and go over that time, and currently have two. I had three, but he recently died. Anyway, I’ve always believed my oldest female cat was my familiar. The closeness I feel to her, the way she pays attention to me is more like a human rather than an animal. She doesn’t stray far.
I posted a topic a few days ago about a dream where I traveled to what I thought was the astral plane, and I still believe that I did whether the dream was symbolic in nature or otherwise, and I can confirm now that she is definitely my familiar because she traveled with me. She didn’t leave my side. She’s protective on this plane… in fact she’ll growl at anything outside that seems suspicious, she’ll follow any strange visitors in the house until she’s satisfied they’re friendly, and she’ll love on people who are family or friends. I could feel she was protecting me on the astral as well.
I can’t deny what she is, and honestly some may disagree, but I don’t believe animals are hosts for spirits. I believe they have their own spirits and in many ancient religions, animals were worshipped as spirits and guides. I believe the very first few religions to be documented began with animal worship. Of course, once we got a whiff of everything else out there, they were sort of set aside as being lesser spirits. The spirits of plants, animals, and Mother Nature herself have always called to me. I know my spirit animal is the deer, as I’ve lived as one many times during astral travel. I was even hunted once and it was terrifying.
Its because thats not what a true familiar is but a changed rendition that could harm the pet.
A familiar is a spirit given to you, not created from a living thing.
Asking for your existing cat to be a familiar invites another spirit to try taking control of your cat.
Familiars dont always come as animals either and on extremely rare occasions they can come as a physical animal but you cant just wish it without hurting your current animal.
As for animals being pets, they are family, they are children. They are not just there to “pet”, they are living beings the same as us. You can have a strong bond to animals and NOT have them as familiars.
I don’t believe there’s a such thing as a true familiar and untrue familiar, no one who actually care about their pet/familiar would put it in harms way.
I honestly think those in the pagan community with that ideology is more on a self projection mentality. People who feel their pet is their familiar most likely know how to protect their pet. I can understand the want to not harm your pet but one’s own view can’t speak for everyone’s experiences (speaking about the pagan community that think that happens for the most part)
As for pets being family, children, etc. generally speaking because not everyone views it that way remember.
Ya it is a hot topic and has many different views. Im more interested in just letting the now “less popular” view not be forgotten.
It is a tad insulting hearing animals refered to as things. Not everyone cares, ik but working with animal spirits i tend to see both spirits and living animals as vibrant and individual as any human being.
I also cant help but be slightly annoyed with someone making a thread on familiars and just wanting pictures of peoples pets.
First off I would never harm my cat or put him in harm’s way. I care deeply for him When I asked for him to be bound to me as my familiar I was NOT inviting in a new spirit. I was asking the existing spirit of my cat if he would choose such a thing. I didn’t even force him. When I started to see another version of him manifest I took that as a sign he accepted of his own free will.
Second I did announce this was meant to be a light hearted topic let’s not take it too seriously
Third How many pictures have you seen posted? Not many. I didn’t see any harm in inviting people to post pics if they wanted but the real meat of the discussion here has been on familiars. I was geniunely curious what the views of others were in this community on that topic as I know different people have different views
I also agree a relationship with an animal shouldn’t be viewed as a thing and I personally never said that. It kind of seemed as though you thought I did. I was merely examining the definition of the word “pet” compared to the word “familiar”
It’s weird we call animals we love so much pets when you actually stop to think about it
I took in a dog and she bonded to me very quickly, even chasing the car down the road as I would leave to work. We’ve been together for almost 2 years now and she’s been with me through several moves, even being on the street a couple times. I promised her she will always have a home with me. Recently I found out she was a gift from my spirit guide and is a familiar to me. So I asked about familiars and was told familiars amplify ones energy.
Familiars are just as serious as any other spirit.
It is tireing as someone who practices Shamanism to see a familiar thrown around in such a silly way.
In Shamanism its painfully obvious a living animal is not a familiar unless it is possessed.
As mentioned above the idea of a living animal comes from folklore or misinterpretation.
I dont think most try or want to harm their pets. What i notice (it floors me in all honesty) is how many in the magical community cant read energy signatures, some even being Accomplished Magicians.
Most people are not going to notice a slight behavioral change in their pets and some might however most dont realize what it is or whats going on.
Id have to look it up again but even JS Garrett who works in Shamanism laughed in an interview and said living animals are not familiars.
It was actually a very good interview and one i dont see often about Familiars.
Do you know 100%, with no doubts, its your cat? Did you ask it for a name?
Im asking because i wonder if this is your cats Higher Self. You can communicate with an Animals Higher Self as well as a Humans.
I wasnt meaning to throw at you so im sorry for that.
The word pet and familiar have nothing in common, this might be why i got a bit confused.
Any Spirit can give you a familiar by handing over its sigil and it could look any way, human, animal, etc.
Unfortunetly humans treat other animals in a very inferior way, even Magicians do this.
I have a cat that is bonded to me, extremely and was a gift from a Spirit. I wondered a bit if he could be a rare case but in the end he’s a strong ally, not a familiar.
I have two familiars though they’re not animals or spirits but rather entities who choose to help me, sometimes one which is polymorphic will take the form of a raven, while the other stays in one form.
I too have studied shamanism and practice it. I know the importance of animal allies. I understand now that YOUR definition of a familiar is a demonically posessed animal. Thank you for that contribution.
It’s not an incorrect definition and it’s certainly how the catholic church came to define it.
My personal defintion is more along the lines of animal ally within your magickal practice.
But I really didn’t start this thread to show off what I know. I started it to get a conversation going and see what other people thought.
I actually do know what my kitten’s energy feels like. I didn’t just bring him home and incorporate him into a bonding ritual. I felt guided to him as though he was a gift from my spirit guides. At the very least a request from Freya to help a newborn who otherwise might have suffered an ill fate. To me it did not seem coincidental he just so happens to look the way her own cats are commonly depicted in folklore imagery.
I did my own research on familiars and saw the different ways people thought of them today and throughout history. That’s when I settled on the idea that it might be possible for us to work together magickally. If he was up for it ofcourse. And decided to try and establish communication with him.
The lynx feels like him. When I light heartedly said it was his godform I was indeed talking about his higher self. I use those terms interchangeably but I prefer the term godform because I find it more empowering.
You have given me more ideas on how to work with him so thank you for that
In every day context probably not. But when you’re examing the question “Can a pet be a familiar?” It seems a logical and objective place to start.
I agree
Interesting. Some people might call that a familiar even if you do not
I have a Siberian husky familiar. Her name is Nanook are bond has become so close my epilepsy which is a side affect of my connection with Hecate has transferred over to as well whoops.
