The Witch's Familiar
Familiars are spirits, not animals. What does that mean? It means that familiars can take up the guise of an animal (or anything for that matter), or the familiar could be using an animal as a vessel; but the animal isn't the familiar. It's the spirit inhabiting it. With that said, there are other spirits that work alongside witches, similarly to familiars, but they do not equate. They could be fae, spirits of deceased loved ones, angels, demons, etc. More often than not, a familiar isn't in a corporeal form.
Familiars are the classic witch's companion and teacher (not a servant). They aid by bringing more energy into a spell, carrying spells to far off locations, sharing information and insight you otherwise wouldn't have known, protecting the witch and the home, and guiding you when crossing into the astral, among other things. How a familiar comes into one's life, can happen any number of ways. Some witch's familiars are passed on from another, such as a family member, friend, or a teacher. Others may happen upon them spontaneously, while going about their daily tasks. Sometimes, a familiar may appear during a time of hardship, and offer their assistance. One may also be contracted via a pact with a trusted higher being.
Historically, having a familiar was recognized as criteria to being a witch. Familiars were first recognized as angels (medieval Europe), and then as guardians of the hearth and home (Rome). Following that, familiars were recognized as spirits who guided one's actions (Greece). Later on, sightings of familiars were used as evidence to accuse witches.
In 16th-17th century Europe, King James VI of Scotland (later James I of England) called himself an expert on all things witchcraft. During his rule, it was a criminal offense to practice witchcraft. In 1604, 1 year after this move to England, he introduced a new Witchcraft Act that made working with "evil spirits", often called imps, a capital offense. Only evil spirits were persecuted, as naturally, any "good spirits", often thought of as angels, that would aid in larger crop yields, or healing the sick, were welcome and encouraged.
Familiars can take the form of animals found in the local area. Cats, dogs, rabbits, snakes, birds, and so on. This way they could easily pass through unnoticed to carry out whatever they're tasked with. Fun fact, people have even been tried for witchcraft, human as their familiar. In 1576, Bessie Dunlop of Scotland was tried, having sought advice from an elderly man. In this case, the man could have been fae or a ghost.
A relationship with a familiar is give and take, like all partnerships. Not every task can or will be filled by either party. Respect is important. Disrespect could wind up in some major discord or conflict, where reconciliation may not be possible.
All of this isn't to say that animals can't be sensitive or serve similarly to a spirit familiar. Many animals living with witches have been known to be more psychically attuned to the magical goings on around them. They could have been attracted to a witch's call, like when one performs a ritual to attract an animal familiar. They can sense malevolent energy, be it a directed force, a person, or another unseen entity. They can have a calming energy, aiding in a witch's focus for spell work, or even lending some energy.
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