The concept of the
familiar has been a vital component of various cultures throughout man's history. The Romans, for example, believed that each household was protected by a familiar whose job it was to keep the family from harm, and shamans and medicine men of various tribal traditions have long honored the spirits of animals for their wisdom and assistance in magickal workings.
Yet despite these positive influences, when we think of a
familiar the most common image is that of the evil witch with her fearsome-looking black cat. This archetype, straight from the fairy tales of our childhood, has its roots in the fear and superstition of the Dark Ages, and it bears no resemblance to the modern-day
familiar...
... I am so sorry, but this post has been moved to my new website,
The Powers That Be, and can be found in its entirety here:
The Witch's Familiar