Familiars?

[arya0c]

How do you know when your dog/cat/etc is a familiar? I also am a little hazy on what exactly a familiar is... This probably various depending on the religion, but overall.. what is the definition? Is it an animal who is like a friend and teacher?

My main question is how you know they are a familiar.

Thank you
Arya

Comments

[babylove74]

This is what I researched..
In some traditions of modern Wicca and paganism, the concept of an animal familiar is incorporated into practices. Today, a familiar is often defined as an animal with whom we have a magical connection, but in truth the concept is a bit more complex than this.
pagabwiccan.about.com/od/magicandspellwork/a/animalfamiliars.htm
Try that website it gives you some good explanations. Good luck. And I've always found that a familiar is one that is always with you they bond with you at a very early age. They choose you, you don't choose them..

[susanlawton]

Agreed. My familiar chose me when she was a kitten.

[valonia]

Same here. We live on a boat and she always warns us before a flood comes. She likes to sit in the cast circle, purring too, amongst many other things. We suspect that she's a human in a cat's body. :)

[arya0c]

So does that mean that you feel a special connection? Im just confused as to know when its a familiar and not just a strong bond...

[moonwolf23]

nonwiccanwitch may also give you more information.

[quanyindisciple]

For me when I first got my little kitty, she was just a sweet pet, and very receptive to my emotions, but when I also started seeing her in my meditations acting like my friend. Plus physically being woken up to her there next to me many times afterwards strengthened our bond.

The bond (Your definition of a close relationship) is essential, but I also believe that if they step into your meditating that THAT in fact is a good indicator of your Familiar being present.

Most folks familiars are not as simple to come across as a pet. Many people who associate with the animal part of spirituality tend to also have a pretty unique animal that might be wild, or even mythical. In those instances, it's my personal advice to continue finding more about your own spiritual guide & friend and keeping totems of them with you (pocket stones)

[arya0c]

Thank you, that really does help me and pretty much answers my question. Ill keep looking into it :)

[quanyindisciple]

Happy to help, good luck

)O(

fact checking

[ianphanes]

"Pocket stones" is a highly unusual definition of the word "totem'> In fact, what you're describing as a familiar is closer to what most modern pagans use the word "totem" for. And the traditional definition is yet a third:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totem

[hexeengel]

This. The spirit form may not even be an animal at all, but simply manifests as one on this plane, in this life.

[arya0c]

alright, that clarifies it a bit more. thank you :)

[brewhaha]

My cat Remy would always find me when I was about to do a reading with my Cards. He would sit beside me and purr while I was doing it, then leave when I was finished. I noticed the readings were clearer and more focused when he was with me. He would also come over to me when I would like a candle. So in this respect he was my pet and my Familiar both.

[arya0c]

thats interesting.. and really cool. I hope to have a familiar someday. But who knows what the gods are thinking.