familiars

A familiar is a being—usually a spirit or animal—believed to assist a practitioner of magic or witchcraft. In traditional lore, a familiar is distinct from an ordinary pet, and is thought to require some form of bond, service, or pact with the hidden world.

In European folklore and late medieval to early modern demonology, familiars were described as demonic entities that took animal form to aid witches in their craft. Accusations of witchcraft often framed familiars as agents of the Devil, used to spy, steal, or enchant, and their alleged presence played a role in persecution and trials.

Common animal forms include black cats, toads, owls, dogs, and birds; some traditions recount more exotic shapes, or non-animal spirits acting as a familiar. Across cultures, similar figures appear as protective animal spirits, totems, or ancestral guides—personal companions tied to an individual's magical or spiritual life.

Functions attributed to a familiar vary but often include aiding in spellcraft, gathering information, providing protection, or delivering magical effects. They may also act as guardians, record keepers, or mediators between the practitioner and the unseen world.

In modern practice, especially within neopagan and witchcraft communities, the concept of a familiar has broadened. Some practitioners view a familiar as a non-corporeal spirit, a totem, a guiding ally, or even a bonded animal. The relationship is typically described as reciprocal rather than exploitative, and the notion is used to describe a range of spiritual or magical partnerships rather than a single, uniform phenomenon.

Scholarly treatment notes that “familiar” denotes a broad set of beliefs about contact with nonhuman agents in magic, with roots in demonology and evolving interpretations in folk religion and contemporary spirituality.