TYPE 4

a witches familiar

††††††††††

FAMILIARS.

Witch familiars may be of 3 kinds. The first is that of a discarnate human

being or in other words, the spirit of a dead person.[ Ancestor worship,

found in Africa, American-Afro & Asia. amongst primitive peoples & modern

Shamans. The second kind i s that of a non human spirit, an elemental or the

type of contact made by U F O contact. In the case of the elemental it is

the calling of a friendly elemental being as a "House hold guardian." The

third kind is that of an actual material creature, a small animal such as a

cat, ferret or a reptile such as a toad, gecko, lizard or snake. Certain

birds such as owls, hawks, falcons, ravens & crows were also used in the

Familiars of the second kind, the elementals Who dwell in a particular object

& these serving spirits have been attributed to both witches & ceremonial

magicians in the past. Crystals, swords, athames, gems, statues, mirrors,

rings & pendants are use d for this purpose.

Among witches generally only the 2nd & 3rd kind are used, for they honour the

dead but release them at Samhaine each year because of their belief in

reincarnation.

Many animals have acute psychic perceptions & by observing their behaviour

the presence of the unseen visitants friendly or otherwise can be divined.

The utter refusal of dogs to go into a place which is the scene of a genuine

haunting is a fact frequently attested to in the past. Cats on the other hand

seem rather to enjoy ghostly company & love ritual of all kinds.

The toad is a remarkably intelligent creature & easily tamed The Natterjack

or walking toad was the type specially favoured as a witches familiar but all

toads make good pets if they are kept in suitable conditions. They must have

water available as they breathe partly through the skin & if it gets to dry

they will die. They feed on insects so the witches cottage garden was an

excellent habitat for them & some old fashion gardeners kept toads for this

purpose, toads kept down the insects that menaced their plants, herbs &

vegetables. The toad is also generally harmless. It cannot bite or spit

poison, but when injured or frightened it will exude poison through its skin

from glands in the neck, but if left alone makes a wonderful pet with jewel

like eyes & a magical presence. Snakes & lizards also attract those in the

craft, not only for their beauty but due to their ancient symbolism of wisdom

& the Gods.

BLESSED BE.