In the medieval period, familiars were believed to be supernatural entities that appeared as animals; or in humanoid or human form. They assisted cunning folk in their magick.
Whether they were “good” or “bad” depended on who they served, and of course this depended on the perception of others.
Familiar spirits who attended cunning folk and healers were seen as benevolent. They were thought of as benign and kindly faeries who would protect the cunning man or woman in their healing work.
Familiar spirits that assisted “witches” were known to be malevolent. They could be a bird, toad, cat or an amalgamation of several creatures. They could be seen as imps, demons or even the devil himself. It was believed they were given to the witch by another witch or by the devil; and their job was to aid the witch in their malevolent deeds. They could be servants, messengers or spies, and they had magickal abilities of their own. Familiars were fed by the witch, usually suckled by a teat.
In my county, and the Cambridgeshire Fens where my mum lives, there was a strong belief in Witchcraft, with the locals believing strongly that all witches had familiars. They were given names such as Pyewacket, Elimanzer, Tibb, Vinegar Tom and Grizzel Greedigut.
The French poet Charles Baudelaire, who was known to be a “cat fancier” believed in familiar spirits and said:
đ'đđŹđ đ„'đđŹđ©đ«đąđ đđđŠđąđ„đąđđ« đđź đ„đąđđź; đđ„ đŁđźđ đ, đąđ„ đ©đ«Ă©đŹđąđđ, đąđ„ đąđ§đŹđ©đąđ«đ
đđšđźđđđŹ đđĄđšđŹđđŹ đđđ§đŹ đŹđšđ§ đđŠđ©đąđ«đ; đ©đđźđ-ĂȘđđ«đ đđŹđ-đąđ„ đĂ©đ, đđŹđ-đąđ„ đđąđđź?
đ đđđŠđąđ„đąđđ« đđąđ đźđ«đ đąđ§ đđĄđ đ©đ„đđđ, đđ đ©đ«đđŹđąđđđŹ, đŁđźđđ đđŹ, đąđ§đŹđ©đąđ«đđŹ
đđŻđđ«đČđđĄđąđ§đ đ°đąđđĄđąđ§ đĄđąđŹ đ©đ«đšđŻđąđ§đđ; đđđ«đĄđđ©đŹ đĄđ đąđŹ đ đđđČ, đ đ đšđ?
Today, some magickal practitioners believe in familiar spirits.
Do you? Do you work with one?
