Identifying Familiars

[LunaLena162]

I was wondering how many of you had familiars, and how you knew that particular animal/species was close to you?

In the past ten days, I've had 3 cats cross my path. One followed me back to my house from a block away, one came to me as I was walking on a street I used to live, and one ran across the street while I was driving home with my dad. All three encounters happened at night. I've also gotten along well with my friends cats, even better than my own friends who own them!

Is this a coincidence, or is somebody trying to tell me something? :whatmewor

-Lena

[Nepheria]

Greetings,

The thing is that a Familiar will feel very 'familiar' to you. Currently, my familiar is my Snake, Aradia. I knew when I first held her at the pet store that she was my familiar because her energy mixed and mingled with mine perfectly. To this day, she's still very in tune with me as I am her. If I've been away from home I can walk back into my bedroom and she'll be out of her little hut looking for me, I'll give her a nod and tell her, "I'm here for a while," and she'll flick her tongue at me and slither back into her hut. Familiars are very protective of their 'other half.' However, You shouldn't mistake a Guardian with a familiar

I used to have cats that would follow me around my apartments constantly. I remember one night I went out, looked behind me and four strays were trotting merrily in step with me. I never considered any of them my familiars--they were merely Guardians. My first animal familiar was a white cat named Snow when I was about eight years old. She never did any magical workings with me, but she was very empathic and I considered her a Friend-not just a cat. My brother and I had switched bedrooms one year and we woke up on Christmas day...My brother asked me, "Neph, there's a white cat in my windowsill...Why?" Familiars in a sense are Guardians, but Guardians are not always familiars. Hopefully, that makes sense.

When you come across your Familiar, you'll know. Usually, there's already a bond between the Familiar and Witch nearly instantly. Then again, this is all from personal experience. Sometimes, the bond must be formed over time. Between a Witch and the Familiar, there's a sense of knowledge that doesn't lie between just any witch and any animal. You'll be able to sense more of what they're thinking, you'll understand them better, and possibly be able to read their body language well.

When I got Aradia I dreamed of her for several nights in a row. The dreams would involve her working with me magically in some way, or her guiding me. Most of the bond that Aradia and I have was formed through dreams, I think. That's one of the ways an animal Familiar can communicate--and snakes being pretty psychic it works for them. :)
Another thing that I've noticed is that I know when Aradia is about to shed. I know when she's slipping into her trancelike state to prepare for her shedding. This often creeps my friends out. I had a friend over one time and sensed Aradia, "She'll shed her skin tonight," I said to the friend. The friend just looked at me like I was neurotic. About twenty minutes later we came back into my room and Aradia had gotten all of her skin off, "I told you so." :P

If you feel better about it, you can always meditate to find your next Familiar or use Divination to spot the one. I've meditated with Aradia in which I've actually been able to communicate with her successfully, any of my other animals I do not think I'd be able to do that with. I think when the Witch is ready--The Familiar will come and the Witch will know either instantly or with time. In the meantime, feed the kitties and talk to them. Animals have a weird way of understanding us (I think it's all energy vibrations, but who knows).

From my experience, Cats have also been Guardians or Messengers. Listen to what they may be trying to tell you.

I hope that helps. :)

Blessings,
Nepheria.

[cartweel]

How do you tell the difference between a Guardian and a Familiar, if I might ask?

[Nepheria]

Personally, I think it all depends upon the vibes. I had a cat for a while named Veola. I never dreamed about her, but if I went out late at night she would not let me travel alone. She'd always be nearby or within seeing distance. There were a few rare occasions that she would appear out of nowhere and scare the snot out of me. Veola stayed with me for quite sometime, but as I grew and changed--So did she. Eventually, one day I woke up and she was gone for good. I had asked Bastet for Veola before I got her. I had not known then that she was just going to 'guard' and keep me company. Veola was too independent to work with me magically, and too shielded and centered on herself to work with me psychically. Needless to say, the psychic connection wasn't there.

On which is the Guardian and which is the Familiar, I've always gone with my gut instinct, my intuition. To me, a Familiar is more an animal projection of yourself. They're a part of your energy, a sort of 'soul' mate. Yeah, that's complex to explain. I recommend experiencing it for yourself though. :)

Blessings,
Nepheria.

[Valkie]

Sounds like my cat. :smile:

I understand what you mean about the connection. When I was younger, I had a cat that I absolutely adored and understood... my brothers use to make fun of me because I always understood what she wanted or needed. My mother use to ask me how I knew what the cat wanted, I would tell her that she told me so. I just knew.

When she passed, my second familiar came to me. She was there when I needed her and was very put off when I got a dog... she left me for 5 years... I saw her twice in that time and it was always just a "I'm still around if you need me". She came back when she was 8 years old, when I first started getting into the Craft. She was my rock. She passed two years ago on Yule night, the same day that I was bring my youngest home from heart surgery.

My cat now, she is more of a guardian. She came before my last little girl came home. She is here, and pretty much ignores me. But if I'm contemplating something, sitting outside, or if its a New or Full Moon, she hunts me down and stays with me.

[LunaLena162]

Thanks everyone! That really cleared some stuff up. I'd never realized the idea of Guardians. It makes a lot of sense.

I'd love the chance to find my Familar. I've always really liked cats, but my mom hates them, and our house is rent-controlled, so no pets allowed, unless it was a fish or something.
*eyeroll* Not that I don't like fish fine, they're just a bit boring to me. No offense to you guys that have some! We have rabbits in our backyard, but we haven't seen them for awhile, which is understandable as it's November. My mom almost ran over one everyday during the summer when she rolled up the driveway. Poor things.

Well, if anyone else wants to add anthing about their own Familiar/s or Guardian/s, I'd love to hear it!

[BabblingImp]

I think that my horse is my gaudain in part because he will attack males who he doesn't like (The good thing is that I don't like them either!) And I had a dream where I was being chased by something, but I couldn't run fast enough, and my horse came galloping up and I remember him saying "Jump on hurry we need to get away!" I felt safe and when I went out to feed the him in the moring he was staning and his hair was all cruled like he had been sweating. I think my cat is my familer or maybe it's my little dog! I'm not sure they both act like me and I can see myself in both so go figure!

[Lunamoth]

I recall when I found my familiar. She was a kitten in a cage set up by the ASPCA in front of the building I worked in at the time. I wasn't supposed to be bringing home a cat that day. I stooped and put my hand up and she hooked her little paw around and started licking my fingers. We bonded in that very moment and she's been my constant companion ever since. According to my husband, who is home before me, she even runs to the door to wait for me several minutes before I even pull into the driveway. Her energy is a boon to any working or circle I do and I'm rather sure her spirit has been with mine before.

We joke that she was a Samaurai in a past life, though, because she can sleep sitting up. :P

[Black RiverWolf]

I have a guardian in my Dog River wherever i go he is there at night he on my bed if im on the couch so is he. I can talke to him like a normal dog sit stay no. it does not work i have to treat him like hes human or he gets offended. My other gaurdian was a Old Appy mare of mine named Tiffany. I had to walk her in the sale ring and still regret it every day. more than once she stood between me and another horses hooves. I still love and miss that amnial

[BrigidMoon]

Greetings,

The thing is that a Familiar will feel very 'familiar' to you. Currently, my familiar is my Snake, Aradia. I knew when I first held her at the pet store that she was my familiar because her energy mixed and mingled with mine perfectly. To this day, she's still very in tune with me as I am her. If I've been away from home I can walk back into my bedroom and she'll be out of her little hut looking for me, I'll give her a nod and tell her, "I'm here for a while," and she'll flick her tongue at me and slither back into her hut. Familiars are very protective of their 'other half.' However, You shouldn't mistake a Guardian with a familiar

I used to have cats that would follow me around my apartments constantly. I remember one night I went out, looked behind me and four strays were trotting merrily in step with me. I never considered any of them my familiars--they were merely Guardians. My first animal familiar was a white cat named Snow when I was about eight years old. She never did any magical workings with me, but she was very empathic and I considered her a Friend-not just a cat. My brother and I had switched bedrooms one year and we woke up on Christmas day...My brother asked me, "Neph, there's a white cat in my windowsill...Why?" Familiars in a sense are Guardians, but Guardians are not always familiars. Hopefully, that makes sense.

When you come across your Familiar, you'll know. Usually, there's already a bond between the Familiar and Witch nearly instantly. Then again, this is all from personal experience. Sometimes, the bond must be formed over time. Between a Witch and the Familiar, there's a sense of knowledge that doesn't lie between just any witch and any animal. You'll be able to sense more of what they're thinking, you'll understand them better, and possibly be able to read their body language well.

When I got Aradia I dreamed of her for several nights in a row. The dreams would involve her working with me magically in some way, or her guiding me. Most of the bond that Aradia and I have was formed through dreams, I think. That's one of the ways an animal Familiar can communicate--and snakes being pretty psychic it works for them. :)
Another thing that I've noticed is that I know when Aradia is about to shed. I know when she's slipping into her trancelike state to prepare for her shedding. This often creeps my friends out. I had a friend over one time and sensed Aradia, "She'll shed her skin tonight," I said to the friend. The friend just looked at me like I was neurotic. About twenty minutes later we came back into my room and Aradia had gotten all of her skin off, "I told you so." :P

If you feel better about it, you can always meditate to find your next Familiar or use Divination to spot the one. I've meditated with Aradia in which I've actually been able to communicate with her successfully, any of my other animals I do not think I'd be able to do that with. I think when the Witch is ready--The Familiar will come and the Witch will know either instantly or with time. In the meantime, feed the kitties and talk to them. Animals have a weird way of understanding us (I think it's all energy vibrations, but who knows).

From my experience, Cats have also been Guardians or Messengers. Listen to what they may be trying to tell you.

I hope that helps. :)

Blessings,
Nepheria.


Wow awesome information. I am now wondering if I've had a familiar for a while. I think my last one was when I 22 and had a cat - Mayday. Since then (now 34) have not had that same feeling that you were describing.

[Wolf O Volos]

Just be careful you do not mistake a cherished pet as a "familiar". If your pet cannot work with your energies, and cannot preform any more complicated tasks than sit, or stay... probably not a familiar.
Your familiar will be spiritually linked to you. A familiar is a creature directly connected to the spirit realm, and able to accent your spell casting. If you look to your pet cat and say "help me find my lost wedding band" and it sits there purring contendely, licking its paws... chances are it is more pet than familar. But if it can sit, within circle, and share energies, without disrupting the flow... and lends its spiritual aide... then you are talking more of a familar.

(Added later) For further reference, I just found a good paragraph on this very subject in the book "The Second Circle" by Venecia Rauls. Page 93. I would copy it here, but I think there are coyright issues to be observed... just someting to look at if you own that book.

[RubyRose]

Interesting topic. I believe my cat may just be a Guardian. She is constantly following me around the house, almost like she's making sure I'm okay.

[fallingwater]

a beautiful young and very pregnant Calico was abandoned and left at the steps where I worked. I took her in. She had two litters of kittens and then I spayed her. I was with her for 3 and a half years. Then she disappeared 2 weeks ago. I dreamed about her 3 nights in a row. I dreamed of her returning. There was so much joy. She has never returned. Why?

[WhiteDragon]

My cat bast, well I don't think she is really my fam, but mabbye my daughter's guardian. :D

I found BAst at the vet's office in a cage with 3 other kittens. Theother 2 beat each other down to get to me through the cage, and Bast just layed int eh back and looked like "eh, what ever" lol.
I took my dog Dragon into the vets ofice for her shots, and as they were giving the shots, a thought shot through me with ssuch force that I almost boltedf rom the room. the thought was that I HAD to have that cat! I didnt even reall like the way she looked, she was tiny, really fluffy, and huge bug eyes. But I HAD to have her anyway...

So I sat very impationtly as they gave the shots, and as soon as they were done I jusmped up and fairly flew back to the cage lol. I snatched her up and she snuggled right into me. Melted in as if she was used to me already! It's been a little over a year now, and she has proven her self worthy of the guardian.

More than once she has done something to protect my daughter. The one that I will never forget:

Kylle and I were going to go shopping one morning, we went out the front door and Bast bolted out right after Ky. Kylee started walking towards the car as I closed the door. Out of no where a dog appears between Ky and the car, standing there staring at her. Kylee of course starts towards the dog to pet him. I being like 30-40 feet away didnt want to run towards her or the dog, or shout for her to get wawy, I was afraid i might startel the dog into something. I said "Ky dont move" In a very stern way. Bast looked at me, looked at ky, and then looked at the dog. Ky froze and Bast, fast as a dart, took off at the dog! She got right in between kylee and the dog and got all cat bitchy lol. The dog was probly about 20 pounds and Bast is about 8 lol. But she still stood her ground between Ky and the dog, she even scared him away!

On top of all that, she will follow me around the house, and gods forbid I check the mail, she HAS to go with lol.

And if the kids go in the back yard she always stays within 10 feet. :D

OIh and lets not forget that she LOVES car ridesm, I swear, she would hang her head outta the window if I let her lol.

[LunaLena162]

Good story, WhiteDragon! :uhhuhuh:


fallingwater, I am very sorry about your Calico. I can't say why she hasn't returned. Any idea of what would have made her leave? Do you still have to kittens or did you give them away? A missing pet is always a heartbreak, but after two weeks maybe it's time to realize she may never come back. I'm not trying to depress anyone, but maybe the dreams just expressed your desire to have her back. Familiars/Guardians go away, but maybe that just means you've entered a new level in your life. Any big changes happened recently? Marriage? Death? Birth? Perhaps even a big weight loss? Maybe you're just in a transition period. What is meant to happen, will. Good luck!

[fallingwater]

Alas, there always seem to be major changes going on in my life.

There was a flood the day she left. I let her out that morning not knowing

it was going to rain. There was a mighty wind as well. The streets were water.

I don't think she's coming back either. The kittens have been given away over

two years ago.I remember being in a stormy mood myself that day and I feel

bad that was the energy I was projecting the last time I saw her. But I'm not

perfect. I feel discouraged when witches say, "Only those with a pure and good

heart will see fairies etc and so on." No one is pure and good all the time. Don't

the universal energies understand we're all just human darn it. I am not a perfect

beautiful soul of a witch. Half the time I don't know if thw moons waxing or waning>

[LunaLena162]

I feel discouraged when witches say, "Only those with a pure and good

heart will see fairies etc and so on." No one is pure and good all the time. Don't

the universal energies understand we're all just human darn it. I am not a perfect

beautiful soul of a witch. Half the time I don't know if the moon's waxing or waning>


I can DEFINITELY identify there. It is very hard to interpret the "good-hearted, pure", etc. Not all of us our. And despite being on a slightly higher plane (at least I think we are), witches are still human. We just happen to exercise extraordinary abilities. Honestly, I'm not even sure if every witch is meant to see faeries. Maybe only a few. :whatmewor

Everyone has their own little outlet for magick. Maybe yours is divination or potions or healing. We aren't supposed to figure it out right away, we're supposed to work at it. But who knows? I mean, seeing faeries would be exciting and beautiful, but if you have to completely change the way God (or the Goddess, pending your belief system) made you, maybe it isn't worth it. (Not that I'm saying that mamby-pamby "pure and good-hearted" thing is the correct perception)

Of course, it wouldn't hurt to maybe work at being a little more patient, a little less "stormy". Just closing my eyes and taking some deep breaths always helps me, no matter where I am. (But, maybe trying it in the car is a bit dangerous ;-))

Again, I am very sorry about your cat, and about the flood. I hope none of your possessions were damaged.

[Atropos]

Now that I've come to the realization that one of my kitties is my familiar what do I do with this knowledge?