Exemplore

familiar and other sinister spirits riding

in her own encyclopedia on fairies and spirits

familiar spirits could also be fairies

cat in a witch's hat

so

the witching hour by r.a. stone

colour photomechanical reproduction of a lithograph by t.a. steinlen. | source

native american shaman - illustration by h.j. ford

rose

wi y

spirits and animals: totems

nature spirits: elves and fairies of the forest

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exemplore

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magic

the familiar spirit: companion to witches

updated on july 5

carolyn emerick

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carolyn emerick writes the history

what is a familiar spirit

the “familiar spirit” is a common motif found in both folklore and witch trial records of the witch hunt era

the term is said to be derived from the latin famulus

however

illustration by ida rentoul outhwaite | source

illustration by ida rentoul outhwaite

in his encyclopedia on the witch hunt era

reminiscent of a women

where were they found

though familiars were common in many areas

animal and usually

the types of animals that familiars appeared as were usually creatures that would be commonly known to peasants

but they also appeared as animals that were present in the landscape. the toad is one such common manifestation

moonlit dreams” by gabriel ferrier | source

witch

we see the basque toad familiar being propitiated

it was often reported to be gifted to the witch by a power powerful spirit in the otherworld

journeying to the celtic otherworld. illustration by h.j. ford

familiars as demons

possible shamanic connections

illustration by ida rentoul outhwaite | source

when they eventually got around to interrogating them

riding witches by otto goetze

when the confessions do not match the witch hunters' manuals

emma wi y is a british scholar who has found similar conclusions in her research into scottish witch trials

wi y discusses accused witches' use of trance

the theory that some accused witches were using shamanic practices is briefly touched on in scottish fairy belief

so

magical powers to the witch

even in modern neo-pagan and new age beliefs

and

this sounds strikingly similar to the practice of spirit battles of the benandanti described above

folklore and popular religion

witch rides

from a vintage postcard

you see this very plainly today in central and south america

bibliography

briggs

burns

ginzburg

henderson

© carolyn emerick

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