Since time began animals have been revered and
worshiped as spirits of nature, known to the ancients as power animals or the
animal guides of the Gods. The ancients believed animals were closer
to nature than humans, and would perform rituals and make offerings to their
spirits in attempts to communicate with them. Old shamans believed that
all things and beings, particularly animals, were possessed of a spirit or
soul, and that one could attract parts of their soul, thus their spirit and
powers with mimicry. To achieve this they dressed in appropriate animal furs and
feathers or wore horns and fierce looking masks while performing dance and
imitating their antics. The shaman would keep and use the same animal
spirits until his death, upon which time they would disappear or be passed on
to aid his apprentice.
Given the animal kingdoms intimate relationship with
nature, its not surprising that witches as they evolved should adopt certain
animals as their own link to nature, spirits and deities. Wise men and women
commonly used animals, while wizards, magicians and village healers used them
to diagnose illnesses, sources of bewitchment, divination and to find lost
property or treasure.
It was not until the Middle Ages and the rise of
Christianity that the witches pets and animals became thought of as agents of
evil. As the persecution
of witches began, so the church started teaching the concept that the Witches’
familiar was an associate of the Christian devil. They became demons and evil spirits in animal
form, sent out by the witch to do their nasty bidding. They also believed
witches possessed the power to transform themselves into animals, in which
guise they committed any number of diabolical deeds. Later they were
believed to use animal products in spells, making potions and concoctions to
aid transformation, gain power over nature, or even to harm and kill. The
most common animals associated with witchcraft were the: Frog, Owl,
Serpent, Pig, Raven, Stag, Goat, Wolf, Dog, Horse, Bat, Mouse and of course the
Cat, though virtually any animal, reptile or insect would be suspect. Obsession with the
witches familiar was most prevalent in England and Scotland and was mentioned
in numerous trial records of the period, particularly those related to “Matthew
Hopkins”, the infamous Witch Finder General (see Matthew
Hopkins).
According to the ancient Witchcraft Act of 1604, it
was a felony to: “consult, covenant with, entertain, employ, feed or reward any
evil or wicked spirit to or for any intent or purpose”, an act that Hopkins
used with zeal when extracting confessions. He also used the “Malleus Malificarum” the so-called
Inquisitor’s Handbook. Though it offers no instruction concerning
familiars in the interrogation and trial of witches, it does acknowledge that
an animal familiar “always works with the witch in everything”. As such it advises
the inquisitor never to leave a witch prisoner alone, “or the devil will cause
him or her to kill themselves, accomplished through a familiar”. This in mind
Hopkins would tie the witch up in a cell and leave them alone, while watching
secretly for their arrival. If so much of as a fly or beetle approached them,
it was deemed proof enough that they were indeed witches.
Today in contemporary witchcraft any thoughts of
animals as “demonic spirits of evil” has been left by the way side, though many
modern witches still use animals when working with magick utilizing their
primordial instincts and psychic abilities to attune with nature and deities. Animals are
sensitive to psychic power and vibrations, and are welcomed into the magick
circle when power is being raised or spells are being cast. They are also used
to aid scrying, divination and spirit contact. When working with magick animals act as a guard
in psychic defence for they react visibly to negative forces and harmful energy.
The use of our domestic animals as familiars is merely
a stepping-stone to the raw power and energy of wild animals that are much
closer to nature; for instance, a domestic dog is a softened version of its wild
counterpart the fox, wolf, coyote and other wild canine creatures. Similarly a
domestic cat can be linked to other wild felines such like lions, tigers and
leopards. Many witches and
magicians start with a domesticated animal as a familiar in the hope that one
day they will be able to handle and work more effectively with its true power
form, the wild animals of nature.
Compiled by George Knowles, Animals and Witchcraft, and written by Samanta Vega