Letters to Moonchild

October 13 1998 Merry meet Moonchild, You asked about familiars. Well, familiars as the term is usually used (a demon summoned to help you that holds an animal shape)are part of the judeo-christian mythos about witches and is not something we do. What we do have are animal companions, animal totems, and animal spirit guides and we sometimes call these familiars. It comes from the belief that all animals are children of the Lord and Lady, neither more nor less important than humans, merely different. Because of this understanding, we have the ability to form partnerships with animal companions. The relationship is more equal than owner and pet (which is really a master/slave relationship and to my mind wrong). I have one animal companion, his name is Dragon and he is one of the beloved of Bast (a cat). I let him come and go at will, as we are friends I would never dream of confining him to my house. If you choose to take on the responsibility and pleasure of having an animal companion, be very aware of the animal's wants and needs as well as your own. In the case of a cat, is your home a place where he can indulge in his instincts freely? These were given to him by the Goddess and we have no right to deny him those gifts that the Goddess has bestowed upon him. If not then you must seek another animal companion, the same holds true for all other animals, whether birds, dogs, snakes, or toads. The next category is animal totems. An animal totem is something you must research and pray for. Each animal holds powers and wisdom granted by the Lord and Lady. When you find a totem, it is because you wish to acquire those traits and qualities that the animal is an avatar of. Some animal totems are Wolf, Owl, Raven, Dragonfly, Eagle, Snake, Coyote, Toad, Hare, Crane etc. etc. Next is animal spirit guides, these are very closely related to animal totems. These are granted by the Goddess rather than chosen by you. A method of acquiring an animal spirit guide: Just before bedtime, Consecrate a circle. Recite the following prayer: Mother Earth, Lady of Life, I ask that You would send a guide to me One that would be right and pleasing to You, One to help me and aid me on my path, One to train me and guide me in Your Light, I wait with peace and calm in my heart, Trusting always in You. Close the Circle. Go to bed, and be ready to dream of an animal. If you do not, repeat the ritual the next night, and one more night if needed. If after 3 nights you have not dreamed of an animal, then the Lady has deemed that at this point in your spiritual growth an animal guide would not be helpful. You can try again later, when you feel that you have grown more. If you do dream of an animal, this is your spirit animal guide. Research it as thoroughly as possible to learn all of it's qualities. It may even speak to you in your dream, listen closely to what it says, for this is a Gift to you from the Goddess and should not be taken lightly. Invariably as I have found, the animal spirit guide will address a weakness or a flaw that you have and encourage you to correct and overcome it. When you have mastered that which the animal spirit guide came to teach you, you may receive another or not as the Goddess wills. It may be with you for a short while or for years, depending on the depth and complexity of the need it is there to help you with. In Perfect Love and Trust, Firesilk

This page last modified 10/22/98