A Trad Crafter's (or witch's)
companion spirit, usually the spirit or soul of an animal.
The most common animal familiars are cats, especially black cats, but a familiar can be any animal such as a dog or rabbit, and also insects. Most familiars serve as general magical helpers, aiding in spell casting and other works of magic, while others are protectors of hearth and home, or personal guardians during dream or astral work.
A house pet may sometimes be said to be a familiar, but this is not the traditional use of the term. A true familiar is only in spirit form.
See Traditional Magic Table of Contents for more information.