Abu & Squeaky's Familiar Page
The Familiar Web Page

I am Abu

I am Squeaky

In memory of Veda

And we are

FAMILIARS!

We are cared for by Phil (Abu's chosen) and Rob (Squeaky's chosen).

Click here to see their home page. Actually, Squeaky and I reversed roles. In the beginning I was more attached to Rob and Squeaky was more attached to Phil - not sure why we decided to swap. Guess that the personalities just did not match as well as we wanted.

If you are reading this page then you are probably familiar with familiars already. If not then we will give you a bit of background information and if you are then this will be review. Ok class, take out your books and turn to page 317 and yes, you will be tested on this later.

Familiars

1. Can be physical or non-physical.
2. Most familiars are some type of animal.
3. We choose our "owners".
4. We love magick.
5. We will help with magickal workings.
6. We are fiercely loyal to those who care for us.
7. We need lots of love.
8. We need our own space.
9. We can be called. Just don't expect us to fetch.

Ok, those are a few things about familiars. Let's talk about them in more detail.

(1) Can be physical or non-physical.

Now here is a bit of food for thought isn't it. How can anyone have a non-corporeal familiar. Simply, it is a spirit. Despite one notion, not all spirits are spirit guides. Rob and Phil's first familiar and son died during a magickal fight when a creature broke through their shielding. Veda (their familiar) sensed the attack and intercepted a magickal bolt which was intended to kill either Phil or Rob or both of them. He gave his life to save them. They are still very troubled over this even though it was three years ago now. They put out a call and we answered. Veda, is still around protecting the house and watching over Phil and Rob. He will sometimes appear but usually doesn't manifest in the physical. So, right here we have an example of a non-physical familiar. Note, not all non-physical familiars have been animals and if they were they may not be an animal from this planet.

Non-physical require less physical attention but still need love and care. They will consume the energy of food and treats left for them just as any non-physical entity will. Non-physical familiars will hang around until they are ready to move on.

(2) Most familiars are some type of animal.

We animals are very in tune with the energy of nature. Of course, cats are the best familiars but then I might be a little biased. Just a moment while I groom myself ... there, that is better. Really, all types of animals can be familiars but the more common animals are:

Dogs - no sense of self. They live and breathe for their masters.

Birds - very quick (some of them, most of them make good snacks)

Snakes (I can't see how anyone would have a snake for a familiar but they are rather intelligent, wonderful for working on slow magicks)

Fish - I think better for a snack but they do tend to stay in one area.

Hamsters and Gerbils - Aren't they cute, not super intelligent though. Can also be great toys or sexual objects.

Pigs - a bit dirty if given thier choice but extremely intelligent.

Dolphins - Have never met anyone with a dolphin familiar but would be excellent.

Horses - Fairly intelligent, fast, just stay out from under the hooves.

Ferrets - Very nice, lots of fun, can smell though, not as clean as cats.

So, nearly any animal can be a familiar but there are some to avoid: Elephants - nice but too big; Tigers - Nasty temper; Giraffe - You would need a stadium for the neck alone.

(3) We choose our "owners".

This is a simple fact. Actually, it is more accurate to say that we choose to whom we will give the honor of caring for us. When you need a familiar, whether you know it or not, the Familiar Friends Network goes into action to make sure that a familiar suited for you is in a place where you will meet. On occasion, we can take over the body of another animal but that is rarely done. We tend to arrange for the proper care taker to meet his/her familiar. Haven't you selected a familiar without knowing it just because it was "Too cute to resist" or "Is just for me"? Well, that was us.

(4) We love magick.

Those of you reading who have a familiar already know what I am saying. Anytime magick is going on we will be under foot, nearby, or watching. We are very sensitive to magick and are drawn to it. We also love to help with magick.

(5) We will help with magickal workings.

Familiars store energy, carry spells, provide love and attention, work magick and are generally all around helpers. If asked, we will assist in magick and can work magick on your behalf. All familiars work magick differently and we all use diferent forms. Primarily we will work with animal magick but can use any type of magick we have been exposed to enough. In addition, we can draw on past lives while working magick. For the most part we tend to take a more observing role and lend energy but we are not limited to these actions!

(6) We are fiercely loyal to those who care for us.

The first thing that Rob and Phil did after we settled into our new environment was take us aside, touch our third eye (we don't really love this but it gets our undivided attention) and told us that we are NOT to intercept any magickal attack even if it means that they die. Normally, we do not like being told what to do but in this case we didn't mind. We, Squeaky and I, don't love this restriction but will follow it. Of course, they didn't say anything about a game of "cat and mouse" with the attacker, or making a lot of noise before an attack, or calling on other animal spirits for help. They also took us around our house and showed us these neat little heavily shielded areas where we can run if things get too much out of hand. They both have so many layers of shields it would be difficult for something to get in but it is nice to know that we have a lot of other places to run which have even heavier shields. On a more physical tone, we will "interview" all people who enter the area - we are very good judges of character. Listen folks, if your familiar doesn't like someone then take the hint. We will fight to the death for our chosen care takers unless instructed not to do so. We will attack anything that shouldn't be in the house or area. It is an act of love and caring.

(7) We need lots of love.

Well, some of us need lots of love and attention just like bear cubs. Others of us need less attention. We love for people to pay attention to us, fuss over us and generally make idiots of themselves going "Isn't the itsy bitsy kitty witty so cuuuuuuuute". Babies also get a kick out of this. We really do enjoy it for the most part, makes us feel good and inflates our ego. Yes, even a cat's ego can be inflated ... a little.

Hold it, Squeaky here. Abu is just an attention slut. I, on the other hand, will tell you when you may pet me, when you may love on me and when you may stop. Phil just has not gotten the hang of this. Of course I do tend to tease him a bit. Ok, back to our other announcer.

(8) We need our own space.

Most familiars are fairly independent and need some space to ourselves and some time alone. Didn't you ever wonder what your familiars did when you are at work? We party of course - haven't you found the toilet paper strewn across the house?

We do need space and time to ourselves. Do not be paraniod if we take off and hide ourselves for a bit. After all, how many of y'all go screaming off into a room and lock the door? it is very hard for us to comfort you when you do this. We must make sure that you stay in a stable state of mind or else we don't get food and the nice shelter may disappear.

(9) We can be called. Just don't expect us to fetch.

Ok, to call a familiar you must go deep into the Pelagir mountains to the special circle of stones, cast many spells and stay in trance until we appear or you collapse. Hold it, just kidding. No offense to Mercedes Lackey there. (BTW, she is the best writer!) Calling a familiar in real life is not as difficult as in stories. There are many different methods. You can ask the Goddess and/or God to guide a familiar to you. You can make a "wish list" of qualities in a familiar that you wish and burn the list. You can state outloud the qualities you would like in a familiar. You can cast a full circle, make a list, state what you want and have each element lend energy to this goal. (Talk about putting up a beacon and made to fit order for familiar Friends Network.) Anyway, the basic idea is to decide what you are looking for, put your will and energy behind that goal and release your spell. Of course, it is always best to add that this is not a binding spell but only a request. If a familiar is within range and can get to you, it will. Now, it make take a few days, weeks, months or years for the familiar to get to you. The speed with which we appear depends on several items but one of the biggest is the urgency of your true need.

When Rob and Phil lost Veda they immediately put out calls. Neither knew at first the other was putting out a call. In their grief, they put out several calls. They put out so many calls that they were offered seven cats in the space of five days (all were familiars). Luckily (snicker snicker) they chose us. Actually, we were the first to be offered and we did need a place to stay worst of all.

So, if you want a familiar, think about what you want, they type of animal and the qualities you are looking for. Choose the calling method that best suits your needs, mix whatever magickal systems you like to generate the call. Phil did one call in a full circle, after casting a power pool, taking his request to elements, directions, God/Goddess and several other dieties. Sort of a mix of high magick, Wicca and ceremonial magick. What can I say, it worked.

Well, that is a bit about familiars and what we do. If you have any further questions, please contact the author or you can also visit our friends at