No witch can be without her familiar, always by her side. A familiar can only be described as the most faithful companion that could ever be imagined. The familiar aides the witch in her spells, possesing a certain charm that makes enchanting fools an easy task. Familiar spirits also have the ability to change between shapes, usually settling into a single and simple form. Most of the familiars distinguishing characteristics can be compared to those of the daemons, (see daemons).
Origin: The familiar takes its roots in early English superstition [1]. Back in a time when innocent women were accused of witchcraft and eventually put to death.
Appearance: The appearance of the familar is never the same, for it varies by the type of animal in which the familiars companion takes her favor.
Influences on Modern Day: The familiar plays a major role in the lives of modern day wiccans. They still serve the same purpose, though I believe that they have lost the magic and mystique they used to carry with them. The familiar has been featured in almost every piece of media based on witchery, meaning that there is too large of a variety to be listed on a single web page.
[1] Wikipedia: Familiar
