Familiars in Witchcraft: Supernatural Guardians in the Magical Traditions of the World by Maja D’Aoust

Delve into the intriguing realm of familiars, or spirit doubles and guardian spirits, and their presence in various magical, shamanic, and folklore traditions worldwide. The book spans cultural perspectives from Africa, India, Scandinavia, ancient Greece, and China, shedding light on how witches and other practitioners lay claim to these supernatural assistants. Explore the connection between familiars and shapeshifting, the fetch spirit, the concept of soul mates, and the interaction between familiars and sexual energy, emphasizing the magnetizing and attracting abilities of these spirit companions. The book further explores alchemical, Hermetic, and Egyptian magical literature, providing insights into rituals that unify magicians and familiars into a single consciousness. D’Aoust also delves into the realm of fairy familiars and the establishment of a marriage with plant or tree spirits, emphasizing the expansion of magical abilities and consciousness through connections with living forces beyond human.