A familiar is an attendant spirit, often working in the form of a small animal, but may also speak out of the ground or from the dust. Sorcerers, witches, and necromancers use familiars to foretell the future, answer questions, and work other forms of magic.
Familiars are the dead speaking through animals, from the dust, and occasionally directly through the controlling sorcerer. In addition to acting as assistants and guides, they also act as guardians.
Common animals thought to be used by familiars include cats, dogs, birds, hedgehogs, beetles, flies, lizards, mice, and toads but they can possess any small or large animal. They can also use the form of a doll or other inanimate object, especially a figure carved from the mandrake root.
Throughout history men and woman thought to consult with familiars have been put to death. During witch trials women were accused of obtaining the services of familiars by selling their souls to the Devil, and also of rewarding familiars.
