Is it time to measure the cat for a magic wand? Perhaps the parrot needs to learn some chants? Maybe there is a set of domination spells so that the dog can force you to walk him on the schedule he chooses? No, spells regarding animals are still meant for people to perform, although some benefit from some animal assistance. Many of these spells involve protecting animals from physical and spiritual harm. Others benefit humans, through the power and gifts of animals.
Animals who participate in your spells and rituals, enhancing them with their own powers, tend to fall into one of two categories:
The concept of an animal as a pet is a modern one. Those who possessed this concept of interspecies friendship ahead of their time often found themselves condemned for witchcraft on grounds of familiarity with demonic creatures like cats, birds, rabbits, black dogs, reptiles, and amphibians. Sounds like what you’d find for sale in any local pet store? Well, familiar animals are exactly that: familiar. The classic witch’s cat, rabbit or toad, a familiar is an actual, individual animal with whom one can live and share an intense psychic, personal bond. If this characterizes a relationship you have ever had with an animal, then you have had a familiar, regardless of whether you engaged in magical practices together. A dog who won’t sleep unless it’s under your bed, the cat who follows you from room to room, the bird who spends the day perched on your shoulder: these all qualify as familiars.
A familiar’s presence may be sufficient to spark and enhance your magic, whether there is any conscious active involvement or not. For others, the psychic and magical bonds possible between animal and human create profound power and satisfaction.
In general, familiars are creatures who can realistically live with you: cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, toads, and snakes are most typical. Those living and working closely with other species—those species that usually do not live among people—may discover psychic and magical bonds, as well. Wild animals that remain wild can also qualify as familiars, though invariably they choose you rather than the other way round. These include those birds or bees that, taking a liking to someone in the family, stop by daily. Scandinavian witches traditionally favored flies as familiars. Wild dolphins occasionally single out an individual human and initiate a relationship. It is not unknown for people living on the edge of woods or in a wilderness place to develop a special relationship with an individual creature.
A familiar is a specific, individual creature with whom you have established a psychic bond. Of course, this limits the creatures with whom you can magically interact. What if your magic requires a rhinoceros or crocodile? What if it requires a dragon or unicorn?
A familiar may be considered an animal ally but animal allies transcend the boundaries of familiars. Animal allies are a form of spiritual relationship: because the relationship may occur entirely in the realm of spirit, any animal may be approached. The presiding spirit of the animal may also be approached, rather than any individual creature.
A person may have as many familiars and/or allies as needed.
Among the oldest existing human artifacts are the beautifully detailed prehistoric cave paintings, indicating the profound magical link between humans and animals. Small portable images of specific animals, usually crafted from clay or stone, have also been used since ancient times for assorted magical purposes, especially healing, hunting, and protection, and pursuit of enhanced psychic power.
The Zuni, a Native American people from New Mexico, have turned this tradition into an art form. Zuni stone fetishes, miniature carvings of specific animals, were originally created for ceremonial and hunting purposes. Today most are intricately carved, displaying the creator’s artistry and skills. Originally, this was not the case: Earth provided the artistry and the magic. Traditional fetish-carvers searched for stones where the shape of the creature was already apparent. At most, minimal shaping was needed to see the animal within. Because the stone charm is discovered, rather than consciously created, the animal spirit is given the opportunity to choose you rather than the reverse.
Eve Oil may be used to assist and enhance communication with animals.
To cement and/or formalize the psychic bonds between you and your familiar:
Live dangerously! If your familiar is a cat, cast your circle with dried catnip, and instead of frankincense, burn diviner’s sage to enhance your powers of prophesy. Let the cat play, while you allow yourself sudden bursts of inspiration.
Although you can bring any animal into your home, you cannot force it to be your familiar. This profoundly affectionate relationship, built on love, respect, and personal chemistry, must develop independently. Likewise, animal alliances cannot be forced.
They may, however, be requested. Many believe that we are each born with the alliances we need, whether animal, botanical, or spirit. The key is to discover these alliances and learn how to work with them for maximum power and benefit.
Various methods exist for discovering allies and requesting new relationships. Many cardbased divination systems exist. Animal allies also manifest themselves in your dreams. Any animal or species that appears consistently to you, whether in dreams or in waking life, may be an ally, or may potentially become one.
If you desire a specific alliance, request it via a combination of your altar and visualization:
Although this spell requests a waking vision, realistically your response may still occur during your dreams: have paper and pen by your bedside to record any significant dreams.
Sometimes familiars and allies are discovered for you.
In traditional Mexico and Central America, many shamans and witches are believed able to transform themselves into animals, known as nagual. A coyote observed walking down the road may be a regular coyote or it may be a witch in disguise. In the Mexican state of Oaxaca, however, a different concept exists. The nahual (as it is spelled in Oaxaca) is perceived to be a guardian spirit acquired at birth, a sacred gift from parents to their child.
Sometimes a more concrete familiar is desired. According to a Leni-Lenape Indian tradition, babies are given a living, tangible animal ally, rather than just an abstract protective spirit. Usually a puppy or kitten is chosen, or some other appropriate companion animal. The animal is treated as a pet and encouraged to be the child’s companion. These pets are not shared: every child has his or her own. This is a life partnership.
Animals may also be dedicated to specific spirits, not just to humans. This creates a profound triangular relationship between human, spirit, and animal. In an indigenous Siberian ritual, the animal dedicated to the deity lives a charmed life:
Cast a circle with blooming thistles: demarcate the entire circle or place one bloom in each of the four cardinal points. Bring the animal within the circle in order to intensify the effects of any healing or cleansing spells.
In his lifetime, Saint Benedict persecuted pagans and witches. One wonders how he would have reacted had he known that, centuries later, he’d be magically petitioned to assist ailing animals?
Burn a white candle dedicated to Saint Benedict and offer him a glass of brandy or Benedictine. Make your petition of healing; Saint Benedict’s animal ally is the crow. Look for the appearance of a crow to indicate a response to your petition.
Masterwort allegedly imparts greater physical strength and has thus been used to assist beasts of burden. Place masterwort in an amulet bag and attach to the animal as desired.
A Russian method for calling lost animals home involves journeying to a crossroads, where, magically speaking at least, roads merge and separate and you never know who or what might turn up from any direction at any time.
When an animal goes missing, one common immediate response is to post signs requesting information and assistance from others. This next Russian spell takes that notion a step further: assistance is requested from Earth’s various spirit powers, so that they will locate and send your animal back home. As with standard signs, a reward is posted. Should the spell work, be sure to pay it. (The Forest Tsar is chief of all woodland spirits; the Water Tsar is chief of all water spirits, and so on. Adjust the spell if necessary to suit your circumstances.)
Write messages on three pieces of birch bark (one for each of the nature tsars) as follows:
I’m writing to the Forest Tsar and the Forest Tsarina and their small children.
I’m writing to the Earth Tsar and the Earth Tsarina and their small children.
I’m writing to the Water Tsar and the Water Tsarina and their small children.
I’m writing to inform you that [INSERT YOUR NAME] has lost a[INSERT COLOR, GENDER, DESCRIPTION] [INSERT TYPE OF ANIMAL INCLUDING AS MUCH DESCRIPTIVE MATERIAL AS YOU FEEL IS NECESSARY TO IDENTIFY AND DISTINGUISH YOUR ANIMAL FROM OTHERS].
If you have him/her please send him/her back without delaying one day, one hour, one minute, one second.
If you don’t comply with my wish, I swear to pray and testify against you.
If you comply with my wish, I shall give you [INSERT SPECIFIC PLEDGE].
Fasten one message to a tree in the forest. Bury the second in Earth. Attach a small stone to the third and throw it into some living water.
The animal is expected to find its way home shortly.
An animal’s collar provides an excellent framework for protection spells; just remember to charge objects before attaching them. You can also incorporate knot magic wherever possible, to make the magic more powerful.
The following may be attached to the collar:
If the candle is too cute to burn, get two. Maintain one permanently, while burning the second.
Use an actual photograph of your pet or if unavailable, choose something, another image, statue, or candle bearing a strong resemblance for this spell.
As an alternative, you could trace invisible runes, sigils, or protective hieroglyphs onto the image with Protection Oil.
Create this charm for any companion animal that sheds teeth.
Just like people, animals need periodic ritual protective cleansings. (See Cleansing Spells.) Fumigations and asperging, the most popular methods for people, are equally effective for animals. However this may be easier said than done: try explaining to horses or cats that wafting smoke over them is really in their best interests. The following may be easier to accomplish:
A home where a well-cared-for, happy greyhound lives will allegedly never be haunted by malicious spirits.
Pow-Wow strongly incorporates the use of spoken charms. This one is used to soothe a threatening dog and provide protection—excellent for those forced to walk past a snarling, snapping canine.
The charm must be repeated three times before you reach the dog (or the dog reaches you!)
Dog, hold thy nose to the ground!
God has made thee, me, and hound.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Then form the sign of the cross three times.
This spell as recorded in 1820 by John George Hohman in his definitive Book of Pow-Wows: The Long Lost Friend, omits the last line of the charm, but includes the crosses.
Historically, there have always been two movements within the Pow-Wow community: those who emphasize Christian orientation and those who do not. Rhymes were adapted as needed and continue to evolve. This pagan-friendly version calls upon those Greek divinities that exert great influence over hounds:
Dog, hold your nose to the ground!
Creator made you, me, and hound
In the name of the triple goddess, Selene, Artemis, and Hecate
Repeat three times. The cross, as a pre-Christian symbol of protection, may still be formed. A pentacle, crescent moon, downward-facing triangle, or other shape may also be substituted, as desired.
Place leaves of hound’s tongue in your shoes, beneath your feet. Alternatively, carry within a charm bag.
Sew a piece of flint and a piece of coral inside a dog’s collar to protect against illness and ill temper.