In early modern English [A title=Witchcraft href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft"]witchcraft[/A], a familiar spirit, commonly called familiar (from Middle English familiar, related to family) or imp is a [A title=Spirit href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit"]spirit[/A] who obeys a [A title=Witch href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch"]witch[/A], [A title=Conjurer href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conjurer"]conjurer[/A], or other users of the [A title=Supernatural href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernatural"]supernatural[/A], and serves and helps that person. Although they may not be as intelligent as their masters, they are often as intelligent as the average human. Familiars often perform domestic duties and help in [A title=Farming href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farming"]farming[/A], but also aid the person in bewitching people. If they look like ordinary [A title=Animal href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal"]animals[/A], they can be used to spy on their masters' [A title=Enemy href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enemy"]enemies[/A]. These spirits are also said to be able to inspire artists and writers (compare with [A title=Muse href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muse"]muses[/A]). Some reclusive wizards rely on familiars as their closest friends.
Familiars were mentioned in [A title="William Shakespeare" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare"]Shakespeare[/A]'s [A title=Macbeth href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbeth"]Macbeth[/A], as the [A title=Witch href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch"]witches[/A] called their familiars. Many other works have utilized familiars. The most common [A title=Species href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species"]species[/A] identified as familiars are [A title=Cat href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat"]cats[/A], particularly [A title="Black cat" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_cat"]black cats[/A], [A title=Owl href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owl"]owls[/A], [A title=Dog href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog"]dogs[/A], and sometimes [A title=Frog href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frog"]frogs[/A] or [A title=Toad href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toad"]toads[/A]. In later cases, familiars moved to more ethereal forms, often taking the shape of a "black man" thought to be representative of Satan.
Familiars are an identifying characteristic of early modern English witchcraft, and serve as one feature setting it apart from continental or [A title="New World" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_World"]New World[/A] witch crafts.
Familiars are generally animals or such beings. They usually have some [A title="Magic (paranormal)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_%28paranormal%29"]magical[/A] power, or are simply there to advance the story. In many modern [A title=Fantasy href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy"]fantasy[/A] stories, a [A title=Magician href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magician"]magician[/A]'s familiar is a [A title="Magic (paranormal)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_%28paranormal%29"]magical[/A] creature, such as Vlad's flying lizardlike familiar, Loiosh, in [A title="Steven Brust" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Brust"]Steven Brust[/A]'s Vlad Taltos series. Furthermore, in many cases the power of the familiar is directly proportional to the power of the [A title=Wizard href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wizard"]wizard[/A]. The form taken by the familiar is also influenced by the personality of its master as in the [A title="His Dark Materials" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/His_Dark_Materials"]His Dark Materials[/A] trilogy by [A title="Philip Pullman" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Pullman"]Philip Pullman[/A], though the comparison is not perfect, the nature of Pullman's [A title="Dæmon (His Dark Materials)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A6mon_%28His_Dark_Materials%29"]dæmons[/A] being dissimilar from standard notions of a familiar. The relationships between familiars and their masters vary by story. Some familiars do not have free will and are nothing more than tools of their masters while others are willing servants who can make their own decisions and would leave their masters if mistreated.
Familiar spirits are referenced in the Bible: "A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them." Lev. 20:27, KJV.
[A href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Familiar"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Familiar[/A]
