The Encyclopedia Of Demons And Demonology

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Archangel Michael evicting Lucifer and his followers from
heaven (AUTHOR’S COLLECTION)
falling stars DEMONs who have no way station in which
to rest and so fall from the sky.
In the Testament of Solomon the demon ORNIAS explains
to SOLOMON that demons have the capability of
flying up to heaven in order to eavesdrop on God and
learn his plans. But because they have no place to rest,
they become exhausted and fall to Earth like flashes of
lightning, burning fields, and cities. People think they are
falling stars.
Folklore traditions through history hold that falling
stars are the souls of those who have just died or who are
descending to Earth to be reborn.
familiar A spirit that maintains regular contact with a
person, sometimes acting in service or guardianship, or
providing information and instruction. The term familiar
is from the Latin term familiaris, meaning “of a household
or domestic.”
Familiars can be either good or evil in nature, and
they vary significantly in intelligence and powers. They
assume many shapes, such as elementals, animals, birds
and insects, and even spirit lovers. The shapes assumed
reflect the nature of the spirit, who may be intent on deceit.
Personal familiars sometimes attach themselves to a
family bloodline and serve generations. They can possess
people and animals and are capable of acting independently
of the people with whom they associate.
Familiars are summoned via magical ritual, given, appointed,
traded, bought, and sold, or they appear of their
own volition. They can be housed in bottles and rings.
They have been part of shamanic and SORCERY traditions
around the world.
Early Beliefs about Familiars
The Greeks and Romans believed in familiars called DAIM-
ONEs, which occupied homes, buildings, and other places
and attached themselves to people. Such spirits provided
advice and guidance, performed tasks, acted as servants,
and did guard duty. Socrates said daimones whispered
in his ear to warn him of danger and misfortune. Plotinus
also was said to have a familiar, who appeared when
summoned and obeyed him and was superior to lowerranking
spirits such as the genii, guardians of places.
Other early beliefs about familiars cross over into
the lore of FAIRIES, elves, brownies, gnomes, and trolls.
Spirits that work in mines and guard hidden treasures
are sometimes called familiars. The DJINN summoned by
King SOLOMON to build his Temple of Jerusalem are comparable
to familiars.
Familiars in Magic and Witchcraft
Familiars can be conjured magically for a variety of
purposes. In esoteric lore, they are the constant attendants
and servants of magicians, wizards, spell casters,
and healers. Low familiars are inanimate objects,
such as magical books that mysteriously appear. The
English magician John Dee acquired a scrying (divining)
crystal inhabited by a familiar spirit, which he and
his assistant, Edward Kelley, used to communicate with
angels and spirits. High familiars assume plant, animal,
and human shape. Some familiars assume whatever
shape is needed for their purposes. Dee had another familiar,
Madimi, who appeared as either a young girl or
an adult. She even appeared naked when dealing with
a sexual matter.
According to tradition, familiars can be magically
locked in bottles, rings, and stones and sometimes sold as
CHARMs for success in gambling, love, and business.
In witchcraft lore, familiars are low-ranking DEMONs
or IMPs given by the DEVIL to those who commit to PACTs
with him. Or witches inherited familiars from other
witches. Demonic familiars were said by witch hunters
to serve witches in all ways, even sexually. They carried
out spells and bewitchments. Most witch familiars were
believed to be in animal form; some were spirits kept in
bottles and flasks. Even FAIRIES were said to be familiars.
A witch could have multiple familiars. Cats, especially
black, were the favored forms. The fear that all cats were
witches’ familiars led to cat massacres in Europe.
The witch hunter Pierre de Lancre said the highestranking
witches have familiars in the shape of horned