what is a familiar?

[Daemonin]

I think a lot of it boils down to what feels good to you.  Dogs, snakes, horses, goats, lizards, turtles, toads, frogs, owls, hawks, falcons, and other animals can be familiars.

[Regina Terra]

I want a Raven, normally I would be a huge cat lover & would do anything to have a cat familiar. But I found this perfect, gorgeous black raven's feather while walking my dog, & now I can't stop thinking about it. 

[Countess]

Personally, I think a familiar is an animal that exists physically with you. It doesn't have to be a pet, it could be something that always seems to show up when you do rituals but usually it is a pet that seems to have a special connection to you & to your magick. A totem is a creature that may only exist in spirit but that you feel a strong connection to. Totems generally have some kind of knowledge or trait that they wish to impart on you. Totems can change throughout your life. They can come through in dreams or through signs in your waking life, such as finding a feather & not being able to get it out of your mind. If you start to notice dreams that often include a certain creature or you start seeing representations of it everywhere you go, it's a sign that it is trying to communicate something to you. There are some very good books that can help decode what these mean. A totem can also be something you fear. For me it is Jellyfish, they are the only creature I can honestly say I despise. Think of totems as teachers & familiars as assistants.

[Regina Terra]

Thank you, that certainly explains a lot. Do familiars have any specific trait by which you can recognize them by? & can you have one and not be aware of it? Are they limited to "mundane" animals, or can they be of more mythical origins?

[Countess]

familiars are mundane animals. A totem can be a "mythical" creature. As for recognizing a familiar, notice your pet's behavior. If for example you have a cat who is always near your ritual space, always coming around when you do rituals, or when you study magick, that's an indicator. If your familiar is a "wild" animal it may simply always show up when ritual or magick is afoot. apart from magick your familiar will be more than just a pet or animal to you. It'll be a very strong connection unlike any other. Does that help?

[Regina Terra]

Yes, thank you very much.

[Levinthross]

my familiar is a black dog and since dogs and wolves and foxes are omnivorous or can be taught to be its a pretty safe bet that you can have a omnivorous familiar unless there not able to survive on a omivorous diet