Animal Magick: The Art of Recognizing and Working with Familiars

by D.J. Conway

Receive direction, inspiration, and healing when you take the collar off a favorite animal's natural powers! Animal Magick is the first book to present familiars from a European Pagan viewpoint. It shows you how to access the unique power of familiars―real or imagined animals―for magickal assistance, enhanced health, and spiritual growth. You don't need a pet or companion animal to have a familiar. Whether you collect glass animals, dream about snakes, or "talk" with an animal already, you can further develop this connection for extraordinary magickal results. Animal Magick presents practical meditations, rituals, and power chants for enticing, befriending, understanding, and collaborating with familiars. Learn ways to attract a familiar, explore various types of familiars and discover which one works best for you, and learn how to recognize messages and guidance from your magickal companion.

Genres: Wicca, Witchcraft, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Magick, Paganism, Animals

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

A native of the Pacific Northwest, author D.J. Conway has studied the occult fields for over 35 years. Her quest for knowledge has covered every aspect of Paganism and Wicca to New Age and Eastern philosophies; plus history, the magical arts, philosophy, customs, mythologies and folklore. In 1998, she was voted Best Wiccan and New Age author by Silver Chalice, a Pagan magazine.

She lives a rather quiet life, with most of her time spent researching and writing.

Reviews

[Malli (Chapter Malliumpkin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The following review is based off my own opinions, thoughts and reactions. So in other words brace yourself. *There may be inappropriate words such as curse words.* You have been advised in advance.*



As someone who is Native American and was raised in a household that taught me that all life is connected to one another, this is a book I can truly appreciate.

To some people, a book like this may automatically cause you to think of something religious or perhaps you're one of those people (like my husband) who states that anyone who reads and believes in this kind of stuff has a few screws loose in their head.

For me, however, a book like this helps give me a more define definition on why I feel so connected with animals, why I feel drawn to them more over people, and how to be more deeply involved with animals spiritually and emotionally.



In my eyes, this a book we all need to read. Being deeply connected to an animal and working with animals can give you so many life lessons you never knew could be taught through the connection of an animal. And to be truthful, I think we all need to believe that magic exists...even just a little bit. It makes the world seem less of a horrible place.

I think out of a lot of the animal magic books, the shaman books, and animal spiritual books that this is probably one of my most favorites. It definitely goes into heavy detail of animals through history, mythology, and backgrounds of how certain animals became viewed the way they are today. Definitely a book I have deep admiration for!

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but not at all what I thought it was going in. I thought it would go more in depth about how to actually communicate with animal familiars. Instead, it just gives a few pages of summary about a lot of different types of familiars and a very generic meditation. I'm glad I read it, but I wish it had been more of like what I was expecting when I picked it up. Perhaps I just didn't read the description closely enough.

[Eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aside from some of the chants (they didn't appeal to me: Ice Leaper...just not my style), I did find value in this book. The author includes your typical definitions of various animals as to be expected but has thrown in some that are fairly unique (for example: hedgehog isn't an animal that is found in most books on animal magick etc, as well as mythical beings such as a phoenix/satyr/griffon etc.). This book is an interesting read that does also include rituals/meditations and such, so it can be interactive if you wish.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Animal Magick is Conway's version of a spirit animal guide. An cyclopedia divided into land and sea animals. Each section is further broken down. Dogs are in the same section as wolves. Cats are with lions. Falcons are in the bird section. So on and so forth. Interestingly enough even insects are included. Each animal has a description, folklore, and deity associations. Symbolism and dream work is also included. This is also another of Conway's better books.

[Rexanna Ipock-Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insights into our inner animals.

[Mandy37 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty informative if you are into this kind of thing.

[Nicknack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned beautiful things about all creatures great and small and have a higher respect for myself and God's creations.

[Tatiana (DraCat) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Милая книжка о звериках.

[Samra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was amazing and quite detailed! Explore a ton of animals as well as mythical ones. Could be used with any ritual for any religion.

[Denielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've had this on my book list for some time and have finally gotten around to reading it. It was informative and a good introduction to sporting work familiars. I did find it a little dry.

[The Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

🐈🐕🐒

[Ashleigh Furry · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are a few things in the book that are very helpful but overall I found it to be a hunk of junk if you know anything to do with spiritualism. The "chants" in this book are ridiculous! The information they give on some of the animals is brilliant and the advice on how to help better learn to meditate to find your familiar is also very good but the ritual area in here I personally find to be an absolute joke, no offense but it is just my opinion. The area about which deities work with what animals is interesting though.

[Marsha Mcgregor · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ok. It provides very general glimpse into working with animal spirits but those looking for more information on real live animal familiars will be disappointed. The listings of animal correspondences are decent and give the book a little more merit than it would have otherwise.

From a personal point of view I found her use of the term 'magician' to be really offputting, but in the end this is just terminology, it's just not one I like. If you can look past such wording you may find some value in here.

[Conure Hermary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the greatest book out there on totem animals. Most of the information is in a 'Reader's Digest' format with only enough information to give you a glimpse of what the totem is like. However, with that said, she does give some information on mythical totems, which most books fail to do.

Overall an interesting book, but 'Animal Speak' by Ted Andrews does a much better job of handling the same subject.

[Lynx]

I didn't meant to click on theis book but it dosn't look to bad...

[Alira Rosi]

I enjoyed this book. I learned how to better communicate and understand the animals I work with.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick basic and varied book of animals and thier correspondences. I don't like chants but these are cute.