Familiars - The Witch’s Shadow

In every tale of the witch, something moves just beyond her body - a cat’s green eyes, a hare in the fields, a raven circling overhead. These are the familiars: companions, protectors, and echoes of the witch’s own spirit.In this episode of Hex & Muse, we walk with them. From the witch trials of England and Scotland, where imps and “witch’s teats” became deadly evidence, to the enduring image of the old woman and her cats. From Shakespeare’s Graymalkin to Pullman’s dæmons, from Jiji in Kiki’s Delivery Service to modern witches who seek spirit-animals in ritual and dream.Familiars are not only folklore or fiction - they are a reminder that magic is never solitary. The witch always walks in company.Hex & Muse is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. I pay my deepest respects to their Elders past and present - and to all First Nations people, whose stories and spirits continue to shape this land.Follow along for more folklore, magic, and mythic musings:Instagram: @hexandmuse Website: www.hexandmuse.comHex & Muse is a spellbound journal of folklore, magic, art, and the sacred feminine - told through cinematic storytelling and whispered histories.From my altar to yours… thank you for listening.