A little while ago I had the opportunity to go to Salem for the day and I visited one of my favorite shops, The Coven’s Cottage. If you ever have the chance to go to Salem, this shop is my favorite for so many reasons. The staff is always amazing. Inside has a magickal cottage vibe filled with things that just make this shop so cozy.
I have never taken a picture in there out of respect for the shop owners. This is one that they use on their website and I think it gives you a bit of an idea. They are different than all the other shops. It’s almost as if you’ve stepped back in time to a witch’s cottage. I truly love it there and try to stop in and purchase one or two things each time I’m in Salem.
On my last visit, I purchased two tarot decks. The first one is the one that I wanted to share with you today. It’s called the Witches’ Familiars. Of course, the title of the deck drew me to it immediately but when I picked it up I just knew it was coming home with me.
The deck has 48 cards, each card introduces a different familiar that you may work with on your path. Please notice that I said familiar. One of the things that I noticed in the reviews for the deck is that they were being knocked points for familiars that weren’t animals. Not all familiars are animals though I must say those are the ones I am most familiar with working with. This deck also features some insects and other magickal beings that many of you will be familiar with like the Fae.
The cards are the nice larger size that I love to work with beautiful silver edges. The illustrations are really nice though I would like it if there was a bit more going on in them. That being said, it’s an oracle deck, not a tarot deck so I don’t find it necessary, just something I enjoy when I read the cards.
For me what really makes this deck is the writing. That’s something that I always find so important with oracle decks. I find the messages that come with oracles to be so important and I really love when they are as well done as they are in this deck. I definitely am interested in some of the other decks that they have to offer like the Dark Goddess Oracle deck.
Of course, I designed a reading using this deck for the shop. If you are interested you can find it here: Witches’ Familiars Oracle Card Reading. I’m really excited about this reading and I hope that many of you are as well.
What I wanted to leave you with today was the introduction that came with the deck. I just love it so much and it does such an amazing job explaining the deck and the energy that the deck contains. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
“The witch and her familiar have long existed in ancient folklore. Macabre tales speak of cloaked witches accompanied by scary black cats flying on broomsticks across starry night skies or of ugly hags casting powerful spells with a warty toad looking on. This is archetypal of the magical practitioners of yesteryear of the cunning folk of old, or witches, who worked with beguiling spirit creatures to bring about magic of their own through spell-casting, invocation, and divining. The “diabolical” guides who accompanied these wise ones were known as ‘familiars”: supernatural entities who took the form of animals, fairy beings, or humans to assist the witches in their practice of natural and ancient magic. Familiars can still be summoned today. If a witch wishes to take an animal as a familiar, she must ask permission first, or the two may come together serendipitously through dreams or a chance encounter on the doorstep. The familiar and witch are magical companions, each knowing they are meant to be together for otherworldly purposes. The familiar will guard the witch fiercely as she astral travels, or the witch may send the creature in on her behalf to do the magical work. Familiars are very loyal and serve their partners well in all things witchy. They will alert the witch to spirits, ghosts, and strangers and warn of any harmful or dark business that is occurring in other worlds.
A witch learns much about magic from her familiar as they work side by side physically or ethereally, and her spell power becomes double-trouble when casting together as her magical capacity is dramatically increased. Familiars are of great assistance to any witch and can help perform a variety of spells and rituals, learn secrets from others, find and divine, or do any other magical task the witch sets.
Each familiar type has its own energy–its own natural magic- of which the witch will determine to call upon. As they work magically together, the familiar dispenses advice and assists the witch in choosing herbs, plants, or other ingredients the witch may have forgotten. It is important that the personalities of the familiar and witch match well, as they will be working magically together for life. When the witch’s familiar finally passes over, they will still guide the witch from the spirit world and either arrange for a new familiar to help the witch from the earth plane or reincarnate themselves into a form very familiar to the witch. Their bond is telepathic, way beyond time and space limitations, as they walk together between the two worlds. The familiar is the witch’s guide and gatekeeper.
The Witches’ Familiars Oracle Cards contains an array of fascinating familiars waiting to meet you and be called upon to magically assist you. From classic witchy familiars, such as Black Cat, Toad, and Spider, to other associated creatures-fairies, boars, swans, and horses-supernatural assistance, advice, and witchy tips are on offer to accompany and support you on your witchy magical path!“
Blessed be,
Barbara, Flavia & Kate, The Witches’ Oracle
Have a magickal day!
Much Love and Many Blessings,
Jasmeine Moonsong