What are familiar spirits?

The word familiar is from the Latin familiaris, meaning a “household servant” or “one who is closely acquainted.” In centuries past, the term familiar spirit or familiar expressed the idea that sorcerers and witches had spirits to guide them or act as their servants. A familiar spirit was often thought to take the form of an animal such as a dog, a butterfly, a rabbit—or the proverbial black cat. Spiritists, even to this day, usually have a “spirit guide” who communicates with them, and it is becoming popular even in general conversation to speak of a person’s “spirit animal.” These are familiar spirits.

Leviticus 19:31 refers to “mediums and familiar spirits” (NKJV). The warning is “Do not turn to [them], for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God” (cf. Deuteronomy 18:9–14). A medium is one who acts as a liaison to supposedly communicate with the dead on behalf of the living. In reality, mediums are contacting demons who convince the mediums that they are “familiar” and can be trusted and believed. The practice of witchcraft, sorcery, and anything associated with familiar spirits was banned in Israel (see Leviticus 20:6, 27).

Familiar spirits and spirit guides are under the control of their master, Satan. They influence people to spread lies and deceit in order to thwart the kingdom of God. To knowingly open oneself to the work of demons is an evil thing: “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord” (Deuteronomy 18:10–12a).

Some avenues through which demons or “familiar spirits” can gain entrance into a person’s life are divination, transcendental meditation, New Age visualization, necromancy, witchcraft, and drug and alcohol abuse. These are all activities that believers are exhorted to avoid. We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, with love, with joy, and with the fullness of life that comes from Jesus Christ. We are to listen to God alone and be on guard, “for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).