Think familiar spirits are just your psychic cat or beloved dog? Think again. This week, we're diving deep into the actual historical reality of familiar spirit relationships - the powerful spiritual partnerships that medieval magicians, accused witches, and educated practitioners like Dr. John Dee used for centuries to enhance their magical capabilities. From the detailed protocols in the Lemegeton to the testimony of the Pendle witches, we'll explore what familiar spirits actually are (hint: they're not animals), where they come from in traditional magical hierarchies, and why the Christian church was so absolutely terrified of them that they made familiar spirit work a primary target of the witch trials. We'll break down the difference between demonic and planetary familiars, examine the formal conjuration methods actually used to obtain these spiritual allies, and discuss the real obligations and benefits of these relationships.