Are there any working spells that you can call your familiar? And does the familiar appear and disappear or stay with you the whole time? Can you visibly see it the whole time and can other people who see their familiars can see mine? What does the familiar do for you is it like a companion or friend that communicates with you?
There are a lot of different 'Spells' to 'Conjure' a Familiar, it's best if you figure it out for yourself - because there are a whole variety of different ways to obtain a Familiar - such as Summoning one, Travelling to find one, it finding you or knocking on a Demons door and going "Hey can I 'buy' a Familiar from you?"
That article weatherwax gave does indeed cover what familiars are very well. As for how to summon one, usually it is best to build your own spell because, like most things, it is a personal and individual process. So if you already have some practice in magic, make sure to draw on what you already know and use as you will connect much better to the process than if you are busy concentrating on memorizing someone else's working.
That said, there is a basic formula and principle that you can follow that should help. I usually break it into three or so steps;
First, spend some time reflecting on yourself. Examine why you want to follow a magical path, what you hope to gain from it, and where you hope for it to take you. Basically reflect on your goals and motives until you have a solid personal understanding of what you want out of the potential relationship. (Above all else, explore this step until you are certain you are also being openly honest with yourself and clear in your intent.)
Once that is done, put together a personally formalized way of putting out the intent to ask for and connect with a familiar or other positive guiding spirit who will help you reach those goals you reflected on earlier. This part tends to be the most confusing for people because there are so many very different ways. From complex rituals including a circle, calling the corners, creating sacred space, using symbols for calling out your desire and also guiding the helpful entity to yourself (Like a chime, candle, or incense), and so on all the way to a simple guided meditation and visualization. So for this, again do a little study, and work with what is familiar to you to determine how complex or simple you need the process to be.
You can certainly look up other rituals spells and rites for guide callings to gain some inspiration and get ideas on what ideas and tools you connect with. But even if you shoose an individual spell that seems particularly good for you, you should personalize it a bit here and there. Even if it is changing the wording of the calling process itself. bear in mind you are calling for a familiar to help you personally, with your own goals and desires.
The third step is patience, consistant desire, and practicing awareness. Callings and other magics don't necessarily produce instant results. Sometimes the spirit or entity needs time to evaluate if it will be of the best help. other times they may wait and observe to test if your desires are genuine or just passing fancy. Or the entity may appear right away (or may have always been there) and just have trouble getting your attention.
Connecting with my own guide took about a year because I wasn't very good at that last part. To use a quick analogy; My guide kept knocking on the door, but I kept dismissing it as the wind. ...until he snuck in through a window, put on a scary mask, and cuffed me upside the head while I was sleeping.
If you want some suggestions on specific magical acts, fire a mail to me and I'll be happy to see how I can help.
------------
there any working spells that you can call your familiar? And does the familiar appear and disappear or stay with you the whole time? Can you visibly see it the whole time and can other people who see their familiars can see mine? What does the familiar do for you is it like a companion or friend that communicates with
Yes there are many ways one can make a calling to a familiar or other guiding entity. The ideal solution is to do some studying and build your own, or to get in touch with someone local to you who would take you through a summoning with them. If all else fails you can also look up a ready-made spell but they are much less likely to be effective because the whole idea of magic is to do things in a way that you connect with personally, emotionally, and spiritually. When following someone else's ideas that is harder to achieve.
Generally speaking, when you have connected with a familiar, they still come and go as they please or as the need arises. There are certain things in life we are meant to puzzle through on our own in order to learn from them. However in the end they are always there to help you when you need them.
Familiars are also spiritual entities comprised of energy and consciousness, so unless you are naturally aware or sensitive to seeing spirits and other entities, they are more felt than seen. When you are open and aware, and your familiar (or other guide) is close by, people most often get an intuitive knowledge or sensation of their presence. Things like a feeling of warmth or comfort in the air. Or a sensation of movement or touch. For sme they might also make themselves known by some other signal like the idea of hearing their voice or having a sudden intuition.
Likewise, it can be possible for others to see or feel the presence of your familiar if they are appropriately sensitive to such things. But it also depends on the familiar. Some choose to keep themselves hidden from others as well.
As far as what familiars are and do, Weatherwax already put up a link to a fantastic article about that. it is the first reply on this thread and you will see it. Just copy and paste it into a new tab. ^_^
My Familiar took a long time for me to find and it was a very spiritual journey that I will never forget. He came to me, I did not choose him. He is a Fox and each type of familiar (fox, lizard, cat, etc) has its own meaning. I accepted him and Now that Olle (All-e) is here, He is with me often. I feel him all around. Sometimes he is curled up at the foot of my bed, other times he is on the back of the couch by my head, he even rides in the car with me. I have seen a flicker of movement out of the corner of my eye & before panic sets in I remember..It's just olle.
He helps give me strength and is a courageous protector. He keeps me calm & shows up when I am stressed. He helps to chase away negativity and evil and he does errands for me like whispering "I love you's" into my husband's ear while he is away from me. Now...If I could just teach that sly little fox to get me a soda from the fridge...I would be all set!
Try not to get so wrapped up in the idea of having a familiar or Imp just to say you have one. If you take your time and meditate, do spells or whatever your choice may be to connect with a familiar..it will happen. Some may succeed quickly, others it can take years. My advice is to not worry if you are doing things "Wrong". If you have good intentions and make up a familiar calling spell with an open heart and truly believe as you cast, you WILL succeed. The great thing about Wicca is, besides the basic laws...YOUR way is the RIGHT way. Just mind the rule of 3 and harm ye none, lest ye be harmed ye self.
Enjoy and good luck!
*Blessed Be*
