Liber ab Familia (Book of Familiars—Condensed^1213
slaughtered (most for neither meat nor hide). Today, they number approximately 30,000.Elephant—Feminine, Earth
Also known as: African Elephant and Asian Elephant
God associations: Aeacus, Apedemak, Bacchus, Dionysus, Ganesha, Indra (white el-
ephant), Krishna, Kurma, Minos, Rhadamanthus, Shiva, Vishnu, Vulcan
Goddess associations: Artemis, DianaMost people do not realize that there are two species commonly known as the
Elephant. These are the African and Asian elephant. The Indian, Sri Lankan, and
Sumatran elephants are all sub-species of the Asian elephant. The Bush, Savannah,
and Desert elephants are all sub-species of the African elephant. The African elephant
entered the twentieth century with a speculative population of 5 to 10 million. By the
time the twenty-first century rolled around, there were less than 600,000. More accu-
rately, there were less than 600,000 when they were added to the endangered species
list in 1989. The Asian elephant is in worse condition, having started the last century
with even fewer numbers. At the turn of the twentieth century, approximately 200,000
Asian Elephants existed. At the turn of the twenty-first, there are no more than about
35,000, a decline in population of about 82.5 percent.The Two Types of Familiars:
Animal Kin and Animal Kith
Before you remodel your home to allow an elephant into the living room, know
that familiars come in two varieties: kith and kin. Just as the process of adoption can
change a human from kith to kin, so does the adoption of an animal other than human
cause that creature to go from kith to kin. Those creatures brought into both heart and
home are said to be kin creatures or kin familiars. In Wicca, these critters are typically
known simply as familiars. However, one need not have an animal in the home to wel-
come it into the heart. Indeed, those creatures often reside in our hearts long before
we recognize their residence. These creatures that are welcome in our heart but for
whatever reason not in our home are said to be kith animals or kith familiars. In Wicca,
these critters are most often known as power or totem animals.
Kith and kin familiars can be equally in our hearts, but just as with our human
relations of kith and kin there are distinctly different ways in which we further our
relationships. One might commune with the children of our friends (kith) by attending
their birthday and graduation parties. Be it by adoption or birth, a person might com-
mune with their own children (kin) by bathing them, taking them for their first hair cut,
or tucking them in at night. Confusing the two can bring about misunderstandings.
There is little difference in our relations with animals. Some relationships are appro-
priate and some are not appropriate. Determining which is which is relatively easy
should one have a lick of common sense and an ounce of respect for our critter friends.t WB Chap 12.p65 213 7/11/2003, 5:55 PM