Though having a familiar is a common enough idea amongst witches and Wiccans (and other Pagans too), but it's not a requirement. I do not have a familiar, nor does anyone else that I know personally. The biggest misconception is that your familiar must be a cat. Not so. Any animal species can present itself as your familiar. In fact, the form your familiar chooses to take may be a message in itself, and may be completely unexpected. Familiars can fill many different roles in your life, including that of teacher, friend, healer or assistant. A familiar may be a family pet, but they should not be treated that simply.
Finding Your Familiar
Sometimes you need to search out your familiar, but other times they will find you. You can't summon a familiar, only invite one. Meditation or scrying are two methods that may help you locate your animal companion. They may arrive in your life when you call, or just when you are in need of them. And the flip side to that, is that they can also disappear from your life if you no longer need their help or guidance. I would say that most familiars stay with a person for a good many years, typically the life span of their animal hosts. But don't be surprised if they move on unexpectedly.
All falcons are opportunists and act upon opportunity at the correct moment. They know when to act and how to commit to their actions for a successful outcome. Timing is important to the peregrine and patience is one of its virtues. Those with this totem will continually find themselves in situations where both of these skills are tested.
Peregrines stimulate a quick, graceful and agile mind using its mental faculties effectively and patiently to capture what it wants and desires the most. They are daylight hunters with bullet shaped bodies and long pointed wings that facilitate high diving speed. Strong and fast they fly high and dive with tremendous swiftness striking with clenched talons and killing by impact.
This bird is very adaptable and can withstand severe climatic changes. Peregrines build their nests high on ledges and cliffs in order to observe everything around them. They are incredibly focused and have strong concentration skills. Those with this totem would do well in any work pertaining to the mind. Meditation and disciplined spiritual studies would also be of benefit.
In the Native American traditions the peregrine falcon is associated with past life recall and can show us how to dive into ourselves without fear. It holds the medicine of precision, timing, grace, patience and acute mental perception. It teaches those with this medicine how to use their mental capabilities to the fullest, move in harmony with their own rhythm and strike with force when necessary.
