Forgive me if this is the wrong forum to post this in, but I haven’t seen anything about it yet.
Throughout my childhood I often saw a large black dog following me or walking around my yard at night. It would come and go but was mainly present during times of high stress. Anytime I asked anyone I was with about it they told me they didn’t see anything and thought I was just imagining things.
I’ve tried looking it up online and collected a few folktales about them but most seem to imply that it is a death omen of sorts. Given that I’m a live after twenty some odd years of seeing it I rather think the folktales are off a bit but I’m unsure as to why its there and what if anything I should be doing about it.
It has shown up in a few pictures I’ve taken during rituals, even though no one saw it at the time. I thought it might be some sort of familiar except that it always feels vaguely threatening. Anyone have a similar experience or advice?

Have you tried communicating with it.
Perhaps you could request it to reveal more about itself by evoking it.

Actually, you might look into spirit guides and such. Historically and Mythologically it may not make much sense, but personally it may have more meaning. I know that whenever I was in a certain situation I would see bald eagles. I would even dream about them speaking to me. Next time you see the dog, I would pay close attention to your own feelings. Try to communicate with it. Could also be a totem animal.

It's Sirius Black!

Sorry, couldn't resist. Bad Joke.

Seriously, though, I envy your experience. Please, let us know if you find out anything further about it!

I had similar 'waking dream' experiences when I was a boy, except with me it was buffalo. I have had periods in my adult life in which I have had very real dreams about buffalo. They were huge and scared the hell out of me for some reason. I discussed this over coffee with a shaman friend of mine during one of these periods. He said that I should be cauutious, but try to talk to it or listen to the message. I did so and haven't been visited since.
In my case, it wasn't a power animal, but I agree that it could very well be in this case. Look at yourself and see if you have any canine qualities or energy.

I have tried to communicate with it, with mixed results at best. It would show up when called but wouldn’t respond to questions, and as I said had a rather threatening presence. But perhaps I’m simply not listening correctly. It’s happened before with other entities after all. The totem animal is an interesting idea but I have very little knowledge on the subject. North American Indian legend has yet to make it onto my reading list… I guess maybe it should. Thanks for the suggestions. It looks like I’ve got some work to do.

My best friend used to have dreams of a black dog all the time. She would also see the black dog at night, she said that she always felt threatend or frightend whenever she saw it. She said she felt like it watched her all the time. We just kept writng down her feelings and the times it was happening, basically takeng down any notes we could. Comoe to find out, it was a symbol of her feeling betrayed in some way. After we figured that out she stoped seeing the black dog. I hope you figure out your situation soon.

moonlit

This post has been edited by moonlit: May 4 2006, 09:25 PM

It could also be a Famillar(Sp). It may feel like it needs to guide and support you while you are under stress. On a negative note, I have also heard of demons going around as black dogs. Maybe try a line of salt or something like that and see if it passes through (just dont do it on the lawn, the salt will kill the grass.).

I have had many dreams of a large all black German Shedard looking dog which somehow always seems to be smiling at me so no i don't feel threaten but it can be unnerving. I believe it is a certain type of famialr or protector to me. Perhaps even my Watcher telling me he is waiting for me.

Well, It's good that you dont feel a threat from it. Just go with your instincts, and maybe try comunication with it.

moonlit

When was the last time you encountered the dog?

Good Day,

You should first consider finding out whether it means you any harm. If you are not receiving any replies and or responses (and I won't go into how you should do that because we all have our unique ways of communicating) and you feel any negativity or a sense of dread, I would immediately banish the creature. I would give it some time however, before you take this action. Perhaps it is your familiar that could be quite beneficial throughout your magical undertakings. It's always a great pleasure to know someone or something good is watching your back. A familiar spirit is a very special and unique. The next step would of, course, to put your trust in it after taking the necessary precautions.

Sincerely,

Mr. Curi

Greetings,

I could not help but notice how comparable this spirit is to the Watcher of the Necronomicon.

The watcher takes 3 forms one is dog like in which it follows the master as a dog. The second form is that of a warrior in which it flies directly over and behind the masters back. The third form is that of a bald headedd monk.

The Watcher never answers questions. It does seem to make comments on whatever is being discussed if it cares to.

I think if the spirit meant you harm you would know it by now. Whatever the spirit is perhaps it is protecting you. Although the Watcher means no harm to the priest when I call him in the presence of others they always feel a heavyness or dread about him. Just because this spirit seems to be one that seems a bit dangerous do not be too quick to decide that it is a bad one. Once again if the spirit meant you harm I believe you would know that by now.
So perhaps the most logical explaination is that this is your spirit guardian.

Perhaps you should try burning incense and candles to it and judge its reaction or try at that time to communicate.

Keep us updated about this spirit. Very interesting!

This post has been edited by smasher666: Jul 6 2006, 02:11 PM

I saw this and just had to reply! I have recently been exploring the black dog manifestations because my father has told me that these were protectors in our family's case. He said that my grandfather had built the house in which they grew up with his own hands; and when he was done, he performed some type of ritual which involved killing a chicken (which became their first meal in the house as a family) and pouring out the blood at the four corners of the house. This resulted in the appearance of four big black dogs which, according to their neighbors, would stand guard as it were around the house at night.

Greetings!
Try reading up on/researching the Egyptian Neteru Anubis..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/egypt1.gif)

Could be a hellhound. You say you feel fear in it's presence? Listen to that fear. Fear is the mind's way of protecting you. You may have good reason to fear it. You can, however face your fear, and best this beast, but if it's intent is to instill fear in you, I do not believe you will come to call it a familliar. A familliar would likely assume a form that was more pleasing. Of course, you could attempt to earn it's favor. Try calling up a minor being, and tossing it to the hound. If he devours the being, and enjoys it, you could earn his trust/loyalty.

This post has been edited by Makavelli: Aug 2 2006, 12:45 PM

I also see a black dog from time to time, on first site I also was wary and since I was in circle in ritual, I knew that I was supposed to take control, so I put out a strong energy to claim my circle as you would your own room, then it came and sat beside me and seemed to be watching the events.

I have no idea if I should have banished it but although it was a little unnerving, it did seem to be for me rather than against me, so I let it be.

However, I have had other visits from dogs, one was unwell and was looking for some gentle energy it seems and one was snarling and clearly unfriendly.

If you are obviously and without any doubt that you are in trouble, act immediately and gather your most confident and strongest energies and mind set and let it know you are 'god' and that it cannot win you over. If it was sent by another practitioner, then it will return, but remain calm and deal with it, firmly! You may have to keep doing that each time it reappears. Some things have a limited life span and they will just never come back.

If you keep getting the appearance and you are sure its unfriendly, be prepared for it to come under other guises too.

I don't want to worry you, just giving you prior warning, these things in reality, are actually very rare.

As Bym says, investigate Anubis too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Hope this helps.

Black dogs in many cultures as well as other black animals are atributed with mystical powers.
I have heard some slavic folclore myths of black dogs fighting evil spirits.
Some legends speak of them as evil and some as good

Another option, just to add to the list here, is that it could be a part of you. When you are under stress, this could be the anger, or revenge, or something of that nature that you push under, and refuse to let come out. Hence, it manifests in a way you can percieve and tries to get your attention. As a magic worked you probably have above average powers of materialization and thought control, so it would be easy to 'create' something simply by your subconscious working on it enough. If it were a portion of you you did not want to integrate, it would give you a sense of fear, foreboding, and unease.

If it is a part of you, there will be a tell tale sign somewhere. Perhaps a linking cord, or similar wounds/haircuts/eye color, etc. See if you can check it out on the astral also. You could also be experiencing natural tendencies towards 'shape-shifting' and this may be an easy form for you to take. If it is truly outside of you, there will be no such links, it will be its own being. It could be part of someone else as was mentioned above. Then there would be a link of some sort back to the original creator too.

This post has been edited by Soseneda: Aug 31 2006, 08:47 AM

Have you ever heard of cats like that. When I was seven I was sitting on my porch with my family and my neighbors next door, and I happen to look towards the front gate and a jet black cat, about as big as a mountain lion, passed right by. I thought I was imagining things but my friends next door said that they saw it too. It was a little unnerving to see something so big.

I once had that exact experience about 2 years ago when I saw this gigantic profile of a cat similar to the one here on the western horizon looking north. This apparation was vast, but not scary! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/banana.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/angel.gif)

Well I was seven at the time and had really no priar knowledge in this area. And that was what that thing looked like.

This sounds very much like a shapeshifted form of a Jinni, they are often black, with red eyes. Did it have red eyes? If it had a 'threatening presence, then it surely must be something of a shapeshifting nate, I think its a Jinn. Why it is stalking you, God knows only, maybe it is your Qarin (Companion), a Jinni assigned to you until the day of the departure of ones soul.

Well this might sound silly for most of you that don't like Christian beliefs, but I know a Catholic priest who told my family once of his strange paranormal experiences. At the time, I had no real interest in the occult. He said that one of the strangest and most recurring thing for him on a regular basis is that every time he gives mass, a large black dog trots into the church, and sits in front of him just staring at him. First time he saw it he asked someone to escort it outside, and everyone simply looked at him like he was crazy. Later he asked a bishop about it, and he said that it was the "devil". He said that even the devil likes to go to mass.

Like I said, it sounds kind of silly, but I guess it depends on one's belief system.