The Seal of Belial is the specific sigil used in Goetic evocation to command the 68th spirit of the Ars Goetia, and breaking it is a ritual act that dismisses the spirit and nullifies the working. The act is not destruction but closure, a disciplined conclusion to a binding contract drawn on parchment. Learn what the Seal of Belial is, its origins in the Lesser Key of Solomon, the techniques and rituals used to break it — from burning to washing to reversal — and the historical and practical considerations every practitioner should know.
What the Seal of Belial Actually Is
The Seal of Belial appears in the Ars Goetia, the first book of the Lesser Key of Solomon, a grimoire compiled in the 17th century from earlier medieval manuscripts. The seal is a geometric figure: a circle containing a triangle, with the names of God and the spirit written in Hebrew characters. It is drawn on virgin parchment or paper, using black ink, often with a quill that has never been used for any other purpose. The seal is the binding contract. Without it, the evocation cannot proceed. Belial himself is described as a king of 80 legions, appearing as two beautiful angels seated in a chariot of fire. His seal grants the magician authority to command him. Breaking it ends that authority over the spirit and releases the spirit back to its place.
Where the Seal Comes From: A History of Binding
The Lesser Key of Solomon was first printed in 1655, though it circulated in manuscript form for decades before. The text claims to be the work of King Solomon, but modern scholarship traces its content to earlier grimoires like the Heptameron and the Lemegeton. The seal of each Goetic spirit is described in detail, with instructions for its construction. Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers and Aleister Crowley published a critical edition in 1904, which popularized the seals among English-speaking occultists. Joseph H. Peterson produced a more accurate edition in 2001, based on the earliest manuscripts. In both editions, the Seal of Belial is number 68, and its design is consistent: a central triangle with a circle around it, with the name of Belial written in Hebrew inside. For a 19th-century practitioner, drawing that seal was the moment the ritual became real. The ink dried, the circle was sealed, and the spirit was bound by the names written on the parchment. Breaking it was the only way to release that binding safely.
What Breaking the Seal Means
The seal is not a decoration. It is a tool of authority. The lines and letters represent the divine names that compel Belial to obey. When the seal is intact, the binding holds. When it is broken, the binding dissolves. This is why breaking the seal is part of the license to depart. In the Ars Goetia, after the spirit has answered the magician’s questions or performed its task, the magician recites a dismissal and then destroys the seal. The act is both practical and symbolic. The parchment is no longer needed. The spirit is free to go. But breaking can also be done outside of a summoning. A practitioner who inherits a seal, finds one in a book, or wants to nullify a previous working may break it as a protective measure. The intention is the same: to sever the connection between the seal and the spirit.
Different traditions favor different methods. We describe the most common ones here, not as a step-by-step tutorial but as a reference for those who need to choose. - Burning. The seal is placed in a fireproof bowl and set alight. The flame consumes the parchment and the ink. The ashes are then disposed of in running water or buried away from the home. We light ours in a fireproof bowl on the balcony, watching the ink curl and blacken before the flame takes the parchment entirely. The smoke carries the binding away.
- Washing. The seal is submerged in holy water, salt water, or a mixture of vinegar and water. The ink dissolves, and the paper becomes illegible. The water is then poured into the earth. This method is slower and more deliberate, suitable for those who want to watch the letters fade.
- Tearing. The seal is torn along its lines, often following the geometry of the design. Some practitioners tear it into seven pieces, one for each of the planetary hours. Others tear it into four pieces and burn them separately.
- Reversal. The seal is redrawn backwards, or the Hebrew letters are written in reverse. This is a symbolic reversal of the binding. The reversed seal is then burned or buried.
- Recitation. Some traditions combine the physical act with a spoken dismissal. A verse from Psalm 68 (“Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered”) is recited as the seal is destroyed. Others use the Latin dismissal from the Ars Goetia: “In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, recede in pace.”
Each technique has its purpose. Burning is final and visible. Washing is quiet and ritualistic. Tearing is precise. Reversal is intellectual. The choice depends on the practitioner and the context.
Every Goetic spirit has its own seal. Bael’s seal is a circle with a central cross. Paimon’s seal is a circle with a triangle and a crown. Belial’s seal is distinct in its use of the triangle and the specific Hebrew name of the spirit. Breaking the seal of Belial is not different in principle from breaking the seal of any other spirit. The same techniques apply. But Belial is considered a king, and his seal is correspondingly powerful. Some traditions hold that the seal must be broken within the circle, before the circle is opened, to prevent the spirit from lingering. The seal of Belial is also one of the few that includes the name of the spirit in Hebrew. This makes it more personal. Breaking it is a direct act of release.
Common Misconceptions About Breaking the Seal
“Breaking the seal is dangerous.” In standard Goetic practice, breaking the seal is the safe conclusion of the ritual. The danger lies in not breaking it, which leaves the binding active and the spirit potentially bound but unmanaged. “You must break the seal immediately after summoning.” Not always. Some practitioners keep the seal intact until the spirit has completed its task. The seal is only broken when the working is finished. “The seal is the same as the sigil.” Yes, in the Ars Goetia, the terms are used interchangeably. The seal is the sigil. “A broken seal can be reused.” No. Once broken, the seal is considered spent. A new one must be drawn for any future working. The old seal is disposed of completely.
FAQ
Can you break the Seal of Belial without having summoned the spirit?
Yes. It is a symbolic act of nullification, often done to neutralize a seal found in a book or inherited from another practitioner. What happens if you break the seal incorrectly?
The spirit may not be fully dismissed, or the binding may linger. Proper ritual intent and a clear dismissal are essential. Is the Seal of Belial the same as his sigil?
Yes. In the Ars Goetia, the seal and the sigil are the same thing.
The Seal of Belial is a tool of authority, not a cage. Breaking it is an act of discipline, a recognition that the working is complete and the spirit is free. The parchment burns, the ink turns to ash, and the circle is erased. The practitioner stands alone again, but the experience remains. For more on Goetic seals and their uses, see our guide to demonology and the Goetia. The glossary of sigils explains the geometry behind each design. And the Ars Goetia ritual guide covers the full evocation process from circle to dismissal.