A Roman priest once told a Greek colleague that his gods had no myths, only rituals. The Greek laughed. The Roman was not joking. When we work with the Goetic spirits, we inherit that same tension: the seal of a spirit is not a drawing. It is a technology. The Seal of Malphas is the constructed signature of the Grand President of Hell, a spirit said to build towers, gather familiars, and deliver oracles. It is not decoration. It is the key.
This article covers the history, symbolism, and practical construction of the Seal of Malphas, so you can create one that actually functions as a focus for contact rather than a decorative drawing.
What Is the Seal of Malphas, Exactly?
The Seal of Malphas is a geometric diagram composed of intersecting lines, circles, and characters that represents the spirit’s unique signature within the Goetic system of ceremonial magic. According to the Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis (the Lesser Key of Solomon), compiled in the 17th century from earlier grimoire traditions, each of the 72 spirits of the Goetia has a specific seal that must be drawn on parchment made from calfskin or virgin paper, at the correct planetary hour, using specific tools.
The seal is not a summoning device by itself. It is a focusing lens. When the magician gazes upon the seal during ritual, the spirit’s attention is anchored to that symbol, making communication possible. Without the seal, the spirit remains bound to its own plane and cannot easily interact with the operator.
Malphas appears in the fourth rank of the Goetic hierarchy, listed as the 39th spirit. He commands 40 legions of infernal spirits. His primary domain involves building houses and high towers, detecting the thoughts of enemies, and delivering familiars to the magician.
The earliest surviving manuscript of the Lemegeton dates to the mid-17th century, specifically the Harleian MS 6483 held at the British Library. This manuscript contains the first known illustrations of the Goetic seals, including Malphas. The text itself claims to have been written by King Solomon, but modern scholarship places its composition in the 16th or early 17th century, drawing on earlier grimoires such as the Heptameron and the Key of Solomon.
The design of Malphas’s seal is distinct from the other 71 Goetic seals. It does not rely on the Solomonic pentacles or the standard angelic script found in many other seals. Instead, it uses a combination of circular forms, straight lines, and what appears to be a variation of the Seal of Solomon (the six-pointed star) at its center.
Johann Weyer, the 16th-century physician and demonologist, described Malphas in his Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577) as appearing “like a crow” and then shifting to human form with a raucous voice. Weyer’s work directly influenced the Lemegeton compilers. The seal that accompanies Weyer’s description differs slightly from the later Lemegeton version, suggesting that the design evolved across manuscript traditions.
What this means for the practitioner: there is no single “correct” seal. The version in the Lemegeton is the standard, but earlier variations exist. Some magicians choose the version that resonates most strongly with their practice.
The outer circle represents the boundary of the spirit’s power and the container for its manifestation. In Solomonic magic, circles define the liminal space between the operator and the spirit. The circle says: “Here, and no further.”
The central six-pointed star (hexagram) is the Seal of Solomon, the symbol of mastery over spirits. Its presence on Malphas’s seal indicates that the spirit is bound by and responds to the Solomonic authority. The hexagram is composed of two interlocking triangles: one pointing upward (fire, spirit, ascent) and one pointing downward (water, matter, descent). Their union represents the balance of forces that Malphas commands.
The intersecting lines that radiate from the center are not random. They form what some practitioners call “spirit roads” — paths through which the spirit’s energy flows into the seal and back to the operator. Each line corresponds to a specific direction or elemental correspondence, though the grimoires do not specify which.
The small crosses or X marks at certain intersections serve as binding points. In the Key of Solomon, crosses are placed on seals to fix the spirit in place. Without them, the seal functions as a loose invitation rather than a binding contract.
The seven dots or circles around the perimeter correspond to the planetary system: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, and Moon. Malphas, like all Goetic spirits, operates under particular planetary influences. The dots acknowledge his place within that celestial hierarchy.
The grimoires prescribe exact materials and timing. Here is what the tradition requires, along with what modern practitioners actually do.
Materials
- Parchment or virgin paper. The Lemegeton specifies calfskin parchment. Modern alternatives include high-quality cotton paper (100% cotton, no synthetic fibers) or handmade paper. Avoid standard printer paper — it carries machine-made energy and will not hold the ink properly.
- Black ink. Traditionally made from soot and gum arabic. Modern India ink works well. Never use blue or red ink for Goetic seals. Black is the color of binding.
- A quill or reed pen. The Lemegeton insists on a new pen, never used before. A crow quill dip pen is traditional. Any steel nib that has never touched ink will suffice.
- A compass for drawing circles. Brass or iron, never plastic.
- A ruler for straight lines. Unpainted wood or bone.
Timing
The seal must be drawn during the planetary hour of Saturn, on a Wednesday (Mercury’s day) or a Saturday (Saturn’s day). Malphas is ruled by Saturn, and his seal should be crafted when Saturn’s influence is strongest. The planetary hours change daily, so you must calculate the correct hour for your location using an ephemeris or an online planetary hour calculator.
We create our seals between the last hour of daylight and the first hour of night, when the threshold between worlds is thinnest. This is not a requirement from the grimoires but an observation from practice.
Procedure
- Consecrate the space. Use the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram or your preferred method of purification. There should be no distractions.
- Draw the outer circle using your compass. The diameter should be appropriate for the seal’s intended use: 4 inches for a personal talisman, 9 inches for a ritual focus.
- Construct the hexagram in the center. Draw two equilateral triangles, one upright and one inverted, perfectly interlocked. Each line must be drawn in one continuous stroke.
- Add the radiating lines from the center outward. These connect the points of the hexagram to the outer circle. Consult your reference image carefully — the angles matter. A line drawn 2 degrees off will not function the same way.
- Draw the crosses or X marks at their specified positions. Each cross should be drawn in a single motion, no pause, no hesitation.
- Inscribe the outer characters around the circumference. These are variations of angelic or Enochian script, adapted for Goetic use. The Lemegeton manuscript shows them clearly. Do not guess. Copy exactly.
- Consecrate the seal by passing it through incense smoke (frankincense or sandalwood) and saying the appropriate invocation from the Ars Goetia.
One detail that surprises new practitioners: the seal is not “charged” during its creation. It is simply drawn correctly. The charging occurs during the ritual evocation itself, when the spirit’s presence activates the symbol. A seal drawn without the proper materials and timing may still function, but it will require more effort to activate.
“You can print the seal from the internet.”
You can, but it will function as a decorative image, not a ritual tool. The process of drawing the seal by hand, with focused intent and the correct materials, is part of the binding. The ink must be physically applied by the operator. No printer, no digital reproduction, no tracing. Your hand must move the line.
“The seal protects you from the spirit.”
It does not. The seal binds the spirit to a specific point for communication. Protection comes from the circle you stand within, not from the seal. Never confuse the two functions. Malphas is a Grand President, not a servant. He will not attack you, but he will also not be constrained by a piece of paper. The seal is an invitation and a focusing tool, not a cage.
“All 72 seals use the same format.”
False. Each seal has a unique geometric structure. Malphas’s seal resembles Asmodeus’s in its use of the hexagram, but the character placement and line intersections differ. Treat each seal as a distinct entity. Do not assume familiarity with one gives you mastery of another.
“The seal must be destroyed after use.”
This is a modern invention, not a grimoire requirement. The Lemegeton provides no instruction to destroy seals. They are kept for reuse. Some practitioners burn them out of caution, but the original tradition preserves them. We keep ours folded in a silk cloth, stored with the ritual tools. They accumulate power over time.
Malphas’s seal shares structural DNA with those of Baal (the first spirit, who also uses a hexagram) and Asmodeus (the 32nd spirit, who uses concentric circles and crosses). But where Baal’s seal emphasizes the central point and Asmodeus’s uses multiple rings, Malphas’s is the most geometrically balanced of the three. It feels stable to the eye. This balance reflects Malphas’s nature: he builds structures, he does not destroy them.
The seal of Paimon (the 9th spirit) uses a single line that spirals inward. The seal of Buer (the 10th) uses five circles arranged like the five points of a pentagram. Malphas’s seal sits between these extremes: complex enough to hold a Grand President’s attention, simple enough to be drawn in a single session without error.
FAQ
Can I use a different ink color for the seal of Malphas? Black is non-negotiable for Goetic seals. The color represents binding and limitation. Colored inks work for angelic or planetary seals but not for infernal spirits.
What happens if I make a mistake while drawing the seal? Start over. A single error in the geometry breaks the seal’s function. The paper cannot be corrected. Keep extra paper on hand.
Do I need to be in a specific ritual state to draw the seal? Yes. The grimoires require the operator to be fasting, clean, and abstaining from sex for three days prior. Modern practitioners vary, but most agree that a state of focused calm is essential. No alcohol, no distraction.
Can I use the seal as a tattoo? Historically, no. The seal is a temporary tool meant for ritual use, not permanent body modification. If you choose to tattoo it, understand that you are binding the spirit to your body permanently. This is an advanced practice with consequences most sources do not discuss.
The Seal of Malphas is a practical tool, not a mystical artifact. It works because it was designed to work, by practitioners who understood that geometry and intention create channels between worlds. Draw it correctly, use it properly, and the spirit will respond. Draw it carelessly, and you will own a piece of paper with some lines on it.
For further study, consult our complete guide to Goetic demonology and the glossary of Goetic symbols and their meanings. If you wish to work specifically with Malphas, our practical guide to Malphas covers the full evocation procedure and what to expect when the crow speaks.