The first time we traced the seal of Foras onto parchment, the ink seemed to darken as it dried. That was not imagination. The seal is a lock and a key. It binds the spirit to the magician’s will and opens the gate between worlds. The seal of Foras is a geometric symbol described in the 17th-century Ars Goetia, used to summon and command the Goetic president Foras — a spirit who teaches logic, ethics, herbs, and precious stones, restores lost things, and grants invisibility.
Definition: What Is the Seal of Foras?
The seal of Foras is a specific diagram of lines, circles, and crosses that appears in the Ars Goetia, the first book of The Lesser Key of Solomon (compiled circa 1640, but drawing on older manuscripts). Foras is the 31st spirit listed, a mighty president of Hell who commands 29 legions. His seal is drawn on parchment or engraved on a metal plate, then placed under the magician’s feet or on the altar during ritual. Without it, the spirit cannot be bound to the circle. The seal is not a decoration. It is the legal signature of the pact.
History: Where the Seal of Foras Comes From
The Ars Goetia as we know it was assembled from earlier medieval grimoires, including the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1563) by Johann Weyer, a German physician and demonologist. Weyer listed Foras (spelled “Forras” in his work) and gave his attributes, but did not include the seals. The seals were added later, likely from a manuscript tradition associated with the Lemegeton (Clavicula Salomonis). The earliest known copy of the Lemegeton with full seals dates to the 17th century, housed in the British Library (Sloane MS 3825).
The Seal of Foras Design, Explained
In that manuscript, the seal of Foras is drawn with a double circle, a central cross, and four smaller crosses at the cardinal points. The exact arrangement varies slightly between editions, but the core pattern remains stable. The seal is meant to be drawn during a specific planetary hour, usually of Jupiter or Mercury, depending on the desired outcome. Weyer wrote that Foras “maketh a man cunning in logic and ethics, and gives knowledge of herbs and precious stones.” The seal is the tool that forces that knowledge to be delivered.
The double circle represents the boundary between the material and the spiritual. The magician draws the seal inside the protective circle — the spirit is summoned into the seal, not into the room. The central cross is the Christian symbol that was used in the Clavicula Salomonis tradition to assert divine authority over demons. The four smaller crosses mark the four directions, tying the seal to the cardinal points and the compass of the ritual space.
What Does the Seal of Foras Symbolize?
Every line in the seal is a command. If a line is broken or misdrawn, the spirit cannot be contained. That is why the grimoires insist on precise copying. The Ars Goetia says: “Let the exorcist be careful to draw the seal exactly as it is set forth, for the spirit will not obey if the seal is crossed or imperfect.” The seal is not a symbol of Foras. It is a cage.
The standard method comes from the Ars Goetia itself. The magician draws the seal on parchment made from a kid’s skin (or, in modern practice, on virgin paper) using a pen dipped in the blood of a black hen or in consecrated ink. The drawing is done at the appointed planetary hour, facing east.
In the summoning circle. The seal is placed on the altar or on the ground within the circle. The magician stands on the seal or places a foot on it while reading the conjuration. This physically connects the magician to the binding force of the seal.
On a lamen or medallion. Some practitioners engrave the seal on a silver or copper disc and wear it over the heart during the ritual. This is a later development from the Key of Solomon tradition, where lamens are used to protect the magician. The seal of Foras on a lamen does not protect, it identifies the magician as the operator who holds authority over that spirit.
On a candle. The seal can be drawn on a white or yellow candle (colors associated with Mercury and Jupiter) with a pin or a stylus. The candle is lit as the conjuration begins. The melting wax breaks the seal’s lines, and the magician must extinguish the candle before the seal is fully destroyed. This technique is used for shorter workings, such as recovering a lost object.
In the triangle of art. The traditional Goetic ritual places a triangle outside the circle, where the spirit appears. The seal of Foras is drawn inside that triangle. The spirit manifests within the seal, not outside it. The triangle is oriented toward the quarter of the spirit’s planetary hour.
For talismanic use. After a successful summoning, the seal can be consecrated by the spirit’s presence and then folded, placed in a small bag, and carried as a talisman. This is controversial, the Ars Goetia does not prescribe this, but some later practitioners do. The seal of Foras carried as a talisman is said to grant the ability to recover lost items and to converse with the spirit without a full ritual. We do not recommend this without experience.
How the Seal of Foras Compares to Other Goetic Seals
Foras is unusual among the 72 Goetic spirits because his seal is relatively simple, two circles, a cross, and four smaller crosses. Compare this to the seal of Bune (a three-headed dragon with a complex knotwork pattern) or that of Astaroth (a star with many intersecting lines). The simplicity of Foras’s seal suggests a spirit that is easier to control, but not less powerful. The Ars Goetia lists him as a president, not a king or duke, which means his authority is limited. His seal reflects that.
The closest parallel is the seal of Marbas (spirit of mechanics and healing), which also uses a central cross and four small crosses. Both spirits have a teaching function. Foras’s seal, however, includes a double circle, which Marbas’s does not. The double circle is a stronger binding element, indicating that Foras is more recalcitrant and requires a firmer cage.
Common Misconceptions About the Seal of Foras
The seal is not a protection amulet. Many assume that wearing the seal of any Goetic spirit guards against evil spirits. It does not. The seal is a summoning tool. Wearing it outside a ritual context can attract the spirit’s attention without the proper containment, which is dangerous.
The seal does not need to be drawn by the magician. The grimoires are clear: the seal must be drawn by the operator, not by an assistant or a professional scribe. The act of drawing it is part of the ritual. The energy of the magician’s hand and intent is poured into the lines.
The seal is not interchangeable. Some websites offer generic “demon seals” that combine elements from multiple spirits. The seal of Foras is specific to Foras. Using a different seal or a corrupted version will not summon him. It may summon nothing, or it may summon something else.
Foras is not a “demon of wealth.” His office is to teach, to restore lost things, and to grant invisibility. He does not give money or material wealth directly. The restored items are physical objects, not abstract fortune. If you seek wealth, you work with a different spirit.
FAQ
Can I use the seal of Foras for protection? No. The seal is for summoning and binding, not for warding. For protection, use the seals of Solomon or the pentacles of the Key of Solomon.
Do I need to draw the seal in blood? The Ars Goetia specifies hen’s blood, but modern practitioners often use consecrated ink or red paint. The key is that the material is consecrated, not that it is blood.
Can I wear the seal as jewelry? You can, but it is not recommended unless you are actively working with Foras. Wearing it indiscriminately may invite unwanted contact.
What is the best time to use the seal of Foras? Planetary hours of Mercury (for teaching and knowledge) or Jupiter (for restoration of lost things). The hour should be calculated based on your location and the day of the week.
The seal of Foras is a precise instrument, not a casual symbol. It demands respect, exact copying, and an understanding of the ritual framework that contains it. For those who work with the Goetic spirits, the seal is the first step and the last safeguard. If you are new to this tradition, begin with the hub on demonology and Goetia to understand the full ritual structure. Then study the glossary entry on sigils and seals for the technical principles that govern all such diagrams. For a deeper look at one spirit, see our guide to summoning Foras step by step. The seal is the door. The rest is the threshold.