In this guide

The compass point rests on the virgin parchment. The ink is lampblack and gum arabic, mixed in a brass dish. The hand that draws the seal has fasted since dawn. When the final line closes the circle, the room feels different. Not louder. Heavier.

What Is the Seal of Balam?

What Is the Seal of Balam

The Seal of Balam is a symbolic diagram used in Goetic evocation to establish contact with the spirit Balam, a king and president of Hell according to the Ars Goetia. It is not a decoration or a talisman that works on its own. It is a key. And like any key, it must be cut to the right specification before it turns the lock.

Where the Seal Comes From

Where the Seal Comes From

The Seal of Balam comes from the Goetia — the first book of the Lesser Key of Solomon, the grimoire of the seventeenth century that compiled the seventy-two spirits and their seals. The Seal of Balam is a symbolic diagram used in Goetic evocation: the figure drawn or engraved, the seal placed within the triangle of the art, and the spirit summoned through its own sign. The seal is the signature of the spirit — the mark that gives the operator the authority and the focus of the working — and its form is fixed by the tradition. The seal comes from the manuscript tradition of the grimoire, and its use descends from the practice of the Renaissance magic.

The Seal of Balam in the Ars Goetia

The seal of Balam appears in the Ars Goetia, the first book of The Lesser Key of Solomon, a grimoire compiled in the 17th century from earlier Solomonic texts. The earliest known manuscript, Sloane 3825, dates to around 1640. By 1904, Aleister Crowley had edited and published a version that remains the standard reference for English-speaking practitioners.

Balam is the 51st spirit of the 72 listed. The text describes him as a king who appears with three heads: a bull, a man, and a ram. He carries a serpent’s tail and has eyes that burn. He speaks in a hoarse voice and answers questions about the past, present, and future. He also grants invisibility and gives good familiars.

How Is the Seal of Balam Designed?

The seal itself is a geometric design: a circle divided by lines and curves, with specific internal markings. Each line has meaning. The circle contains the spirit. The internal symbols represent his rank, his sphere, and the authority of the magician who draws it.

We know the seal from the illustrations in the grimoire manuscripts. The design varies slightly between editions. The version in Crowley’s Goetia is the one most commonly used today. But there are earlier copies in the Harley MS 6482 (17th century) and the Wellcome MS 3203 (18th century) that show minor differences in the arrangement of the inner lines.

What the Seal Actually Does

The seal is not a cage. It is a point of contact. In Solomonic magic, the spirit is not trapped inside the seal. The seal is placed within a triangle of evocation, and the spirit appears outside it. The seal is the address. It tells the spirit which door is being opened.

The circle of the seal represents the boundary between the magician’s world and the spirit’s world. The internal lines are the signature of Balam’s office. When the seal is drawn correctly, it resonates with the spirit’s own nature. It is a formal request, written in a language the spirit recognizes.

What Materials Do You Need for the Seal of Balam?

The materials matter. The grimoire specifies virgin parchment (parchment made from the skin of an unborn animal) or clean paper. The ink must be black, made from lampblack and gum arabic. The pen should be a quill or a reed. Modern practitioners often use fountain pens with India ink, but the traditional method is preferred for serious work.

The seal must be drawn at the planetary hour of the spirit. Balam is a king under the power of the East, associated with the Sun and Jupiter. The hour should be calculated for the day of the working. The magician draws the seal in one continuous motion where possible, without lifting the pen. Each line is traced with intention.

How to Work with the Seal: The Practical Steps

Working with the seal of Balam is not a casual exercise. It requires preparation, consecration, and ritual precision. We describe the method as it appears in the grimoire tradition, with notes from our own practice.

Preparation. The magician fasts for at least twelve hours before the working. No meat, no alcohol, no sexual activity. The room is cleansed with a fumigation of frankincense and myrrh. A circle is cast on the floor, nine feet in diameter, with the names of God written around it. The triangle of evocation is drawn outside the circle, facing east.

How to Consecrate the Seal of Balam

Consecration of the seal. The seal is placed on the altar inside the circle. The magician sprinkles it with holy water and passes it through the smoke of the censer. The following words are spoken: “By the power of the Most High, I consecrate this seal to the service of my will. Let it be a true and faithful key to the spirit Balam.” The seal is then wrapped in a clean white cloth and kept on the altar until the evocation.

Evocation. The magician stands within the circle, holding the seal in the left hand or placing it in the triangle. The conjuration from the Ars Goetia is recited. Balam is called by his name and his titles: “Balam, king and president, I call thee forth from thy sphere to appear before me in this triangle.” The seal is shown to the east. The spirit is expected to appear in the triangle, visible to the magician’s eyes.

Interaction. Balam is described as gentle but authoritative. He answers questions directly. The magician may ask for knowledge of past and future, for the gift of invisibility, or for a familiar spirit. The grimoire warns that the spirit must be dismissed properly: “Go in peace to thy place. May there be peace between us.” The seal is then wrapped again and stored away.

Balam is one of four kings under the power of the East, alongside Bael, Purson, and Vine. His seal shares the circular format common to all Goetic seals, but the internal design is unique. Where Bael’s seal uses a pentagram and a crown, Balam’s seal uses a series of interlocking curves that some interpret as the three heads of the spirit.

How Does the Seal of Balam Compare to Other Goetic Seals?

Compared to the seal of Paimon, which is more complex with multiple concentric circles, Balam’s seal is relatively simple. That simplicity does not mean it is easier to work with. The spirit is a king, and the seal carries the weight of that rank.

The seal also resembles the Solomonic pentacles found in the Greater Key of Solomon. Those pentacles are used for protection and command. Balam’s seal is closer to a sigil: it is a signature, not a shield.

Common Misconceptions

The seal is not a summoning device. Drawing the seal alone will not bring Balam. The seal is part of a larger ritual structure that includes the circle, the triangle, the conjuration, and the authority of the magician. Without those, the seal is just ink on parchment.

Balam is not evil. The Goetic spirits are not demons in the Christian sense. They are spirits of nature, fallen angels, or pre-Christian deities depending on the tradition. Balam is a king who offers knowledge and service. He must be treated with respect, not fear.

Common Misconceptions About the Seal of Balam

You cannot use a printed seal. The grimoire insists on hand-drawing the seal. The act of drawing is part of the consecration. A printed seal has no power because it has not been charged by the magician’s intention and ritual preparation.

The seal does not need to be destroyed after use. Some traditions recommend burning the seal after the working. Others keep it wrapped in silk and stored in a box. The grimoire does not specify destruction. We keep ours in a cedar chest, wrapped in black silk.

FAQ

What is the Seal of Balam?
It is a symbolic diagram used in Goetic evocation to call the spirit Balam. It is drawn on virgin parchment with black ink and consecrated before use.

How do I consecrate the seal?
Sprinkle it with holy water, pass it through incense smoke, and recite a prayer of dedication. The consecration must be done within a protective circle.

Can I use a printed seal?
No. The seal must be hand-drawn by the practitioner during the appropriate planetary hour. Printing removes the personal charge and breaks the traditional requirement.

What are the dangers of working with Balam?
The main danger is lack of preparation. If the circle is broken or the dismissal is incomplete, the spirit may linger. Balam is not malicious, but he is powerful. Treat him with the same caution you would treat a king.

The seal of Balam is a tool of precision. It does not work by faith alone. It works by tradition, by the correct alignment of materials and intention. The grimoire gives the recipe. The practitioner supplies the discipline.

For a deeper understanding of the Goetic system, explore our guide to demonology and the Goetia. Learn the meanings of other Goetic seals and how they differ. And if you are new to evocation, start with our basics of Solomonic evocation before working with a king.