In the 1904 edition of The Goetia, S.L. MacGregor Mathers included a plate of the seal of Glasya-Labolas that had been copied and recopied for centuries. The lines were worn, the Hebrew letters barely legible. Yet the seal’s power was not in its clarity but in its geometry. The seal of Glasya-Labolas is a geometric diagram used in Goetic evocation to compel the 25th spirit to appear and obey. It consists of a circle enclosing a cross, ringed by Hebrew characters. Without it, the magician cannot command the spirit safely.
What the Seal Actually Is
The seal of Glasya-Labolas is a binding symbol. It is not a decoration or a protective amulet. It is a tool of authority, a signature that the magician presents to the spirit as proof of divine mandate. The design is deceptively simple: a single circle, a cross within it, and around the circumference a ring of Hebrew letters that spell the spirit’s name. That simplicity hides layers of meaning. Every line, every angle, every character carries weight. A seal drawn incorrectly is not a seal at all.
Where the Seal Comes From
The seal appears in the earliest known manuscripts of the Ars Goetia, the first book of the Lesser Key of Solomon. These manuscripts date to the mid-17th century. The most famous is the Wellcome MS 4669 (circa 1670), which contains hand-drawn seals for all 72 spirits. The seal of Glasya-Labolas there is already worn, suggesting it was copied from older sources. The grimoire tradition traces the seals back to King Solomon himself, who supposedly received them from the angel Michael. Historians place the core of the Goetia in the 14th or 15th century, with roots in earlier Jewish and Arabic magical texts.
The seal entered modern occultism through Samuel Liddell Mathers and Aleister Crowley, who published The Goetia in 1904 as part of the Lesser Key of Solomon. Their edition included a plate of all 72 seals, engraved by Mathers himself. That plate became the standard reference for English-speaking practitioners. It is the version we use in our own library.
What the Design Means
The circle is the first element. It represents eternity, the unbroken cycle, and the boundary between the mundane and the spiritual. In evocation, the circle is also the container: the spirit is called into the triangle of art, but the magician stands within a protective circle. The seal’s circle echoes that containment.
The cross inside the circle is not a Christian crucifix. It is a symbol of the four elements (fire, water, air, earth) and the four cardinal directions. It also represents the intersection of the divine and the material. In Goetic magic, the cross is a sign of authority: the magician invokes the names of God to command the spirit, and the cross grounds that authority in the physical world.
The Hebrew letters around the rim spell the name Glasya-Labolas. They are not decorative. Each letter is a vessel of power. In the Kabbalistic tradition, Hebrew letters are the building blocks of creation. By writing the spirit’s name in Hebrew, the magician fixes the spirit’s essence into the seal. The letters also serve as a lock: the spirit cannot break the seal without breaking its own name.
How the Seal Is Used in Practice
We draw the seal on virgin parchment or clean paper, never on recycled or printed material. The ink is traditionally black, made from soot and gum arabic, though some practitioners use red ink for the circle and black for the letters. The pen should be a quill or a steel nib dedicated to magical work. We draw the seal in one continuous motion where possible, without lifting the pen, to maintain the flow of energy.
The seal is consecrated before use. We pass it through incense smoke (frankincense or myrrh) and sprinkle it with holy water or salt water. We recite the divine names from the Goetia: Tetragrammaton, Adonai, Elohim, and others. The consecration binds the seal to the spirit and to the magician.
During evocation, the seal is placed inside the triangle of art, the area where the spirit is forced to appear. The magician holds the seal or places it on the altar. When the spirit manifests, the seal is shown to it as proof of authority. The spirit must obey the commands given under the seal. After the ritual, the seal is either destroyed or stored in a black cloth, never left exposed.
Every Goetic spirit has a unique seal. The seal of Bune, for example, contains a six-pointed star and a crescent moon. The seal of Paimion features a crown and a circle with radiating lines. The seal of Asmoday includes a serpent and a triangle. Each seal reflects the spirit’s rank and nature.
Glasya-Labolas is a president of the infernal hierarchy, commanding 36 legions. His seal is simpler than many others, lacking the complex star patterns or animal forms found in higher-ranking spirits. That simplicity is deliberate. The cross and circle are universal symbols, easy to reproduce, hard to corrupt. A president’s seal does not need elaborate ornamentation; it needs clarity. The spirit is bound by the name, not the flourishes.
What People Get Wrong
The most common mistake is treating the seal as a protective talisman. It is not. The seal is a tool of command, not a shield. Wearing it as a pendant or carrying it in a wallet does nothing. It must be used in the context of a full evocation ritual, with the proper circle, triangle, and invocations.
Another misconception is that the seal must be drawn with absolute precision, down to the millimeter. While accuracy matters, the tradition allows for some variation. The essential elements are the circle, the cross, and the Hebrew letters. If those are present and the seal is consecrated, it will work. Obsession with exact measurements often masks a lack of confidence in the ritual itself.
A third error is assuming that the seal can be printed from a computer and used directly. The act of drawing the seal by hand is part of the magical process. It imprints the symbol into the magician’s mind and charges it with personal energy. A printed seal is a dead image. We do not use them.
FAQ
What does the seal of Glasya-Labolas look like?
It is a circle containing a cross, with Hebrew letters around the rim. The cross has four equal arms, and the letters spell the spirit’s name.
Can I use a printed seal?
We do not recommend it. The seal must be drawn by hand on virgin parchment and consecrated. A printed seal lacks the personal charge needed for evocation.
What is the purpose of the seal?
To compel the spirit Glasya-Labolas to appear and obey the magician’s commands. It is a symbol of authority derived from divine names.
Is the seal dangerous?
No more than any other Goetic tool. The danger lies in improper use, not the seal itself. Always perform evocation within a properly cast circle and with clear intent.
Related Guides
The seal of Glasya-Labolas is one of 72 in the Goetic system. To understand its place in the hierarchy, read our guide to demonology and the Goetia. For a deeper look at how seals are constructed, see the glossary of magical symbols. And if you are new to evocation, start with our practical guide to Goetic ritual.