The compass point bites into the parchment. The circle is drawn in one clean pass, then the cross, then the characters that look like a child’s attempt at writing a language no one speaks aloud. The practitioner’s hand does not tremble. The seal of Volac is not a drawing. It is a lock and a key.
The Seal of Volac is the specific sigil used in Goetic evocation to call and control the demon Volac, a president of Hell described in the Ars Goetia. The seal is a geometric diagram composed of circles, crosses, and Hebrew-derived characters, drawn on virgin parchment or engraved on a metal lamella. It functions as the demon’s signature and its binding contract: without the seal, the operator has no authority; with it, the demon must appear and answer.
Where the Seal of Volac Comes From
The Seal of Volac first appears in the Ars Goetia, the first book of The Lesser Key of Solomon, a grimoire compiled in the mid-17th century. The earliest known manuscript is Sloane 3824, held in the British Library, dated to around 1640. The text claims to record the magic of King Solomon, who bound demons and forced them to build his Temple. That claim is medieval legend, not history, but the seal tradition is older than the manuscript.
The Ars Goetia lists 72 demons, each with a rank, a description, and a unique seal. Volac is the 62nd spirit, a president who commands 38 legions. The seal appears in the manuscript as a woodcut-style diagram, reproduced in later editions: Reginald Scot’s Discoverie of Witchcraft (1584) included a version, and S.L. MacGregor Mathers’s translation for the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (circa 1898) standardized the design that most modern practitioners use. Aleister Crowley’s 1904 edition, published as The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King, added his own commentary but kept Mathers’s seal plates.
The seal is not a free invention. It follows a symbolic grammar shared by all Goetic seals: concentric circles, a central cross or star, and characters derived from Hebrew, Enochian, or magical alphabets. Each element was believed to correspond to a celestial or infernal hierarchy. The seal of Volac is distinctive for its double circle and the cluster of characters that resemble a stylized face or crown.
What the Seal of Volac Means
The seal is a map of authority. The outer circle represents the boundary of the operator’s power, the sphere within which the demon is contained. The inner circle is the demon’s own domain, the point where it manifests. The cross that bisects the circles is the symbol of divine authority, the name of God that compels obedience. In the Ars Goetia, every seal is inscribed with the names of God and the angels who enforce the binding. The characters inside the seal are not random; they are the demon’s name in a coded script, often a permutation of Hebrew letters.
For Volac specifically, the seal carries additional meaning. Volac is described as “a mighty president, appearing like a child with angel’s wings, riding a two-headed dragon, and giving knowledge of the places where serpents and treasures lie hidden.” The seal’s design echoes that duality. The double circle may reflect the two-headed dragon. The childlike aspect is not innocence but cunning: Volac knows hidden things, and the seal is the tool that extracts that knowledge.
Each character in the seal is a sigil within a sigil. The central cross is not a Christian cross but a four-armed equal-armed cross, a symbol of the four elements and the four directions. The small circles and lines around it are likely abbreviations of divine names, such as Tetragrammaton (YHVH) or Elohim. The seal is a condensed prayer, a statement of authority written in geometry.
How the Seal of Volac Is Used in Practice
The seal is not a talisman you carry for luck. It is a tool of evocation, used inside a ritual circle during a Goetic operation. The practitioner draws the seal on a specific material: virgin parchment (from an unborn animal, according to the grimoire) or a metal lamella (thin sheet of lead, silver, or gold). The ink is traditionally black, made from lampblack and gum arabic, mixed with holy water or consecrated oil. The drawing is done with a consecrated pen or stylus, often a quill from a goose or raven.
The seal is placed within the Triangle of Art, the three-pointed figure that stands outside the protective circle. The demon is summoned into the triangle, and the seal is the anchor that holds it there. The operator holds a copy of the seal in their hand or wears it on their person. The Ars Goetia instructs the magician to show the seal to the demon as a sign of authority: “When the spirit appears, show him the seal, and he will be obedient.”
Timing matters. The grimoire assigns each demon a planetary hour and a day. Volac is associated with the planet Mercury and the hours of Mercury. Operations are performed during the waxing moon, when the influence of spirits is said to be stronger. The seal is consecrated before the ritual by reciting the names of God and the angels written on it. Some practitioners bury the seal in the earth after the operation to discharge its energy; others keep it wrapped in black silk for reuse.
The seal is also used in scrying. The practitioner gazes at the seal while in a trance state, allowing the symbols to act as a focal point. The characters are said to “open” the inner sight, revealing the hidden knowledge Volac can provide: the location of buried treasure, the lairs of serpents, or the secrets of the earth.
Volac’s Seal Compared to Other Goetic Seals
Every Goetic seal follows the same structural rules, but each is unique. Compare Volac’s seal to that of Buer, a president who appears as a star with five rays. Buer’s seal is simpler, with a single circle and a five-pointed star. Volac’s is more complex, with two circles and a dense cluster of characters. The difference reflects the demon’s nature: Buer teaches philosophy and herbal medicine, while Volac deals with hidden physical things. The seal’s density mirrors the earth’s layers.
Another comparison is with Botis, a president who appears as a viper. Botis’s seal has a single circle with a cross and a serpentine line. Volac’s seal has no serpent imagery, despite Volac’s association with serpents. That absence is telling: the seal represents the demon’s authority, not its appearance. The serpent knowledge is what Volac gives, not what it is.
The seal of Volac is also notable for its resemblance to a crown. The characters at the top of the inner circle form a pattern that looks like three points. Some interpreters see this as a reference to Volac’s rank as a president, one of the eight demonic kings under Satan. The seal is a visual statement of hierarchy.
Common Misconceptions About the Seal of Volac
The seal is not a summoning tool by itself. Drawing the seal on paper and staring at it will not make Volac appear. The seal works only within a complete ritual framework: the protective circle, the Triangle of Art, the invocation of divine names, and the operator’s will. The seal is a component, not the whole machine.
Owning the seal is not dangerous. The seal is a symbol, not a living entity. It holds no power unless activated by ritual intent. Many practitioners keep seals as study aids or decorative art without incident. The danger is not in the ink but in the mind of the operator who uses it without preparation.
Volac is not a dragon. The demon rides a two-headed dragon but is described as a child with angel’s wings. The seal does not depict the dragon. Confusing the demon with its mount is a common error in online sources.
The seal is not a talisman for protection or wealth. It is a tool of evocation, not a charm. If you want to find treasure, you do not carry the seal; you perform the ritual and ask Volac for the location. The seal is the means of communication, not the reward.
FAQ
What is the Seal of Volac?
It is the sigil used in Goetic magic to summon and command the demon Volac, a president of Hell who knows hidden treasures and serpent lairs.
How do I use the Seal of Volac?
Draw it on virgin parchment or a metal lamella, place it inside the Triangle of Art during a ritual, and show it to the spirit when it appears. The seal must be consecrated with divine names.
Is it safe to own the Seal of Volac?
Yes. The seal is inert without ritual activation. It is a historical symbol, not a curse. Many collectors and scholars own copies without incident.
What does Volac look like?
Volac appears as a child with angel’s wings, riding a two-headed dragon. The demon is not the dragon; it is the rider.
The seal of Volac is one of 72 keys in the Goetic system, each a precise instrument of contact. Understanding its geometry is the first step; using it requires discipline, study, and respect for the tradition it came from. For a broader look at the spirits and their seals, explore our guide to the Ars Goetia. For the meaning of other sigils, see our glossary of demonic seals. And for the ritual framework that makes the seal work, read how to perform a Goetic evocation.