Introduction
Glasya-Labolas, also called Caacrinolaas or Classyalabolas, is the twenty-fifth spirit of the Ars Goetia, the first book of The Lesser Key of Solomon. Appearing as a great dog with griffin’s wings, he is ranked as a President in the infernal hierarchy and commands thirty-six legions of spirits.
The grimoires describe him as a master of wisdom and violence. He teaches all arts and sciences, reveals the secrets of time, and bestows invisibility upon the magician. Yet he is also known as an instigator of bloodshed — a dual figure embodying intellect and destruction.
His nature reflects the Renaissance fascination with the dangerous pursuit of forbidden knowledge: wisdom that enlightens, yet corrupts.
Origins in the Grimoires
Glasya-Labolas appears in both Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (Johann Weyer, 1577) and The Lesser Key of Solomon (circa 17th century). In Weyer’s account, he is listed as a powerful spirit who teaches philosophy and inspires homicide. Later versions elevate him to a Presidential rank, blending attributes of scholar and warrior.
His name likely derives from corrupted Hebrew or Latin roots connected to “voice,” “tongue,” or “speech” — aligning with his association with eloquence and teaching. His hybrid form — half beast, half bird — signifies his dominion over both earth and air, matter and intellect.
Powers and Attributes
According to the Ars Goetia, Glasya-Labolas possesses wide-ranging and perilous powers:
- Reveals the past, present, and future.
- Teaches all arts and sciences instantly to those who summon him.
- Grants invisibility to conceal the magician or their actions.
- Incites bloodshed and murder, turning allies into enemies.
- Bestows wisdom and understanding, blending intellect with cunning.
While feared for his violent tendencies, he is also valued for his vast knowledge and oracular insight. His duality — scholar and killer — mirrors the tension between enlightenment and chaos central to Goetic philosophy.
Correspondences
- Rank: President of Hell
- Legions: 36
- Planet: Mars (aggression and command)
- Element: Air
- Colors: Crimson, gold, and black
- Offerings: Wine, fire, or symbols of learning (books, quills, or scrolls)
- Symbols: Winged hound, open scroll, or serpent intertwined with a sword
Preparation for the Ritual
Traditional Goetic evocation of Glasya-Labolas requires fasting, purification, and the use of consecrated tools. The following structure is drawn from The Lesser Key of Solomon and Renaissance magical traditions.
Purification and Fasting
- Fast for three to nine days, abstaining from meat, alcohol, and sensual indulgence.
- Bathe in saltwater or herbal infusion (hyssop or rosemary).
- Recite Psalm 91 daily for protection and focus.
Tools and Circle
| Tool | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Protective Circle | Defines the magician’s boundary | Nine feet in diameter; inscribed with divine names (Adonai, Elohim). |
| Triangle of Art | Space for manifestation | Outside the circle; inscribe Glasya-Labolas’s sigil inside. |
| Incense | Medium for manifestation | Frankincense, myrrh, or aloeswood. |
| Robes and Implements | Purity and authority | White linen robe, black-handled knife (athame), hazel wand. |
| Offerings | Symbolic appeasement | Wine, bread, or a written pact. |
Timing and Setting
Perform during a waxing moon on a Tuesday, aligning with Mars, the planet of will and command.
Best hours: 3–5 a.m. or sunset, when air and fire energies are most active.
Choose a quiet, isolated place. Darkness and silence strengthen focus and manifestation.
The Sigil of Glasya-Labolas
The demon’s seal is an intricate glyph of interwoven crescents and angular strokes, representing flight and intellect. It should be drawn in red ink on virgin parchment and placed within the triangle.
The Summoning of Glasya-Labolas
1. Entry and Consecration
Enter the circle clockwise and seal it, saying:
“By the power of Adonai, I consecrate this circle, that no spirit shall harm or deceive within its bounds.”
Light incense and candles at the four quarters, invoking the archangels of protection.
2. The Invocation
Hold the sigil toward the triangle and recite the classical conjuration three times, increasing in intensity:
“I do invocate and conjure thee, O Spirit Glasya-Labolas, President of the Infernal Hierarchy! By the power of the Most High, Adonai, El, Elohim, and by the seal thou bearest, appear now before this circle in fair and comely shape, visible and affable, to answer truly to my commands. Come thou peaceably, and without terror, by the virtue of the holy names Agla, On, and Tetragrammaton. Come thou! Come thou! Come thou!”
Visualize a winged hound emerging from the rising smoke, its gaze fixed upon you with intelligence and malice alike.
3. Manifestation and Communication
When presence is felt — by sound, shadow, or sudden air movement — speak calmly:
“Welcome, Glasya-Labolas, President and Teacher of all Arts. I thank thee for thy coming.”
State your purpose with precision, such as:
“Reveal unto me the hidden wisdom of [topic], and teach me to discern truth from deceit.”
If the presence feels oppressive, reinforce authority by invoking divine names again.
4. Binding and Dismissal
When your request is complete, command respectfully:
“I thank thee, Glasya-Labolas, for thy counsel and obedience. Depart now unto thy appointed place, harming none in thy flight.”
Recite the License to Depart:
“O thou Spirit Glasya-Labolas, because thou hast diligently answered my call, I license thee to depart in peace and power. By Adonai and the Seal of Solomon, go forth and return when summoned.”
Extinguish candles counterclockwise and erase the circle.
Signs and Manifestations
- Sudden winds or animal sounds (dogs, birds).
- Heat fluctuations or flickering candles.
- Vivid mental imagery of winged beasts or fire.
- Subsequent dreams revealing insights or messages.
Such signs are symbolic, representing the spirit’s influence on the operator’s subconscious or environment.
Modern Interpretations
Contemporary occultists interpret Glasya-Labolas as a force of intellectual ambition and moral conflict — the urge to learn and dominate, even at great cost. In psychological terms, he embodies the shadow of knowledge: the danger inherent in using wisdom for power rather than growth.
Meditation on his sigil or attributes is used as an exercise in confronting one’s destructive intellect and channeling it toward disciplined purpose.
Conclusion
Glasya-Labolas, the 25th spirit of the Ars Goetia, remains one of the most enigmatic figures in demonology — a being of insight and slaughter, teacher and destroyer. His wings symbolize the ascent of the mind; his fangs, the peril of knowledge unrestrained.
To study his lore is to face the duality of learning and power — the eternal question of whether wisdom illuminates or consumes.