31. Foras: a president of the Ars Goetia

How to read the labels Historical what the old sources say. Later tradition what later writers added. Modern modern practice and my own notes.

Foras is number 31 in the catalog of 72 spirits that opens the Lesser Key of Solomon. The 1904 edition by S. L. MacGregor Mathers and Aleister Crowley calls him a president ruling 29 legions, and the first office it gives him is this: Foras gives men understanding of the virtues of all herbs and precious stones.

He is one of the clearest teaching spirits in the catalog, with logic, ethics and the study of herbs and stones. Each part below carries a label for its layer, explained in how to read a spirit page.

At a glance

The 1904 entry

Historical The full entry from the 1904 edition, with footnote numbers and the dash after the heading left out and the heading set in ordinary type:

Foras. The Thirty-first Spirit is Foras. He is a Mighty President, and appeareth in the Form of a Strong Man in Human Shape. He can give the understanding to Men how they may know the Virtues of all Herbs and Precious Stones. He teacheth the Arts of Logic and Ethics in all their parts. If desired he maketh men invisible, and to live long, and to be eloquent. He can discover Treasures and recover things Lost. He ruleth over 29 Legions of Spirits, and his Seal is this, which wear thou, etc.

Foras is “a Mighty President” who appears “in the Form of a Strong Man in Human Shape”. He teaches how to know the virtues of herbs and precious stones and “the Arts of Logic and Ethics in all their parts”. If desired, he makes men invisible, long-lived and eloquent, discovers treasures and recovers lost things. Mathers’s footnote reports that “one or two Codices have ‘invincible’” instead of invisible.

Appearance

Historical Foras “appeareth in the Form of a Strong Man in Human Shape.”

Offices in the Ars Goetia

Historical The offices of Foras, in the order the 1904 text gives them:

• Gives men understanding of the virtues of all herbs and precious stones.
• Teaches the arts of logic and ethics “in all their parts.”
• If desired, makes men invisible, long-lived, and eloquent. Reported as history; not taught here.
• Can discover treasures and recover things lost.

He rules 29 legions. Mathers notes that “one or two Codices have invincible, but invisible is given in the majority.”

Source comparison: Weyer and Scot

Historical Scot’s Weyer has “Foras, alias Forcas,” “a great president,” “in the forme of a strong man, and in humane shape,” who understands herbs and stones, teaches “logicke, ethicke, and their parts,” makes a man “invisible, wittie, eloquent, and to live long,” recovers lost things, and discovers treasures. Both give 29 legions.

Historical Weyer has “Forras vel forcas” and says he makes a man “invisibilem, ingeniosum, loquacem et vivacem”, invisible, clever, talkative and lively or long-lived. Weyer also has him “plenè” teach logic and ethics, fully. (About Weyer and Scot.)

Name and etymology

Historical Forras and Forcas are Weyer’s forms. Collin de Plancy uses Forcas. No meaning is known.

Seal and images

Historical The seal above is Foras’s as printed in 1904, and by the rules of the Observations it would be made in mercury, the metal of his rank. Mercury is toxic, so a modern copy belongs on paper. Why seals were worn, why editions draw them differently and how to study one are explained in seals, circle and triangle.

Later tradition Le Breton’s 1863 plate, titled Forcas, shows a long-bearded old man riding a horse, with a staff in his hand.

Later tradition and modern practice

Later tradition The alias Forcas has caused confusion with Furcas, spirit 50, a knight. They are separate spirits in both Weyer and the Goetia.

Modern Modern writers often present Foras as a spirit of ethics and practical wisdom.

Lore about Foras’s personality, likes or chosen people is modern, not grimoire material; modern approaches explains where such claims come from.

Beginner’s quick reference

Before you burn or handle anything listed for Foras, read incense, plants and offerings.

Practical notes

Foras fits the beginner criteria. He is a president, his offices center on logic, ethics, and the study of herbs and stones, and he has no office of harm.

A question about how to think more clearly about a moral question in your own life, or how to study logic, would suit a first contact. The office of long life is not one I teach. For that, see your doctor.

In the directory, Foras is one of the 30 spirits that fit the beginner criteria.

Try this: one question to study

Read Mathers’s note on “invisible” and “invincible” and compare it with Asmoday’s entry, where the same confusion appears.

What next

To compare Foras with other spirits of his rank, read Gaap and Glasya-Labolas.

Later tradition In the Golden Dawn scheme of the decans, Foras is the day spirit of the first decan of Aquarius, which belongs to the Five of Swords; the night spirit of the same decan is Amdusias (spirit 67).