2. Agares

Rank: Duke
Ruling Angel: Ieliel

Associated Symbols: Crocodiles, old men, goshawks, hawks

Associated Colours: Deep blood red and green

Suggested Offerings: Red sandalwood, mandrake, carnation, mugwort, myrrh, copper, sandalwood

Warnings: -

Enn of Agares: Rean Ganen Ayar Da Agares

Agares, also known as Agreas in some texts, is the second spirit listed in the Ars Goetia of the Lesser Key of Solomon. He is a Duke of Hell, commanding 31 legions of infernal spirits. Agares causes earthquakes, returns fugitives, and teaches languages.

Historical Origins and Mythological Background

The name Agares comes from the Latin verb agare, meaning "to act" or "to do." This etymology reflects his active nature. Grimoires describe Agares as a demon of action who can shift circumstances, initiate events, and create urgency.

Medieval demonology classified Agares as a fallen angel from the order of Virtues. The Virtues bestowed strength and courage, attributes that remain in Agares' current role as a demon who motivates the stagnant and returns those who have strayed. His transformation from holy entity to demon follows the common pattern of demonizing ancient spiritual beings in Christian texts.

Appearance and Iconography

The Ars Goetia depicts Agares as an elderly man of fair complexion, riding a crocodile and carrying a goshawk. The crocodile represents power, resilience, and primal natural forces, reflecting his dominion over earth and earthquake abilities. The goshawk symbolizes precision, speed, and control, connecting to his swift situation manipulation, fugitive tracking, and guidance abilities.

The combination of an elderly man with fearsome animals shows Agares as a spirit of contrasts, gentle yet forceful, wise yet formidable. His elderly appearance conveys wisdom and calm, while the crocodile and goshawk represent his capacity for chaos and destruction.

Powers and Abilities

Agares can make runaways or fugitives return, whether physical persons or metaphorical concepts like lost opportunities or forgotten goals. He proves useful when something has been lost, a person, object, or state of mind, and needs recovery or re-establishment.

Agares teaches all languages and tongues. His linguistic expertise extends beyond language acquisition to interpersonal communication, diplomacy, and persuasion.

Agares controls the earth and can cause earthquakes and ground shifts, representing his ability to instigate deep life or environmental changes. He breaks stagnation and brings transformation.

Agares can destroy spiritual and temporal dignities, helping dismantle power structures or hierarchies that no longer serve the practitioner. This assists those seeking to overthrow oppressive authorities or escape restrictive situations.

Summoning Agares: Ritual and Offerings

Summoning Agares requires careful preparation. His sigil from the Lesser Key of Solomon is the ritual's focal point. Practitioners chant his enn ("Rean ganen ayar da Agares") to draw his presence and match his energies.

Practitioners must be clear in their intentions when calling Agares, especially for returning lost people or opportunities. His language expertise suits contexts requiring communication, such as negotiations, learning endeavors, or persuasive situations.

Offerings to Agares can reflect his symbolic associations. The goshawk suggests flight and precision-related items like feathers, small animal bones, or bird representations. The crocodile's earth and water connections suggest earth-colored candles (greens and browns) or water-related items like seashells or salt. Learning-related offerings such as books, parchment, or writing instruments suit his linguistic expertise.

Planetary and Elemental Associations

Agares associates with Venus, which governs love, beauty, and relationships. For Agares, this Venusian energy focuses on harmonizing communication and restoring balance to fractured relationships rather than romance. Venus improves his language-teaching abilities by encouraging connection, understanding, and cooperation.

Elementally, Agares links to Fire, reflecting his control over transformative forces and ability to inspire action and passion. Fire embodies transformation, energy, and creativity, attributes Agares can impart to summoners. This elemental connection improves his communication facilitation and change-bringing abilities.

Practical Applications in Magic

Agares' powers apply to various magical workings. His ability to return fugitives and restore lost things proves useful in reconciliation spells, both with people and circumstances. When someone has drifted from a friendship or relationship, Agares can bridge the gap and encourage their return. When opportunities seem lost, he can revitalize stagnant energies and guide practitioners toward recovery.

His language mastery suits students, travelers, and those in communication-focused fields like diplomacy, writing, and business negotiation. Agares can help master new languages, improve public speaking skills, or resolve misunderstandings through better communication.

For those facing oppressive power structures, Agares' dignity-destroying ability can dismantle hierarchies or challenge authority figures. This helps in workplaces or social settings with unfair power dynamics.

Warnings and Precautions

While Agares is generally benevolent and wise, his earth power and earthquake abilities should not be underestimated. When summoning him, remain grounded and focused, as his energy can overwhelm if approached carelessly. Avoid summoning Agares frivolously or without clear intent, as he prefers working with those having genuine needs and goals.

Respect and proper preparation ensure successful summoning. Offering gifts and maintaining clear, respectful communication with Agares creates a harmonious relationship.

Conclusion

Agares possesses abilities from teaching languages and improving communication to returning lost individuals or opportunities. He is an ally for practitioners seeking movement, change, and understanding. His earth connection and wisdom in action matters suit personal transformation and success when approached with respect and clear intent.

Attributes