LED ZEPPELIN AND THE OCCULT
Led Zeppelin's
influences are shrouded in a veil of mysticism. The question of whether their music has occult meanings
is greatly debated. We cannot directly say whether the occult
plays a role in their music or not. It would be up to the
members of the band to officially confirm or deny this fact. In
recent years, they have not been very forth coming about this
topic. So instead, we will include references on this page that
show a possibility of interest in the occult - and allow you,
the reader to decide for yourself whether they were involved or
not. It is believed that they used different pagan and
occult influences in their music, along with references to
Mythology and Middle Earth Fantasy. We'll let the music speak
for itself.
The following links provide
perspectives from different view point. It is not our goal
to determine what is and what isn't, but to provide
resources and allow the viewer to determine their own
thoughts.
Please take note of our Publication Principles.
Please take note of our Publication Principles.
LET THE MUSIC BE YOUR MASTER
WILL YOU HEED THE MASTER'S CALL?
SYMBOLISM IN PROMINENT SONGS
KASHMIR
Full Kashmir Lyrics
Oh let the sun beat down upon my face, stars to fill my dream
I am a traveler of both time and space, to be where I have been
To sit with elders of the gentle race, this world has seldom seen
They talk of days for which they sit and wait and all will be revealed...
A Spiritual Journey. Obtaining Wisdom from the Ancients.
IMMIGRANT SONG
Immigrant Song Lyrics
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs flow.
The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying: Valhalla, I am coming!
Vikings. Norse Mythos. Destruction and Rebirth
HOUSES OF THE HOLY
Houses of the Holy Lyrics
There's an angel on my shoulder, In my hand a sword of gold
Let me wander in your garden. And the seeds of love I'll sow. You know.
So the world is spinning faster. Are you dizzy when you're stoned
Let the music be your master. Will you heed the master's call
Oh... Satan and man....
Aleister Crowley hailed Lucifer as the bringer of love and knowledge to the sterile perimeters of Eden.
He stated that the key to joy was disobediance.
In the Houses of the Holy, such seeds of joy are planted in a garden.
Music, movies, drugs and Satan are all intertwined together.
Music and Satan are harbringers of joy and light to man.
THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME
The Song Remains The Same Lyrics
California sunlight, sweet Calcutta rain
Honolulu Starbright - the song remains the same.
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Time Remains the Same.
The power of nature, like the California sunshine, is eternal.
MORE LED ZEPPELIN LYRICS
California sunlight, sweet Calcutta rain
Honolulu Starbright - the song remains the same.
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Time Remains the Same.
The power of nature, like the California sunshine, is eternal.
MORE LED ZEPPELIN LYRICS
ALBUM ART AND PICTOGRAPHS
-Imagery, Symbology, Metaphoric
and Allegorical
"So mote it be" and "Do what thou wilt" was inscribed on the 3rd album cover. This is said to have a direct reference to Aleister Crowley's Thelema philosophy of "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law. Love is the law, love under will. There is no law beyond do what thou wilt."
The 4th Album shows the Man with a lantern - the Hermit from the Rider-Waite tarot deck. The old man carrying sticks resembles X of Wands in tarot deck. Led Zeppelin: Fourth Album and Wikipedia: Fourth Album.
BAND MEMBER SYMBOLS
Jimmy Page-
Sign: ZoSo
Origin/Meaning: Widely debated/theorized. Some
believe it to be in relation to his Astrological sign
Capricorn, ruled by Saturn. ZoSo - Possible association to
Saturn. Others debate that it's
Page's personal sigil. Never publicly spoken except to Plant who forgot what was said. One perspective on Jimmy Page's sign.
Page's personal sigil. Never publicly spoken except to Plant who forgot what was said. One perspective on Jimmy Page's sign.
John Paul Jones-
Sign: Triquetra with
CircleOrigin/Meaning: A person with Confidence and competence.
Other meanings
(Questionable as to whether these are from neo-pagan
beliefs) - Triple goddess, Lunar phases - Land/Water/Sky.
Maiden, Mother, Crone. Spirit, Mind, Body. Father, Son,
Holy Ghost. Mother, Father, Child. Past, Present, Future.
Power, Intellect, Love. Creator, Destroyer, Sustain-er.
While the Circle usually signifies the infinite and
eternity or protection. Spiritual unity with the
divine, cannot be broken.
Robert Plant:
Sign: Feather within a circle.
Origin/Meaning: Drawn from the Sacred Symbols of the Mu civilization. Red Indian Tribes, courage. Ancient Egypt, symbolized truth, justice, morality, and balance.
John Bonham -
Sign: 3 Interlocking circles
Origin/Meaning: Man, woman,
and child.
HOUSES OF THE HOLY
Houses of the Holy, Led
Zeppelin Cover. Aubrey Powell & Hipgnosis design team.
Album cover The Houses of the Holy: influenced by
"Arthur C. Clarke's novel Childhood's End here hundreds of
millions of Earth’s children gather together to be taken off
into space." - Houses
of the Holy
JIMMY PAGE THE MAGE
Jimmy Page and the Occult:
Something that one might find interesting to know is that Jimmy Page bought the Boleskine House (formally owned by occultist Aleister Crowley) in the 1971 and owned it well into the 1980's. This demonstrated only a part of his interest in the occult and Crowley. It is said that Page also obtained Crowley's manuscripts, tarot deck, and one of his robes. Jimmy Page was a collector of occult books, especially writings from Crowley. In the early 1970's, Page opened an occult bookshop and publishing house called "The Equinox Bookstore and Publishing" in Kensington High Street, London. Shortly after Led Zeppelin started to pick up steam, the bookshop had to be closed down due to the lack of time to devote to it. Page became associated with Kenneth Anger when he commissioned Page to do a music track for Anger's film, "Lucifer Rising," which later fell through. Kenneth Anger and Page shared common interest in the occult and Aleister Crowley.
Something that one might find interesting to know is that Jimmy Page bought the Boleskine House (formally owned by occultist Aleister Crowley) in the 1971 and owned it well into the 1980's. This demonstrated only a part of his interest in the occult and Crowley. It is said that Page also obtained Crowley's manuscripts, tarot deck, and one of his robes. Jimmy Page was a collector of occult books, especially writings from Crowley. In the early 1970's, Page opened an occult bookshop and publishing house called "The Equinox Bookstore and Publishing" in Kensington High Street, London. Shortly after Led Zeppelin started to pick up steam, the bookshop had to be closed down due to the lack of time to devote to it. Page became associated with Kenneth Anger when he commissioned Page to do a music track for Anger's film, "Lucifer Rising," which later fell through. Kenneth Anger and Page shared common interest in the occult and Aleister Crowley.
-Wiki's Info On Jimmy Page's Occult Interest
-An article covering a discussion with Guitar World and Jimmy Page, along with other information:
Jimmy Page and Aleister Crowley: Deciphering the Mage
-Mick Wall, writer, tells his perspective on Led Zeppelin's pagan and occult influences along with Jimmy Page's interest in Crowley.
MickWall: Led Zeppelin.
-An interesting article that details occult music and includes information on Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelins influence in the occult:
Essay: Occult Rock
-Interview by William Burroughs: William Burrough's Interview with Jimmy Page
ALEISTER CROWLEY
Some people say that this band
sold their souls to the devil due to Jimmy Page's deep
interest in the occult and Aleister Crowley's work. Others say
that neither Page nor Crowley dared dabble in black magic, nor
did they worship Satan. Crowley has either been argued to be a
Satanist who practiced black magick and considered "Wickedest
man on Earth" or described as a very intelligent man who was
way ahead of his time, a prolific writer, and merely immersed
in occult life and misunderstood. It is still heavily
debated today. Was Jimmy Page a Satanist or was he just a
curious explorer of the occult and other pagan beliefs? Was it
just a way to provoke a mystical or mysterious essence behind
Led Zeppelin's musical career or is there a deeper and more
secretive side?
Aleister Crowley
Here is a link providing
an online resource of his writings: Libri
of Aleister Crowley
Also: Confessions of Aleister Crowley
Outline of Aleister Crowley's life:
Aleister Crowley started life as Edward Alexander Crowley. Born into a wealthy family whose Father and Mother were both part of the Exclusive Brethren. Because of their more conservative ways of life, Aleister's parents pushed Christianity upon him. Some have said that at a young age he began to see inconsistencies within his teachings and within the bible. He became skeptical of his parents' faith and religion and eventually turned his back on it. This turning point in his life was significant, he then became quite intrigued by the occult life. At the age of 21, Aleister joined the Order of the Golden Dawn. Aleister Crowley is said to practice ritual magic, traditional spiritual practice, tantric sex, drug usage, and belonged to the A.'.A.'., Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO or The Order of Oriental Templars) and was accredited to founding the Thelema philosophy and religion. Aleister Crowley is presumed by some to be a Satanist and engaged in black magick, if this is so then it has never been documented or publicly announced.
Also: Confessions of Aleister Crowley
Outline of Aleister Crowley's life:
Aleister Crowley started life as Edward Alexander Crowley. Born into a wealthy family whose Father and Mother were both part of the Exclusive Brethren. Because of their more conservative ways of life, Aleister's parents pushed Christianity upon him. Some have said that at a young age he began to see inconsistencies within his teachings and within the bible. He became skeptical of his parents' faith and religion and eventually turned his back on it. This turning point in his life was significant, he then became quite intrigued by the occult life. At the age of 21, Aleister joined the Order of the Golden Dawn. Aleister Crowley is said to practice ritual magic, traditional spiritual practice, tantric sex, drug usage, and belonged to the A.'.A.'., Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO or The Order of Oriental Templars) and was accredited to founding the Thelema philosophy and religion. Aleister Crowley is presumed by some to be a Satanist and engaged in black magick, if this is so then it has never been documented or publicly announced.
Here are some links describing his life:
1. Biography of Aleister Crowley
2.Wikipedia's Biography of Aleister Crowley
3. MagickalMind Biography of Crowley
4. Controversial on Aleister Crowley
BOLESKINE HOUSE
Page in Front of Boleskine House
Boleskine House which was
formally owned by Aleister Crowley from 1899-1913. It's said
that the house was originally bought by Crowley due to some
structural and placement conditions that were necessary for
performing the operation found within The Book of Sacred
Magick of Abra-Melin the Mage. It is also said that it is like
Thelemic Kiblah and a focal point for magical energies.
Some background on the Boleskine House:
The Thelemapedia: Boleskine House
HighlandClubScotland on Boleskine House
JimmyPage.co on Boleskine House
Some background on the Boleskine House:
The Thelemapedia: Boleskine House
HighlandClubScotland on Boleskine House
JimmyPage.co on Boleskine House
A video on The Boleskine House:
KENNETH ANGER
Kenneth Anger
Kenneth Anger is a
cinematographer, a devote follower of Aleister Crowley, is
said to be a high level practitioner of occult magic and
that Anger's films are cinematic manifestations of his
occult practices. It is said that he is a Thelemite, member
of the Ordo Templi Orientis, and associates himself as a
living embodiment of Lucifer. Lucifer is a symbol of the
Aeon of Horus in Thelema philosophy and has it tattooed on
Anger's chest. Kenneth Anger was a life long friend to Aton
LaVey long before and after LaVey founded the Church of
Satan. However, he declares that he is not a Satanist and
considers himself a pagan. Kenneth Anger and Jimmy Page
knew each other through their shared interest in Crowley.
To read more on Kenneth Anger:
Wikipedia's Bio: Kenneth Anger
SensesofCinema: Kenneth Anger
KennethAnger.org
The Guardian Interview
Video of Kenneth Anger Discussing Aleister Crowley and the occult:
LUCIFER RISING FILM
Fringeunderground: Lucifer Rising and other Films of Kenneth Anger
Kenneth and the Making of Lucifer Rising.
Bobby Beosoleil and Lucifer Rising
Jimmy Page made a release of his unused version of Lucifer Rising on March 20, 2012.
LINKS
RollingStone: Led Zeppelin
Official Led Zeppelin Site
Facebook Site
A list of interviews compiled into one site
Symbols - 4th Album
Information on Thelema
Rolling Stone's Biography of Led Zeppelin
Official Led Zeppelin Site
Facebook Site
A list of interviews compiled into one site
Symbols - 4th Album
Information on Thelema
Rolling Stone's Biography of Led Zeppelin