Jimmy Page, the renowned guitarist from the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin, is widely known for his fascination with the occult. Throughout his career, Page has been involved in various esoteric practices and has expressed a deep interest in mysticism, symbolism, and arcane knowledge. Page's interest in the occult began during his time with Led Zeppelin in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was heavily influenced by the writings of occultist and ceremonial magician Aleister Crowley, who had a significant impact on his musical and personal journey. Page even purchased Crowley's former residence, Boleskine House, located on the shores of Loch Ness in Scotland. One of the most prominent displays of Page's occult interests is the frequent use of symbols and mystical references in Led Zeppelin's album art and stage performances.
Jimmy Page’s connection with the occult is well-documented. At the height of Led Zeppelin’s fame in the 1970s, Page was into all sorts of esoteric spiritual stuff, leading some to suggest that he was, in fact, a devil worshipper. Unsurprisingly there’s very little evidence that Page was in cahoots with Beelzebub, although he was a devoted follower of someone who may well have been: renowned British occultist Aleister Crowley.
Crowley frequently used sex and psychoactive drugs to bring himself and his followers closer to the spirits and demons that he believed lived just beyond the human realm and would occasionally communicate with mortal souls. Despite only hearing a couple of tracks by Led Zeppelin, Lennon had heard enough to give them his blessing, and this likely had a lot to do with the respect he held for Page from his days as a session musician.
One of the most prominent displays of Page's occult interests is the frequent use of symbols and mystical references in Led Zeppelin's album art and stage performances. The band's iconic logo, the “Zoso” symbol, is believed to be Page's personal sigil, derived from a 16th-century grimoire (a textbook of magic). This symbol captures the essence of Page's fascination with mystical and occult concepts, forming a visual representation of his artistic expression.
Jimmy Page and his relation with the occult
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page is considered one of the greatest musicians in rock history. Besides his recordings with the Hard Rock band he also was a member of The Yarbirds and was a respected session musician that played in many famous songs from other artists.
Besides his interest in music, Page is also known for being interested in the occult. Page even bought the Boleskine house, place in the Loch Ness that was once owned by the English occultist Aleister Crowley (12 October 1875 – 1 December 1947). Crowley founded the religion of Thelema, identifying himself as the prophet entrusted with guiding humanity into the Æon of Horus in the early 20th century.
The appearance of the four symbols on the cover of the fourth album has been associated with Page’s interest in the occult. The four symbols representing each member of the band. Page himself called “ZoSo.” 3 The ZoSo itself would have appeared for the first time in the book Ars Magica Arteficii, of 1557, written by the alchemist Gerolamo Cardano, where it was identified like a sigil that consists of signs of the zodiac. The symbol was also reproduced in the Dictionary of Occultism and Alchemical Symbols, by Fred Gettings, published in 1982.
During the tours and presentations after the release of the fourth album, Page often had the ZoSo symbol embroidered on his clothes, along with the signs of the zodiac. These were visible mainly in his “dragon suit”, which included the signs of Capricorn, Scorpio and Cancer that can become the Sun, Ascendant and Moon of the musician.
The cover of the Led Zeppelin IV album is from a painting by William Holman Hunt, an oil painting Jimmy found in the city of Reading, England. The cover was inspired by the letter homonymous in the Tarot Deck The Hermit. Page becomes a character during his fantasy sequence in the film-concert The Song Remains the Same.
Owner of bookstore and house
According to Shady Old Lady, Jimmy Page opened an occult bookshop and publishing called “The Equinox Booksellers and Publishers. “The shop was never designed to make money but just to tick over so it could publish books.”
“Page wrote in an autobiography There was not one bookshop in London with a good collection of occult books and I was so pissed off not being able to get the books I wanted.”
“The first two books from the publishing company side of the business were The Book of Goetia translated by Aleister Crowley and Astrology, A Cosmic Science by Isabel Hickey.”
“By 1979 the shop lease expired and Jimmy admitted, It’s obviously wasn’t going to run the way it should without some drastic business changes and I didn’t really want to agree to all of that. I basically wanted the shop to be a nucleus, that’s all.”
The Boleskine House
Crowley purchased Boleskine House from the Fraser family in 1899. The House at that time was known as the Manor of Boleskine and Abertarff after the name of the local parish. Crowley believed the location was ideal to sequester himself to perform a series of operations known as the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage, taken from a grimoire called The Book of Abramelin.
According to Crowley, in his book The Confessions of Aleister Crowley, in order to perform the operations “the first essential is a house in a more or less secluded situation. There should be a door opening to the north from the room of which you make your oratory. Outside this door, you construct a terrace covered with fine river sand. This ends in a ‘lodge’ where the spirits may congregate.”
The purpose of this ritual is to invoke one’s Guardian Angel.
It requires at least 6 months of preparation, celibacy and abstinence from alcohol. However, it also includes the summoning of the 12 Kings and Dukes of Hell, to bind them and remove their negative influences from the magician’s life. Whilst Crowley was in the process of performing the lengthy ritual, he was called to Paris by the leader of the Golden Dawn. According to legend, he never banished the demons he had summoned, leading to strange happenings occurring in and around Boleskine House.
Jimmy Page talking about it:
Crowley became infamous for stories of conducting black magic and various other rituals while residing at the house; one of his pseudonyms was “Lord Boleskine”. His lodge keeper, Hugh Gillies, suffered a number of personal tragedies, including the loss of two children. Crowley later claimed that his experiments with black magic had simply got out of hand.
Crowley described the house as a “long low building. I set apart the south-western half for my work. The largest room has a bow window and here I made my door and constructed the terrace and lodge. Inside the room I set up my oratory proper. This was a wooden structure, lined in part with the big mirrors which I brought from London.”
He left the property in 1913, moving to a modest cottage for sometime in Dennyloanhead near Falkirk.
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Furthermore, Page's interest in the occult extended beyond music and aesthetics. He actively sought out knowledge from various sources, including tarot cards, astrology, numerology, and ancient mythologies. Page incorporated these elements into his compositions, infusing them with layers of hidden meanings and symbolism. Page's involvement with the occult was not only confined to his creative pursuits but also influenced his personal life. He was drawn to the spiritual practices and beliefs encompassing the supernatural, seeking to understand the mysteries of the universe and the potential power of the mind. This exploration of the unknown led him to experiment with psychic phenomena and mysticism. However, it is essential to note that Page's fascination with the occult was not fueled by a desire for evil or dark forces. Rather, his interest can be seen as a quest for personal enlightenment, a search for deeper meaning and connection with the unseen realms. In summary, Jimmy Page's occult interests played a significant role in shaping his musical career and personal journey. From his fascination with Aleister Crowley's teachings to his use of mystical symbols and references, Page's exploration of the esoteric realm influenced Led Zeppelin's artistry and created a unique mystique around the band. His commitment to understanding the occult highlights his quest for personal growth and a deeper understanding of the mysteries of life..
Reviews for "From Aleister Crowley to Led Zeppelin: Jimmy Page's Occult Connections"
1. John - 2 stars
I was really hoping to learn more about the occult interests of Jimmy Page and how it influenced his music and career with Led Zeppelin. Unfortunately, this book fell short for me. It lacked depth and failed to provide any significant insights into Page's actual involvement with the occult. Instead, it was filled with vague anecdotes and speculative theories. I was left feeling disappointed and wanting more substantial information.
2. Sarah - 1 star
I found "The Occult Interests of Guitarist Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin" to be a complete waste of my time. The book seemed more focused on sensationalizing and capitalizing on Page's alleged involvement with the occult, rather than providing any credible research or insights. The author seemed more interested in creating a mystique around Page rather than delivering a well-researched and informative book. As a fan of Led Zeppelin and someone genuinely interested in the occult, I was truly disappointed with this shallow attempt at exploring the topic.
3. Mark - 2 stars
Although I was initially intrigued by the subject matter, "The Occult Interests of Guitarist Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin" failed to meet my expectations. The book lacked a clear structure and often jumped from one topic to another without providing proper context. Additionally, the writing style was confusing and difficult to follow, making it hard to engage with the material. I had hoped for a more insightful exploration of Page's occult interests, but unfortunately, this book didn't deliver.
4. Emily - 2 stars
I picked up this book hoping to gain a deeper understanding of the role of occult interests in Jimmy Page's life and music. However, I was left disappointed and unconvinced. The author seemed to rely heavily on speculation and unverified anecdotes, failing to present any substantial evidence or research. It felt more like a collection of half-baked ideas rather than a coherent exploration of the subject. Overall, I found the book lacking in substance and failed to provide any meaningful insights into Page's alleged involvement with the occult.