I really do not think it would be 'devil worshiping', it may seem to them, but it is not Satanism.

'Devil Worshiping' is a false concept conceived by the Middle Aged Church, and subsequently, taken in by moderns to be Satanism. Even though Dan Brown's 'Angels and Demons' and 'The Divinci Code' are works or fiction, they contain true elements, which I have looked into.

He was correct on his explanation of Satanic cults. The church accuses heretics and scientists of being Satanic Cults (aka the Illuminati!) Satanic Cults, were in fact, a organization against the CHURCH, not GOD. These were perfectly smart men who saw through the dogma of the Church.

The modern church, putting a spin on it, puts Devil Worshiping as crazy Neo-Nazi Goths (lol), and well, you know....

Satanic Cults are not actually Satanic, they are 'against the church', not 'against god'

Utter nonsenes. Led Zeppelin was just good music and much much more. I'd suggest you play some christian songs backwards. I am not gonna do it, wuahhhh...but I am sure you'll find messages. Just pure coincidences. You always find something when you're looking for it. About the occult inclinations of Led Zeppelin, sure, good marketing strategy. But for me, christianity is as occult as is devil worship. And I don't beleieve in any of it. Now let me get back to play Led Zeppelin songs in church, please.

I think Page and the others are into the occult but,are not the devil worshipers that many seem to think they are.

I wouldn't equate Crowley or thelemic teachings to Satanism per say, although I am far from any kind of expert on the topic I do find the subject fascinating and I have been trying to read up on the Golden Dawn and a lot of the works of Crowley.

It seems that he was more of the ego maniac than some evil demon as many portray, although there is no question he was involved in some pretty dark practices.


Cool topic and cool thread, I will continue to follow and see where it goes

I couldn't really care if they were or not.

They could at least sound like Deicide instead of annoying rawk.

Originally posted by asmeone2

I've heard somebody trying to explain that "Do what thou wilt" actually means if everyone follows their god-given destiny, things run like clockwork, but people tend to convalute that into "Do whatever the hell you want." But I really do not know the finer details of Thelema or Crowley's writings so I didn't want to elaborate.

You look like your on to something.
Typically people only know the first part of something and totally distort what is being said. (Its more sensationalist this way.)

Here is the full quote, "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law" - "Love is the law, love under will"

The latter part tends to be ignored, as it makes Crowley sound like a Christian - no?
Infact, Im sure his image in the minds of Christians is much exaggerated compared to reality - and of course in a negative direction. (You know, "see the glass half empty" mentality.)

Peace

dAlen

Great thread!
I don't have much to offer regarding the symbolism or the occult that hasn't already been said.

I can just share my memory of manually reversing Stairway to Heaven on my portable Welcome Back Kotter record player. My parents wouldn't let me mess with their console stereo phonograph in reverse. My buddies and I would gather around Horshack and Epstein trying to get the speed just right and somebody would blurt out " Holy S*** I think I heard it"

If you would like to hear from someone who has direct experience, read on:

When I was 16-25 years of age, I was heavily into the occult, drugs, and the like. I was also very into Led. (Even got a Led Zep Tattoo). I know- immaturity at it's peak.

One evening during a thunderstorm, me, 2 of my best friends who were also heavily into Led, and 2-3 girls were sitting around listening to Led when the discussion of the backmasking on Stairway came up. My friend, Craig, had a tape deck where it was possible to play it backwards or we took the tape apart and reversed the reels, I can't really remember how we did it.

Anyway, we listened. We definately heard "......Satan- here's to my sweet Satan...."- and immediately lightning struck a pine tree right outside the house we were in, the tape deck shut off, (as all power did), and the stereo kicked back on playing the radio on a local station. AT THAT INSTANT- the DJ said here's some more Zep for ya- and started playing another Zep song. ok WEIRD!

The next day, we went outside and looked around in the light. The pine tree that was struck had a ribbon of exploded bark from the top to the bottom in a perfect barber pole design going into the ground.

From then on, bad things happened in that house to people. Bad luck, fights, theft, hatefulness, just a real weird thing. And my father, who happens to be a Pastor and is a very spritual and good man and always warned me and took me to task about "playing around with things you don't understand", swears one night he saw several shadowy shapes dancing around that tree. (which died instantly by the way and was cut down a few months later)

Coincidence? Maybe. Enough of a fear to know to stop messing around with things I don't fully understand. YEP.

Originally posted by Angry Potato
I couldn't really care if they were or not.

They could at least sound like Deicide instead of annoying rawk.

Sorry, Junior...with out Zep, there'd have been no 'Deicide'.

And I'll bet they worship Jimmy Page. My favourite part of the recent movie 'Metal' is when Alice Cooper talks about all of these fierce Norwegian Death Metal types that ask him for his autograph 'for their mothers'. Haw, haw, haw.

Hey hey, my my. Rock and roll wil never die!

Crowley wasn't a devil worshipper. He created (some claim he copied a lot from others) what he called Thelema, which is supposed to mean "will". It is not so much a religion as a set of teachings taken from most major religions and mixed with occult practices. His aim was to find the truth without all the religious baggage. "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law" is sometimes misunderstood to mean run around doing whatever crazy evil crap you want and screw everyone else. Thelema is a little difficult to understand without extensive study, it's very confusing because it's filled with a lot of symbolism. In studying Thelema, one is supposed to find their "true will". This is supposed to be you deep inner spiritual purpose, not your every whim. This is the "will" you are supposed to do.

Crowley called himself the Great Beast, not because he thought he was the devil, at least not in the evil horned Christian sense. He believed The Beast was one who would bring about a new understanding and enlightenment into the world. Change. The serpent in the garden of eden gave man knowledge and enlightenment. This was apparently perceived as evil by god and followers of him. If you think about it, did he really do something evil to man? (rhetorical question, I don't want to debate that).

Crowley supposedly received what he named "The Book of the Law" dictated from a spirit names Aiwaz, which he believed to be a coded message for future generations. He tried without luck to "figure it all out", though right in the book itself it said he would not, that someone else in the future would.

Crowleys devil worshiping rap came from a misunderstanding of his studies, teachings, and words. His experimentation with drugs, eventually leading to him becoming a drug addict didn't help his reputation either.

Good lord folks, its all about marketing. Nothing exists that we did not create ourselves. Which is more attractive and generates more sales to rebellious, teen record buyers drunk and on acid? It is not the nerd with the pocket protector. It's the guy in the flaming outfit whose record you spin backwards & speaks of Satan. It is certainly better entertainment then Tiny Tim creepily fondling his ukulele.

Did these acid lickers delve into the occult innocently? I will say yes. Did they keep rolling with it when the dollars began pouring in? Absolutely!! From bell bottoms to parachute pants we have all been there. The only reason debates like this exists is the sheer fact the we do not want to admit that we ourselves were stupid. Do I own led zeppelin albums and sing them in shower with all my heart? Hell yes! On occasion I can also be caught singing "karma chameleon", "you spin me right round baby" and "my balls are always bouncing from the left and to the right". It's hard to get ahead of the flock when all you see is ass............



~Hyp