In the words of the immortal Keanu Reeves: Whoa. The most recent fandom theory is that it symbolizes a near-death or Tantric sex experience to unify the worlds of the living and the dead, and thus to reveal the secrets of the universe. Though it resembles the alchemical symbol for mercury, its meaning remains a mystery. Those who believe in Mu also believe in Lemuria, Atlantis and maybe even the Easter (Island) Bunny. The last remnants are said to be the primitive statues at Easter Island. Plant says the symbol he created was drawn from sacred symbols of the ancient Mu civilization, a fantastical place that supposedly existed until 14,000 years ago. Plant’s symbol (circle around a feather) features the feather of Ma’at, the Egyptian goddess of justice and fairness. At a stop in Pittsburgh, the band noticed it was also the emblem of Ballantine beer. It also mysteriously appears on the cover of a book about the Rosicrucians.īonham’s symbol (three interlocking circles) came from the same book, and Bonham just liked it (though Plant says the circles symbolize the man-woman-child trilogy). John Paul Jones’ symbol (circle over three interlocking ovals) was found in a book of runes and purportedly represents a person who is both confident and competent. Then we were to come back together and present our symbols.' I had to talk like hell to get that one done.'Īdds Robert Plant: 'Each of us decided to go away and choose a metaphysical type of symbol which somehow represented each of us individually–be it a state of mind, an opinion, or something we felt strongly about, or whatever. Names, titles and things like that do not mean a thing. The symbols came about because the band (Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham) decided their 1971 album couldn’t be called 'Led Zeppelin IV.' Jimmy Page explains on 'Led Zeppelin: The Black Mountain Side' ( /zeppelin/d-iv.html): 'We decided that on the fourth album, we would deliberately play down the group name, and there wouldn’t be any information whatsoever on the outer jacket. It’s obvious the members of the band didn’t.

Though it makes you wonder, Nick, don’t take those symbols too seriously. Songbird, singing in a tree by the brook replies:

But could you tell me the origins of the occult symbols on Led Zeppelin’s fourth album? The one with “Stairway” on it ? I heard Jimmy Page, my hero, was into the occult in a strange way, and maybe you could help me with some of those connections between the occult and musical ability, too.

Dear Straight Dope: I read that you didn’t want to be asked to explain “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin, and that’s fair enough.

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