ZOSO

The Zoso symbol first introduced by Jimmy Page on the untitled fourth Led Zeppelin album, was lifted largely from Austin Osman Spare's "Zos" drawing. A likely interpretation of Spare's Zos idea had to do with two concepts, relating to the life force in us all, and also the animal or beast side of us all as well. In addition, Aleister Crowley also has a "So is O" concept, found in his book Equinox of the Gods. It is another expression for self-identification with the "beast". Also, if you say "So is O" fast enough it sounds almost identical to saying Zoso. Crowley and Spare knew each other, so certainly there is a connection here, and Page was clever enough to combine the two concepts (which are actually the same in essence) into his one Zoso symbol!

Zoso is not actually a word, but a symbol. But then again, aren't words just symbols of something else anyway? We have given Webster way too much power...

32👍 9👎