Book "Drawing Down the Moon" by Margot Adler

Like his great role model Jimmy Page, Jeff Martin developed a deep interest in occult themes and movements, studying the works of Aleister Crowley and others. His spiritual exploration extended to the Wicca movement, which led him to discover 'Drawing Down the Moon' by Margot Adler—a comprehensive sociological study of contemporary paganism in the United States.

1st Edition of 'The Spiral Dance' by Starhawk

Another significant influence was the female author Starhawk, particularly her book "The Spiral Dance."  Adler’s book was published on same day as Starhawk’s The Spiral Dance, October 31, 1979.  The two books are very different: where Starhawk’s book is visionary and poetic, Alder’s is factual and analytic.  However, the two books are often cited together as the two books having the most influence on the growth of contemporary Neo-Paganism.  Jeff Martin studied both books, which formed the philosophical foundation for thes song "Drawing Down The Moon.".

The ritual of "drawing down the moon" (also known as "drawing down the Goddess") is central to many contemporary Wiccan traditions. During this ceremony, a coven's High Priestess enters a trance state and invites the Goddess or Triple Goddess, symbolized by the Moon, to enter her body and speak through her.

While the song has this contextual background reflected in its title, musically it draws inspiration from B.B. King's "The Thrill is Gone," representing another connection to the blues—a genre Martin was introduced to as a child through his stepfather.