Thanks to my friends at Astrococktail for the link to this interesting article about writer Henry Miller. Miller was the author of several books that were shocking for their times (the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn were written in the 1930s and banned for many years. When I was in high school in the mid-1960s they were published in the US for the first time. Miller is also famed for his relationship with fellow writer Anais Nin who is best known for her works of erotica. His marriage to his second wife June was immortalized in the indie film Henry and June.
According to the article, Miller was approached by noted astrologer Sidney Omarr in the 1960s when Miller was living in California. Omarr wrote a study of the connection between astrology and Miller’s writings called “Henry Miller: His World of Urania” but Omarr also acted as Miller’s personal astrologer for many years as well as a personal friend according to letters he wrote to one of his wives.
The Greek goddess Urania, “Queen of the Heavens,” is known as the muse of astronomy, but in Greek times astrology and astronomy were one science. Uranus, the innovator and radical scientist, is also connected to astrology, and most astrologers and those interested in astrologer (including you, dear readers!) have a strong Uranian component in their chart.
Henry Miller is no exception. His astrological chart shows a conjunction of Uranus to the Moon and Mars, all in the seventh house. It forms a harmonious sextile to his Sun/Mercury conjunction (brilliant mind) which sits on the Midheaven of the chart (vocation). It forms a square to Venus, explaining his unconventional (Uranus) approach to relationships and marriage (Venus) and trines Jupiter, expanding that unconventionality into something that becomes a foundational framework for his life.
In his forward to Omarr’s book, Miller wrote:
“What interests me primarily in astrology is its holistic aspect. The man who is whole sees whole, and for him the universe is an ever expanding universe, that is, a universe more infinite to be part of … Only astrology can reveal this potential reality which is man’s kingdom — or the garden of fulfillment.”
Well said!
For a fascinating look at Miller’s life and times, visit this site.
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Nice article. June was Henry’s second wife after leaving his first wife with whom he had his first child. Henry was also was an astrologer in his own right. In “Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymous Bosch” he has written a lot about it and about a French astrologer who came to live with him in Big Sur and their misadventures before he managed to get rid of him. Henry Miller is one of my favorite authors and eccentric characters. I’ll check out the Omarr book.
I didn’t realize he actually practices astrology. In the letters I read he talked about consulting with Sydney.
Hi Lynn,
Thanks for the article link, love Uma Thurman in “Henry and June”. One thing however. If you are going to post nudity, please label it NSFW (not.safe.for.work). My office computer cannot tell the difference between art nudity and, well, PRon. Thanks.
Oops, sorry Mary.