Some Thoughts about Sydney Omarr, and The State of Astrology

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Some Thoughts about Sydney Omarr, and The State of

Astrology

Saturday, January 11, 2003

 

Earlier this week it was reported that astrologer and

journalist Sydney Omarr had died at the age of 76. His

death follows on the heels of the deaths of other

noted astrologers, among them, David Solte’, Marion

March, Charles Harvey, Dr. B. V. Raman, Richard Houck

and others. It is a state of affairs that, in my

opinion, needs to be greatly addressed.

 

Omarr’s birthplace, Philadelphia, is the same as my

own, and I suppose it is for this reason that his

passing is especially poignant for me. It was not

until after I began my astrological journey, that I

discovered that Philly had a long history with the

Celestial Science, going as far back as the 1600s,

according to the Astrological Encyclopedia. In fact,

one of the first American formal astrological groups

was formed on or very near Wissahickon Ave., which I

lived near as a kid growing up. Small World.

 

Everyone that has studied Astrology here in America

has, at some point, either heard of, and/or picked up

a copy of Omarr’s “My World of Astrology” which sort

of chronicles his life and times as a budding

astrologer while keeping his day job as a journalist.

I know that I kind of marveled at how he could

determine the outcome of horse races and the like

through the use of astrology, how he could discuss

someone’s chart without the aid of one right in front

of him, and so on. His world of astrology, helped to

open one of my own for me.

 

According to the Astro Databank program, Sydney Omarr

was born on Aug 5, 1926, at 11:27 am in Philadelphia,

PA, USA.

 

Among the many other things extant in his Astrology,

was the Jupiter-Neptune axis – clearly, a

spiritual/otherworldly signature if there was ever was

one. And then there was the Mercury-Saturn square, a

keen aspect of introspection, strategy and deep

thought. Fellow Astrologer Evangeline Adams also had

the Mercury-Saturn square, and even commented once in

her writings, that Mercury without Saturn is like an

egg without the salt! She, like Omarr, had such a fine

way with such turns-of-phrases.

 

Omarr’s Vedic horoscope also shows his knack for

Astrology; note that in his Navamsa (the sub or

harmonic chart used by Vedic Astrologers to determine

the inner nature of a person), Mercury, the planet of

Astrology, is aspected by Rahu, or the North Node. The

Nodes in Vedic Astrology are regarded as otherworldly

forces not unlike the Outer Planets of Western

Astrology, and are very common to see in the charts of

Astrologers, usually in some combination with Mercury

and the 8th house, such as we see here in case of

Omarr. This same Mercury becomes even more important,

because it is the Ascendant Lord in the Rasi, or natal

chart, and because the Nodes, specifically Rahu, is

conjunct the Moon, which happens to be Gemini. Thus,

we see the tie-in between the Nodes and Mercury again.

 

 

Oamrr’s passing occurred at the time when the Sidereal

transit of Saturn was going over his Moon; this is

known as Sade Sati, or the 7 ½ year transit of Saturn

going over the Moon, and the two Signs that flank it.

Such a time usually suggests themes of loss or death,

either for people around the native, or even the

native him/herself. It is said that a person usually

lives to see two such transits on average, and if a

person is unusually long-lived, they may actually see

three. It is also said that the first one usually

correlates with the loss of those close to us, while

the last one usually correlates with our own passing.

I have studied this transit technique known among the

more classical Vedic Astrologers for many years, and I

can vouch for its accuracy. That Omarr’s

Moon/Venus-Rahu combo was in the 10th house of career

and public standing would not only show his rather

high-profile life and actions, but also highlight his

demise as well.

 

The issue of Age is but one of the many that beset the

American Astrological Community in the new century.

The future of Astrology here, will depend greatly on

what happens over the course of the next 10 years.

 

According to surveys done by various American

Astrological organizations over the past decade, it is

estimated that the average professional, practicing

Astrologer is somewhere between mid-40s to mid-50s in

age, about even gender-wise, white, suburban and

college-educated. It has also been estimated by these

same groups that there is little participation on the

part of younger groups, particularly mid-20s to

mid-30s. Participation by various ethnic and racial

groups is virtually nonexistent. And the pool of such

trailblazers as Mr. Omarr, is growing smaller and

smaller all the time. Over the past 5 years or so, at

least 5 prominent Astrologers have died, including Mr.

Omarr. It is not unreasonable to expect more of the

same in the years to come. What the issue is, in light

of these developments, is exactly what should be done,

to ensure that a new crop of astrologers is ready to

take on the challenges of the 21st Century?

 

Thankfully, there has been much debate and discussion

over this issue, on the various internet forums and so

on. There IS an interest in these issues. And, to

their credit, there is much education in the

Astrological Arts going on by such powerhouses as Noel

Tyl, Jeff Green, Liz Greene, K.N. Rao of India, and

many, many others. There is hope after all.

 

So, in closing, as we say goodbye to Mr. Omarr, let us

also hope that we can say “hello” to a new crop of

Astrologers, ready to take on a Brave, New World.

 

I hope to be in that number.

 

Salaam,

Mu’Min M. Bey

 

 

=====

Mu'Min M. Bey

Western and Vedic Astrologer

mumin_bey

AOL IM Screen Name: JediMu

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