These are amusing. A double Capricorn writing to a judge.

Letter to US District Judge Oct. 21 1956

Dear Sir:

One of my secret ambitions has been to sit on a jury and I felt honored when the summons came yesterday. However, several obstacles stand in the way of my serving at this time.

How long the term might last is of course unknown to me, but each day would be a sacrifice for me right now. I am working from dawn until bedtime to try to get a house ready to move into before the cold weather. My present quarters have no hot water heater or facilities for heating.

For many years now I have found it necessary to live on a diet of raw fruits and vegetables and a sudden change to the greasy devitalized meals of a restaurant would be most undesirable. I have no idea how many meals would have to be eaten away from my home nor if it would be permitted to bring my food from home.

What type of cases come up in the court is also a mystery to me but it might be well to mention the fact that I have long been opposed to capital punishment. It amazes me how long our country will call itself civilized and still cling to it’s gas chambers and collective murders.

Respectfully yours,

Letter to manufacturer of poorly performing electric razor July 22 1974

“…. During my long life I have used many razors including the Schick Flexamatic, Remington, Sunbeam and the Norelco, but this is the first time I ever saw one that actually refused to cut either a whisker or a hair. Again, I have offered it to one of my two granddaughters, who both shave their legs, but they are as disgusted with it as I am.

Regretfully yours,

~~
pictured - Henry standing on his head on top a mountain. I took that picture. I was 10.

Although Henry was had fervent interest in religion and studied throughout his life, we were never taught anything specific to believe. Stellium in Sagittarius, he was wide open to discuss the subject and people commonly were invited to his house to debate.

They showed up in droves. Young men with bibles showed up. Men and women came in pair or groups, and I specifically remember the Hare Krishna coming by repeatedly. They became friends with Henry as did the groups of hippies that lived in the commune type settings that were somewhat common in the era. Henry would travel to visit these various groups…large spiritual families you might say, frequently spending a night or two with them, discussing philosophy.
Continue reading Henry In His Own Words: Double Capricorn, Desert Philosopher and Authentically Interesting Person - Part Eight

That’s a picture or an ocotillo cactus in bloom. As you can see they’re very beautiful. They also make excellent fences.

Ocotillo cactus is very easy to grow (in indigenous areas). If you snip a branch off and stick it in the desert dirt, it’s very likely take root and grow. To make living fence, you only need dig a shallow trench and then hunt up the cactus…respectfully.
Continue reading Henry and His Living Ocotillo Fences - An Interlude

On Metaphysics…

Letter to Gillas June 14 1960

“… One thing that my description does not say is that I am fond of children. In fact, I am beginning to think that it is my most marked characteristic. Wherever I go I am surrounded by a group of children. I love them at all ages and have been told that I am a teacher of children in the new age…”
Continue reading Henry In His Own Words: Double Capricorn, Desert Philosopher and Authentically Interesting Person - Part 6

This is my grandmother, Henry’s wife. I only met her once. She was a Cancer with Venus in Cancer, a Gemini Moon and a stellium in Leo. Henry met her when he was in his early 30’s. She was 19 and they fell in love.

They married and he built her a house. He built her an adobe house, which is interesting in light of her chart which has the Moon (home) square Uranus (eccentric) and Saturn (dirt)!

So she winds up living in this odd mud house with a double Capricorn. Henry was a father figure who provided security to her Cancer sun.
Continue reading Henry’s Wife - An Interlude

Henry was a very early user of dating clubs. He wrote women all over the country in an effort to find a mate. He wrote dozens and dozens of them over thirty years…

Letter to Essense June 3 1962

“…Altho I think I am a pleasant and agreeable person with a smile for everyone, I have to admit that I doubt if ever I could bring myself to smile into a mirror. In fact, I have grown so old and ugly that I avoid mirrors and never peer into one except when I shave…”
Continue reading Henry In His Own Words: Double Capricorn, Desert Philosopher and Authentically Interesting Person - Part 5

Henry on relationships:

Letter to Toombs May 6 1959

“… Sorry to hear of your son’s unsuccessful marriage. However, I think your attitude towards the experience indicates motherly wisdom. My daughter and her husband both have hot tempers and bad dispositions. Neither of them believes in divorce, but they have some terrible disturbances at times. When I see either of them in a bad mood and the possibility of trouble, I excuse myself and go elsewhere. My motto is peace at any price. I try to love everyone and will make most any sacrifice to avoid an altercation.

Letter to “Spencer” May 18 1954

“… Hermits are peaceful and live in complete harmony but it is an unnatural life, and I have come to believe that to be at ones best, one should meet and talk to lots of people…”
Continue reading Henry In His Own Words: Double Capricorn, Desert Philosopher and Authentically Interesting Person - Part 4

With all those planets in Sagittarius, Henry got around…

Letter to my mother Oct.19 1955

“…I am still here in Mazatlan swimming and resting. Now I can walk 30 or 35 feet on my hands. I do this on the beach, just before I swim…”

Letter to Lowther June 7th 1959

“In July I plan to go back to Los Angeles to attend the annual convention of the Vegetarian Society and also another big flying saucer convention. But I am not sure about the race up Pikes Peak yet. It depends on how the pain in my chest develops after I try another climb or two. If it has anything to do with my heart, I may have to stop running up mountains.
Continue reading Henry In His Own Words: Double Capricorn, Desert Philosopher and Authentically Interesting Person - Part 3

These excerpts are all from letters to my mother. My mother is a double Aquarius and you can see the Aquarian themes here. He is making sure she knows he is no impinging on her freedom…and “friendship” is an Aquarian concept.

Henry was born in 1900, so it is easy to track how old he was when he wrote these letters. He is 55 when he can walk on his hands, for example.

Letter to my mother June 14, 1954 (My mother is fifteen here)

“…I thought you might want to visit your mother while they came over. I am not telling you what to do, just asking for information; you just do what you want to do.”
Continue reading Henry In His Own Words: Double Capricorn, Desert Philosopher and Authentically Interesting Person - Part 2

For the new Moon in Capricorn… Meet my grandfather. Henry. Here is a partial list of his claims to fame:

- Spontaneously standing on his head in grocery stores to demonstrate the benefits of a healthy diet.
- Climbing the same mountain 127 times, over a 50 year window, last assent at 83 years old.
- A vegetarian, from the early fifties until he died
- Attending flying saucer conventions
- Oldest person in the 20 mile walkathons year, after year, after year
- Taking me to meet Peace Pilgrim
- Living in a three bathroom, no bedroom house.
- Building an underground house.
- Coaxing the #2 ranked ping pong player in China to his house to play a few games on his homemade adobe ping pong table.
- Having his truck stolen by me.
- Keeping a carbon copy of every bit of correspondence he wrote for more than 50 years, personal or otherwise.
- Never raising his voice, and I mean never.
- Being first in line to volunteer when the first organic food co-op was opened in the city, and being at least 40 years older than anyone else there.
- Sleeping outdoors in front of his house in the desert, ten months a year
Continue reading Henry In His Own Words: Double Capricorn, Desert Philosopher and Authentically Interesting Person - Part 1