Rich Humbert, Great Astrologer and Spiritual Brother, Has Passed Into Devachan

by Robert Wilkinson

A good friend and member of our community has died. Rich Humbert of Celestial Weather just checked out after a stroke laid him low in late October. More about this remarkable Aquarian and spiritual astrologer below the break.

He’s had cancer for a while, and as his wife Nikki offered, it has been “a time when he continued to reveal his Buddha colors of resilience, grace and generosity, those traits we know through his weekly writing. Until the end, his perception, and refined intelligence held us all in steady hands.” Celestial Weather was high level astrological material, written so it was easy to understand, and as consistent as the sunrise. He was clear and sharp in his writing, as well as his assessment of people and situations. We are told he passed over the morning of November 6.

Which brings us to his remarkable journey from being a “lean mean killing machine” (as we used to joke about it) to a spiritual astrologer held in high regard around the world. According to his bio, he was a Marine in 1962, and while browsing the Oceanside public library's unusually large collection of occult books, Annie Besant's writing flipped on his spiritual switch. (In an interesting “coincidence” likely involving Jupter, her work also launched me into the Ageless Wisdom in 1974.) After a brief flirtation with music in the late 60's, he taught himself how to cast a horoscope and started the life-long process of learning astrology.

He began meditating after receiving a mantra from the venerable Swami Satchidananda. He studied and then taught yoga under the auspices of the Integral Yoga Institute, as well as at Lorton Prison “as well as at more liberated settings.” Here I have to ask who else needs “liberated settings” more than prisoners? This was a true blessing for those prisoners. On a side note, Ram Dass’ “Prison Project” got GREAT results helping inmates meditate.

His story continues: Fate brought him employment at the AFA in Washington, D.C. in the early 1970's. Their vast library and the steady flow of major astrologers of the day was a priceless learning resource. He was extremely fortunate to study several years with the late Barbara Watters, the foremost political astrologer of that time.

Celestial Weather began in the late 1970's as a weekly radio spot on WHFS-FM in Washington D. C. During the 70s he had an active counseling practice, and then in 1978 he decided he needed to take care of “the material plane” (which he says results from no earth in his chart). So he started a computer-consulting firm, during which time his study of astrology and meditative work continued privately.

After moving to Los Angeles in 1995, he resumed active work in astrology and soon began to study with Marion March, celebrated author, founder of the UAC conferences and Aquarius Workshops. He revived Celestial Weather in the summer of 1998 as a web site and free subscribed weekly mailing which grew to 2000 subscribers fairly quickly.

In 1999 he resumed teaching astrology by co-teaching a series of master classes with Marion March until the time of her death in 2001. He developed his own "Turning Points" classes in predictive methods for advanced students. He was born January 22nd, 1943 at 8:34am in New York City.

I met Rich when he attended a few of my talks and classes in Los Angeles in the mid-90s, very soon after he got back to LA. He was gruff, pretty crusty, and as brilliant a man as I’ve ever met. He had no problem nailing sloppy thinking and unsupported assertions (which is of course why we had an instant affinity!) After hanging out with him for a while, I found out that beneath the non-nonsense very “Marine attitude” exterior beat the heart of a truly compassionate and HIGHLY aware Aquarian who was extraordinarily sensitive and had an enlightened view of many things, both material and spiritual.

In 1997 my book A New Look At Mercury Retrograde came out, and was extraordinarily well received with global rave reviews (except for one who wound up apologizing for writing a review of a book I never wrote). Rich and I were pretty tight then, and at Marion March’s funeral he asked me about the book and I told him about all the great reviews that had come in from other countries during the year after publication. He laughed, and told me they were all done by Marion March for various publications, regardless of the byline. The publisher sent her a copy since she was a reviewer, and she wrote a glowing review that went global. So I suppose the fix was in, from a spiritual angle!

After 1997, we both got pretty busy with our web writings, I moved to Northern California just after her funeral for a couple of years, and we didn’t see each other as much as before. Then, in another interesting “coincidence,” in 2005 Rich married his wife Nikki within a week of my own wedding at the same church in Santa Monica! I got the invitation, and busted out laughing, since of course a master astrologer would find the perfect time to be married, and we both hit the same narrow window in the early Summer of 2005 without any coordination. Yes, they were GREAT marriage charts, given both couples have been together since then!

So we’ve lost a great light and great Soul. He obviously fulfilled his Dharma, since in my opinion there is no higher calling and no more worthy life than being a spiritual astrologer. There was nothing “coffee table” or superficial about Rich or his work. He walked the walk in a profession where a truly spiritual astrologer is a rare thing. Being fearless AND compassionate made him a tremendous force for good in our world, and though gone, his memory will live for many years in many hearts.

Today we’ll close this celebration of a Great Spirit with something his wife sent to all his friends, clients, and subscribers. It was written by Samantha Cameron. As Nikki was his mate for life, here’s a short peek through a crack in the door of a man for all seasons.

A great light has gone from our sight, but not from our hearts. There, he remains, reminding us to walk our road, listening to the wisdom of our starry firmament. He would say, “Blow minds and awaken hearts!” We shall do so, knowing we carry his light somewhere within. Like you, I shall miss his guidance, his amazing ability to see different ways of looking at difficulty, then offering practical directional-advice. He delivered with tantalizing wit, mixed with knowledge and compassion.

New Frontier

Somewhere, out on the edge

Of invisible geography,

Rich waves farewell

Pivots toward the bright shore,

Heart fresh, Spirit-high,

To return to his house of belonging.

Released by ghosts

Blessed by love

Illuminated in courageous enthusiasm

He strides on

Holding those who love

In the memory of quiet loyalty.

Semper Fi, Brother. Thanks for your service. “Blow minds and awaken hearts” indeed! You are Love Itself.

Comments

A very moving post that is full of love, memories and recognitions. Thanks for sharing this intimate review. My heart goes out to you and to Nikki in these difficult days.

Blessings be to you three.

Posted by: Nic | November 24, 2017 at 04:56 AM

Hi all - In answering one of our community in another forum, I offered this: Thanks, Susan. Rich was a truly great spirit. Tough as nails, as truly compassionate as the best I've known, straight as an arrow, utterly honorable, and a mature spiritual adult. Nothing prudish (he was a jarhead, remember!), but morally and ethically clear and clean. If there were more men like him in our world, we wouldn't have the problems we read about on a daily basis.

Posted by: Robert | November 24, 2017 at 07:25 AM

Hi again - In response to condolences at the social media site, I offered something to contemplate. "The world's gain while he was here, the world's loss that he's gone. The world's blessing his work was solid and lasting. He came and went like all of us, while living life to the fullest. He put Spirit first, and all else unfolded perfectly. That doesn't mean he led a pain free life. None of us do. But he lived well, and created a worthy life. What more could we want?"

This is within all our grasp, IF we put Spirit first, so that all other things unfold naturally according to our Higher Self's way of growth.

Posted by: Robert | November 25, 2017 at 09:49 AM