TRIBUTES TO EDIE, CONTINUED
Chris McRae recalls happy times with Edie:
"It is hard for any one of us to fully realize the impact that Edie Custer had on the entire astrological community worldwide. It is only through our individual stories that we begin to understand how much she meant to so many people as she bonded us in communication with each other not only through Mercury Hour but her presence at so many conferences. She was a gal that defied description. Her hearty laugh and great sense of humor lifted all of our spirits and her wisdom calmed us in difficult times. She will never ever be forgotten and so many copies of Mercury Hour will be read until they are tattered.
"I first met Edie in 1979 after which I became a regular visitor at those wonderful 7-Hills Conferences that she hosted. In 1980 we went to Australia and New Zealand together and stopped in Hawaii for a 2-week vacation. We asked our husband's if they would like to join us there, secretly hoping that they would not because we were having such a good time, laughing our way from one mai-tai to another and one scrumptous feast after another.
"In Sidney I convinced her we should take a boat cruise around the harbour and took the picture you see in the yellow dress. She jokingly said not to ever ask her to go on another harbour cruise because she burned the back of her neck and arms from the intense sun. I reminded her that she wanted a tan to show off when she got home. In every country we visited we sought out the best restaurant that served lobster and stuffed ourselves as butter dripped down our chins and handsome young waiters tied bibs around our necks. We had many a laugh about that one.
"Right up to the last conference we attended together, NCGR in Williamsburg last year, she still delighted in spinning the funny things that happened to anyone who gathered around her wonderful presence. I relish the times we spent together and will miss her dreadfully. I know I will be looking around for her at the next conference. She will be there in spirit, if she is not too occupied bonding another community or listening to Vin sing Danny Boy. I love ya', Edie. Until we meet again ..... Love, Chris McRae"
Sylvia Tobias writes:
"While I never met Edie Custer in person, I was a long-time subscriber to THE MERCURY HOUR and felt I knew her very well. We corresponded regularly. She often personally replied to things I wrote to be posted in the magazine. We also formed a working relationship when I began publishing a list of the data submitted to the magazine by its readers. She had a wonderful sense of humor and a love of astrology which permeated the magazine. While she didn't agree with everything that was submitted, she published it anyway (sometimes adding her own comments at the end).
"She had some influence on my decision to use Cosmobiology my work. She performed a very valuable service to the astrological community by helping all of us get to know one another through her publication and having a forum to express our ideas. Most of us didn't have other outlets for sharing our ideas or insights. I learned so much from all the other subscribers and hope some of them learned something from me as well.
"Our community has lost another of our leaders. However, I'm sure Edie will always be nearby in our thoughts and hearts. She has left her mark on astrology in the United States during the 20th century." Sylvia Tobias
Beloved Astrology Friends,
"I first met Edie in New Orleans in 1980. She was SUCH an inspiration to me, fore I did not believe in myself and how much I knew about Astrology......... I, unfortunately, did not have the opportunity to talk with her in the last 4 months.......I WILL miss her, but she is 'At that Big Astrology Conference in The Sky with ALL of Her Many Friends'..........Love and Light," Dotty Jones
Madalyn Hillis-Dineen reflects on Edie's place in our community:
"What can you say about Edie? She was one tough lady who had the courage of her convictions. You never wondered what she felt about any issue and, if you were full of it, she'd let you know. Through the Mercury Hour, she linked hundreds of astrologers around the world into one family. If Al Gore invented the internet, then it was Edie who invented the "mailing list."
"On the NCGR Board, she was a voice of honesty. practicality and integrity. But most of all, she was fun to be near. Wherever Edie was, there was usually a crowd of people around her laughing uproariously. With Edie's passing, heaven's likely to be much more merry and earth a lot less."
Madalyn Hillis-Dineen
Nick Campion writes,
"I only spoke at the Seven Hills conference once, but this was enough to let me see inside Edie's mountain stronghold - or so it seemed to me. Like many people of such energy Edie appeared to be a mass of contradictions - the Queen-Empress who would talk to anyone, the distant Lynchburgian whose ideas achieved a global reach. I am grateful to her for her friendliness and I shall always respect Mercury Hour's readiness to let anyone and everyone speak for themselves. Edie was a true daughter of Hermes." Nick Campion
"My personal connection to Edie was that I was taking a college course on Political Science concerning the Alaskan Government and found that there were many unincorporated towns that could be set up by ordinary people, so I sent the suggestion to Edith, that it would be a great idea to have a site in Alaska where the land could be divided into twelve areas and people relating to each of the signs be studied as well as study that particular sign and house. Edie replied laughingly, that it would be "mission impossible" and added Defiance, after being in this business I don't know of two Astrologers who think alike. It would be chaos." I smiled and agreed without reply, although if in the center was a round house where the stars could be studied astronomy wise by everyone living there, I still in my heart believe in the idea. I've loved her ever since."..... Defiance Gregg
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