JEANETTE RIDENOUR SNYDER
(1901-1992)Norma Curry writes:
I would love to post a memorial to my first astrology teacher, Jeannette Ridenour Snyder, from Lansing, Michigan. I met Jeannette while a student at Michigan State University. When a male friend who had visited San Francisco brought back a copy of a personal horoscope for me I read it, using one of the popular books at the time.
In the back of that book was a list of astrologers, and I found one listed in nearby Lansing, Michigan. She suggested that if I wanted to learn more I could attend the next meeting of the Michigan Federation of Astrologers. I was excited to learn that at long last, after reading dozens of books on astrology, I could finally meet with a group of real astrologers.
I attended that first meeting and quietly listened to everyone, walked around the room, situated myself here and there, to listen to the various astrologers. It didn't take long before I was inexorably drawn to one particular astrologer; a beautiful woman with white hair styled perfectly, in a twist on the back of her head. She had a very lovely smile.
When the time was right, and no one was talking to her for a moment, I slipped next to her, extended my hand, introducing myself, and asking her, "When can I start studying astrology with you?" She replied, "When do you want to begin?" And that was the beginning of a lifelong, loving relationship beyond teacher and student, between two good friends.
I spent so many hours with Jeannette at her house in Lansing, talking with her, meeting wonderful astrologers, perusing the Michigan Federation of Astrologers library that she kept in one room of her home, and getting to know her family, her friends, her dogs and her cats, her beautiful backyard garden, an oasis in the middle of downtown Lansing. I recall browsing through old copies of AFA journals in the library, then sharing a cup of tea with Jeannette.
She was a kind astrologer who tried to make people's lives better with astrology. An Aries sun, she could zap you with a sharp observation now and then, but her Cancer moon and Mercury and Venus in Pisces usually softened the blow with soothing words and a cup of tea immediately after she'd zapped you.
One particular astrological memory stands out for me. I was struggling with the issue of going to law school. I had been accepted at the new law school in Lansing and was excited about that, but something was nagging in my gut that didn't feel right about this choice. I had to make a decision on this matter very quickly and just didn't know what to do.
Jeannette invited me to have lunch with her and one of her friends. She didn't tell me who this friend was or any more about this luncheon meeting until I arrived to learn that we were having lunch with a Supreme Court Justice for the State of Michigan. I was awed that this very important man was not only a client of Jeanette's, but counted himself as her friend. He strode in to the restaurant with a somewhat unusual but majestic gait, and sat down to join us. During lunch he told me that Jeannette had invited him to lunch because I was debating about whether to pursue a career in the law, or to stay focused on astrology. She had figured he might be a good person to consult on this issue.
Throughout the long lunch he shared his story with me. He was a Korean War veteran who had lost both of his legs in the war, returned home a sad sack of self-pity. He didn't want to do anything, go anywhere, just sat around and felt sorry for himself. His mother, a client and friend of Jeannette's, took him to Jeannette to get his horoscope delineated.
Jeannette told him that he had the perfect chart for a career in the law and that he should take his G.I. Bill money, go to college, and pursue a law degree. She told him that he would become a very influential person in the legal field. And so he did just that. Not only did he become Supreme Court Justice of the State of Michigan, but he was a very influential person in Michigan and national politics. His majestic gait came from two artificial legs that he had at long last mastered, allowing him to rise from years in a wheelchair and to stride regally into a room.
At the end of his personal story he turned to me and said, "Jeannette tells me you are debating whether or not to pursue a law degree right now. She also tells me that you are a very fine astrologer. Now, I am sure that you would be an excellent lawyer. From our brief time together I can tell that you have an exceedingly sharp mind and a good way with words, all necessary for a good lawyer. But if I know one thing for sure, it is that there are lots of good lawyers, and very few good astrologers. If I had to choose I would say that you could probably do more good in the world as an astrologer. This one (Jeannette) sure did for me!"
And so I withdrew my application to law school and stuck it out with astrology, adding many twists and turns in my journey in the many years hence that pivotal luncheon meeting. Jeannette had quietly railroaded me into what she had already known about me, and given me one of my fondest memories, too.
In later years Jeannette and I had the opportunity to speak at some of the same conferences. That was always special for me. One that I remember particularly was the conference in Seattle we had for Marc Edmund Jones 90th birthday. When I moved from Michigan to New Mexico in the early 1970's our friendship switched to phone calls and letters, with but a few visits, but remained strong. Jeannette was a good friend and always there for me to talk to, to counsel me, to support me, when I needed it. I did not get back to Michigan but once in later years.
Jeannette remained in good health until late fall of 1991 when she began to experience some kind of intestinal blockage. In spring 1992, before her birthday, she had phoned me and told me she was very tired, tired of trying to fight, tired of the pain. I suggested that when she was tired enough she would know and then she would stop fighting and let go.
Jeannette was born on March 26, 1901, at 3:49 PM in Bay City, Michigan, and she stopped fighting on March 27, 1992, at 7:56 AM, in Lansing, Michigan. I miss her every day.
She was the best kind of teacher; one who knew when to push me on, to learn from others. I remember how frustrated she would get when I would deluge her with questions, my Mercury in Sagittarius always working overtime. She would demur that her Mercury in Pisces just couldn't keep up with my lightening bolt mentality. She needed a day or two to "think about it." Sure enough, a few days later she would have an answer for me.
For those of you who like to look at nodal connections we had two very interesting bonds: her moon was conjunct my north node and my sun was conjunct her north node. Just as I instantly knew she was the one person in that room full of astrologers who should teach me, I feel her with me even now.
In loving memory,
Norma Gremore Curry
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