Nicholas Roerich (October 9, 1874 – December 13, 1947)

As I have shown previously, this astrological research into past life connections is not an exact science. But then, what would be the fun in that? My lineup of three planets in Aquarius in my birth chart implies that I had multiple incarnations from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th. And my overriding impression is of a string of spiritually-led existences.

This man was in touch with Henry A Wallace, and may have been a guiding light to him. Theosophists claim him as one of their own, and although he was born in Russia, he died in India. He rubbed shoulders with the Nehru/Gandhi family, and he painted pictures. He was also interested in hypnosis… I feel an affinity with him.

The birth chart of Nicholas Roerich is rectified to show Venus at the age he was (26) when he got married. There are two inconjuncts, one dependent on the correct timing, the other not…

Venus Inconjunct Neptune

This aspect means that your attitudes about love and affection are very idealistic, as will become clearer later in life. Also it can be a sign of creative artistic ability if there are other indications of creativity in your chart. And, of course, you must begin the appropriate training while you are young.

This aspect will work out with the fewest problems if you get a great deal of emotional support from your parents and other loved ones. You are willing to serve, help and assist those you love, but you may honestly feel that you don’t deserve to be loved unless you are forced to serve your loved one in some way. This is because you feel that loving someone requires you to make sacrifices and to deny your own needs and that attitude is likely to show up only as a feeling of unworthiness and shyness toward others, especially those who seem to like you. When you are older, you may have severe problems in love relationships, because you feel that you are only good enough for society’s losers, people who badly need help or have severe emotional problems. Or you may find someone who seems to be perfect, who will help you out of your problems, but later turns out to be a disappointment. You must learn to take a clear, objective view of the people you are attracted to and to realize that you deserve a positive love relationship as much as the other person does, for you are as worthwhile as anyone.

When looking at Roerich’s life, I am struck by how influenced he was by his wife’s mystical views. That helps to bring into perspective why he would have been told by the ‘Mahatmas’ in 1922 (telepathically through her) that he was an incarnation of the 5th Dalai Lama. Hmm. That’s the Venus/Neptune inconjunction, to my mind. That’s a very large 6th House he has…

Uranus Inconjunct Midheaven

You need to express your thoughts and feelings, but you often upset the people around you with your words. You seem to enjoy creating a stir every time you say something, but this can get you into quite a bit of trouble with authority figures. The underlying principle of this aspect is the need to balance your individual self-expression and manner of communicating with your need to learn and grow under the guidance of older people.

When you feel rebellious and unwilling to accept anything you are told, you should be allowed, within reason, to have the experience that will help you understand your elders’ point of view. Although you may not always agree with what they tell you, at least you will consider the merits of their ideas.

On the other hand, if your movements are restricted and you have few opportunities to experience yourself directly, you will become more resentful of authority and finally disregard whatever you are told, regardless of its merit.

Certainly you will discover your own routes to what you want in life. Now you need to be given the confidence and encouragement to look for these routes on your own with total freedom.

While doing further research on his relationship with Helena, his wife, I came across this article. In it, the writer discusses the fact that the Roerichs were considered Russian Bolshevik spies by the British in India. That seems to indicate the Uranus/Midheaven inconjunction.

Through fourteen years of researching, thinking and writing about the Roerichs, I could not help but question the real purpose of the Roerichs’ Central Asian expedition. Unbeknownst to me, a Russian scholar by the name of Vladimir Rosov, was quietly helping. Just as I had began my work by living a short time in India and meeting with Svetoslav Roerich, reading through Madame Roerich’s journals and some personal correspondence, searching through the files kept in the Library of Congress and the Freedom of Information Act; researching old micro-fiche, newspapers, and the British Secret Files for facts regarding the Roerichs’ years in America, Rosov had been studying and sifting through all the Roerich documents which had been unavailable to researchers before Gorbachev’s Perestroika restructured the country. The results of his work can be read (in Russian) in his two volumes, whose name in English translates to Nicholas Roerich, The Messenger of Zvenigorod. 

In the first volume, he relates a startling story which answered all my questions and astonished the world of Roerich followers. Since it was already in print, I was able to use it, thereby becoming the first person to tell (in English) the real story of the Roerichs’ four-year expedition. Rosov’s account also provided a new basis for understanding the Roerich’s second trip – during which the United States sent Roerich and his son George, back to Central Asia in search of drought resistant grasses to help prevent a reoccurrence of the disastrous “dust bowl” of 1934. It was this expedition which broke Roerichs’ friendship with Henry A. Wallace, US Secretary of Agriculture during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration, and led to Roerich being barred from returning to the United States.

Ruth Drayer (from the article)

Conclusion (in his own words, in black and white)

Amen.