Legends - Jerry Garcia


 "You ask how we can know the infinite? I answer, not by reason. It is 
 the office of reason to distinguish and define. The infinite, therefore, 
 can not be ranked among its objects. You can only apprehend the infinite 
 by a faculty superior to reason, by entering into a state in which the 
 divine essence is communicated to you. This is ecstasy. It is the 
 liberation of your mind from its finite consciousness. Like only can 
 apprehend like; when you thus cease to be finite, you become one with 
 the infinite. In the reduction of your soul to its simplest self, its 
 divine essence, you realize this union, this identity." 



 - Plotinus, 3rd Century A.D.


During December of 1969, Garcia's Lunar Return (psyche and emotional rebirth), brought about his inner world paradigm renewal while The Grateful Dead started down their next yellow brick road. The Dead released two albums for Warner Brothers, 'Aoxomoxoa' (Rick Griffin cover) and an excellent double album, 'LIVE Dead' recorded on tour, featuring, ‘Love Light’. They packed up and moved from 710 Ashbury to Marin, where they slowly recovered from the ill-fated Altamont concert with the Stones. During that phase, the group attempted to initiate their own San Francisco concert hall on Market Street, The Carousel Ballroom, and they made a go of it for a while. It was in 1970 however as changes began for Garcia, that Saturn’s mantle settled on his shoulders and his Saturn Return began to hold his attention firmly.

JUPITER AND SATURN
Each time both business planets complete an orbit and return to home positions where they were deposited in the birth chart, a cycle closes and "renewal" takes off. Jupiter (expansion, speculation, adventure) completes his orbit under twelve years (11 years, 315 days). Saturn (contraction, frugality, "by the book") takes over twice the time to rotate round the Sun and return to his original degree within the birth chart ~ a full cycle is 29 years and 167 days. You could call them the "Bull" and the "Bear" of your astrological chart when it comes to financial assessment and strategy. When either of these two heavenly bodies "comes home" there is a change in perception about who you are and what your destiny is.

"It is turning nothing into something that constitutes the heroic act. This is also the principle of creativity. It is also the principle of being a god, for only a god can create something out of nothing. This is one reason the story of creative people so often seems to aspire to the sacred." -Howard Suber



Garcia’s only Saturn Return occurred in 1970 at age 29 ½, when the band released, ‘American Beauty’ (includes electric folk-rock staples: Truckin, Sugar Magnolia, Box Of Rain and Friend of The Devil) and their acoustic masterpiece, ‘Workingman’s Dead’, both with Warner Brothers. During this process, Garcia’s diligence and inspiration fueled The Dead’s highly defined commitment to perfection that underscored these aptly titled albums. Both managed to usher in financial and artistic acknowledgment, almost compensating for the loss of their instruments, tax problems and pirating (generally plaguing them during the 70s.) Garcia fanned out musically into several movie soundtracks during his career, including his unique banjo in the remake of the spooky thriller, "Invasion of The Body Snatchers", and in 1970 he worked on Antonioni’s, "Zabriskie Point".

Evangeline Adams sheds considerable light on Garcia’s business planets in their zodiacal ‘garments’: "In Cancer, Jupiter is in the house of his exaltation, and that sign being above all a symbol of pleasure, we may naturally expect that it will bring out the truly "jovial" qualities of the planet. This is undoubtedly the case, the native is good-humored, benevolent, and humane; the emotional nature and the imagination are strong." People with Jupiter exalted in Moonchild: 3rd Earl of Carnarvon, Andrew Carnegie, Jesse James, Franz Liszt, Aristotle Onassis, Mark Twain, Rudolph Valentino.

"There's plenty of boys that will come hankering and gruvelling around you when you've got an apple, and beg the core off you; but when they've got one, and you beg for the core and remind them how you give them a core one time, they make a mouth at you and say thank you most to death, but there ain't a-going to be no core." ~Mark Twain - Tom Sawyer Abroad (1894)


Evangeline Adams on Saturn in Gemini, Sign of The Twins: "The sign Gemini is altogether too airy to harmonize entirely with Saturn; the only quality in common is the intellectuality. But the intellectuality of Gemini is inspirational rather like a child’s, while that of Saturn is the wisdom of age and experience. When both sign and planet are dignified, the combination is superb (as for Dante, "The Divine Comedy"… and Albrecht Durer, one of the most austere and pure draughtsmen that ever took pencil in hand)…" Saturn in Gemini aspects in his birth chart indicate the absent external role model (father) during Garcia’s childhood. Some other people with Saturn in Gemini: John Quincy Adams, Francis Bacon, Sigmund Freud, Kahlil Gibran, Percival Lowell, Jimmy Page, Tyrone Power.

Garcia enjoyed the blessing and benefit of Jupiter Returns approximately every twelve years, in 1954, 1966 (acquired "Captain Trips" jacket), 1978 (‘Shakedown Street’, Arista), and in 1990 (‘Without A Net’, Arista). Jupiter helps us realize our high self soul powers by recognizing the teacher within. Tarot Trump IX, The Hermit symbolically refers to the teacher in our dreams, this same urge for spiritual freedom. When Garcia recorded ‘American Beauty’, during his Saturn Return, he took the opportunity to ask David Grisman to contribute. During Garcia’s final Jupiter Return in 1990 both musicians reunited and assumed an unrelenting agenda. Their pedal to the metal effort to press on to high grade taped sessions continued well into the following year. Both prospered via the award winning acoustic disc releases, ‘Garcia/Grisman’, and ‘Not For Kids Only’. These are essential for any well rounded musical library. An earlier bluegrass pick from the well-tuned team, ‘Old And In The Way’, remains one of the most popular bluegrass albums of all time.

Also during the final months of 1990, Garcia candidly reported some of his quests and adventures through Thunder’s Mouth Press, ON THE BUS. Its a FURTHER look into the madcap exploits from The Bus Trip (1965) and alternative lifestyles during the 60s for posterity wherein Captain Trips combines his commentary for the record with Ginsberg, Kesey, Leary et al.

Garcia's Saturn square Sun aspect in 1972 helped to generate GARCIA - A SIGNPOST TO NEW SPACE, from Straight Arrow Books. But at the same juncture, Pig Pen (aka Ron McKernan), the Dead’s driving bluesman, believing that "...death, a necessary end, will come when it will come" initiated first withdrawals from this dimensional paradigm, flatly refusing to alter his lifestyle one iota and abstain from ‘the grape’. Spring of 1973, Pig Pen took his harp break for higher dimensions; he will forever be revered and loved. Thank heaven for TAPES!!

The unprecedented generosity of these gifted musicians is inscribed on The Western Mountain for all time. The account lists of The Grateful Dead "saving the day" run into the New Era. Heralded by Garcia’s Leo Sun and Moonchild Jupiter, the line up reflects the power themes of Robert Hunter’s Leo/Moonchild perceptions and spirit, supported by the underlying bass from Phil Lesh with his Pisces Sun and Aries stellium, Weir’s dominant asymmetrical Libra rhythm, Kruetzman and Hart’s universal fire and multidimensional solid rock beat. Their higher standards and unprecedented number of free concerts and benefits they played for San Francisco’s alternative culture during the 60s and 70s establishes their record for the most free concerts given by any band in the history of music.

In 1978 Jerry's Jupiter returned to his home position for the third time (spiritual renewal, philosophical renovation) with Luna over Venus bringing up the trip to Egypt where The Dead played at The Great Pyramid. The members in the band went deep and reinvented themselves yet again just as they had initially when, passing their identity tests running the Acid Test gauntlet they acquired the name that guaranteed larger than life rewards and punishments. Once again they experienced a resurgence of personal peace and power. Garcia made full use of the lessons that taught him how to return good for evil, and how to extend a helping hand to all humanity to lift people up through sheer nobility of purpose. This marked his last spiritual renewal before the Dead’s 25th Anniversary (in 1990, the year of his fourth, and last Jupiter Return, when they bid goodbye to Brent Mydland). Many bands took some "time out" during the 80s ~ still The Dead kept on truckin.

"The Quest is the chief activity of the divine hero. It is the journey to the other world (death) and back again, or simply the journey from that world to this. The important thing about the Quest is not simply that the hero makes the journey, but that the knowledge of that journey is received in this world. That knowledge acts as a map for others who will follow him; and it is only in this world that the hero can, as heavenly messenger boy, deliver his gift." -Howard Suber

Garcia's inclination to assist others, even though his gifts were sometimes misunderstood or thought to be dangerous (as in The Touch Of Grey, "I will survive!") were essentially drawn from his progressed Libra aspects throughout the decade, particularly during the trip to Egypt. Some of the issues embraced while processing Jupiter (Tin) speak to the truth that it is a less difficult thing to give, than to know how to give wisely. To act with true generosity is a far more complex matter than is commonly recognized. The length of Grateful Dead concerts is legendary (4~6 hours at times), their shows more a social institution than a musical act. "There Is Nothing Like A Grateful Dead Concert!"

Sometimes it is said, the real difficulty in climbing the mountain can be the pebble in your own shoe, even for a hero. This was proven true in Garcia's case in 1986, as his progressed Scorpio reckoning sent him into a coma, dwelling in death's antechamber for days. Because of his earlier ego-loss experiences through experimentation with psychedelics in the 60s or through forces unseen, he acted out a birth, death, rebirth saga in traditional Leo hierophant style, with appropriate mystery drama facades. He re-enacted his initial debut performance (the hero displays characteristics such as unusual strength or cleverness at or before birth and rebirth) with all the tricks of the trade and illuminating techniques he'd acquired during his intrepid travels. Garcia was back!!

The Grateful Dead instantly succumbed to the unanticipated success of their one and only top forty hit and climbed the charts to #1 with their IN THE DARK CD single, "A Touch Of Gray". Garcia's heart had been massaged back into action by ministering angels for one last go-round reach for the brass ring.

Did The Grateful Dead get too big for their boots? They were honored everywhere, on TV, made movies, hit top 40 heights, knocked on heaven’s door with Bob Dylan, tripped with Cassady, Kerouac and Kesey, sampled Cherry Garcia with Ben and Jerry (just kidding)…

A RELIX review of the ’89 tour: "With the band still growing in popularity, the ‘sunny side of the street may be dark’ (to paraphrase Shakedown Street)… Mixed reports from the band’s Southern tour prove Dead-mania is still spreading and, while there are hopeful signs developing within the explosion, a few "Dead-enders", with their irresponsible behavior in some places, are giving a bad name to all Dead Heads." Dead publicist Dennis McNally said, "Vending and camping are killing The Grateful Dead… we are in danger of going up in flames from our own success." They postponed the release of their studio album, ‘Built To Last’, that heavily featured Mydland, and pondered their most propitious course of action leading to their huge 1990 anniversary year. The classic dilemma for an Irish hero: To play or not to play? That is the question.

ON THE SIDE: At this juncture it should be noted that even Western MDs know that an individual's life path might be read should the physical temple be opened and the viscera examined. This could be why Roman Law prohibited all except physicians and gladiators from viewing internal organs, under pain of death. A fixed number of heartbeats and breaths are allotted to incarnate beings yet few take advantage of them all. I mention this is due to speculation about Garcia's final passage out of this dimension. There is always something strange about the death of the hero, perhaps a supernatural feature, a sacrificial element with an emotional climate suggesting tragedy or mysterious forces at work, as with Elvis Presley or Neal Cassady, and Arthur of Britain; see the execution of Christ and Spartacus; in the case of Caesar, Kennedy, Kennedy, and John Lennon, the act of assassination or murder dominates.

His overview picture? Garcia knew someday his "cosmic spark" double would someday return, coming back round to marry his own; then he would disappear. So miraculous returns from two brushes with the dire wolf, (diabetic coma in late 80s, exhaustion in early 90’s) did not phase him. He fell in love and married a third time. In ’95 he joined Sanjay Mishra on ‘Blue Incantation’, one of the most enticing meditation pieces I’ve heard since the ‘East Meets West’ album of the 60s. Garcia reprogrammed his heart, and set his timing to respond to all available options. Garcia ingeniously exercised his right to play through the maximum count of heartbeats and breaths his physical temple could produce. His close was eight days after his birthday, on August 9, 1995, at 4:23 AM. When heart and lungs simply reached their last beat. His golden selflessness should be properly spotlighted, rather than ignored for the price of a few lines in print; his vast contributions to us all will properly shine through our music history. His "grave" will be tended just as he tended so many others, that’s what the name ‘grateful dead’ means after all, as a British folk story goes ~ tending final resting places. Strangely enough, one of Garcia’s earlier houses in San Anselmo is said to be ‘haunted’ (not by him); in a related article you can read about that JC residence and former Scotland sites once owned by another guitar legend, Jimmy Page.

"This knight was indeed a valiant gentleman; but not a little given to romance, when he spake of himself." ~John Evelyn, Diary Note (1651)

Although the hero’s life is not usually a happy one, Garcia realized most of his profound dreams and through his music with The Grateful Dead he helped to materialize a fantastic vision for the world. As Nick Gravenites notes, "Jerry was lucky in his life because people loved him. He got to do things most mortals only dream about. He traveled all over the world, doing wild and interesting things. What else do you want out of life?"

Garcia is survived by his third wife, Deborah Koons Garcia, and his 4 beautiful daughters: Heather, Annabelle, Teresa, and Keelin. His KFOG interview exit lines: "Ideally I would just like to disappear gracefully and not leave behind any legacy to hang people up. I don’t want people agonizing over who or what I was when I was here when I’m not here anymore. I would like to be thought of as a competent musician. That would be good. I’d like that."

 

 



 Excerpt from In The Field With Dowsers
A Look Under The Surface and Behind The Superficial

This site is owned by The Kove
 


These links may be of interest - culled from Dead lists on web
 Sorry I can't say if the info is correct, I'm not musically adept, so enjoy what you need
and leave the rest! I just know every time I saw Garcia he was practicing banjo! 

Here's a rough chronology:

1965-1966 Guild Starfire
1967-1968 Gibson Les Paul
1969-1970 Gibson SG ~ SG/Strat overlap around '69-'70
1969-1973 Fender Strat ~  http://www.stephenames.com/taping_pics/8-15-71.jpg
1973-1974 Doug Irwin Wolf
1975-1977 Travis Bean (aluminum neck, white)
1978-1979 Doug Irwin Wolf
1979-1990 Doug Irwin Tiger
1990-1995 Doug Irwin Rosebud
1993-1995 Stephen Cripe Lightning Bolt ~ after introducing Lightning Bolt in August '93, he  continued to play Rosebud as well.

Back to Garcia photo @
http://www.thediviningnation.com/jg.htm    

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Picture references:

Guild Starfire: http://www.webjams.com/Warlocks.jpg
Gibson Les Paul:  http://www.stephenames.com/taping_pics/8-4-67.jpg
Gibson SG:  http://www.stephenames.com/taping_pics/3-1-69.jpg
5/24/70 - http://www.ibiblio.org/mal/MO/philm/gdead/jerry.html
Strat:  http://www.stephenames.com/taping_pics/10-24-69.jpg
Wolf:  5/12/74 - http://www.stephenames.com/taping_pics/5-12-74.jpg
  Travis Bean:  Reposted ad of Garcia with Travis Bean [Draper's Music Center] because all previous links
              are dead...
Tiger:  
7/14/85 #309  http://www.deadimages.com/Grateful_Dead_Photos/Gallery1/Tour1.html
Black strat for MIDI 5/7/89 - 
(just below #5797)  http://www.deadimages.com/Grateful_Dead_Photos/Gallery2/Tour2.html
Wolf for MIDI 10/8/89 - #7848
http://www.deadimages.com/Grateful_Dead_Photos/Gallery2/Tour2.html
Rosebud: 6/13/94 #26759
http://www.deadimages.com/Grateful_Dead_Photos/Gallery5/Tour5.html
ftp://gdead.berkeley.edu/pub/gdead/graphics/jpeg/jerry8x.jpg
Lightning Bolt: 5/20/95 - #30799
http://www.deadimages.com/Grateful_Dead_Photos/Gallery6/Tour6.html
ftp://gdead.berkeley.edu/pub/gdead/graphics/jpeg/jerry13x.jpg

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