Cosmobiology
Cosmobiology is the name given to an innovative astrological
system developed by German astrologer Reinhold Ebertin
(19011988) in the 1920s. Ebertin had been a student of Alfred
Witte, but rejected elements of his teachers Uranian Astrology
system, and he established himself independently. Suppressed
by the Nazis, he began to operate again after World
War II (19391945), at which time he adopted the name cosmobiology
(a term previously used by other astrologers) to describe
his system. It found a popular response across Europe
and spread to the English-speaking world in the 1970s following
the translation of Ebertins several books.
Uranian Astrology was distinguished by its addition of a set
of hypothetical planets (planets believed to exist but as yet unverified
by standard scientific observation). Witte alleged the
existence of no less than eight such planets. Witte also proposed
the existence of midpoints, points halfway between the
position of any two planets in the individuals horoscope. These
midpoints were seen as the point at which their combined energies
manifests. Ebertin came to reject the idea of hypothetical
planets and also the idea of house as used in traditional astrology.
In place of the houses, he emphasized the role of planetary
influences. He eventually created a whole new set of terms for
use by cosmobiologists.
Cosmobiology begins with the construction of a traditional
horoscope with the placement of the Sun, Moon, and planets
in each of the traditional positions regarding the sign. Two important
points in the traditional horoscope, the ascendant (or
horizon) and midheaven (the point directly above at the moment
of birth) are treated as additional planets. These planet
alignments then undergo a second level of mathematical manipulation
to create the cosmogram, cosmobiologys horoscope.
In place of the houses, the series of midpoints are also
marked, allowing another level of analysis of the planets influences.
Cosmobiology is also one of the astrological systems that
emphasizes the effect of transits, the present location of planets
relative to their placement in the birth chart. When a planet
today is in the same location relative to itself or another planet
in the birth chart, it is said to be transiting it.
The creation of the finished cosmogram is more complicated
and requires additional mathematical skill above that needed
for the traditional horoscope. However, the production of
the cosmogram can now be left to computer programs, allowing
the individual astrologer to concentrate on the interpretative
aspect of hisher work.
Sources
Ebertin, Reinhold. Applied Cosmobiology. Tempe, Ariz.
American Federation of Astrologers, 1972.
Rauchhaus, Irmgard. Cosmobiology. In James R. Lewis,
ed. The Astrology Encyclopedia. Detroit Gale Research, 1994.
Savalan, Karen Ober. Midpoint Interpretation Simplified.
Tempe, Ariz. American Federation of Astrologers, 1983.
