Cosmobiology

I need to introduce Cosmobiology to those of you who have yet to encounter it. Basically, it's a lot like astrology, but it works...All kidding aside, Cosmobiology is an astrological discipline developed largely by Rheinhold Ebertin and his collaborators and students in Germany. In addition to the attention that Ebertin’s work rapidly attracted here, Cosmobiology has been advanced in America by Eleanora Kimmel and others, including Chris Brooks and John Roberts Hawkins. They developed a rigorous set of techniques derived from the Hamburg school of Uranian Astrology (advanced by Alfred Witte), especially the use of midpoints, and traditional astrology. In my opinion, Ebertin dispensed with many of the more speculative dimensions of both the Hamburg School and traditional astrology to create a dynamic astrology that can be validated through research and application. A key factor in establishing Cosmobiology as a verifiable discipline is its reliance on a single text, The Combination of Stellar Influences by Reinhold Ebertin, as the basis of all interpretation. Initially, the reason for referring to a standard work was to codify astrological principles so that astrology could be taken seriously as a science. (In other words, it has reproducible results, regardless of the interpreter.).
Therefore, there should be core agreement and key dimensions of chart interpretation among all Cosmobiology practitioners. However, this does not preclude individual interpretative faculty. In my experience, sometimes it is necessary to look at the metaphoric implications of Ebertin’s interpretations, and, in very few cases, to realize that some of the definitions may have been influenced through the challenging historical and social circumstances in which Ebertin did his work.
Ebertin always pointed out, Cosmobiology alone cannot describe the scope of any one human life. We are all subject to unique factors of birth, such as the time in history, social class, heredity, and free will that have substantial influence on our lives. The cosmobiologist must factor these and other indicators (when known) in making his analysis.
Ebertin wrote this definition of Cosmobiology:
"Cosmobiology is a scientific discipline concerned with the possible correlation between the cosmos and organic life and the effects of cosmic rhythms and stellar motion on man, with all his potentials and dispositions, his character and the possible turns of fate; it also researches these correlation and effects as mirrored by earth's plant and animal life as a whole. In this endeavor, Cosmobiology utilises modern-day methods of scientific research, such as statistics, analysis, and computer programming. It is of prime importance, however, in view of the scientific effort expended, not to overlook the macrocosmic and microcosmic interrelations incapable of measurement."
Key characteristics of Cosmobiology include:
* An initial natal chart or radix cast along the lines of sun sign astrology. (Generally, cosmobiologists use a tropical zodiac. Although there's no law I know of that forbids use of a sidereal zodiac.)
* No house system is employed in analysis. (Although Ebertin did allow that a House system may be employed as a tool to amplify a cosmobiologist’s clairvoyant abilities.)
* Angles, such as ascendant and Midheaven evaluated
* 4th harmonic charts, cosmograms, as principle diagnostic tools. (Cosmograms are divided in thirds of 30 degrees each, incorporating groupings cardinal, fixed and mutable signs.
* Only hard aspects (Conjunction, opposition, square, semi square, sesquhadrate) used for analysis. (Quincunxes, although not technically hard aspects, are often included.)
* Small orbs of influence
* The use of a graphic ephemeris
* Solar arc directions
* Extensive use of midpoints in analysis
Midpoints merit definition. A midpoint exists equidistant between two planets on a 360-degree radius. It represents a unique sum of the energetic qualities of both planets. Both direct (the shortest distance between the two points) and indirect (the longer distance) midpoints are used and weighed equally. A planetary body occupying a midpoint or related to it by hard aspect experiences its unique influence.
In my experience, careful analysis of midpoint structures provides the most relevant and personal information about an individual. They are at least as important as aspects in developing a full personality profile. In many cases, a planet may be relatively unaspected but have a rich midpoint structure that integrates it with many of the planets in a chart. This can make a planet assume a role of much greater importance than cursory examination of a chart may suggest. One criticism of midpoint analysis is that many midpoints may provide conflicting statements. For instance a planet may be midpoint more than one combination of planets, and the combinations may have contradictory definitions. One can say that an individual is charismatic and enjoys attention. Another may say he is introverted and distrustful of people. I wish to point out that it is a rare individual who does not have conflicts. In my experience, the appearance of any positive character trait implies that existence of its opposite laying somewhere under the surface. Also, making sense of contradictory expressions in a chart is part of the job description of the Cosmobiologist. We must learn to synthesize complete pictures. Frequently a preponderance of midpoint structures and midpoint structures will suggest a definite trend, and it is necessary to balance interpretation in favor of the weight of evidence. Even though all cosmobiologists rely on The Combination of Stellar Influences, it is our own valuable experience, insight and creativity that teach us how to weigh individual factors.
Another obvious innovation of Cosmobiology is the cosmogram, the 90 degree dial. By effectively folding a 360 chart in fourth, a cosmogram makes it far easier to see aspects. It is particularly useful to rapidly identify transits and directions. In this case the natal placements are placed on the inner dial, while solar arc directions appear on the middle dial and transits on the outer dial. Transits appear directly next to or in direct opposition to the natal planets. (Keep in mind, only hard aspects are employed. Ebertin wrote that trines and sextiles may indicate open areas of life, but squares and oppostions indicate the tangible issues and events. In my experience, I have never seen a trine or sextile ever trigger a major life event. For instnace, on the day my father died, my mother had enough directed and transiting trines in her chart to suggest a lottery win to an astrologer who relies on soft aspects. None of these aspects cast any light on the events that were actually taking place for her. On a personal note, I do include quincunxes in my chart analysis. Ebertin and other cosmobiologists seem to agree that quincunxes do have measurable influences in analysis.)
Cosmobiology generally incorporates 10 planetary bodies, the Ascendant, Midheaven and lunar nodes that it refers to as the Dragon’s Head. Since they are in exact opposition both the South and North Nodes occupy the same space on a Cosmogram. There has been substantial research done on the midpoint structures of Chiron and Transpluto in recent years. They are frequently included in contemporary Cosmobiology analysis. I also look at the influence of the Part of Fate, the shadow moon Lilith, the asteroid Ceres in my own analysis.
Many areas of research remain open in Cosmobiology. Among these:
* defining the midpoints for the aesteroids
* the application of Cosmobiology to locational, mundane astrology, and financial astrology
* identifying opportunities for treatment as well as disease onset as defined by midpoints
* applying alternate progression methods, such as those studied by C.E.O. Carter, to the cosmogram