What
is it?
Cosmobiology is a method
of astrology which was developed by Reinhold Ebertin in Germany during
the 1920's. It is concerned with the possible correlation between the cosmos
and the individual, the effects cosmic movement and stellar motions have
on the individual as a whole in a given environment. As a scientific discipline,
it is concerned with researching the effects of stellar influences on individuals.
In 1940 Ebertin published
The
Combination of Stellar Influences * for which he gained international
recognition.
How does it differ
from other methods?
Traditional astrology bases
its interpretations on the interplay of the planets, their aspects and
their positions in the signs and houses. Cosmobiology does not use the
house divisions. The house system was discarded as it was not considered
sufficiently reliable to give a precise interpretation of the chart. Most
people do not have an exact time of birth, and it only takes a difference
of 4 minutes of time to move a planet from one house to the next. Ebertin
along with Australian cosmobiologist Doris Greaves,
"decided not to
use the chart with house divisions but to interpret the chart only by the
known and proven facts of planetary position and containment of aspects
and midpoints" 1
How does it work?
Cosmobiologists use a cosmogram,
a 90 degree dial where 1 degree represents 1 deg of the zodiac. (Many astrological
software packages draw charts represented in a 90 deg dial.) Numbering
begins at the top of the dial and moves in an anti-clockwise direction.
The first 30 deg represents all of the cardinal signs, the next 30 deg
all of the fixed, and the final 30 deg. the mutable signs. When all of
the natal planets are placed around the dial, the conjunctions, squares
and oppositions can be seen readily. Semi-squares, (45deg.), and sesquiquadrates
(135 deg) appear on opposite sides of the dial.
Ebertin's cosmogram was devised
to reveal these 'hard aspects', as he believed that these aspects were
most useful in interpreting the basic tenents of cosmobiology, namely to
determine the effects of stellar bodies on individuals. Once the dial is
drawn up, the interpretation can begin. Looking at the dial, the aspects
can be seen readily and these are interpreted by the astrologer who uses
acquired knowledge and wisdom of planetary interactions and relates them
to the individual as a whole in a given environment.
Ebertin also used midpoints
to interpret the cosmogram. (Today midpoint theory is widely used by many
astrologers in chart interpretation.) "In the Ebertin midpoint system...special
attention is given to any sensitive point which falls on the midpoint between
two others"2.
In Ebertin's Combination
of Stellar Influences, he gives interpretations for all possible planetary
combinations and midpoints. Today, modern cosmobiologists still use these
interpretations, however, as the interpretation of the cosmogram must consider
the whole individual in a given environment, variations are made to take
into account issues of the 90's and for Australian charts, our relatively
free and easy life style and living conditions.
Of course more research on
the effects of stellar combinations on individuals in this part of the
world, would greatly assist Australian cosmobiologists. (Ebertin wrote
the above mentioned work in the 1940's and his interpretations do in part
reflect the war torn conditions of Europe.)
Doris Greaves has practised
cosmobiology for many years in Australia, and in her work, Cosmobiology
into the 21st Century, she has given a modern interpretation of transits
of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and the Moon's Node to
the planets and points.
What it can do!
The cosmogram can give a
reliable interpretation of a natal chart, as only known and proven facts
of planetary positions, aspects and midpoints are used. The dial lends
itself well to easy comparision with other charts, (planets from a 2nd
chart are simply placed around the dial), which is useful for synastry
work.
The dial can also be used
to compare the actual movements of the planets, as well as the symbolic
movements, to ascertain when the potentialities of a natal chart are activated.
In other words year ahead charts can be drawn up to interpret the cosmic
influences one will experience during a given period.
References:
1. Greaves, Doris. Cosmbiology
into the 21st Century. Salisbury, Spica Publications, 1997, p 16. 2.
Greaves, Doris. Ibid. p 24.
Sources:
Ebertin, Reinhold. The
Combination of Stellar Influences, Tempe, American Federation of Astrologers,
Inc, 1994.
Greaves, Doris. Cosmobiology
into the 21st Century. Salisbury, Spica Publications, 1997.
If
you would like to order a natal chart or year ahead chart, email: Vesta
Astrology vchlap@ozemail.com.au
* The Combination of Stellar
Influences is a recognised master text of astrology by both cosmobiologists
and non-cosmobiologists alike. (H.S.)
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