In the chapter, I trace the history and origins of the astrological technique called midpoints to two 17th-century disciples of Placidus, and then recount its revival and popularization by German astrologers in the early 20th century.
For the past two decades, the history of midpoints has been shrouded in mystery. Many astrologers have speculated about its origins, with legends linking the technique to the 13th-century astrologer Guido Bonatti, the 2nd-century astrologer Claudius Ptolemy, or suggesting that it was invented from scratch by Alfred Witte and the Hamburg School in the 1920s. After spending some time researching history, I’m happy to present my findings and help set the record straight.
It turns out that the midpoint technique actually appeared in 1675. It was then that two students of the famous astrologer Placidus, Francesco Brunacci and Francesco Maria Onorati, introduced what they called “equal distances” into the appendix of the second edition of their teacher’s work. Physiomathematics.
However, this technique almost did not survive. During the episode, I discuss how the midpoint doctrine went through two periods of suppression: first by the Catholic Church and the Inquisition in the late 17th century, and later by the Nazis in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s.
We trace the lineage of the technique from its extinction in Italy, to its survival through the meticulous reference of 17th-century astrologer Antonio Francesco de Bonattis (not to be confused with Guido Bonatti), and finally to its rediscovery in early 20th-century Germany by Albert Kniepf. From there, we explore how this technique was championed and popularized by Alfred Witte, the Hamburg School, and Uranus astrology, as well as Reinhold Ebertin through his approach called Cosmobiology, which eventually became a staple of late 20th century astrology.
This is Episode 529 of the Astrology Podcast.
Time signs
00:00:00 Login
00:01:45 What is the midpoint?
00:03:56 Mystery of historical origin
00:08:49 The origin of midpoints in the 17th century
00:16:55 Introduced in 1675 by students of Placidus
00:31:20 Did Ptolemy mention midpoints?
00:34:01 Placidus’ works were banned by the Inquisition
00:38:41 Antonio Francesco di Bonatti in 1687
00:43:39 Rediscovery and popularization in Germany
00:45:01 Albert Kniepf restores technique
00:46:06 Alfred Witte and the Hamburg School
00:49:39 Reinhold Ebertin and Cosmobiology
00:54:06 Suppression of astrology during World War II
01:01:45 Popularization of midpoints after World War II
01:03:55 Summary and conclusions
01:10:16 Special thanks and resources
01:16:35 Final cards
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