The magic wedlock of planetary symbols

Italian version

In mathematics, a point is considered equidistant from two other points when it is the same distance from both. In an astrological context, an equidistant point (or midpoint) is determined by calculating the arithmetic mean of the ecliptic longitudes of two planets. The general formula for finding this midpoint is as follows:

(Longitude planet 1 + longitude planet 2) / 2.

For instance, if Mars is at 0° Taurus and Venus at 0° Pisces, we have:

(30° (Mars) + 330° (Venus) = 360°) / 2 = 180° = 0° Libra.

This point is the farthest from the two planets; the other midpoint, directly opposite at 180° from the first, is at 0° Aries.

History of midpoints

In Guido Bonatti’s work, “Liber Astronomiae” 1 there are references to midpoints used in a natal time correction technique to predict the outcomes of campaigns led by the Count of Montefeltro. The nobleman defeated his enemy but was wounded during the battle, just as predicted. We can find a more systematic application of midpoints in the works of Martin Pegius, a 16th-century Slovenian lawyer and astrologer. In more recent times, Alan Leo 2 has utilised midpoints in conjunction with the solar arc directions 3.

Alfred Witte 4 and The Hamburg School of Astrology, also known as Uranian Astrology, developed a renewed astrological system that focuses on midpoints. This system utilises a 90° graph instead of the traditional 360° zodiac. Reinhold Ebertin’s Cosmobiology emerged from this same movement. 5 However, Ebertin chose to eliminate the use of trans-Neptunian planets while retaining the theoretical framework and midpoint methodology of the Hamburg School.

Methods

Midpoints play a crucial role in traditional interpretive astrology. A midpoint becomes a sensitive point where planets, as well as the Moon, Ascendant, and Midheaven, can interact. This interaction can occur in both natal charts and with transiting or progressed planets.

In the context of composite or synastry charts, one can examine the aspects between one person’s planet and the midpoint in the chart of another individual. The significant aspects to consider between planets and midpoints are conjunctions, oppositions, and squares. Some astrologers also take into account minor aspects, such as semi-squares (45°) and sesqui-squares (135°).

This notation indicates the conjunction of the planet Mercury with the midpoint between Saturn and Pluto. However, the equal sign can represent any aspect associated with the midpoint.

This is a midpoint tree that illustrates the aspects of the Sun in relation to the chart’s midpoints.

Using a program that generates both this type of tree (showing the aspects of planets with midpoints) and a comprehensive list of all midpoints is beneficial, given the numerous midpoints present in a chart.

Interpretation

The interpretation involves carefully selecting which midpoints to prioritise for chart analysis, given the numerous aspects associated with them, along with the traditional aspects to consider. Here are some commonly accepted, though non-binding, guidelines:

  1. Consider only the midpoint closest to the planets of origin, rather than the opposite point at 180 degrees. Most astrologers believe that the far midpoint tends to have more nuanced effects than its counterpart. The only situation in which we can evaluate both midpoints is when two planets are in exact opposition, as the two midpoints are equidistant in this case.
  2. Prioritise the midpoints created by planets that are already in Ptolemaic aspects.
  3. Some consider only the conjunctions of planets and angles (ASC and MC) at the midpoints, excluding other aspects like opposition and square.
  4. Others limit their analysis to the midpoints formed by the Sun and Moon to explore vital potentials, and by Venus and Mars to investigate matters of affection. In reality, understanding midpoints that resonate symbolically with us requires a period of study and practice. This interpretation is quite subtle and demands both experimentation and intuition; otherwise, one might become overwhelmed by unnecessary details.
  5. Maintain an orbit of 1 degree.

Midpoints can be understood as the connection between two planets; their symbolism is integrated to create a balanced interplay of both influences. This process is similar to creating a new zodiacal position that serves as a potential for exploring alternative ways of dealing with existence, much like how children represent a new phase for a couple. In this context, when midpoints are combined with forecasting techniques, they can take on a “prophetic” significance. They may provide insights for addressing the challenges of one’s personal development in a fresh and renewed manner.

Providing an overview of the meanings of different midpoints can be limiting and may risk partially replicating the symbolism associated with the planets involved. Instead, it is more beneficial to take an experimental approach by examining the transits of the luminaries over the midpoints in the birth chart. The Sun’s transits can give insight into how the combined symbolism of the two planets influences turning points in the House where the midpoint is located. The Moon’s transits, being faster and more challenging to focus on, allow us to analyse mood swings triggered by daily events, helping us manage our emotional reactions more effectively. This approach does not preclude exploring midpoints involving other planets as well.

It is essential to view midpoints as efforts to explore an alternative symbolic dimension, one that is distinct from the traditional approach. This technique requires interpreters to refine their intuitive abilities and adopt a fresh perspective on the issues involved. While it may be possible to carefully integrate some midpoints with traditional tools, too much blending could result in confusion.

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  1. Guido Bonatti (c. 1230 – c. 1296-1300) was a renowned Italian mathematician, astronomer, and astrologer of the thirteenth century. His most famous work, the “Liber Astronomiae”, remained a classic text for astrologers for nearly two centuries. Although he expressed a preference for the Holy Roman Empire and was a Ghibelline who fought against the Guelphs of the Papacy, it is said that toward the end of his life, he joined the Franciscan Order. ↩︎
  2. Alan Leo, born William Frederick Allan (1860 – 1917), was a London astrologer and theosophist regarded as one of the pioneers of modern astrology. He was a proponent of psychologically oriented astrology and sought to integrate elements of Indian astrology into the Western astrological framework after a study trip to India. Despite his efforts to emphasise the analytical aspects of astrology over the event-focused approach, he was convicted of fortune-telling in 1917, shortly before his death. ↩︎
  3. Solar arc directions are calculated by finding the difference between the position of the progressed Sun and the natal Sun on a specific day. This arc is then added to a planet or point in the natal chart. When the planet directed by the solar arc forms a major aspect with another planet or point in the natal chart, an event is likely to occur at the age indicated by the solar arc. ↩︎
  4. Alfred Witte (1848 – 1941) was a German astrologer who established the Hamburg School of Astrology. He was a strong advocate for the use of midpoints in astrological analysis and prediction and aimed to approach astrology from a scientific perspective. Witte hypothesised the existence of several trans-Neptunian planets, which drew significant criticism. His school of thought is often referred to as Uranian Astrology, particularly in the English-speaking world. ↩︎
  5. Reinhold Ebertin (1901-1988) was a German teacher and astrologer who continued Witte’s research on midpoints. His School of Cosmobiology proposes a broader application of astrology to medicine and psychological correlations, adopting a scientific approach. ↩︎