Uranian astrology

Uranian astrology is a relatively recent methodological approach to astrology based on teachings of German surveyor/astrologer Alfred Witte (1878–1941), founder of the Hamburg School of Astrology. Witte revived and further developed the use of mathematical midpoints for precise astrological analysis and prediction. He was also an avid independent student of astronomy. Prior to 1970, elements of psychological astrology in Uranian astrology were sparse; however psychological astrology is today integrated by many Uranian Astrologers, who recognize that other psychological, social, genetic, and free-will variables operate in tandem with astrological indicators, and continue to affect how energies will ultimately manifest. Uranian astrology lends itself less readily to being categorized as a form of 'entertainment' than do more impressionistic traditional popular astrologies, due to its relative precision, examples of which can be found on well-studied Uranian Astrology websites.

Recent American variants

One highly popular Uranian Astrology variant in the United States was begun by Emma Belle Donath and further developed to a much larger degree by Martha Lang Wescott. This approach integrates extensive use of midpoints involving other astronomically-verified small-body asteroids and centaurs along with transneptunians, and substantial use of techniques from paradigms outside those of the traditions of German Uranian Astrology, including solar and lunar returns (which Roger Jacobson also advocated in earlier years). The work and approach of Wescott places significant, but not exclusive, emphasis on the psychological aspects of astrology and includes numerous factors in chart analysis.

20th-century and 21st-century developments

In the 1970s, German astrologer, psychologist, and chemist, Ruth Brummund, a student of Ludwig Rudolph, began re-formulating a Uranian Astrology methodology based on the more recent research during the time that she was Vice-President of the Hamburg School of Astrology. Ms Brummund published a new Regelwerk-Neufassung (translated as Revised Rulebook) in 1979, and a substantially expanded second edition in 1990. She also published a new Lexikon-Neufassung, which included the newer findings from Hamburg School research, including psychological correlates, in 1982 -- and this book has been further updated to include the findings since 1982 in electronic format (in both German and English) in a Uranian software program published in France, developed in cooperation with Ms Brummund, and used by her to teach current Uranian methods. As Hamburg School traditionalists regained organizational control and sought to resurrect the teachings of Lefeldt, Ms Brummund went on to form the school of Uranische Astrologie in 1993 to maintain the focus on the more research-proven efficient methods of midpoint analysis, discarding the unproductive experimental techniques used by Lefeldt-Niggemann. Ms Brummund has emphasized the importance of using the term 'transneptunian factors' until such time as their astronomical nature is fully understood, to emphasize the importance of validating their effect in astrological paradigms rather than dismiss them because of questions over their status in traditional astronomical terms. While the term "Uranian Astrology" has been used by some American astrologers to include the historical teachings disseminated by Lefeldt and Niggemann (propagated primarily on the Atlantic coast of the United States and among émigrés from there), many of the Lefeldt-Niggemann methods are considered to be speculative and functionally obsolete, and no longer a component of Uranian Astrology as defined by Ms Brummund's German School of Uranische Astrologie, which has gained greater popularity on the Pacific coast of the United States and in East Asia, particularly in Thailand, since the 1990s. One of the main differences between those defining Uranian Astrology differently is historical fundamentalism versus ongoing progressive scientific analysis of methods and comparison of methods for effectiveness. The traditionalists tend to emphasize the immutable truth of historical texts, while the progressives emphasize that newer references tend to be based on more recent research, and are thus more likely to be comprehensive, objective, and based on longer experience. The differences are not unlike those between fundamentalist and progressive scholars or scientists in other fields.

Ambjornson, Karl: "Delineation of Mundane Events", San Francisco CA USA, 1974: text on techniques of mundane/political analysis.

Ambjornson, Karl: "Handbook: the 90 Degree Disc", San Francisco CA USA, 1974: fundamental explanation of the principles and use of the 90-degree dial/disc.

Brummund, Ruth: "Brummund Rulebook" (in electronic format), Special Uranian astrology program, Aureas Software, Paris, France, 1990: current and comprehensive interpretations for the planetary pictures.

Brummund, Ruth: Uranische Techniken Hamburger Astrologen, Eigenverlag Ruth Brummund, Hamburg, Germany, 1994: text of uranian astrology methods which withstood 50 years of testing for comparative validity and functionality.

Donath, Emma Belle: Asteroids in Midpoints, American Federation of Astrologers, Tempe AZ USA, 1982: Brief interpretations for planetary pictures involving both the Witte-Sieggruen transneptunians and the 4 major asteroids.

Jacobson, Roger: The Language of Uranian Astrology, Uranian Publications, Franksville WI USA, 1975: textbook of both historical methods and those current as of 1975.

Schnitzler, Ilse and Lefeldt, Hermann: "Lexikon fur Planetenbilder", (derived from 1946 Regelwerk fur Planetenbilder by Witte-Lefeldt, and translated by Hans Niggemann as "Key to Uranian Astrology"), Ludwig Rudolph (Witte-Verlag), Hamburg, Germany 1957: Alphabetical, dictionary-like book of everyday-life functions and situations along with planetary pictures deemed to be related as of 1957.

Sherman, Sylvia, and Frank-Manske, Jori: Symphony of the Planets, American School of Astrology, West Orange NJ USA, ca 1985? (date not indicated in text): Interpretation keywords for planetary pairs found in astrological charts, including the 8 Witte-Sieggruen transneptunians.

Taub, Martha: Uranian Astrology: Tools and Techniques, Uranian Consultants, Washington DC, 1981: Textbook of uranian astrology methods used by Ms Taub.

Wescott, Martha Lang: The Orders of Light, Treehouse Mountain, Conway MA USA, 1993: Textbook of methods used by Ms Wescott along with substantial interpretive text for pictures involving the 8 Witte-Sieggruen transneptunians, as well as various asteroidal bodies.

Witte, Alfred and Lefeldt, Hermann: Regelwerk für Planetenbilder (translated as "Rule/s/book for Planetary Pictures" by Richard Svehla (included only 4 of Witte's transneptunian factors, not all 8), later by Hans Niggemann, and then Curt Knupfer), Ludwig Rudolph (Witte-Verlag), Hamburg, Germany, 1959: The standard reference for uranian astrology interpretations for many years, current in 1959.

Witte, Alfred: Der Mensch, (very early German-language articles by Witte and colleagues dated 1913-1924) Ludwig Rudolph (Witte-Verlag), Hamburg. Germany, 1975: an anthology of early articles by Alfred Witte and colleagues, many referring to experimental techniques largely abandoned since that time by both Witte and his students. Primarily a historical source reference.