A Chronological History of Uranian Astrology

[NOTE: THIS PAGE INCLUDES SEVERAL PHOTOGRAPHS AND MAY, IN SOME CASES, REQUIRE A FEW MINUTES BEFORE ALL PHOTOS ARE ACCESSED AND DISPLAYED ON YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN.]

There are a number of accounts of the historical development of Uranian Astrology, each presented for different reasons and motives, as many facts about its development have been concealed; sometimes intentionally, due to commercial or political motives; at other times due to lack of access to needed up-to-date information. Issues of plagiarism, copyright abuses, and software piracy have also been problematic. Yet the value of the amazing knowledge derived from modern Uranian Techniques merits our continual progress beyond such setbacks.

In an attempt to resolve these problems and clarify the development of Uranian Astrology with factual data, this chronology is compiled with the objective of getting as close to possible to original sources of the historical data. Following is a chronological history of Uranian Astrology that is based on articles from Hamburg School publications, publications of Witte Verlag, and correspondence with Ruth Brummund, who has for a number of years have been a prime authority on Uranian Astrology and who has dedicated much of her life to its preservation and advancement based on current research..

Contrary to the stereotypes and assumptions of many English speakers, Uranian Astrology has indeed stepped outside the antiquated bounds of fatalism and determinism, although, unfortunately, the bulk of English-language books on the topic, as of the year 2000, still consisted primarily of translations (not always acknowledged as such) of German material published in the 1960s and earlier by such ultra-rightist authors as Hermann Lefeldt, while new and more evolved developments in step with contemporary international Astrology have been integrated into Uranian and Hamburg School Astrology by more recent authors. These newer works are just now being made available in English.

May this chronology shine light on the many ambiguities, clarify the facts, and lead to the forward movement of Uranian Astrology as a field of inquiry accessible to anyone who desires to use it for the greater benefit of humanity and the progress of the planet which we all share in common, above and beyond our cultural, economic, or egoistic differences; and perhaps clear some political subterfuge out of our field and beyond.

If there are statements here that contradict what you believe to be fact, please contact the compiler, with evidence, at blake@www.uranian-institute.org

This chronology is based on sources the compiler believes to be true and reliable. I have stated the facts as I perceive them to be and am open to consideration of other information and perspectives. The chronology will include additional information as facts are presented and clarified. My heartfelt thanks go to Ruth Brummund for supplying the photographs which bring astrological realities to light for us all to learn and enjoy.

THE CHRONOLOGY

(under continuous development)

1923: According to an article by astronomy professor Dr Wilhelm Hartmann entitled "Introduction to the Astrological Working Methods of the Hamburg School", Friedrich Sieggrün is the first astrologer to clearly and publicly articulate the concept of "Hamburg School Astrology" in presenting techniques of Alfred Witte at the Second German Astrological Congress, from 30 June to 2 July, in Leipzig. (Witte, 1975, pp. 196, 297-298).

1926: Alfred Witte, Ludwig Rudolph, Friedrich Sieggrün, and Dr Hubert Korsch attend the Fifth German Astrological Congress from 20 to 23 July in Hamburg (Witte, 1975, p. 358).

5th Astrological Congress in Hamburg, 1926: Alfred Witte is on the top row at the left end, wearing a hat. Second from left, behind Witte is Dr Herbert Korsch. Third from left on the top row is Friedrich Sieggrün. Also on the last row, second from the right, overcoat over his arm, is Ludwig Rudolph.

1928: The first edition of the Regelwerk für Planetenbilder by Alfred Witte is published in Hamburg. This is followed by a second edition in 1932 and a third in 1935 (Witte, 1959).

1933: Ludwig Rudolph publishes the first edition of his Leitfaden der Astrologie - System Hamburger Schule, one of the earliest systematic textbooks of Uranian techniques. This early text employs only the first four Transneptunians, and is written before Ludwig Rudolph dismissed the astrological houses as a critical interpretive tool, which he does in later years, according to Ms Brummund. It includes a systematic introduction to the technical elements of astrology, methods of chart interpretation, and a systematic method of chart rectification (L. Rudolph, 1933; Brummund, 2000).

1936: The Regelwerk für Planetenbilder is added to the endless list of books banned by the Nazi government in order to keep the public ignorant and submissive to the interests of ruling political elements (Witte, 1959).

1939: While the Regelwerk is banned in Germany, the Rulebook for Planetary Pictures, an English translation by Richard Svehla of the 3rd (1935) German edition is published in the USA. Note that it does not include interpretations for Pluto or the four outer Transneptunians of Friedrich Sieggrün (Witte, 1959).

1940: The Kombination der Gestirneinflüße, the source material for the English-language Combination of Stellar Influences, is published by Reinhold Ebertin, one of Alfred Witte's students and founder of the School of Cosmobiology. It includes essential content similar to that of Witte's Rulebook, but dismisses Witte's Aries Point and Transneptunians, and is allowed publication while the Rulebook is banned. (Ebertin, 1972).

ASHS: The Hamburg School of Astrology

1948.Aug.17 14h45 [2hE] Hamburg, Germany

Chart from the 'Special Uranian' program by Aureas Software

1946: Picking up and reconstructing the Hamburg School literature after the end of World War II, a fourth edition of the Regelwerk für Planetenbilder by Alfred Witte, for the first time including additional interpretations for Pluto, Apollon, Admetos, Vulkanus, and Poseidon, is signed off for publication by editor Hermann Lefeldt at Christmas (Witte, 1959).

1948: The ASHS (Astrological for the Study of Hamburg School Astrology) is established, according to data verified by Ruth Brummund, on 17.Aug at 14h45 German Summer Time [z+2] in Hamburg. This is the time that the organization was officially registered with the German Federal government. (Earlier proposed founding dates are for preliminary planning meetings that occurred prior to the official establishment of ASHS.) (Brummund, 1999-2000;Hamburg School website.)

1957: A 369-page dictionary of the planetary combinations in the 4th edition of the Regelwerk, compiled by Ilse Schnitzler, is published in German by Ludwig Rudolph (Witte-Verlag). This book, entitled Lexikon für Planetenbilder, is in essence all the definitions in the 1946 German Rulebook reorganized into alphabetical order (a mammoth task in the pre-computer era), and is translated into English, appearing in the early 1960s in the United States as "The Key to Uranian Astrology by Hans Niggemann" (Schnitzler, 1957).

1959: The fifth edition of the German Regelwerk für Planetenbilder by Alfred Witte is published in Hamburg (Witte, 1959).

Hamburg School conference, October 1971: The second person from the left end of the photo is Erich Wölfer. Third from the left is Dr Würdig. In the center of the front row is Christine Jaenich. Standing on the very top row at the left, with his face turned sideways and talking within his own little circle, is Hermann Lefeldt. On the top at right, with his head turned downward to the right, talking to the woman at the right end of the photo, is Carl Perch.

1961: Publication of the first issue of the Hamburger Hefte, official journal of the Hamburg School until 1996. (Brummund, 1999-2000).

1971: Karl Perch's Kurze Einführung in die Hamburger Schule (Short Introduction to the Hamburg School) is published in German. (Brummund, 1999-2000).

1971: The Transneptun Ephemeride of Ruth Brummund is published. For the first time, Uranians have an ephemeris listing positions at 10-day intervals. This book revolutionizes Uranian Astrology, as prior to this time one had to calculate the positions of Transneptunians from "perpetual ephemeris" tables listing only yearly positions, and computers were not widely available (Brummund, 2000).

Master Teacher Ludwig Rudolph relaxing after an

interesting discussion with his enthusiastic student, later Vice-President of the Hamburg School, Ruth Brummund.

1971: After two years of studying and gathering Hamburg School materials in Germany, Lieutenant General Prayoon Pol-aree, authorized to translate German-language materials into the Thai language, begins teaching Hamburg School techniques at the Astrology Society of Thailand (Pol-aree, Pillai, 2001).

1972: Publication of Ruth Brummund's Astropsychologische Charaktermermale, a book which for the first time delineates psychological characteristics associated with individual Uranian factors and derived pairs and triplicities. The bulk of this book is updated and combined into the Regelwerk - Neufassung (expanded 2nd edition published 1990). The characteristics are also alphabetized and included in editions of the Lexikon - Neufassung (Brummund, 2000).

Click here to continue with part 2 of the historical chronology

Astrologie.de. This comprehensive German-language website includes a special section on Uranian Astrology with articles by Ruth Brummund, which can be found at

Brummund, R. 1979. Ortsmeridiane und Ortsaszendenten für wichtige Welthauptstädte. Hamburg: Ludwig Rudolph (Witte-Verlag).

Brummund, R. 1982. Lexikon-Neufassung. Hamburg: Ludwig Rudolph (Witte-Verlag).

Brummund, R. 1990. Regelwerk-Neufassung, 2.Auflage. Hamburg: Ruth Brummund Eigenverlag.

Brummund, R. 1994. Uranischen Techniken Hamburger Astrologen. Hamburg: Ruth Brummund Eigenverlag.

Brummund, R. 1999-2001. Unpublished documents. personal correspondence with Blake Finley.

Pol-aree, P. & Pillai, S. 2001. Data from Miss Pannjai Pol-aree, daughter of Prayoon Pol-aree, and Supphaluck Pillai, senior staff member of the Institute of Prediction of Thailand, and representative of the Astrology Society of Thailand, under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen of Thailand.

Rudolph, U. 1996?. Schriften und Lehrmittel der Hamburger Schule. Hamburg: Udo Rudolph Verlag.

Schnitzler, I. 1957. Lexikon für Planetenbilder, Hamburg: Ludwig Rudolph (Witte-Verlag).

Uranian Astrology for a New Age. Website maintained by Supphaluck Pillai, honorary member of the Hamburg School, senior staff member of the Institute of Prediction of Thailand, and representative of the Astrology Society of Thailand, under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen of Thailand. The site can be found at http://www.astrouranian.com/Webs/natmanpage/v1.htm

Witte, A. & Lefeldt, H. 1959. Regelwerk für Planetenbilder, 5.Auflage. Hamburg: Ludwig Rudolph (Witte-Verlag).

Witte, A. & Sporner, H. (ed.) 1975. Der Mensch -- eine Empfangsstation kosmischer Suggestionen (Man: A receiving station of cosmic influences), Hamburg: Ludwig Rudolph (Witte-Verlag).