Midpoints and Midpoint Structures in the Natal Chart

Another lesser used technique that has been found to be of great significance using evidence-based research, are midpoints. Midpoints are simply the exact middle point between two planets or node - calculate how many degrees and minutes are between the two planets in question and divide by two and you will have the exact midpoint position.

Midpoints are an extremely potent and often overlooked aspect in astrology. Midpoints started to gain popularity in some astrological circles around the mid-1900’s. Although an Astrologer named Alfred Witte started work with the midpoints, after his death Reinhold Ebertin continued the research and ultimately popularized their use.

Midpoints are actually more potent that planets on their own, as the midpoint combines the potency of two planets rather than the energy of just one. Add a third planet at the midpoint between the two planets, and you have what is called a Midpoint Structure, combining the potency of three planets.

Below is an example of how midpoint structures are shown in astrological software of a particular natal chart, including the degrees and minutes of exact orb - either the conjunction or the opposition. The planet at the top is the planet that is at the midpoint of the other two planets or points. That is how you can say it or write it: at. That planet at the top is called the focal planet, as the energy of the two midpoint planets is getting focused and channeled through that planet.

“Midpoint Trees” is the name for how the midpoint structures are shown on the software.

The midpoint is EXTREMELY powerful. What makes a midpoint come to life is a planet at the midpoint. The slash between two planets (as in Sun/Moon) means midpoint in astro language. That slash shouldn’t be used when talking about two planets in other contexts in astrology, as this would become confusing. In Evidence-based Astrology, we use an orb of 1.5 degrees max. It has been found that going outside this orb allowance no longer produces noticeable results. For a midpoint structure to be considered “very strong”, you will want to see an orb of 30 minutes or less. And very “extremely strong” midpoints, the minutes should be under 15 minutes.

We can interpret midpoint structures in the natal chart as well as Vibrational (divisional) charts. They can also be interpreted in Composite charts made combining two people’s charts.

You can take this even further, when you find a less common, but very powerful midpoint to midpoint conjunction or opposition. David Cochrane named these larger midpoint patterns an isotrap - short for isosceles trapezoid), creating a four or more planet pattern that creates an unbroken circuit of energy. Isotraps tend to cause the planets involved to operate in harmony with each other. There is a smoothness to how they work together. I’m sure this is hard to understand now, but we will leave isotraps for another blog post, after we first get a better understanding of midpoint structures.

Arabic Parts are are also related to midpoint structures and isotraps. We will explore Arabic Parts (also called Lots) in another blog post.

One midpoint structure is not going to define a whole chart. But they will flesh out other aspect patterns in a chart, as well as potentially make an aspect pattern stronger, reinforcing it. Like in a Grand Trine, if the aspects between each planet is fairly close, the midpoint structure created by the three planets involved in the Grand Trine (a Grand Trine is made from three planets each trining - 120 degree aspect - each other) with strength the affects of the trining planets. This is part of why Grand Trines can have such a strong affect in a person’s life - but that is only if the planets are in a fairly tight orb.

Following, I’ll give a few examples of what midpoints can mean, and following that I’ll give examples of midpoint structures (when there’s a planet @ the midpoint of two other planets). This should give you an idea of how and why midpoints describe so much about us and our behaviors, needs and actions.

Moon/Neptune is setting a mood, creating an atmosphere that gives a good, calming feeling. Soft lighting, candles, pleasant music. The Mood of a space is very important.

Mercury/Moon is history, memories. People with this combination are good listeners and can make good counselors.

Mercury/Neptune is a magical feeling with learning or thinking/ideas. Learning is exciting/idealised…learning is not about getting a job, ect…it’s the magic of learning. The fascination of ideas.

Saturn/Neptune wants to make a difference. Rather than being a floaty, ungrounded type of spiritual person, you would want to do things that make a difference. It’s more directed energy, with structure. This is not a “love and light” type of spirituality, but more likely a person that meditates, and put they spiritual life into action in a concrete way. Saturn/Neptune is your spiritual path.

Now, here are some samples of Midpoint Structures:

Sun @ Mercury/Mars: The Sun is bringing whatever it focuses on into the light of day. It makes that thing plainly obvious. It is like our consciousness, wherever if focuses, that is what we are aware of. Now Mercury is relates to our thinking processes, and how we connect ideas. Mercury also relates to communication. Mars relates to action. Mars wants to accomplish something. When we combine Mercury with Mars, what we get is a drive to learn, a passionate curiosity, as well as a need to learn how to do something with the knowledge you learn. For instance, how to fix things. So, when we have Sun as the focal point of Mercury/Mars, we will see a person who is always striving to learn practical skills, who craves learning and building on their knowledge. They can’t just be told ideas from a book, they have to understand for themselves how to use the knowledge for themselves.

Mercury @ Sun/Pluto: Mercury is communication, connecting ideas and our thought processes. The Sun is bringing things into awareness, into the “light of day”. It is what is real and present and can’t be ignored. It just IS - obviously. Pluto is obessesive and compulsive. Pluto is driven by a force that is beyond the mind, a deep, instinctual nature. And Pluto wants to uncover what is hidden or buried. So, Mercury at Sun/Pluto is a person who has a compulsion to think about hidden subjects that most people wouldn’t want to think or talk about. This person needs to bring that which has been buried or hidden into the light of day and to talk about it or write about it.

Sun @ Jupiter/Saturn: The Sun - to bring things into the light of day, that which is obvious and clear and right in front of us. It can’t be denied. Jupiter is to expand, to grow to make BIG. Saturn it getting down to what is essential, to the underlying structure, and to that which will last past death. Something that is long lasting. To combine Jupiter and Saturn we get an energy of structured growth. Jupiter on it’s own can grow uncontrollably, and may grow to the point of popping (like an overblown balloon). Jupiter doesn’t know when to stop, it has no limits. It can be a glutton for expansion. So, when we add Saturn to Jupiter, we get an excellent combination for both long lasting structure, and focusing on what is essential and important, with the growth energy of Jupiter. The Sun brings structured growth into obvious awareness, which give obvious results. This would be a great midpoint structure for an entrepreneur, someone who wants to build a long-lasting business, that growth slowly but surely and results in a successful business. The business success is obvious and undeniable.

I hope these examples are helping you to understand the significance of midpoints and midpoint structures.