Rob Solrion became interested in "catastrophism and ancient history" in 1972 and avidly pursued the ideas of Dr. Immanuel Velikovsky.

He became an adherent of the "Velikovskian School"; but following the death of Dr. Velikovskyin November 1979, this "school" fractured into smaller, often rival groups. After a hiatus from 1980 through1993, Rob became fascinated by the books of Zecharia Sitchin concerning Planet X Nibiru and made the assumption, now shared by many, that the "cosmic cataclysm" described by Velikovsky was caused by the "comet-planet" of Sitchin.

Subsequently Rob developed his theory of "The Cosmic Tree" by integrating these ideas with those of Giorgio de Santillana and Hertha von Dechend in Hamlet's Mill, creating his unique theory of "The Cosmic Tree".