HW: How did you get interested in astrology initially?

FD: Initially I thought that it was a load of hogs, and with my background being scientific, being involved in the pharmaceutical industry, anything esoteric, unproven or non-university was absolutely out. I started learning about some of the esoteric subjects some 10 to 12 years ago, and it was then that some friends of mine kept on about astrology. I actually read a book called “Autobiography of a Yogi“ by Paramahansa Yogananda, and let me quote:

“ Mukunda, why don’t you get an astrological armlet? “
“ Should I Master? I don’t believe in astrology “
“ It is not a question of belief; the scientific attitude one should take on any subject is whether it is true. The law of gravitation worked as efficiently before Newton as after him. The cosmos would be fairly chaotic if its laws could not operate without the sanction of human belief. Charlatans have brought the ancient stellar science to its present disrepute. Astrology is too vast, both mathematically and philosophically, to be rightly grasped except by men of profound understanding. If ignoramuses misread the heavens, and see there a scrawl instead of a script, that is to be expected in this imperfect world. “

As I read further, what he basically came up with is that the foetus is actually born at that precise moment when the planetary energies are in perfect alignment with his life path. I then decided to explore further and found out about Cynthia Thorburn’s course. There are energy patterns in the natal chart, which resonate with me, because the native American Indians teach that 80% of all energies are patterned. It was this patterning that got me going and eventually led me to the energetic blueprint of the natal chart. Everything has got to do with energy and I have basically come to the belief that these are all tools given to us by spirit to give us a better understanding of whom we are.

HW: Which branch of astrology interests you the most?

FD: I am not sure that there is a branch specifically. What I am really interested in what I would call ‘life-path’-astrology. In other words, working with the energies that this being chose to come and work with in this lifetime. That ties in with why people come to see me and by and large, they are faced with the same questions that I am faced with…. “Why am I here? What am I doing? Why is this happening to me?”

I know a gay man who looks very straight is built like a lock forward but is a florist and a real queen, and when you look at his chart, the Lover energy and Warrior energy come through in exactly the same way, meaning that he does not distinguish between attraction to male or female. He has the full potential to be bi-sexual or gay. Although he chose to be Gay in later life, it was clear that he did not become gay, he was born gay. It is his chosen life path.

HW: Do you have any other interests apart from astrology?

FD: I am quite big into the native American spirituality and find that their wisdom is enormous, it is unbelievably broad. I found, in a lot of ways, a spiritual home there. In the tradition of the white man, he sits in the North – in the place of the mind. We are brilliant in terms of what we do with our minds, but we lost touch with the rest of it. Native American spirituality has given us the edge on a more holistic approach to all of creation.

I also practice different kinds of Tarot, and again, as with the native American tradition, I believe they are all tools given to us by spirit to better understand the messages that they are willing to let us have a look at. Aspects of numerology seem to fall into place when you look at it from a holistic point of view. On the healing side I also do Reiki, I do Bowen therapy, which is a neuro-muscular manipulation technique, and then psychotherapy. I particularly enjoy midpoints, which I use extensively in my work with the male archetypes.

HW: Can you tell us more about these 4 male archetypes in the natal chart?

FD: Yes, this was the subject of my talk. There are the four archetypes, namely the King, Warrior, Magician and Lover. The King is ruled by Jupiter, the Warrior is ruled by Mars, Magician by Mercury and the Lover by Venus. You have got an immature aspect of the four archetypes in the boy and then the man psychology when these archetypes are out of balance. The ideal would be for the divine child developing into the King in his fullness. An important way to look at archetypes is why people turn out the way they do, like for example ex president Nelson Mandela, remembering that he was a Warrior when incarcerated and emerged 27 years later in the fullness of the King energy. One needs to understand what the early childhood influences were and how the person reacted to that, resulting in some dysfunctional behaviour coming through in the natal chart. I am currently doing some research into this, to see how the influence from birth develops into the later years of life. Midpoints are a vital tool in assessing the 4 archetypes in the natal chart. I use the midpoint tree to assess these archetypes.

HW: What do you consider the most important factor with chart interpretation?

FD: The most important factor with chart interpretation is the question the person came to me with. Most of my clients are struggling with a particular question and want to know whether there is anything in the chart that gives you an indication of what is happening with them, especially in their current situation.

HW: Who is your favourite astrologer?

FD: There are several authors whose books I enjoy, namely Liz Green and Jeff Green, actually, there are two Jeff Greens. I do not know many astrologers locally, but have an immense respect for Cynthia Thorburn, she is a wonderful lady.

HW: Do you do consultations or counseling?

FD: I use astrology more for counseling and have had considerable success with that. I look at it from a perspective that you have tried to come and do things in this lifetime for a reason, and people find that fascinating.

HW: Do you differentiate women from men with the 4 archetypes?

FD: My experience with women has been limited with this work, but I suspect that you will not find any difference with women, because you have the Goddess type energy and the ruler type energy in women as well, substituting the King with the Queen for example. You are ultimately dealing with the soul’s choices, so it should not matter whether you are male or female, souls are androgynous.

HW: Do you think that there are enough qualified astrologers in South Africa?

FD: I don’t think so, but on the other hand, if people do not know about you then you have got too many already. What comes first, the chicken or the egg? The problem in this country is that there are many good alternative healers out there, but many of them are starving. Credibility with astrology is going to have to be restored if we want astrology to be recognised as a recognisable profession. As mentioned, if an idiot looks into the stars and sees a scrawl instead of a script, it is not the authentic astrologer’s fault. If we cannot in some way bring credibility to it as the honored profession that it used to be, then I believe we don’t have enough professionals.

HW: Is there anything, which could give added value to ASSA as an association?

FD: I see feedback as an important aspect for success, because the majority of its members are astrologers. The committee inevitably struggles to get constructive feedback and ends up second-guessing as to what the members actually want. Perhaps the time has come to reach the non-astrological community, the masses out there. One needs to keep in mind though that, as with all things spiritual, let those with ears hear, let those with eyes see. However, if you do not put it out there, then there are no eyes to see or ears to hear with. The use of media becomes of paramount importance.

HW: Do you mind giving us your Sun, Moon and Ascendant signs?

FD: Sun in Pisces in the seventh, my Moon is in the cul-de-sac of the eleventh house and my Ascendant is in Leo.

HW: Fritz, thank you for sharing with us a unique concept in chart interpretation. It is always encouraging to get added value to astrology. Thank you for that.

Biography: Fritz Duminy …………………