Chiron, the Wandering Wounded Healer and Metaphysician Guiding Our Hero's Journey

by Robert Wilkinson

Though the CW mythology is narrow, confining Chiron to being "the wounded healer," it is much, much more than merely a wounded healer. Chiron was originally known to be the first and best being of their kind. Today we’re going to take a new look at the magnificent creature in our charts known as Chiron!

So who is Chiron, besides “the Wounded Healer?” Who is this Being that generates so many questions and so much speculation?

In Greek Mythology this brilliant and kind astrologer-healer was first, last, and best among centaurs, born of a different lineage than the rest. He was the first centaur, an immortal half-man, half-horse. Though most centaurs were over-indulgent, rowdy, and uncultured, Chiron was considered the greatest centaur due to his civilized intelligence, nobility, and kindness.

He was a great healer, astrologer, musician, ethicist, and respected oracle, as well as archer. According to legend, Chiron was most revered as a mentor and teacher to some great heroes, with Asclepius, Ajax, Theseus, Peleus, Achilles, Perseus, Jason and Heracles as some of his students. One of his skills was that he knew how to get his pupils to find their highest potential and destiny. So perhaps Chiron's position in our charts mentors us to our highest potential and destiny.

Son of Kronos (Time/Saturn), Chiron was immortal, and though he could heal others, he could not heal himself, and gave his immortality (and life) so humanity could receive the gift of Fire. Since much of Astrology has some connection to mythology, what else can we learn about how to apply Chiron in our charts?

First, a few technicals. Astronomically, Chiron is a minor planet with characteristics of a comet that was discovered in 1977. It was the first-identified member of a new class of objects now known as centaurs - bodies orbiting between the asteroid belt and the Kuiper belt. These are “wanderers,” which has a parallel in astrology, since Chiron has no home sign in astrology. It is a bridge between the known and the unknown, the visible and the invisible, since it is between Saturn and Uranus.

Being between Saturn and Uranus, it has an orbit of about 51 years, and represents that part of us which is beyond the worldly limits of Saturn and not quite in the realm of the outer invisible transpersonals. It is part animal, part human, and shows us what we must heal and how we must heal it, and what we must learn to exceed our limitations and become our excellence.

We are told that Chiron came to classical Greek mythology from a more ancient shamanistic culture from northern Greece. He is also said to have been the first and greatest astrologer, trained by Apollo and Artemis to be expert in physical, cultural, and metaphysical realms. I'm sure this relates somehow to the other ancient Mediterranean legend that Thoth-Hermes was the first and greatest astrologer, who also was said to be expert in medicine, mathematics, ethics, philosophy, and possessed skills in many of the same realms as Chiron.

Chiron was said to possess expertise in herbalism, surgery, and other healing arts, along with the gift of synthesis so that many different approaches could be combined successfully. This is what we call "holistic healing," so another trait of Chiron could be that it mentors us to a holistic approach to anything in the physical, cultural, or metaphysical areas.

It has also been said to be a pathway or door to a consciousness shift leading to different perspectives, and a bridge between old ways and new ways. Thus as a mentor teaching us how to synthesize, Chiron is an agent of change, presenting alternatives once we have a more complete picture of whatever we are learning.

So Chiron is the symbol of what teaches us or mentors us to our highest possibilities. Chiron helps us confront the wounds of our lives so we may heal into our authenticity, where we find power to move beyond old limitations and fears into our nobility and kindness. In Chiron, don't look for things to be nice, neat, or orderly. It will, however, show you where your "animal" side meets your "human" side, ultimately leading you to your immortality.

Earlier I noted that Chiron is a mentor-teacher to heroes, and knows how to get his pupils to their highest potential and destiny. That means Chiron shows us the way to “walk the walk” of our “Hero’s journey,” the way of being fully human and fully divine, ultimately leading us to immortality.

Chiron teaches us the experience of moving between the human and spiritual worlds that all wounded healers must embrace so our knowledge is authentic and individual. It is where we become more "civilized," knowledgeable, and adept as we learn how to stand in the “healing fires” everyone confronts at points in their lives.

If Chiron shows us where we must wander between the seen and unseen, the human and the divine, then it is also a key to our "conjunctio," or "sacred marriage." This is where our darkness meets our light, enabling us to dance with ourselves and each other, transcending polarities and bringing forth a new wholeness. Thus it could also have an influence on how we are and what we are learning in relationships so we may come to a higher, more holistic view of the issues of gender.

Because it is in the nature of centaurs to enjoy life’s pleasures, Chiron may be useful in examining our indulgences from an angle of greater enjoyment and/or healing. When we learn how to enjoy being human and the journey of life in this 4D reality, Chiron can lead us into metaphysical pathways that will reveal our highest potential and destiny, since as we are healed, we are offered chances to heal others.

Any time we can heal our wounds and be of service to others, it's a very good thing. Our Chiron shows us how we are Chiron for others as well as how they are Chiron for us. And all of us are wounded.

I have found that every one of us has at least one of what I call "the Seven Sacred Wounds," These archetypal wounds connect us to all others in space and time who share those wounds. From one angle of approach, Chiron shows us where our “Sacred Wound” wanders until it finds healing. In exploring and healing these archetypal wounds, we come out of separateness into compassion, and see our broader place in the vast scheme of things. (I will offer more on the Sacred Wounds in a coming article.)

So rejoice in a new view of your woundedness! Chiron leads us into unknown worlds where we come to a heroic understanding of ways we have been wounded or mentored. These are revealed by the sign and house position of your Chiron, and how it taught you to synthesize, putting things together in a more integrated, holistic view.

See your natal Chiron as the means by which you have been mentored, and will mentor others, in the areas you have been wounded, as well as found perfected understanding and adeptship. It is where we heal into our Higher Self by becoming the healing energy to all the wounds we have suffered. I have found that to be uncannily accurate in my own chart.

Regard Chiron as helping you become the Hero of your life journey, comfortable with changing conditions and the magic of healing self and others. Since we are Eternals having human experiences, and our nature is Loving Wise Intelligence that is free to explore all there is, then by all means embrace the journey and enjoy yourself along the way, since that's the best healing there is!

© Copyright 2016 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[jo garceau]

Bob, thanks! Having Chiron at the MH, this fresh look at him touches me in multiple ways. I love the connection, too, with Thoth Hermes Mercury. Bundles of appreciation.

[Kate Minogianni]

Thank you Robert for this information. I understand that Chiron is our life coach, helping us to become the best we can. I have Chiron (in Pisces 10th) conjunct South Node conjuct MC opposite Pluto conj.North Node. Chiron at the midpoint between Mercury in Aries, 11th, and Jupiter in Aquarius in 9th. I am a therapist and life coach. I feel I am doing my calling.

[Michelle Young]

Robert, as I mentioned in KISS earlier, "You wrote, 'Chiron is the symbol of what teaches us or mentors us to our highest possibilities.' I find this very much aligned with David Cochrane's 'charisma and sizzle in performance' as I frequently note as well. While his reference points to musicians in particular, I see it with all of us in our successes and failures and have the impression that's what you're also trying to convey here."

Your subsequent reply, "I agree, though in my personal experience of Chiron in my chart (Cap in 5th house), while it did bring 'charisma and sizzle in performance' when I was a musician, it also brought me profound wounds, both in the realm of music and the realm of children, that stripped me of glamor and any illusion of control in those realms. Those were the most profound wounds of my lifetime that forced me to be mentored into 'healing into my higher self'" also holds true to the patterns I've been seeing in my ongoing Chiron research.

These patterns appear to be across the board--in all sectors of life--and not just in the musical realm. Of course if it hadn't been for Beethoven's loss of hearing around the age of 26, which seemed to coincide with a Chiron cycle, I might have missed it. It's an intriguing study, and I loved your article. Thanks for confirming!

[JP]

really great Robert thank you!

Interesting link about the Saturn/Uranus connection, wasn't aware of this. It's sextile both of these natally for me, and so that hit home particularly poignantly given what you relate here.

[ThanQ]

Thank you, Robert. For your thoughtful and insightful writing. I am beginning to see and understand the meaning of Chiron as a Healer, where it seemed at first, Chiron was just a trigger for my deepest wounds.

I've often regared my natal Chiron simply as a button for childhood traumas. Recently, however, Uranus' retrograde station conjunct my natal Chiron, which sits at 21'11 Aries, correlated with my being called to the mat. So to speak.

I've been avoiding a power struggle at work (2 yrs, now) with a supervisor who's natal sun (@16'47 Cap.) is being transited by Pluto, which is in opposition to my natal moon & Saturn (@13 Cancer). I've tried to be a peaceful Pisces til my blood has boiled. Thing is, I've had to be a fighter since very young.

I've mindfully stepped into the ring and an investigation has begun into the super's practices. Win or, lose, standing my ground feels good, like the 'gate to a garden of my desires'. As I do love my job working with books and my local community.

Peace and Blessings

[ThanQ]

Since it's Groundhog's Day...

Even more uncanniness, concerning Chiron The Wounded Healer: I met a new friend on Jan. 10th of this year. He introduced himself to me with over-the-top graciousness. I found him charming, but didn't think too much on it, as I'd just finished doing a band gig, a few drinks, and needed to pack up and find some food. Frame of mind: Food and music are more dependable than relationships. Ha!

So, all my band mates are tired and want to go home. I want a pizza. So, I go to the pub still serving pizza, right across the road. As I’m waiting for the bartender’s attention to order a pizza in the chaos of a Saturday night, who’s standing right there looking right at me? My new friend. We started talking and we haven’t stopped yet. Time completely flies when we are together.

We are so in sync on many levels, I had to look up his chart. His natal moon & Chiron (@28 Aries) and Jupiter (24'19 Aries) conjunct my natal Chiron (21’11 Aries). In addition, his Mercury is opposite my Mercury, sextiles my Pluto, and trines my Venus. All within an orb of +/-5 degrees. Mars trine Mars (-3) helps. I'm sure karma has broadsided me. Ha!

Thing is, my new friend inspires me to feel comfortable or, even proud of having lived though the very Chiron issues of old that'd still sometimes, bring me to my knees. I am grateful.

[Jennifer]

Hi Robert, I love reading your insightful writings and teachings. Thank you. I am currently experiencing my Chiron return (at 18 Pisces ) in my 8th house for some time now and then realised the other day that the first eclipse of 2016 in March will conjunct it. I would welcome your steer about what that could look like or mean for me please? I can't find anything on the web about when an eclipse conjuncts Chiron. Thanks in advance!

[ellen]

I am right there with you Jennifer. I also have Chiron 18 degrees only mine is in the fifth house. I too am looking at this eclipse season and really wondering.
Thank you Robert for a very nice explanation of what Chiron is all about!

[Nic]

Beautiful and such a meaningful article too. A lot of things made so much sense and it is almost unbelievable the timing of what is said and what I am experiencing/doing/thinking. Synchronicity at its best.
My Chiron in house 9 is very strong in my chart and for many years I have become a good friend of Chiron. Has taught me a lot and has also lead me to new and sometimes uncomfortable zones so that the lessons could be grasped.
Many thanks Robert.
Blessings be to all.

[chickie]

He certainly is the epitome of Mr. Wonderful's slogan.."A Kinder Version of Patriarchy!" Thank you Robert...great piece of clarity!

[sue]

Thanks Robert,
Love to be inspired by Chiron ... That synchronicity of numbers with 77 and 51 is a jaw dropper for sure...
My friends on Di-fi tell that Steve Jobs and the Dead Inventors is not the name of the new boy band...and their new single is not called 'FREE ENERGY...'