by Robert Wilkinson
Though the CW mythology is narrow, confining Chiron to being "the wounded healer," it is much, much more than merely a "wandering 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!
I last gave this to you about 2 years ago, and figured now that Chiron just entered Aries, it was time to offer it to you anew. 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 transpersonal Quartet. 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 in northern Greece. He is also said to have been the first and greatest astrologer (to the Greeks), 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 find 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.
It is that which mentors us when we’ve had a “Sacred Wound” which we must heal as best we can to be of service in the future to all others who share that wound. In learning how to live a greater Life despite our Sacred Wound, we are given the tools to help others who also are wounded in that way, and can turn the pain and suffering into compassion for all of humanity’s woundedness.
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. So it would seem to have an influence on how we interact with others 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. What we have learned we must practice. The services others do for us shows us the way to serve 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.
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 and/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 2018 Robert Wilkinson
I think at least from my perspective, Robert, this is one of your finest articles. Your words, soothing and contemplative, reminded me of the old adage, "Music soothes the savage beast." Here, I believe, we see the coalescing dynamics of David Cochrane's reference to musicians performing with charisma and sizzle. Greatest successes, to be sure.
But if one isn't at that point for such a dynamic proliferation of personal ability, one might also be at one's lowest low and need to heal from what s/he may see as a failure even if the rest of the world doesn't see it as such.
At last, Robert, this article has created that bridge between merely "wounded healing" and the elevation of human nature to one's finest--or plummeting to one's personal, individual lowest so one can now rise to that peak!
Your words here were simply brilliant.
Posted by: Michelle Young | April 19, 2018 at 07:27 AM
That was so beautiful, Robert. Words fail me. The power of what you just wrote captured the energy of Chiron and pushed his truth straight into my soul. Michelle is right, this might just be one of the best things you've ever written.
Thank you.
Posted by: Zephyr | April 21, 2018 at 01:11 AM
Agreed...this is a must read...the healing power of words.
Now the gang of angry grannies has fire in their feet
Invisible warriors walking the streets
To witness the murders of freewill and fate
Armed only with Hugs, sweet tea and cake
Posted by: sue | April 22, 2018 at 08:44 AM