How Centaur Chiron in Astrology Can Guide Us Toward Healing Our Core Emotional or Physical Wounds

Known as “The Wounded Healer” among astrologers, Chiron is a fairly new cosmic body in Modern Astrology as the first centaur discovered by Charles Kowal in 1977. Celestial Chiron is named after the Greek mythological centaur Chiron that was twice wounded: first emotionally when abandoned by his parents at birth as an illegitimate child, and then later in life accidentally pierced by his friend Hercules’ poison arrow resulting in an incurable physical wound.

As the Greek myth legend reveals, Chiron was unlike other uncultured, wild, indulgent and when intoxicated, violent centaurs. Instead Chiron was celebrated for healing others as a wise teacher of medicinal herbal treatments. His students included many heroes such as Heracles, Achilles, Asclepius, Perseus, Jason, and others. Although Chiron was a master healer, he ultimately could not heal himself and went on to live immortally honored in the heavens.
 
It’s relevant to mention astronomical specifics here. Centaurs are heavenly bodies that orbit between the Kuiper and asteroid belts. Chiron is categorized as both a comet and minor planet with a peculiar orbital circle around the Sun roaming between Saturn and Uranus yet occasionally nearing Jupiter’s path too. Chiron returns to the same zodiac position by degree approximately every 50 years. Based on this timing it’s fair to say Chiron often corresponds with midlife crisis.
 
I’m reminded about the importance of Chiron in Astrology as from our geocentric tropical perspective this centaur will appear to turn in “retrograde” motion on July 15, 2021 beginning at 12:41 pm Eastern Time. This year its regular annual review starts at 12 degrees in the zodiac sign Aries. (For a refresher on how to make the most of planetary retrogrades in general, see my prior post.)

Chiron has already been slowing down before stationing at 12°56’ (almost reaching the 13th degree) of Aries since the end of May. By the day of retrograde it seems completely fixed in the sky while remaining at the exact same degree and minute in the ephemeris for a whole week.
 
Compared to merrily driving along in your car, stationing retrograde is similar to stepping on the brakes. The momentum of energy is strengthened by the apparent standstill, as if the planet is doing something significant but not literally stopping. You might even liken this to a planet choosing a momentary meditation on which to absorb and ponder.
 
You’ll feel this retrograde energy with an extra amount of zeal if you have planets within 3-5 degrees of 12° Aries, or 12° in one of the other Cardinal signs Libra, Cancer and Capricorn. That’s because these planets will be either conjunct and adjoin, or be square in angular 90° tension, or be in 180° opposition to this stationing retrograde of centaur Chiron.
 
You can check with an astrologer like me or on www.Astro.com to find where Chiron is located in your own natal birth chart. Knowing this is vital in Modern Astrology. Chiron represents the core wound we’re born with that needs careful and compassionate attention for healing. And just as in Greek mythology, this is also where we innately have the power and wisdom to mentor and guide others to heal. This sore spot is one that deserves a lifetime of effort and deeper understanding.
 
You can also expect specific areas of your life to be highlighted wherever 12° Aries falls in your natal and solar houses. Some examples to consider about where to focus this transiting Chiron in Aries for your own healing journey depends on what house Aries belongs to in your natal birth and/or solar chart:
 
First house = your body, physical appearance, how others see you, ego, self-assertion
Second house = your finances, personal values, income earning potentials, skills, talents
Third house = local neighborhood, daily communications, siblings, cousins, neighbors
Fourth house = home, family, parents, real estate, land, ancestors, roots, life foundation
Fifth house = children, fun, creative pursuits, leisure, adventures, romance, gambling, risks
Sixth house = daily routines, health, work, co-workers, pets, being of service to others
Seventh house = marriage and business partners, clients, commitments, contractual obligations
Eighth house = money from others including taxes, loans, grants, investments, transformative sex, death
Ninth house = long distance travel, publishing, advertising, religion, spirituality, higher education
Tenth house = career achievements, life status and highlights, persons in charge, leadership qualities
Eleventh house = friends, group associations, long range goals and dreams, rewards from career
Twelfth house = solitude, hidden secrets or enemies, dreams, subconscious, hospitals, retreats
 
When Chiron is retrograde it’s an excellent opportunity to realize our unique healing journey, either as a healer for others or searching within for our own individual self-healing. You can use this energy to review whatever is causing pain in your life and seek holistic and healthy remedies. Physical, emotional and mental energies all apply here, especially anything underlying or whatever’s been hidden below the surface.
 
It’s also a good time for seeking out professional healers as well, especially alternative treatments like Reiki, Ayurveda, aromatherapy, massage, meditation, breathwork, crystal or music therapy, and other modalities. Psychotherapy, or mentors, guides, counselors, even astrologers can open up new doorways of wisdom to help you heal old inner core wounds that have been suppressed or forgotten.
 
Healing through Chiron is easier with an open heart and mind knowing you want to allow more love and joy into your daily experiences. Sharing your story with others can actually help you in your curative voyage where you also become a mentor. Being a healing guide and mentoring others is very integral to the essence of Chiron. Although it’s often preferred or easier to avoid looking at painful issues, Chiron symbolically asks us to do the work so that in the long run we’re feeling better with less ache and hurt.
 
Wondering how to integrate the energies of Chiron? Questions to ask include:
 

• What in your deepest soul needs to be healed?
• Where in your life are core wounds lingering that stop you from joy?
• What health practices can you choose to restore your daily energy?

 
Remember this retrograde transit lasts a long stretch so you’ll have ample time to review these or other questions to address any issues you’ve ignored or eluded. Chiron will once again turn direct on December 19, 2021 at 11:33 am Eastern Time. And as if in synchronicity, “planet of love” Venus will then turn retrograde on that very same day at 5:36 am. These two movements combined together symbolize that once you’ve affirmed what needs healing you’ll have even more time to review how to soothe those wounds with love.
 
To answer a secondary yet ultimately profound meaning of why and how Chiron is the bridge between our past structures and future potential we need only look at two indicators: the astrological glyph of Chiron which resembles a key combined with the letter “K”, and how this wounded centaur orbits between Saturn and Uranus.​

​Looking back to ancient times only the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Saturn were visible to the naked human eyes. For this reason astrologers in olden days thought the planets ended with Saturn as the outer limits of human possibilities. We now know this is not true and that many more planets and cosmic bodies exist far beyond Saturn’s orbit.
 
Uranus being the next furthest planet away is astrologically known to have energies dramatically different than Saturn. “Old Man” or “Father Time” Saturn is archetypally all about structure, discipline, responsibility, duty, restraint, constriction, lessons and limitations. On the other hand, “Sky God” or “Father Sky” Uranus denotes freedom, rebellion, liberation, innovation, novelty, invention, revolution and modernization. Saturn is like a rooted tree firmly grounded on Earth while Uranus acts as lightning bolts in a thunderstorm.
 
At the highest purpose for healing with Chiron traveling so unevenly between Saturn and Uranus, this centaur symbolizes the key, remedy and bridge from our past limited restrictions so we can move ahead toward our future liberty and free spirit. Looking at your natal Chiron position in this manner will show you a way to heal beyond previous restrictions (which are often psychological and self-imposed) so that you can enjoy living as an abundant and more authentic soul as represented by the outer cosmos and universe.
 
Although Chiron is technically not a planet of major consequence, it is for these reasons above that Chiron is quickly becoming a favorite celestial figure for modern astrological study. There is much inner beauty and wisdom to be found in this wounded centaur.

© 2021 Trudy Carol. All Rights Reserved.