Spirit Garden: Explorations in the Spiritual

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The Astrology of Chiron: The Wounded Healer Within

Another often overlooked and underrated influence in the astrological chart is the placement and meaning of Chiron. Chiron is a comet in our solar system that has an unusual orbit, was discovered in 1977 and represents the wounded healer in us all.

Chiron is named after a centaur in Greek mythology, an unusual centaur often depicted with human front legs instead of equine legs. He is considered to be more civilized and intelligent than most other centaurs, and was known for his skill in medicine.  Instructed in his youth by Apollo and Artemis, he was renowned as a healer, astrologer and oracle. 

In the myth, Chiron is wounded by an arrow dipped in the poisonous blood of a hydra and his wound never heals; he is unable to heal himself.

Chiron in the natal chart will point directly to the areas in which the native has been wounded—either physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually.  But Chiron has an additional aspect—his placement will show the not only the nature of the wound, but the way in which the experience with wounding makes the native capable of using that for healing others.

When we are injured in any kind of permanent way, we often have two choices:  let it become a source of additional pain and bitterness, or learn to overcome or assimilate our injury and use our experience to help others.  Being wounded, like many other so-called “negative” events in our lives, brings with it a hidden gift or blessing.  Because of our experience, we become capable of understanding others’ pain; it makes us capable of compassion.

Chiron’s symbol looks like a key pointing upward.  He is the key to unlocking our inner will to live and to use our experience to help others to live as well.

Here is a brief introduction to Chiron in the signs.  In our next blog post, we will explore Chiron through the houses:

Aries: The wounding of Chiron in Aries is usually related directly to the self-image.  Confidence may have been eroded through early criticism or bullying.  This can create a tendency to be either over-confident with a kind of false bravado, or a suffering of serious self-doubt.  Learning to overcome this will enable the native to teach others to do the same, and the potential here is to help others build their self-confidence and self-esteem. Find the fire in your belly and learn to take positive action!

Taurus:  Chiron in Taurus can often represent deprivation of some kind. Perhaps there is poverty in early life, or one has been stripped of one’s possessions in some way.  The bottom line here is the native feels as though they have been neglected or deprived of something that was needed, either physically (food, shelter, clothing, etc.) or emotionally.  The natives may become very possessive of or hoarding anything that is theirs, fearing it will be lost. Or they may live a life of deprivation, reinforcing the internalized idea that they don’t deserve anything more.  Learning to feel safe, giving oneself the things one needs at all levels, is the lesson here.  And learning to be unafraid to share life’s good things with others. Develop a practical, sensible approach to things.

Gemini: Chiron’s effect in Gemini affects communications and the nervous system. The native may have been ignored as a child, not listened to, or suffer from shyness.  There can also be autism or Asperger’s syndrome or trouble with stuttering.  You may even find difficulty with hearing or sight that requires learning Braille or sign language. There may also be hidden writing or speaking talent.  In learning to communicate more effectively, to overcome shyness or anxiety, they can bring these gifts to the surface and share their experience with others, giving them confidence to do the same.  Approach the problem with an open attitude, and use versatility in seeking the right method for communicating. 

Cancer:  Chiron in Cancer often feels unloved or unwanted.  The native may feel a need to sacrifice their own well-being to nurture others, often to the detriment of self.  This can create the tendency toward martyrdom, or adopting a steady stream of “strays”—pets, people, or projects.  The goal here is to learn to nourish oneself at a deep emotional level, as well as care for others.  When one cares for others before oneself, there is often nothing left within with which to help others.  Caring for oneself first enables the native to have all the energy and resources needed to nurture other people.  Think of the emergency in an airplane—put on your own oxygen mask before helping those around you!

Leo:  Leos like to shine in the world and have their talents recognized.  With Chiron here, the native may feel that his or her talents have been overlooked or squelched.  Creativity may have been discouraged in favor of more “practical” skills.  This placement reminds me of the character Neil Perry in Dead Poets Society who longs to be an actor, but is forbidden to pursue such frivolity by his parents.  The crushing of creative dreams can be soul-killing.  But if the native learns to pursue his or her inner urges in spite of oppression, they can then begin to help uplift others to find their own creative gifts.  Be childlike and learn to play without self-judgment!

Virgo:  Virgo rules health and hygiene, and with Chiron here, there may be some health issue that is chronic or permanent. Illness or disability from childhood may create the need to obsess over details in some way. Hypochondria or OCD may be manifested. Or there may be a completely opposite response and the native neglects his or her health.  Most with Chiron here will end up working in or around health care professions.  Chiron can also be a good influence here, giving the native a natural understanding of the conditions that lead to health.  Volunteering at health care institutions, or learning holistic healing techniques like massage or acupuncture may enable these natives to make peace with their own condition and bring healing to others.

Libra:  Libra represents two ideas:  relationships and justice.  Chiron here may indicate the native experienced a deep breach in an important relationship, or has experienced some sort of injustice.  This could be a situation like the loss of a parent through injustice or via the justice system. Libra is sensitive and may swing from one extreme to another, being desperately needy one moment and completely withdrawn the next.  There is a tendency to co-dependency.  The lesson here is learning to have a good relationship with oneself, and to be fair to both self and others.  Healing can come through forming healthy partnerships—not necessarily personal relationships, but also partnerships with therapists or other professionals.  The key is to learn to balance both personal needs and the needs of others, and to perhaps give up the need to seek “justice” for perceived wrongs.  Libra wants to experience harmony, and healing may come through creating peaceful environments and relationships.

Scorpio:  Scorpio rules sex and death (and transformation), so the wounding here may have to do with an early experience of or with death, and also includes the possibility of there being some sort of sexual wounding, whether through actual physical abuse or early sexual repression / guilt. Chiron in Scorpio often is found in the charts of natural mediums, those who can see and/or communicate with the dead.  The talent associated with Chiron here is often one of intense psychic abilities. The native may feel powerless or be afraid of their own power. There is an element of secrecy—perhaps they have psychic gifts they don’t share for fear of reprisals or because of early childhood religious training.  Chiron in Scorpio brings the potential to help those who have also been sexually abused, or to help those who are dying, dead (beyond the veil or earthbound), or wrestle with grief issues.

Sagittarius:  When Chiron is in Sag, the native may experience some loss with regard to higher education, culture, and tradition.  There may be a break with spiritual or cultural traditions that causes disenfranchisement from family.  They may seek out an extreme response to the teachings with which they were raised—by joining a cult, becoming an atheist, or running away to join the circus. The native may feel as though they do not understand the traditions they were handed and may feel alienated.  One astrologer wrote, “…they may feel that they are meant for glory, but that something went terribly wrong.” The key here is learning to be modest, to seek greater education in such matters and to find the wisdom hidden within. Study philosophy, travel, and allow yourself to be free to explore different modes of being human.

Capricorn:  Chiron in Capricorn has likely experienced rejection or chaos in childhood, making them feel insecure and having a need to control things in order to feel safe.  The native may seek to prove their value by being a workaholic, or desperately seeking to climb the corporate ladder, accumulating wealth and prestige.  The healing can come when the native learns that they are indeed accomplished people with nothing to prove.  When they learn to value their own worth in the world, they then become able to aid others in feeling worthwhile.  They may find solace in restoration or collecting and preserving things like antiques, historical records or pursuing genealogical research for themselves or others.

Aquarius: Aquarius’ hallmark is humanitarianism.  Chiron in Aquarius has likely experienced social rejection in their youth.  They may have felt different from most others all their lives, or as if they belonged on the Island of Misfit Toys. Instead of yearning to fit in, these natives need to learn to treasure their uniqueness. They may be geniuses, or have an unusual talent or ability to see the world in new and innovative ways.  The healing comes when they discover they have a special gift to bring the world and allow themselves to BE different, and become comfortable with themselves.  Bringing one’s gifts to fruit in the world through groups with similar ideals will allow these natives to bring healing, change and new ideas to others. 

Pisces:  Chiron in Pisces carries a karmic feel to it, and the native may be bringing in woundedness from a previous life or lives.  The native may feel as though they are constantly in crisis, or they may feel guilty and don’t know why.  They may find themselves constantly being victimized, seeming to attract people who will use and abuse them.  There may be mental health issues or drug and alcohol abuse.  Chiron in Pisces likely had some sort of event in childhood that triggered this feeling of being in a life that is out of control.  It could be even a small incident that triggered memories from previous life experiences.  They may also be channeling the pain of others around them in an unconscious psychic expression. The healing here is to delve deeply into the subconscious mind through regression, psychotherapy, and spiritual learning like meditation, yoga, dreaming or shamanism.  They must find the real message being sent from their feelings, learn to interpret it and to find the hidden gift in their struggles.  Once they have begun to discern the deeper meanings, they can help others to uncover hidden or subconscious injury.

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Catt Foy has been a professional psychic and astrologer since 1978 and a freelance writer and photographer since 1981.  She is the author of Psycards: An Oracle of Archetypes, Rune Stones & Their Interpretations, and the novel Bartleby:  A Scrivener's Tale.  She holds an MA from Western Illinois University and an MFA in Fiction from Spalding University, and is currently Queen (CEO) of Psycards USA.  Catt likes to garden, paint, and make jewelry, and is currently working on several other novels.  Catt is also an ordained minister and certified hypnotherapist specializing in past-life regression.

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