Chiron: the wounded healer

tags: chiron

This is the glyph for Chiron. Chiron is also known as the “wounded healer,” and is associated with shamanism.

Chiron has an irregular, sort of egg-shaped orbit between Saturn and Uranus. Sometimes Chiron is closer to Saturn, other times closer to Uranus. It’s not known what exactly Chiron is. Astronomers’ best guess is that it’s a remnant of a comet that got trapped in orbit in our solar system. An outsider.

There are four important phases in Chiron’s story that may help you understand what he represents in your chart.

His youth. He was a centaur, but not like other centaurs, who were raucous and rowdy, in my mind they’re like frat boys, and Chiron is the nerd. He didn’t know how to fit in. That’s why there’s an alienation theme at some point in life.

His career. Eventually Chiron found a teacher who taught him about herbs and healing, poetry, music, etc. The very reason he suffered in youth turned out to be his greatest asset once he recognized it. He could then go back to the Centaurs and care for them in his full glory. He finally fit in. I see this as Chiron’s gift— a calling that won’t let you settle in where you don’t belong. Chiron didn’t fit in with the Centaurs because he wasn’t meant to be a jock.. he needed to become who he was, a healer. So it’s what makes you nerdy that you need to develop.

His wounding. Chiron went on to become a mentor to heroes like Hercules and Jason (of Jason & the Argonauts). Hercules, after slaying the Hydra, was fooling around with arrows dipped in her blood, a poison so deadly there was no antidote. And he accidentally shot his teacher Chiron, who was immortal, so he didn’t die. But the poison was so strong he couldn’t heal from it either. The only way to cope with his suffering was to transcend it by serving others.

His death. In another myth, Prometheus gets in trouble for stealing fire from the Gods and giving it to mortals. As a punishment, he is chained to a rock, where his fate is to have his liver eaten out by birds (and restored) each and every day. The only way he can be released from this is if an immortal is willing to take his place. Chiron offered. The Gods were so touched that they allowed him to transcend the physical, to die and be reborn in spirit.

Comments:

1. Just a note, hercules didn't kill medusa, he killed the Hydra, and dipped His arrows in its blood.
   
   — Rigo    22 June 2005    #
2. Thanks Rigo-- I knew that but my mind must have slipped. I made the correction.
   
   Molly
   
   — Molly    22 June 2005    #
3. Dear Molly,
   I enjoy learning from your website. Do you have any websites with information concerning Chiron transits?
   Thanks,
   María
   
   — Marí­a    23 June 2005    #
4. Okay, that explains a lot.
   Thank you.
   (Chiron conjunct ASC)
   
   — ere    30 June 2005    #
5. Sometimes it's easy to know what a planet is retrograde, and other times when you try to guess it fails, so my question is, what does Chiron mean retrograde?
   
   — Mykel    22 September 2005    #
6. Chiron retrograde means the same as Chiron direct, basically. I have a couple of articles on retrogrades that explain the idea of retrograde planets.
   
   — Molly    24 September 2005    #

7. Thanks for a very clear explanation of Chiron. How does one interpret Chiron in the chart? I have Chiron in Capricorn in my first house. Much thx!

   
   
   — palomabunny    26 November 2005    #

8. I have transit chiron conjunct my North Node please explain.

   
   
   — Jayne    6 January 2006    #

9. I like your interpretations. Have you studied unaspected planets?...Aspects ot the Moon's Nodes? I am involved in an astrological research project with the latest generation..the Crystal Children..and about 20% have unaspected planets...and about 28% have grand trines to Scoprio South Nodes. I'd love any help I can get. Namaste, Rosemary

   
   
   — Rosemary    19 February 2006    #

10. Hi Rosemary—
    Bil Tierney's book, Dynamics of Aspect Analysis has some great info on unaspected planets.

    I don't know anything about these Crystal Children.. I am only medium woo-woo, and this is a little out of my league!

    However, I can tell you that there were several months in 2004 (maybe more if you use wide orbs) when there was a grand trine involving Saturn, Uranus and the South Node. It lasted a long time, thus every child born during that period has a GT with a Scorpio SN (the Nodes take 1.5 years to transit each sign). Even more have Uranus trine SN, as that one hung around for even longer. Unless your sample includes children of many different age groups, your findings may not be that significant. It's more than likely you'll see formations like this pop up over and over, because that's what the planets do. Unless you have 18 years worth of data in your sample, you're not even going to get every node sign. Sorry to be devil's advocate, but it's important to consider that these are generational influences.

    
    
    — Molly    20 February 2006    #

11. I’m a chiron rising, i’m a humanatarian. So upset that this country is in wars right now. If you have any information to help me please send it to me. Thank you very much Dave

    
    
    — dave woodring    12 March 2006    #

12. Hi! Molly,

    Your site is pretty interesting…I’m trying to find info about Chiron retrograde…but so luck so far.
    Because I’ve it in my natal chart. What does it mean?? Can you pls explain.

    Thanks for your help.
    Jen

    
    
    — Jen Chong    13 March 2006    #

13. Hi Jen—
    A planet’s being retrograde means it works for you on a more internal, subjective level. Since Chiron represents largely unconscious ideas anyway, it could be that it just doesn’t make much difference. I don’t pay it much attention when I read charts.

    Karmic astrologers theorize that retrograde planets represent energies, personality characteristics, or situations that were formed in a past incarnation. This is an unproven but interesting idea. So in this context, Chiron may represent a wound or painful encounter from the past.

    
    
    — Molly    14 March 2006    #

14. Please explain Chiron conjunct my N.N. in 11th house.

    Thank you, aj

    
    
    — a.j.    27 March 2006    #

15. I’ve been looking and looking and looking. I have Chiron within half a degree of my sun in Cap in fourth house. And I am sick, chronically ill. Female, 52, the breadwinner in the family. My husband insists there’s nothing wrong with me. He has only recently begun to actually work at a job.

    I figure Chiron has something to do with this situation. But of course I can’t quite GET A GRIP on it.

    Any thoughts?

    
    
    — ellen    30 April 2006    #

16. Hi Ellen—
    I don’t have your chart, but that is a really tight Chiron conjunct Sun in Capricorn. Cap rules knees, bones, and joints.

    Is your husband a doctor?

    He doesn’t sound sympathetic at any rate.

    I suggest you see someone. Chiron’s resonance is often with the herbal world. (I have a Chiron Sun conjunction in Aries and love herbs.) A qualified herbalist, homeopath, or a chiropractor might be helpful too since they work on the skeleton.

    It might cost a little, professionals like these are often not covered by insurance. But the cost of seeing these folks is nothing compared to long term suffering.

    E-mail me privately and I’ll send you some stuff on Chiron.

    Blessings,

    
    
    — Molly    1 May 2006    #

17. Info on chiron in taurus

    
    
    — Althea    1 May 2006    #

18. I have Transiting Chiron in Aquarius conjunct progressed North Node in Aquarius conjunct natal North Node in Aquarius in the second house.

    Perspective?
    I also have Transiting Neptune conjunct my progressed sun in Aqaurius in the second house.

    
    
    — luna    1 June 2006    #

19. Hi Molly
    I enjoyed looking through your site – Thanks!!! I chuckled (Just a little) when I read the note from the the 52 year old women with Chiron in capricorn in her 4th house. Very interesting to me. Actually it is almost a direct duplicate of my own situation except Chiron is conjunct my NN within 1/2 of degree and directly opposite my Uranus and SN Conjunction in Cancer in 10th house. My situation is better now – husband is taking responsibilty (after many many years). As of this writing, Chiron is within two degress of my sun/Venus Cnj in Aquarious. I was looking for some info – any ideas? Thanks. Marcy

    
    
    — Marcy    8 July 2006    #

20. Many synchronicities following disruptive life events have been leading me for years to consider that I may be being called to be a wounded healer of some kind. Anything you can tell me about Chiron at 26 degrees Aquarius in 4th house, aspected to nothing else in the chart except about 7 degrees from opposite Midheaven?

    
    
    — eos    23 July 2006    #

21. Hi Molly, I currently have transiting chiron conjunct my natal. Any insights? Thanks, Greg

    
    
    — greg magda    22 August 2006    #

22. Molly,

    I found this just in time being that I am right now attempting to figure my soul purpose. I am a Gemini w/ Aries rising and you guessed it…Chiron cojunct ASC. In my younger years I made my own herbal (natural) shampoos and pomades, have gardened like it was nothing, and now have been looking to astrology to find my purpose. I am told I have healer/medium qualities and have looked to my natal chart to see what people see that I can’t comprehend or see. It so far is a pleasant journey and one I am coming to know more about. Natural healing is something that has intrigued me but I’ve never pursued. And yes, I’ve always been called the nerd. Imagine that.

    Thank you.
    S

    
    
    — Susana    8 September 2006    #

23. Hi Molly , I have a venus chiron conjunction in pisces in my 9th house ; is this an explanaition for my “imposible love”? I mean platonical love…

    
    
    — moon shadow    10 October 2006    #

24. Hello Molly,

    chiron is in aries fith house and conjuncts with north node in libra. What does this mean in terms of my nativity?

    
    
    — ricardo coke    31 October 2006    #

25. My chiron is 23 degrees 4th house in Taurus and conjunct to my sun sign in Taurus. What does this pattern mean for my life?

    
    
    — Kendall    7 February 2007    #

26. well, I was doing some research to look at transits and accidently looked at astro web progressings and natal chart….on July first I have progresse gemini in north node at 22 degrees conjunct natal north north node in gemini also 22 degrees in my eleventh house (where it is natally as well).... as well as pisces in chiron at 15 degrees progressed and chiron in pisces natally at 14 degrees…
    any ideas….

    
    
    — Micheline Cloutier    6 March 2007    #

27. My question is personal regarding chiron in particular. I have progresssed sun approaching conjunction to natal ceres, square natal moon, sextile natal lilith and 150 degree angle to natal chiron all happening at about the time we plan on having a baby…I’m feeling like this is not going to work out well. I am beginning to get really nervous.

    Is all of this bad?? Chiron makes me nervous as it is about emotional wounding right?

    I wouldn’t mind finding out more about a personal consult on this.

    Thank you!

    
    
    — Gem    28 February 2008    #