CHIRON ~

The Healing Pathway to

Personal and Global Reconciliation
by Candy Hillenbrand

Chiron, discovered as recently as 1977, is a large comet which orbits between

Saturn and Uranus. Scientists believe that Chiron is a temporary visitor, a maverick,
who came from outside our solar system, and will eventually leave. Its astronomy
points to Chiron's link between the inner planets of the personal self, and the outer
planets of the collective and transpersonal self. Chiron is our bridge from the
known to the unknown, from the old to the new, from the Age of Pisces to the Age
of Aquarius.
Mythology
Mythology reveals Chiron as the Wounded Healer archetype. Born half-man, halfhorse, he was the product of a union between Saturn and Philyra. Repulsed by his
appearance, Philyra rejected her child at birth and begged the Gods to take him
away. The Gods instructed Chiron in the healing arts, warfare, music, ethics,
astrology, and he became a wise teacher, mentor, healer and prophet. Later in life,
Chiron was wounded in the knee by an arrow. The wound would not heal, and
Chiron spent the rest of his life searching for a cure. An accomplished healer, he
was unable to heal himself. As an immortal, he could not be released from his
wound. Eventually, Chiron found release from his suffering by agreeing to
exchange places with Prometheus, the earthy Titan, who had been banished to the
underworld for stealing fire from the Gods. Chiron gave up his immortality for
death and the release from pain.
Chiron and the Wound in the Birth Chart
Chiron in the birth chart points to an area where the soul has been deeply wounded
in the past. I believe that the Chiron wound is of a karmic nature, and that the
current life childhood and early conditioning merely resonate with patterns that are
already deeply ingrained. Chiron's position is a very sensitive point in the birth
chart. It magnetises to itself experiences that reinforce the primal experience of
pain and rejection. As children, and continuing as adults, we receive messages from
parents, siblings, lovers, friends and others in our environment, that reinforce the

initial wounding. We internalise these messages, the pattern becomes deeper and
the suffering greater. Finally, we seek healing and relief from the suffering.
The position of Chiron, by sign, house and aspect, will reveal something about the
nature of this wound to the soul and points to ways of healing it. Those who are
highly Chiron-sensitive (with a prominent natal Chiron) may wander ceaselessly
over the four corners of the earth in search of a cure for their afflictions. Cure after
cure is tried, healer after healer consulted, and each time a step forward is made
along the path towards wholeness. However, there is rarely an ultimate cure.
The Chiron Experience
The Chiron experience is a process. Through transits to and from Chiron, we
encounter experiences that replay the old wounds of the past. Each time we are
plunged back into our area of greatest pain, we are given another opportunity to let
go, to be released from it a little more. It seems that we need to experience the pain
so that we can see the need to be free from it.
Gradually, we learn to better understand, accept and transmute the pain, to go
beyond it and use it in a creative way to benefit others. This is the transformational
experience of pain, and the gift of Chiron. Paradoxically, it is through this
experience of our own pain, and the compassion and insight gained, that we feel
drawn to help others. This is the Wounded One transformed into Healer and
Teacher.
The Transformation of The Wounded One into The Healer and Teacher
Through Chiron we find our vehicle for expression of higher purpose, because it is
here that we seek to give out to others, to teach and heal. A teacher or healer is
simply someone who seeks to share their knowledge, wisdom, skills and love with
others. If Chiron is prominent in the natal chart, the teacher/healer is likely to be a
very powerful personal archetype.
The following are some suggestions for delineation. The study and understanding
of the nature of the Chiron experience is still very much in the stage of infancy. As
we come to understand how the energy of Chiron works in our own birth charts and
lives, we are able to have more understanding of how our clients may be
experiencing the Chiron process. Pain and suffering are very powerful personal
experiences, but they are also universal experiences. It is through this awareness
that we come to empathise with others, and share in a sense of collective grief.
The Bridge of Reconciliation
Chiron is symbolic not only of the Rainbow Bridge [1] or the Antahkarana [2] of
Eastern religious traditions, of the bridge from the lower to the higher self, from the

personality to the soul. It also represents the bridge of reconciliation, between black
and white, man and woman, the East and the West. We heal the wounds of the past,
both personal and collective, through a process of internal and external
reconciliation. This process takes place within ourselves, and also between
ourselves and others, between individuals, between nations. Chiron therefore, is the
key, not only to personal healing, but to global healing.
Healing the Wound
There are many healing modalities, some of which are mentioned in the following
delineations, which can help alleviate our pain and even trigger major physical and
psychological breakthroughs and transformations. But there are some internal
spiritual qualities which hold the true key to healing the wound of Chiron.
Forgiveness is the key to reconciliation. We can also help heal our personal wound,
which usually involves fear, by doing just that which we fear. This takes courage
and willpower. Sometimes, we find that the experience which we most feared did
not eventuate. Instead we are validated through experiences of love and acceptance.
And we all know that Love is the greatest healer of all.
Some Ideas for Delineation
Note that the principle I am using here is based on Zipporah Dobyn's concept of the
Twelve Letter Alphabet . For example, Chiron/Sun aspects are similar in flavour to
Chiron in Leo or Chiron in the 5th house.
CHIRON / SUN ASPECTS
The Wounding: A wound to the sun-self, creativity or yang principle. Taking on the
father's wound. Fear of one's creativity. Feeling betrayed or wounded by the
father/father principle.
Parental/environmental Message: "I don't approve of your showing off, of you
shining so brightly."
Internalised Message: "I am afraid to shine / I don't feel complete unless I
shine."
Healing the Wound: Self-esteem work. Inner child work. Developing confidence.
All forms of creative expression. Sunflower and Iris flower essences.
The Gift: Creativity. Working with children. Leadership.
CHIRON / MOON ASPECTS
The Wounding: An emotional wound. Taking on the mother's wound.
Experiencing or empathising with the mother's pain. The mother is wounded. Fear
of one's vulnerability. Feeling betrayed or rejected by the mother/mother principle.

Feeling unnourished, and subsequent difficulty in nurturing oneself. Feeling

unsafe. Deep unnamed fears.
Parental/environmental Message: "The world is an unsafe place. Don't trust
anyone. We love you, but...."
Internalised Message: "I feel rejected. I am vulnerable."
Healing the Wound: Emotional release work. Healing through becoming a mother
or nurturing others. Psychotherapy. Experiences of love and acceptance. Bach
Flower Therapy. Pomegranate and Aspen flower essences.
The Gift: Sensitivity and empathy towards others. The ability to nurture and heal
others.
CHIRON / MERCURY ASPECTS
The Wounding: A communication wound. Feeling misunderstood and unable to
communicate.
Parental/environmental Message: "We don't like the way you communicate."
Internalised Message: "You don't understand me. You don't listen to me. I am
dumb."
Healing the Wound: Singing, public speaking, chanting, writing, playing a
musical instrument. Creative expression of sound. Throat chakra unblocking and
healing. Practice of Right Speech and Thought. Snapdragon and Calendula
flower essences.
The Gift: The ability to understand others and to teach the art of effective
communication and problem solving.
CHIRON / VENUS ASPECTS
The Wounding: A wound in the area of relationships. Wounded partners. Taking
on the wounds of others. Grief, loss of the loved one or beloved. Wounded in love
or wounding others in love. Feeling unloved. A wound to the heart.
Parental/environmental Message: "Our love is conditional. We will love you
if..."
Internalised Message: "I don't like, appreciate or approve of myself. I am
unlovable. Nobody loves me."
Healing the Wound: All experiences of unconditional love. Heart chakra healing.
The practice of forgiveness and compassion. The path of Bhakti Yoga (Devotion).
Devotional music. Massage and touching. Reiki. The practice of Right Human
Relationships. Holly and Borage flower essences. Rose essential oil.
The Gift: The ability to help others heal their relationships. Counselling.
Diplomacy. Love.

CHIRON / MARS ASPECTS

The Wounding: A wound or issues around expressing one's identity, sexuality,
physical energy, anger and aggression. Extremes of energy. Hyperactivity. Taking
on the anger of others. Victim, survivor or perpetrator of violence.
Parental/environmental Message: "You are aggressive. We don't like you when
you're angry. You have too much energy. I am angry with you. You make me
angry."
Internalised Message: "It's not okay to express anger / I am destructive / Others
are destructive."
Healing the Wound: Creative release of energy through sport, martial arts, dance,
tai chi, active meditation. The practice of Right Action. Impatiens and Vine flower
essences.
The Gift: The ability to transmute anger into creative expression and activity.
Empowering others.
CHIRON / JUPITER ASPECTS
The Wounding: A wound to the belief system. The wounded teacher. Fear of
sharing one's knowledge. Deep inner restlessness. Missionary zeal. Religious
dogmatism. Fear of being happy/unhappy. Crisis of faith.
Parental/environmental Message: "Be optimistic / Don't be too optimistic. Our
religion is The only path to God. We don't believe in God. Big is best."
Internalised Message: "It's not okay to share my knowledge / My truth is The
Truth."
Healing the Wound: Disseminating one's knowledge through teaching, speaking,
writing, publishing. Travelling. The path of Jnana Yoga (Knowledge). Vervain and
Shasta Daisy flower essences.
The Gift: The ability to inspire others and to share one's knowledge, through
speaking, teaching, writing, publishing.
CHIRON / SATURN ASPECTS
The Wounding: A wound to one's sense of structure, achievement and confidence.
Fear of one's power. Fear of taking one's place in the world. The father is wounded
or a wounding influence. Taking on the father's wound. Deep inner fears and
rigidity. Seriousness and insecurity.
Parental/environmental Message: "I am the boss. I know what is best for you."
Internalised Message: "There is a voice inside me that criticises and judges me.
It's my fault."
Healing the Wound: The path of Karma Yoga (Service). Right Livelihood.
Fulfilling one's dharma or life purpose. Wild Oat, Larch and Mimulus flower
essences.

The Gift: The ability to accept responsibility and positions of authority. Wisdom.
NOTES
[1] Hand Clow, Barbara., Chiron: Rainbow Bridge Between the Inner and Outer
Planets.
[2] Weiner, Errol., Transpersonal Astrology. pp. 167-169.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hand Clow, Barbara., Chiron: Rainbow Bridge Between the Inner and Outer
Planets. 1987.
Hand Clow, Barbara., Liquid Light of Sex: Understanding your Key Life
Passages. 1991.
Johnson, Stephanie., The Emergence of Chiron in the Aquarian Age (Thesis for
Master of Science Degree in Esotericism). 1992.
Reinhart, Melanie., Chiron and the Healing Journey. 1989.
Sasportas, Howard., The Twelve Houses. 1985. pp. 345-352.
Stein, Zane B., Interpreting Chiron (2nd edition). 1983.
Weiner, Errol., Transpersonal Astrology. 1991.
Copyright 1996 by Candy Hillenbrand