Chiron the Wounded Healer

Chiron is a small planetoid in our solar system orbiting our sun between Saturn and Uranus. Chiron was discovered in 1977 by astronomers and named after a centaur in Greek mythology. In myth, Chiron, son of Cronos (aka Saturn) and Philyra, was born with a horse's body and man's torso. Chiron was rejected by both parents and became the foster son and protégé of Apollo. There are many conflicting stories about Chiron, but in each he was ultimately wounded with an arrow that was poisoned with the blood of Hydra. The poison was deadly, but Chiron was immortal so he was stricken with a painful injury that would not heal. Through his constant pain and sadness, Chiron became a healer and teacher of others. Eventually, the gods listened to his pleas for release from his immortality; and because of the great works he did despite his pain, they gave him a place in the heavens where he would feel no more pain.

This story is key to understanding the astrological significance of Chiron. Astrologers are using Chiron more and more in synastry, and the symbol has become even more popular in psychological astrology. In the natal chart, by sign and house Chiron will show where we are intrinsically wounded. It can show us where we can help others, yet cannot help ourselves. Like Chiron himself, this is where we are incredibly gifted because of our own shortcomings. Chiron is popularly symbolized in astrology as "The Wounded Healer."

There is some conflict in the astrological community about rulership for Chiron. If you were to ask several astrologers what sign Chiron rules, you would get several different answers. Some feel that Chiron, living between Saturn and Uranus in the sky, has co-rulership over Capricorn and Aquarius both. This is due to the fact that Chiron has the flavor of each sign. Like Capricorn, it has a feeling of maturity through self-limitations and a Saturn-like bleakness surrounding it. At the same time, its healing side has a humanitarian focus, like Aquarius.

Because of the man/horse symbology and the intense psychological and philosophical side to Chiron as well as the higher learning in Chiron's myth from Apollo, some astrologers relate Chiron to Sagittarius.

Still others believe that Chiron is the true ruler of Virgo. Some astrologers have been looking for a ruler for Virgo since rulership was first assigned to signs. Virgo and Gemini share Mercury as their ruler, and many astrologers have felt that Virgo has a ruler all its own that has remained undiscovered. Virgo tends to be self-critical and serious, yet it is the essence of being of service to others. In this way, it does indeed show a correlation to Chiron.

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