The Wounded Healer

Chiron was a renowned and noble centaur in Greek mythology, he was celebrated as a wise teacher, healer and mentor. His mythos and archetype has brought me a deep awareness of pain points in my own life and in others. His story often resonates with most people who have not had the pleasure of a soft life. In my field of complex trauma we can use this archetype to see where resilience may be required to push on in life with a wound that will not fully heal. He is referred to as the wounded healer because he embodies the journey of unearthing our own wounds in a way that can help others.

Let me share with you some of his story so you can grasp his legacy a bit deeper. He was the son of the Titan Cronus and the nymph Philyra. Upon his birth, his mother was so ashamed by his half-human, half-horse appearance that she abandoned him on Mount Pelion, where he was raised. His childhood seems to really touch on wounds around abandonment and rejection. He is in a lot of ways discarded and hidden for being different. But in his destined fate he ended up being raised by Apollo. Apollo was the god of the sun and light in Greek mythology, but also a god associated with music and healing. So Chiron was raised with a gentle, healing and kind disposition not normal for most centaurs. His extensive knowledge of medicine led him to become a mentor for some of mythology's greatest healers. 

Along his story line he also gets accidentally poked with a poison arrow. Because he is half god the poison does not kill him but he lives suffering with the effects of the poison that could not be cured. Once again we get the theme of wounds that do not heal but teach. 

When I work with people Chiron is one of the first things I look for in your star chart. As it reflects where our wounds happen and what kind of medicine we will bring to the world through our own personal healing journey. I say all this because he has been the center of a lot of cosmic weather as of late and will continue to be in the next month. We had a full moon in Scorpio happening this weekend while Chiron was conjunct with the planet mercury, known as the planet of information and communication. This full moon is shining a light on the shadows in our psyche, and with the Chiron/Mercury activation things are coming up to be felt, analyzed and integrated. Previously this week I spoke about the nature of the sign of Aries which has dominated the energy of April, who is ruled by Mars the god of war and bloodshed. Now we have a full moon in Scorpio, which is also ruled by Mars. So look for themes coming up around survival mode, ego clashes, power dynamics, toxic masculine parts of the collective psyche trying to be alchemized and integrated. 

As situations arrive ask yourself, who am I at war with? And at what cost is this war? 

Some mantras to use at this time “Feelings are not facts” “Feelings are fleeting” “The wound is where the light enters”. 

Now for the deep divers… Chiron is sitting at what is considered an anaretic or critical degree. There are 30 degrees in each zodiac sign, when a planet or asteroid in this case enters these last degrees it brings a do or die energy. It is the push to complete the journey. So triggers are likely. Chiron is wrapping up a seven year cycle in the sign of Aries and soon to be entering the sign of Taurus. Big master lessons are here. We are entering the final exam. 

Big shifts, big changes. Big healing is available if we lean in. Here is the real hard work, to look inside for the discomfort not outside. If you find yourself pointing fingers, take a sacred pause and ask yourself what in this am I in control of and how can I be accountable for what is mine. What different choices do I need to make to focus on my own healing instead of waiting for something outside myself to facilitate the healing. 

We can not stay in the heart center with the armor and instinctual defenses of war turned up. Practice holding the heat and allowing it to transform you from within. Alchemize the pain into sacred evolution. Use the pressure to purify from the inside. Aries lives on the surface of what is happening, Scorpio wants you to go deep and wide into yourself to see what's happening. 

If you want to hear more about your own natal chart and where Chiron sits and how this current transit maybe showing up in your life book a consult with me here: https://www.angelicelrod.com/astrology