posted February 03, 2005 11:19 PM              

Since Chiron's discovery in 1977, astrologers have been experiencing and exploring his themes, listening to new tales that resound to his ancient myth and coming to some understanding of his archetypal impact. Now, it is believed that in order to live life to its fullest, one must face that part of oneself that would rather seek death.

What is Chiron's position in the birth chart and what aspects does it make to other planets? As astrologers, we look at the symbolism of the polarity of the Sun and Chiron - hope versus despair - the will to live versus hopelessness. Although not aspected in every individual's chart both symbols are present. They form an energy dynamic within the personality. A direct aspect sharpens this dynamic and often becomes the focus of the individual's journey.

All the planets up to and including Saturn serve the development of the individual ego, best symbolized by the Sun as the center of individuality. Chiron lies at the interface between Saturn and the outer planets, and mediates collective issues which impinge on and wound the individual by its nature. Chiron's collective implications signify something collectively "un-healable" because the wound exists in the collective and is ancestral. The Sun reflects each individual's sense of purpose and meaning in life and these are intimately bound up with the will to live and to become oneself.

SUN'S SYMBOLISM
CHIRON'S SYMBOLISM

Individual destiny
Sense of meaning
Hope for Future
Self-Confidence
Power to Create
The Divine Child Disillusionment
Failed Ideals
Inescapable Wounding
Bitterness & Cynicism
Physical & Psychological Damage

SUN WORKING W/CHIRON
Wisdom
Patience in the face of what cannot be changed
Toughness and grit
Understanding of the
deeper patterns
Determination to
contribute to welfare
of others
Compassion
Activation of the will to
live
SUN WORKING AGAINST
CHIRON
Depression
Loss of Confidence
Sense of permanent
damage
Cynicism
Expectation of Failure
Sense of Victimization
Projection of inferiority
onto others
Loss of will to Live

In myth, Chiron did not become a healer because he was wounded. He was a teacher and healer before he was inflicted with his wound. However, it could be assumed that he suffered prior because of his lonely existence. Although he belonged to a tribe of other centaurs (who symbolized natural instinctual powers) he separated himself from his tribe and remained isolated. He represents the wise animal which of its own volition has chosen to serve human evolution and consciousness, rather than remain blindly subject to the instinctual compulsions of the animal kingdom. He has turned his back on the savagery of his instinctual nature in order to serve the evolutionary pattern which he deems to be the way forward for the whole of life. He is accidentally wounded by a poisoned arrow aimed at another centaur and the wound does not heal no matter what healing methods he applies to it. Ultimately he retires to his cave howling in anguish, begging for death. Zeus and Prometheus take pity on him and grant him the boon of mortality, allowing him to die in peace like any other mortal, although once he was a god.

This story implies a state of unfairness in life which is hard for any individual especially for the idealistic person involved in esoteric studies. We want to believe that life is fair and that goodness is rewarded and evil punished; at least in some other incarnation if not in this one.

Chiron is an image of that in us which has been wounded unfairly by life, and by inescapable conditions which reflect failings and flaws in a collective psyche which is repititively clumsy in its efforts to progress. We are victims of unfairly inflicted pain which produces repercussions through the generations leaving many of us full of bitterness and cynicism. We are the recipients of physical and psychological damage whose causes lie not in any individual or even parental failing, but in genetic inheritance (a personal handicap) or collective disasters such as the Holocaust, African starvation/Aid Virus, the 9/11 Terrorist Attack on New York, the War in Iraq - where thousands of innocents have suffered death and inexplicable horrors. The collective psyche over which we have no control and which, as individuals, we cannot be blamed.

Such collisions with the inescapable flaws of the collective can leave us full of bitterness and despair. We may punish others because we feel maimed, wounded and irredeemable. or we may punish ourselves. In the final outcome - we must accept that there are no answers - no rewards. Like Chiron, we must understand and except that we are only mortal and destined to be flawed as a collective. This should trigger compassion in us - compassion of one lame person for another.

We all have to face Chiron and ask ourselves "What is the nature of my wound? How has life hurt me, and whom do I secretly blame? Can I feel compassion and forgiveness for myself or only rage and self-pity? Where do I sabotage or even destroy myself because of bitterness?"

Mental disorders represent the number "one" health problem for the U.S. and probably for the entire human population. Some studies estimate that approximately 1/3 of all Americans suffer from some sort of emotional disturbance. It has become a growing problem among children and adolescents. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) estimates that 3 to 6 million young people may currently be depressed.

posted February 07, 2005 03:13 PM              

Excellent - thank you...

My Chiron is in Pisces in the 10th House.