As man's technological expertise expands, so too does his 'complexity', and hopefully, so does his conscious awareness; and through that awareness, his capacity for compassion and love.

In comparatively recent years, astrologers have begun utilising points and celestial bodies other than the 7 traditional 'planets' in delineation of the natal chart.

Chiron is but one of those modern additions to the ever growing astrological alphabet.

It has been argued by some, that the use of additional points in delineation only repeats the information offered within the confines of traditional areas of the chart. To a certain extent, this may be true.

On the other hand, many astrologers through research and experience, have found the additional points are useful tools, bringing astrology's body of knowledge in line with man's evolutionary process, enabling the astrologer to glean further information as to the 'hidden' nature of his or her subject.

In practice, sometimes the information gleaned may indeed simply be a confirmation of what is shown in other areas of the natal chart. At many other times though, the new information can throw entirely new light on the specifics of character and the background against which that character has developed.

-The discoverer 'discovers' new things only when he is ready to accept them.

-The act of discovery then, heralds for the majority, a new dawning in awareness of ourselves and our place in the Universe .....

1. Astronomical Information About Chiron

 Discovery

Chiron was discovered on the1st November 1977, 10. 00 am, Pasadena, California.
Astrologer Al Morrison suggests a rectification of four minutes earlier. (There are reported earlier sightings of the Chiron, but this is the recognised confirmed reporting)

Discoverer

Charles T. Kowal, born 8th November 1940, Buffalo, New York. Kowal also discovered the thirteenth and fourteenth moons of Jupiter, a comet, and eighty supemovae, which is the second largest number of astronomical discoveries ever made by one person. Of the asteroids he discovered, one was named after his daughter Loretta, and one after the town of Naples where he met his wife in 1968. He graduated from Buffalo High School in I957; he won a scholarship to USC and majored in astronomy; he graduated with a B A in 1961. He began working for Hale Observatories in the same year.

 Diameter

Unknown; estimated at 100-400 kilometres, although one source gives 100-400 miles

Orbital Period

49-51 years. Chiron's movement is erratic, the perturbations being brought about by the gravitational effects of its neighbours, Saturn and Uranus.

Orbital Eccentricity

Chiron has the greatest orbital eccentricity of any planet. Where 0.0000 is a circle, and 1.0000 is a line, Chiron's eccentricity is 0.3786. Formerly, Pluto's orbit was the most eccentric, at 0. 2482; before Pluto's discovery, Mercury's orbit displayed the greatest eccentricity, at 0. 2056.

 Orbital Inclination

6.0 degrees to the ecliptic.

 Perihelion and Aphelion / Retrograde Motion

At perihelion, Chiron is 1. 27 billion kilomctres (8. 5 AU) distant from the Sun, and situated between Saturn and Jupiter, having crossed Saturn's orbit in its inward journey. At aphelion, Chiron is 2.8 billion kilometres from the Sun (8. 9 AU).

Chiron's retrograde period varies between 4 - 5 months of the year (approximately) in the Geocentric horoscope.

In 1977 astronomers discovered a planet like 'asteroid' of some 220 miles in diameter in eccentric orbit between Saturn and Uranus and called it Chiron, named after the most virtuous of the Centaurs of ancient mythology, who was also known as the Wounded Healer. It's elliptic and somewhat eccentric orbit takes it very close to both these astrologically influential planets.

Both Dane Rudhyar (in the Astrology of Personality) and Charles Jayne (in the 1961 issue of In Search) predicted the discovery of Chiron. Rudhyar thought perhaps a "Higher Moon" (just as Uranus is thought of by many as a "Higher Mercury") - between Saturn and Uranus. Such a body, he postulated, would serve as a bridge between the gatekeeper's (Saturn's) protection of the finite world of normal human interaction and the adventure into Galactic or Christic Consciousness initiated by the 'outer' planets.

Chiron then, stands at the bridge of the human world and the transpersonal world, the world of the spirit.

Melanie Reinhart, author of Chiron and the Healing Journey, believes Chiron expresses the need to reintegrate an ancient preverbal knowing into our western rational understanding. She envisions a "biospiritual consciousness, neither material-psychological nor exclusively religious-spiritual, but both." We will not all become shamans, but the current revival of interest in shamanism and natural healing in general is due to man's realisation of the need to retrieve these missing natural parts of ourselves and to reconnect with nature and cosmic forces.

Chiron, in mythology, was the wisest of the Centaurs. His stories are many, but all have as commonality the theme of the Wounded Healer.

He is seen by some as the archetype of the search for inner peace and wisdom, and indeed within the context of the natal chart this is what he can reveal about us. He is the key to the closed door of the unconscious, and seen as the bridge between the old and new planets - he is sometimes referred to as the Rainbow Bridge.

There is much debate as to the assignation of rulership to Chiron. Some astrologers suggest Sagittarius (the obvious Centaur and arrow motif and teaching) and Scorpio (the insatiable search), others Virgo (service, healing and teaching), and still others insist that he has no rulership at all, and describe his nature as maverick, doorway and passage.
This Virgo rising astrologer leans toward Virgo, as Chiron is seen almost universally as the archetype of teacher and healer, neatly covering qualities of Virgo and Sixth House matters --- provided of course that he has indeed settled into permanent orbit in our solar system.

Nevertheless, he is here with us now, and in being within our awareness can teach us much about ourselves if we but take the time.

Within the next ten years, the perturbations discovered in Pluto's orbit suggesting a mass larger than Jupiter will yield the discovery of the so called planet X. (Yes - I know NASA has denied the existence of any such planet). Most feel that this new body should be called Persephone. This astrologer feels that this new planet should be given the name Atlas and assigned rulership to Taurus. For both the Earth and the protective/supportive nature.

The officially confirmed discovery of this 'new' body will herald the beginning of the Galactic Milieu, or the Christ Consciousness that Rudhyar spoke of --- Could this be when Uranus enters Pisces on March 11 2003, at 7:52:46 AM, (A.E.D.T: -11)?. Uranus makes 2 more contacts at 00 degrees Pisces, one on the 15th of September, and the third on the 30th of December 2003. Uranus goes retrograde on June 3 2002, at 11:11:05 AM and goes direct on November 4th 2003, at 5:27:27 PM (A.E.D.T: -11).

The actual date of the 'discovery' remains to be seen.

Astrologers have found that in plotting the position of Chiron in a Natal Chart, much can be learned about the psychological makeup of an individual and potential problems they may face in coming to terms with life in general.

Not everyone will be sensitive to the influence of Chiron. As a guide, Melanie Reinhart offers us the following chart precepts to work with, and should two or more be present in a chart, you can feel relatively safe that Chiron's influence will be felt, and that the themes of Chiron by sign and house will resonate and be relevant in the life of the person.

a) Chiron conjunct any of the angles
b) Chiron conjunct or square the Moon's nodes
c) Chiron aspecting many planets, especially the Sun, Moon or Ascendant ruler.
d) Chiron focal according to the "Jones Patterns" of the chart
e) Sagittarius or Virgo on the Midheaven or Ascendant
f) Chiron in either Sagittarius or Virgo
g) A satellitium (stellium) of planets in Sagittarius or Virgo

Chiron in the chart often reveals wounds or hurts to the psyche -collectively - complexes - resulting from traumas that we have encountered but not assimilated in the very early stages of life. Sometimes, however, the wound is very ancient, seemingly inexplicable in terms of one's experience, but remains central to psychological themes that are repetitive and chronic. An event of little outer consequence may take on an exaggerated meaning because it ties into an old soul issue. The issue relates of course, to what may be considered the person's spiritual quest.

As always with astrological interpretation, no single factor should be considered without taking into account its relation to the whole chart.

So, each of us has within us, buried deep within our psyches, perceptions of events, circumstances, issues or people that we feel were more painful to us - that were not entirely fair; that were wrong, and that need to be fixed, healed, rectified or redressed. The sum total of these things and their effect are what can be called our ‘personal Wound’.

Whether or not you are aware of it, this Wound can be a drive to your life. The paradox of the inner conflict arising is that it can act as a drive toward what you have been divinely designed to become (symbolised in astrology by the Sign on the Midheaven). In the process of trying to fill the voids in your life {The Chironic Wound} you have become who you are. Every Wound contains a hidden gift - the healing journey is in discovering what that gift may be. This can be found through a gradual process of forgiving, accepting and finally unconditionally loving the circumstances of your life that have contributed to who you are today.

In other words, we are indeed as Tennyson once said - ".....a part of all that we have met" in life.

Every single thing which happens to us can be seen as a moment of synchronicity. How we assimilate our experiences is really up to us - keeping our minds open to the interconnectedness of the Universe however, can lead us to the path of self-discovery, clearing the path for easier soul expression in this lifetime.

By knowing where Chiron lies in your natal chart, you can begin to approach your own healing - physical, emotional, mental and spiritual - more consciously and intentionally. Conscious awareness combined with intention is a very powerful healing combination. Chiron also has to do with the development of compassion, an aspect of love-wisdom.

Your Chiron sign and the associated themes can provide a deeper understanding of what drives you in your life, making the finding of peace that little bit easier.

"Chiron's message in the chart is the same for everyone - that no matter what happens in life, it is nothing but a learning experience that should not be seen as a failure or drawback. Everything that happens has purpose and the more that you can acknowledge this, the more attuned to the Universe and the people around you, you will be and the more you will heal -physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

Gratitude is the key.

Reaching a point of gratitude is accomplished by finding the hidden blessings in crises, the gifts of the wounds, the silver lining to every cloud, the divine order in the chaos, the love in every thing.

Gratitude for being uniquely and individually who you are, for it is gratitude that takes you to love and love is what binds the Universe together.

 "Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hate.
It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness"
-- William Arthur Ward.

NOTE: This article was originally written in 1994 after reading Melanie Reinhart's "Chiron and the Healing Journey" - and subsequently sent to a colleague in the United States in 1997 - the current revision reflects clinical findings in the observation of Chiron's natal chart placement and will be revised further as new information comes to light.

References & Reading: Melanie Reinhart - Chiron and the Healing Journey - Penguin Arkana - 1989, 1998 -