the-astrology-book

Chiron
the split where instinct and intellect are pitted against each other. A multidimensional
world view, which has compassionate space for all human experience, seems to be
the Chironian view, and it is an integral part of healing. Allowing this to develop
requires us to move beyond negative judgements of ourselves and others. Examining
Jupiter and Uranus in the horoscope will shed light on some of the collective beliefs
and stereotypes we need to release in order to be healed. Saturn’s position and the
conditions within the fourth, eighth, and twelfth houses may provide further clues to
the ancestral heritage that needs to be transformed.
Chiron’s process brings the magical, the awesome, the numinous, and the powerful.
The forces of nature and the shamanic “otherworld” may open, for we will
encounter the nonrational world of invisible beings, the spirits of animals, places, and
people. This tricky, risky, and inviting realm is not to be entered lightly, and Chiron’s
process may call us to become familiar with and respect a world of dynamic energies
far removed from technology, standardization, and anonymity. Personal gnosis is the
soul’s intention on this journey, whatever the experiences along the way. So look for
the unusual, quirky, eccentric, or archaic around Chiron, and be aware that much letting
go of pride and sophistication may be asked.
Rites of Passage—The Chiron Return
Because Chiron’s orbit is so elliptical, its cycle is irregular and needs to be
tracked using an ephemeris. For example, Chiron’s first square to its own natal position
may occur anytime from about age 5 to age 23, depending on the sign. However,
it returns to its natal place regularly in approximately 50 years, and this age is an
important threshold crossing for both men and women. For in the few years after its
return, Chiron retraces all the aspects by transit which occurred in the formative years
of our life. Thus, we have the opportunity to revisit and bring healing to those areas,
and very likely life will provide us with experiences that open them up.
Studying Chiron in Your Horoscope
The easiest way to understand Chiron in your horoscope is to track its transits
over time, particularly the main hard aspects: conjunction, square, and opposition.
The inner and outer events occurring under these transits will often reveal a storyline
that is no less than the unfolding of the soul over time, as it encounters experiences
that are required for the development of wisdom, compassion, and a sense of participating
in our own destiny with integrity. Start by using the same orbs as you would use
for transits of Saturn and experiment as you pick up the story. As Chiron is not a planet,
the traditional concept of rulership over the zodiacal signs may not apply, although
being a Centaur, it does have a thematic link with the psychospiritual process of
development in the sign of Sagittarius, the Archer. A new concept of emphasis is
required, such as the notion of “degree zones,” where Chiron is crossing the orbit of
Saturn, at perihelion or aphelion, and so on. Do not expect that you can equate Chiron
with healing/suffering or any other themes in the way that you can equate Mercury
with communication issues. True, the ordinary astrological factors—sign, house,
and aspects—often clothe an individual’s Chiron “story” with astonishingly literal
THE ASTROLOGY BOOK
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