Chiron stations retrograde in Pisces on the 20th June 2014 and will remain in backward motion until 24th November 2014.

Chiron was the son of Saturn and a nymph called Philyra. When caught in the act by his wife, Saturn turned himself into a horse in a an attempt to disguise himself. Consequently, Chiron was born half man, half horse. His mother was so ashamed and horrified that she rejected him. Thankfully Chiron was taken in by kindly mentors like Apollo and trained in the arts of healing. Of all the centaurs, Chiron was the most sensitive and intelligent. Even though Chiron sustained a wound he could not heal which caused him terrible pain, he continued to work. Eventually, moved by the sight of Prometheus who endured his liver pecked out day after day as punishment for stealing fire from the Gods, Chiron bargained to swap places with him. The Gods rewarded this act of compassion by placing Chiron in the sky as the constellation Sagittarius

Chiron orbits between Saturn and Uranus so is often seen as a bridge between the old and the new. Whilst we refer to him as the wounded healer, Chiron is also the teacher. He shows that your wounds teach you and that by working with them compassionately, you can eventually reach a higher understanding. By showing you your limitations; what holds you back; what makes you feel so different you dare not show yourself, Chiron leads you along a path to awakening.

As Chiron is travelling through Pisces, collectively the wound he addresses now is the feeling of being separate from each other. He inspires the longing to feel connected. He is the dirty waters of the oceans, craving to be cleared so that we can see right down to the bottom. Chiron is our shame, both personal and collective. He is the fear that we are too different from each other to ever be able to work together as a whole. In Pisces, our wounds manifest as disconnection, disillusion, escapism and victim consciousness.

When Chiron turns retrograde, he intensifies feelings. You may feel more easily hurt, sensitive to undercurrents both around you and within. He prods and pokes at deep hurts seeking to lay them open so that they can be flushed out and cleansed in order to start the healing process. This is the time to allow yourself to feel the pain, to reflect upon the scars that you bare. Whether physical or emotional, Chiron teaches you that your wounds are not your weaknesses, they are your strengths. He reminds you that all of us feel shame, hurt, pain, guilt and all the other nasty emotions that we’d rather not deal with. When we don’t deal with our pain, it is that which keeps us separate from each other.

I’m too hurt to reveal myself to you. I’m too afraid that you’ll find out I’m not like you. I’m too scared to share you what I really am inside because then you might reject me.

It’s about taking a leaf out of Chiron’s book and working through the pain. By acknowledging your own pain, this leads to compassion for another’s. You are more able to walk a mile in their shoes. Love bubbles up, filling the holes, making you realise that you’re not alone. It’s not about someone being better of or worse off than you. Pain is relative. It’s about acknowledging it in order to re-connect.

The danger of Chiron is Pisces is victim consciousness. You aren’t here to suffer. You aren’t helpless. Reclaim those soul parts that have been lost the piece of you that you left drifting because it seemed just too painful to deal with. These are the pearls of wisdom that you must learn to treasure. Relief comes from the restoration of inner peace. Whilst Chiron is retrograde, go within, find your soft spot to fall – surrender.

Look to your chart to see if Chiron makes any aspects to other planets or points. Challenging aspects like squares and oppositions are indicate where your pain is triggered. Flowing aspects like sextiles and trines indicate where and how you can help yourself. For example, my Chiron is semi square Mars. When I hurt, I lose my motivation. My courage fails and I feel like a failure. A trine from Chiron to Neptune however shows that meditation, spiritual healing and music are all sources of healing for me amongst other things. I need to forgive myself my ‘failings’.

Chiron turns retrograde on the Sabian symbol :-

In A Gigantic Tent, Villagers Witness A Spectacular Performance

Rather than taking this Chiron journey alone, it’s about joining together. In so doing, we can become animated by the process, excited by what is happening. By stepping out of your comfort zone and letting others see what you see, you share a special experience that can be profoundly moving. It’s easy to keep our ‘stuff’ within four own four walls. Oh I’m fine you say at work when someone asks, then you go home and cry in private. Chiron is emphasising that it’s time to be honest about what you feel, even if it makes you feel a little vulnerable at first.

The station direct of Chiron lands on the Sabian symbol :-

A Lady Wrapped In A Large Stole Of Fox Fur

The difficulty with this is that there’s a danger of falling into ‘keeping up appearances’ after the retrograde period is over. Back in the time when the Sabian’s were written, the fox fur stole would indicate a woman of standing, someone who belongs to a certain class of people. But wearing the ‘right’ clothes has nothing to do with the person within. Chiron is about being your authentic self. For healing to take place, what you express on the outside must be true to what is inside. That is true grace and elegance. That is the beauty. Fox as a power animal is wily and clever. This is about emotional intelligence. You may be able to trick others into thinking you’re fine, but you can’t trick yourself.

In astrology, Chiron is symbolised as the key but it isn’t a key to one door – it opens all doors. Whilst Chiron is retrograde, this is your chance to find the key, to open the doors and let the healing waters rush in.

Painting – Chiron instructs young Achilles – ancient roman fresco [source wikipedia]