Chiron by Barbara Hand Clow is one of the masterpieces on this relative new asteroid / minor planet (they still disagree on this and that is just a hint to the complexity of Chiron, who is referred to as the “wounded healer.”

The mythology of Chiron is very powerful; the simple breakdown is that he was a Centaur, born traumatically from the rape of his mother and abandoned. Adopted by Apollo, he learned healing arts, music, prophecy, astrology, as well as archery and hunting. It is said he invented pharmacy, medicine and surgery. Later in life he becomes accidentally wounded by a poisoned arrow in the midst of a bacchanalia of other centaurs who were not as cultured or refined as Chiron.

Even though he was a healer, he was unable to heal his own wound, and the pain became unbearable. Yet, because he was half a God, he could not die. He bargained to exchange his immortality to free Prometheus, the God who gave fire to humans and hence was cursed by having his liver pecked out each day and regenerated each night.

This book is a fascinating exposition of the mythology as it relates to the planetary orbit and origins of the discovery of Chiron, as she describes it as the “rainbow bridge between the inner and outer planets.”

Some proffer that Chiron should be ruling planet of Virgo, and I agree with this concept.

If you are a healer — and if you are, then you’ve needed to become healed yourself — this book is a wonderful introduction to deeper concepts of pain, suffering, health and healing.

Shanti,

Jill