Tag: Chiron in Aries

Mars Conjunct Chiron In Aries

~ EmpwrdDstny ~ Leave a comment
“Jason and His Teacher” (Chiron) by artist Maxfield Parrish

Listen up, folks: We have a relatively rare astrological opportunity on our hands at this very moment as Mars prepares to meet up with Chiron in Aries in just two days’ time.  Mars/Chiron conjunctions herald the start of a new healing cycle and they only occur approximately once every two years, so this is not an everyday happening.  Essentially, something has been coming to a head recently (as all things Mars-related tend to do), but see the inflammation as integral to speeding up your individual healing process because through this energy there is the unique ability to take quick, decisive, positive action that results in an accelerated recovery in at least one facet of your life. Stand and be counted; be your own hero, because there is something important you are confronting now that – when sparked – will move like wildfire burning down fractured, fragmented facets of the Self to forge a new beginning and even a new identity; one that is much more integrated and whole.

“The Creation of Adam” – Michelangelo

When working with the one-pointed focus of Mars energy, we must be careful not to cut or burn needlessly.  While in some instances we may need the steady precision of a combat medic’s life-saving amputation or the cauterizing singe that staunches the flow of an open wound, we also mustn’t be rash as to how we go about it. Mars energy is primarily one of offense, and when we react from a wounded state there is often the tendency to lash out and harm rather than heal.  Know the difference between that which saves a life (even if it’s your own) vs. actions that brutalize, maim, or cripple.  And above all, understand your animal nature but do not let it drive; be in touch with it, yet civilize it.  Recall Chiron’s centaur form and how it was bestial but enlightened – he became the teacher of many of Greece’s young heroes  precisely because his humanity and the executive function it bestowed was allowed to ride higher than his lower animalistic nature.

What types of things might we be confronting within ourselves now and where is this necessity for healing likely to be showing up front-and-center in our lives?  These are just a few places, but issues related to how we handle confrontation, conflict, self-assertion, any Wounded Warrior complex we might be harboring, our desire (what we want as well as how we go about getting it), sex (specific as to what turns us/gets us off and how we’re directing our sexual energy), selfishness vs. being healthily self-full in a positive sense, our sense of masculinity (whether it’s toxic or healthy, as well as what it means to us to identify as a man), our feelings of strength/potency or weakness/impotency, or perhaps whether we’re active or passive in our approach to life are all likely themes that can manifest from this astrological alignment.  Those who identify as Masculine should pay particular attention to this conjunction, because Mars is the planet that “men are from”, as the old book title goes – although the Universe is asking us all to collectively address these themes in our individual lives, those identifying as Masculine are likely to be feeling it harder due natural attunement to this vibrational frequency.

The good thing is this energy is *not* subtle – it’s the kind of thing that hits us right in the face.  The painfully itchy, irritated, inflamed areas of our lives related to the above themes are telling us precisely where to direct healing energy *right now*. It’s not the kind of thing we can or should put off, nor is it about half-assed “trys”; there is only “do” now.  We have the ability to directly address and resolve some kind of paradox we’ve been living with right up until this very moment and find a healthier way to deal with it head-on rather than allow infection to set in or spread.  This is, collectively, a sort of cosmic contemporary shamanic “initiation” where we are being baptized by some kind of fire to learn how to burn non-functional parts of the Self down to be replaced by a grounded sense of identity re: our own personal strengths and weaknesses, and picking today to choose the path of wisdom & holistic recovery.  Any fragmented portions of the Self that have not been identified – where we are (re?)acting out of alignment regarding walking (not just talking!) the Path of Healing – will be revealed to us, if they haven’t already.  Drop everything you’re doing to attend to this personal spiritual emergency at once, because collectively we should all be seizing upon this relatively rare opportunity to confront something in need of immediate healing within ourselves in order to initiate a new recovery cycle.  Make like a certain sports apparel company’s tagline and “just do it”.

“Nike of Samothrace”

07/12/2020

Saturn In Capricorn Square Chiron In Aries, Part 3

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Hands up; who’s had the sense the sands of the hourglass are slipping through our fingers ever since Saturn arrived in Capricorn at the end of 2017?? As the current square between Saturn and Chiron continues this is not something likely to immediately let up and there’s a very real sense that no, we cannot do it all.  Maybe age is catching up with us.  Perhaps we’ve found ourselves limited with some kind of physical injury that gives us the painful realization this notion we *can* (or “should”) do it all is actually an incredibly ableist POV. It’s possible we’re dealing with severe professional pressure/angst.  Maybe instead it’s serious parental pressure/angst; either regarding our own parents or our role *as* a parent.  Perhaps we *are* a working parent and it’s a combination of these last two scenarios.  Whatever the case, it can hurt like hell to realize we can’t make time for *everything* on our list of priorities but something we want to be or do simply isn’t going to make the cut.  To manage this, we must figure out what is most important to us and create a personal hierarchy.  Though it sucks to cull something we just don’t have time for anymore, the alternative is continuing to live under the crushing weight of this immature notion that we can/should do it all and let it slowly squeeze the life out of us.  If you can, delegate. If you can’t, resolve to give something up for at least the next two years (i.e. the remainder of Saturn’s stay in Capricorn) because it’s not sustainable to carry on like this. Hopefully there’s something you can put on “hold” till later to help alleviate this pressure because time can indeed heal all wounds if we will but give some to ourselves.

**Read the previous installment in this series: Saturn In Capricorn Square Chiron In Aries, Part 2

08/29/2018

Saturn In Capricorn Square Chiron In Aries, Part 2

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10 of Wands as depicted in the RWS tarot.

So we’ve already spoken about one potential manifestation of the current square between Saturn in Capricorn and Chiron in Aries in Part 1 of this series.  Another wound this vibe tends to exacerbate is a tendency toward over-responsibility where we take on onerous burdens and try to shoulder a load all by ourselves.  Aries energy tends toward D.I.Y (“Lemme do it MYSELF!!!”) but with Chiron here this tends to be the result of an old injury; the friction generated by Saturn in Capricorn is almost like an “eldest child” type of vibe where it feels like we never got/get to be what we want(ed) to be. We tend to just accept what’s expected of us by our parents, teachers, or others whom we respect without necessarily considering if it’s something we even *want* for ourselves as we fall in line with a sense of utter resignation and follow orders. Until that one day when we have the sudden epiphany of “Eff you; I won’t do what ya yell me!” – there’s a definite clash between old-school and new-school with this vibe and the pain that results from this conflict can be our greatest teacher.  It will not, however, be easy.  But nothing worth having ever is, and thankfully both Aries and Capricorn energy tend to be up for a challenge – the product of this may be a hard-won sense of sagacity beyond our years.

**Read the next installment in this series: Saturn In Capricorn Square Chiron In Aries, Part 3

08/29/2018

Saturn In Capricorn Square Chiron In Aries, Part 1

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With Saturn arriving in Capricorn back in December and Chiron only just entering Aries this past April, these two celestial bodies have largely managed to avoid clashing with each other in their respective new surroundings.  It’s almost as if they were taking their time getting acquainted with their new zodiac digs first, but with Saturn now at the tail-end of its  retrograde reversing it all the way back to 2 degrees of Capricorn where it threatens to back into frictional contact with Chiron, these two cosmic contenders are currently getting on each other’s nerves.

What’s the beef?  Simple – Chiron is in an infantile sign (Aries; AKA the Newborn of the zodiac) while Saturn is the uber adult in Capricorn. Like a baby screaming in frustration and/or pain over hunger, a diaper that needs to be changed, or god knows what else, one cosmic energy operates from a very base simplistic level that’s apt to be angry/reactive while the other is cold and supremely self-controlled. Note that neither behavior is inherently “better” than the other; it’s just they have two totally different modes of operating where neither really understands the other. Age isn’t a factor either; exactly who is being the “adult” and who is behaving childishly in a given situation may have nothing to do at all with how old we are or our familial role/hierarchy because when we are in pain the delineating line that separates “the men from the boys” often goes right out the window completely independent of age or gender.

So how does this energy manifest?  Well speaking of family roles, parental wounds tend to (re?)surface for one.  Ever feel like you’re dealing with a brick wall when it comes to Mom and/or Dad?  Brace for impact, because this vibe is likely to exacerbate such dynamics.  Paternal relationships are particularly sensitized by Chiron’s coarse brushing; fatherly energy resonating strongly with the Saturn archetype. Relationships with teacher/mentor or elder/elderly figures can be similarly affected by this square.  Now this is just a caution; *not* a fatalistic pronouncement that nothing can be done about such situations if they indeed arise.  If scenarios like this do happen, though, it’s an opportunity for us to heal an (old?) injury and gain wisdom regarding what *not* to do the next time around.  And there may not even be a next time; this square never quiiiiiiite perfects even though it comes close.  So there’s a sense of learning some kind of lesson through this painful experience in a way that fortifies us and makes us wiser.

What is that lesson?  It can vary, but the utility of caution/restraint/healthy boundaries is certainly an important consideration.  Metaphorically, if we can see inflammation acting as sort of a “Police line; do not cross” yellow caution tape we’ll get a pretty good idea of what’s a safe level to engage at vs. that which is decidedly off-limits.  On the flip side, Saturn tends to be overly restrictive/repressive in Capricorn so it can also be about figuring out what the “safe container” is to hold that pain.  Perhaps it’s calling in a pro; some kind of coach or therapeutic figure who can hold the appropriate space for us to unpack that baggage and come up with a management plan.  Maybe it’s agreeing only to engage at a respectful level and one of bare necessity.  Painful as this reality is to acknowledge, sometimes the best relationship we can have with others is either 1) a no-frills one or 2) none at all – sometimes there’s a limit to the amount of healing that can be achieved and it’s safest for one or both part(y)(ies) to stay in their own lanes at a respectful distance; especially if/when the effort is one-sided. They say that “Time heals all wounds” and though it can indeed be a balm of sorts, it’s far from a cure-all and at times despite the wait and generous amounts of elbow grease we apply in service to healing we can still hit a wall; especially when this entails dealing with those who are stuck in rigid/outdated ways of being/doing.  Some are not driven to heal; they can only get as far as they can on *their* individual healing journey and we can’t measure this against *our* yardstick.  Saturn’s primary function is to define limits, so it’s better to recognize the barrier/impediment for what it is in order to preserve our sanity; issuing an internal cease & desist order to ourselves regarding our expectations about what that relationship can/should be.  Sometimes we have to take it on the chin and accept the “L”; even if/when it hurts – simply take as a lesson on how *not* to do/be.

**Read other installments in this series: Saturn In Capricorn Square Chiron In Aries, Part 2 Saturn In Capricorn Square Chiron In Aries, Part 3

08/13/2018

Mars Sextile Chiron: Healing Battle Wounds

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We’ve already spoken of Chiron in Aries and its battle wounds in a previous post, but something unique is happening on this front courtesy of the present Mars retrograde. Mars rules Aries – the sign Chiron is presently traversing through – so that’s one layer of it. But we have an additional level of interconnectedness between these two celestial energies at the moment that is continuing to play out because Mars makes repeated contact to Chiron due The Red Planet’s back-and-forth retrograde motion.

These astrological contacts – which perfect(ed) in alignment on May 20th, August 3rd, & September 13th – are facilitating an opportunity for us to revisit ancient battle wounds/the scene of old skirmishes (in this life and/or those past) to find new opportunities for self-healing; especially if we focus on how we can be or do differently in the Now/going forward.  We may not be able to change the past, but we absolutely *can* review any repeated points of conflict or contention in our lives – including any shrapnel wounds we may have sustained way back when – to excavate/excise. It’s not unlike exploratory surgery in a kind of way; we may not know quite what we’re getting into/going to find, but we’re pretty clear on the fact that something weird is going on that will need to be patched up or “sutured” for closure.

As for where to start on this healing journey, begin with things that make you angry.  Examine the reaction to anger and explore any possible triggers rooted in past experiences while maintaining a sense of intellectual detachment that keeps it cool enough to handle. This is nothing to fear; in these déjà vu moments bear in mind the potential this energy has for recalibrating healthy self-assertion because there is an opportunity to radically initiate an entirely different way of being/doing.  Some are very uncomfortable with this emotion and see it in a negative light as generating static or chaos.  But when proactively handled, it can also be a force for change that liberates us from stuck ways of being or doing so we don’t attract chronic injuries that result in the (re-)formation of new scar tissue.  There’s only so many time we can go through the same incision point….

08/02/2018

Chiron In Aries: Battle Wounds

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“I don’t want to be the one
The battles always choose
‘Cause inside I realize
That I’m the one confused

I don’t know what’s worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
I don’t know why I instigate
And say what I don’t mean
I don’t know how I got this way
I know it’s not alright
So I’m breaking the habit
I’m breaking the habit
Tonight…”

                                    -Linkin Park, “Breaking the Habit”

Illustration from Hans von Gersdorff’s “Feldbuch der Wundartzney”; a surgeon’s field manual from the early 1500’s.

Such perfect lyrics for this particular astrological placement! The battle wounds suffered by the Chiron in Aries generation (those born between April of ’68 – March of ’77) are apt to manifest as a bit of a Wounded Warrior complex; particularly as it relates to anger. Generally the issues with this placement of Chiron tend to relate the concept of healthy self-assertion, where one knows how to stand up for themselves without going ballistic. The position of and aspects to Mars are critical to examine and especially so if any astrological contact is made between Mars and Chiron. Investigation of the Red Planet can give us an idea of whether or not one struggles to assert themselves and thus allows themselves to be dominated by bullies (which one is likely to continue being faced with until they learn how to muster the bravery to stand up to them), sweeps it under the rug and pretends it isn’t there (until it is and then oh boy look out!), or perhaps errs on the side of having an explosive hair-trigger temper that redlines at the slightest provocation. With Chiron in Aries there can sometimes be a tendency to perceive an affront where none is intended, then react on the premise that “The best defense is a good offense”. One may find themselves embroiled in conflict, which from a spiritual point of view actually serves to push the soul toward healing wherever end of this spectrum they may be struggling with. Regardless of whether one chronically runs from confrontation or instead instigates it, healthy integration of the “Warrior” archetype is an integral component of Chiron’s “Medicine” when it is found in Aries.  This becomes particularly relevant in the months ahead – both to the aforementioned generation of folks born with this placement and to all of us – as Chiron prepares to enter this zodiac sign once again.  Chiron will remain in Aries until mid-April 2027 and for roughly the next 9 years it has much to teach us regarding healthy integration of the self-assertion principle.

12/09/2017