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Introduction

This e-book offers a threshold experience. You can stand on this threshold and open an amazing door, the door to the archetype known as Chiron. Chiron offers us prescription for how to live life to the fullest. I approach Chiron from the multiple perspectives most astrologers use: its astronomy, mythology, and the cultural changes near the time of its discovery. All these perspectives illuminate Chiron’s personal meaning.

I believe Chiron is the missing link in understandi ng personal evolution, how we become fully spirited in a body. The key to spirited living is Chiron’s role as a wholemaker or weaver.

Chiron represents not just our wounds—where we are shattered—but how we pick up the pieces and sew ourselves back together again. Chiron is a first aid kit and our needle to create beauty from the crazy quilt of our lives. Each of us is a work of art needed by our community for our unique talents and abilities. Together, we become a breathtaking tapestry and a society that really clicks. Chiron shows us how to create an art gallery to show our individual and collective works—and it’s a co-op.

In Chiron and Wholeness , I aim to nugget down the key information I’ve gleaned about Chiron over two decades of study and reading astrology charts. I hope it’s a solid introduction for people who are new—or relatively new—to Chiron. For people who already know Chiron intimately, I trust you’ll find my perspective unique and the potential here for starting more dialogues on “the continuing discovery.” One of the earliest books on Chiron by Erminie Lantero indeed was called The Continuing Discovery of Chiron. One exciting feature of this first discovered centaur planet is the fact that we have been able to figure it out together in modern times. Now, after over thirty years of study, Chiron is settling into the collective consciousness yet still offering us delightful surprises on making life more workable—and meaningful. You are probably reading this e-book because you study or practice astrology, although I think Chiron has much to offer people who do not speak the language of the stars. In future writings, I plan to be sure there is a portal to this information from a perspective that doesn’t require knowledge of astrological symbolism but still allows each reader access to Chiron’s wisdom. Something I have noticed: Since Chiron is so strongly associated with the inner journey to healing; there will be people who just don’t “get” it or care. Along with many other astrologers who fall in love with Chiron, I sometimes write about Chiron “too much in the positive.” There’s a reason for it, namely most people who are at all interested in working with the energy represented by Chiron have already made a decision toward

Joyce Mason ii Chiron and Wholeness – A Primer

personal evolution and are “looking for the light.” The backdrop of Chiron’s mythical story is that he lived among other centaurs that were nothing like him—wild beasts that raped and pillaged women and the forest. When someone is in their wild centaur energy, whether by antisocial deeds or simple lack of awareness, they are often unrecognizable as a future hero in their own lives or anyone else’s. A perfect example is Hugh Laurie in his role as “House.” Until the 2009, season’s premiere where House’s colors as a true healer and his own vulnerability and willingness to grow shined through, I never even realized what a deeply Chironic character is present in our midst. Who knew Mt. Pelion had relocated to Fox TV? House is a doctor, a brilliant diagnostician, a mentor of up-and-coming young doctors (heroes in saving lives)—and he has an incurable wound/leg injury. He brings out the best in people through their vulnerabilities or Chironic wounds.

Like all threshold experiences, this primer is designed to be a beginning, not an end. If it inspires you to study Chiron further or see it in a different light, I will have met my goal of sharing how Chiron has changed my life forever in the most magical, transformative way.

This material is an expansion of a chapter I wrote for Donna Cunningham’s book, An Astrological Guide to Self-Awareness.3 Thank you, Donna, for being Chiron to me in nearly thirty years of mentoring, and for nudging me to take this material to the next level of a stand-alone e-book. Blessings All, Joyce

3 Donna Cunningham’s Moonmaven Publications: http://www.moonmavenpublications.com/astrologybooks.html