Chiron in Aries: In Search of Collective Identity

When the wounded healer transits through the aggressive warrior we are torn between wanting to lash out and wanting to hide. Whether we are embracing hedonism or creating the latest invitation, Chiron in Aries encourages us to go forth boldly and set the tone for future healing (and future pain) for the rest of Chiron’s transit through the zodiac. No pressure! 
 

A Brief History of Chiron 

So, what is Chiron? That question has been plaguing astronomers and astrologers since its discovery in 1977. At first, astronomers believed it to be a comet, an asteroid, or even a minor planet. Whatever Chiron is, its orbit between Saturn and Uranus gives the asteroid a very slow transiting speed: It takes nine years for Chiron to go through a single sign and about 49 years to go through all twelve zodiac signs. Chiron also goes through plenty of retrogrades (at least one per year) making the asteroid a bit of a rollercoaster ride. 

Like most planets and asteroids, Chiron got its name from Greek mythology. Chiron was a Centaur who was a healer and a teacher of some of the great heroes of Greek mythology. However, despite all of Chiron’s wisdom and talents as a healer, he could not heal himself when he was struck with a poisoned arrow. In astrology, Chiron reveals our core wound that may take a lifetime to heal, if it ever does.

In our natal chart, whatever sign Chiron is in represents the wound we’ll need to heal during our life. It’s our deepest pain, buried in the core of our hearts. When Chiron moves through the universe, it reveals what is broken in our society. Chiron is in a difficult location, sandwiched between uptight, strict Saturn and rebellious Uranus. Chiron must meditate between these two extremes, gaining both their energies. Chiron asks what holds us back and what makes us feel liberated. 

However, don’t think that Chiron is all doom and gloom. Chiron is a gift. As we learn to deal with our internal pain, we gain wisdom on how to heal and use that knowledge to help others. That’s why Chiron’s symbol is in the shape of a key: It unlocks our powers to heal and find inner peace. On a global level, Chiron shows us where we can come together and heal. It’s a beautiful thing. 
 

The Meaning of Chiron in Aries

Chiron entered Aries, beginning a new zodiac cycle, on April 17, 2018, but retrograded in Pisces on September 25, 2018. It finally settled into the fire sign on February 18, 2019, where it will stay until the asteroid moves into Taurus on June 19, 2026. It will retrograde into Aries once more on September 17, 2026, before finally leaving the fire sign on April 14, 2027. Chiron also goes through a lot of retrogrades during its time in Aries. Here are the dates to watch out for: 
 

Chiron Retrograde Calendar

A Call to Action 

The last time Chiron was in Aries was from 1968–1977, and before that, it was 1918–1927. So, what can we expect when Chiron is in Aries? 
As the first sign of the zodiac, not to mention a fire sign with a Mars ruler, Chiron in Aries comes in hot. Impatient Aries doesn’t have good bedside manners when dealing with our wounds, preferring to rip the band-aid right off. Aries isn’t afraid to say, “Look!

Here’s what your problem is! Now fix it!” Because of this, the arrival of Chiron in Aries is often a violent one. For example, on April 4, 1968, two days after Chiron entered Aries, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, highlighting racism, oppression, and brutality in the U.S. Before that, Chiron entered Aries around the same time as the Spanish Flu in 1918, a pandemic that killed millions. The pandemic, coupled with WWI, created “the Lost Generation” that defined the rest of Chiron’s time in Aries. Aries hits hard.

Chiron is Aries provides us with a unique opportunity to start our healing process by taking action. Even just short-term action now can greatly reduce our pain later. In a way, Chiron in Aries challenges our survival instincts—the need to run and take cover. But real change comes from tackling our challenges head-on.

The civil rights movement, the feminist movement, the end of apartheid, women getting the right to vote, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the end of the Vietnam War and WWI all happened during Chiron in Aries. This is the era of rebels. However, if we don’t try to tackle our issues, we can become too consumed with pleasure-seeking and escapism, and will pay for our inaction in the years to come.

So, when Chiron is in Aries, it’s important to try to heal our wounds instead of ignoring the pain. This means taking action and confronting conflict in some way. By doing something now, we’ll be in less pain later. 
 

The Age of Innovation

The maverick of the zodiac, Aries needs to be first to do anything: from conquering new lands, to creating an invention that will change the world. So it only makes sense that Chiron in Aries would awaken our pioneering spirit. We will be able to come with new ideas, see things in different ways, and create the impossible.

The last time Chiron was in Aries, the world saw the creation of Microsoft and Apple computers, videotapes, and the first man to walk on the moon. This transit also brings about new art, literature, music, and fashion movements that define an era.  In this Chiron in Aries, we are encouraged to “think outside the box”. Why have we always lived this way? Why don’t we try something new? Globally, expect new technology that could change our lives.

The Search for Identity

Perhaps the biggest lesson we have to learn during Chiron in Aries is: Who are we? Aries is an individualist, so when Chiron is in Aries we ask ourselves: “How to keep our originality and independence while still being a part of the group?” We go through an identity crisis as Chiron in Aries challenges how we express ourselves. If we’ve been blindly following the herd in the past, this is the time to break away and form our own identities and options. We will also learn more about ourselves in the process: Who are we at our core? What will we become? Many will find their identity by doing acts of services, helping others, and trying to change the world for the better.

Aries rules the first house, the house of self, so we will be tempted to focus only on our self-interests. However, this attitude will not serve you on your quest for healing. When Chiron is in Aries, we must allow the ego to die, and learn that we are not as great as we think we are. In learning humility, we are able to see ourselves exactly as we are, with all of our strengths and weaknesses. When we know ourselves, we can love ourselves, faults and all.
 

Chiron in Aries Lessons:

Going From “Me” to “We”

Aries has a reputation for being a little self-involved. A natural leader, they tend to do things their own way without a second thought for anyone else’s opinion. However, when Chiron enters Aries, we have to face the consequences of our selfish actions and learn to help others. A lone wolf dies in the wild, but the pack survives. This is a great opportunity to get active in social causes, activism, or even just small changes like making your home more eco-friendly or helping a friend in their time of need. You may not get any recognition for it, you may not even get a thank you, but that’s the point. Chiron in Aries teaches us to put others before ourselves.

Courage, Dear Heart

Aries is a warrior, bravely entering the battlefield of life. When Chiron enters Aries, all of us become warriors fighting our own internal battles to get to the heart of our pain. For those afraid of conflict, this will be difficult, and you may lean towards self-destructive behaviors to cope. However, the only way to overcome fear is to face it head-on. Find courage wherever you can and take on your inner struggles. You will be forged by fire during these nine years and you will be stronger for it.
 

Taking Responsibility for Your Actions

The ram can be rude and tactless, and so will we, during Chiron’s transit through Aries. Whenever we are caught doing something wrong, or our lives aren’t going the way we want, our instinct is to say, “it’s not my fault!”. This instinct to shift the blame will become stronger during this transit as we feel like everything is going wrong. However, it’s important to take responsibility for the things that you can control: the acts that hurt others. Only when you own up to your mistakes can you learn from them.
 

Letting Go of Anger

A fire sign ruled by aggressive Mars, anger will be felt intensely during this period in Aries. Whether we are angry at the people who caused our heartbreak and trauma, at our government for letting injustices happen,  at ourselves for our limitations, or just mad at the universe, anger will be our response to pain, causing us to lash out and create more pain. Chiron’s entrance into Aries will teach us how to let go of our anger and deal with it before it burns out of control.