| In his article The Chiron Return (excerpted from his book Essence and Application: A View from Chiron), Zane B. Stein discusses Chiron's cycle and meaning:
"Anyone who has been involved with astrology even for a short while should know how important the number 7 is... Chiron's orbit is represented archetypically by the numbers 7 x 7. This has many levels of symbolism [in numerology]... With Chiron, we have the unique situation of the number seven being squared – thus elevating the whole number seven to a higher level... The time around 50 or so is usually a time when old friendships are treated more warmly, and seem more worthwhile than ever before. The harsh relations with colleagues, caused by years of competition, usually begin to soften at this time. Even difficulties with relatives often begin to be less troublesome now. Physically, the average body begins to grow shorter. In the male, there is a marked decline in the level of testosterone, while in the female, more women begin menopause at age 51 than at any age between age 45 to age 55. Overall, there is a feeling at this time that one has completely formed one's personality. As George Orwell wrote, 'At fifty, everyone has the face he deserves'. "
In our culture, we are all aware of the obsession with youth, and of the subtle "age-ism" we encounter as we mature. Who, when nearing their 50th birthday, hasn't experienced their friends and colleagues teasing them about "The Big Five-O" or being over the hill, or reaching the half-a-century mark?
Yet perhaps it is the crystallization of structure (Saturn) that we learn to transmute into a higher vibration (Uranus) through the bridge of healing (Chiron). Chiron transits may touch different aspects of the wound, and the Chiron Return can bring us a deeper realization of how to heal through that wound.
Women and men both go through an often life-changing transition during this Chiron return life cycle. The changes experienced on the levels of the emotional, psychological, spiritual, and particularly the physical for women, can be addressed through various forms of bodywork and massage therapy, providing us with a renewed sense of balance. Acupressure in particular can be beneficial for menopause, and in my own massage practice I find that many of my male clients are indeed between the ages of 48 and 52!
The benefits of massage, acupressure and other forms of bodywork are part of our holistic approach to health. Chiron is a symbol of this awareness. |