Healing the Ancient Wound - The Journey of Chiron (Myth)

Healing the Ancient Wound - The Journey of Chiron
by Dwight Stevers, BA, CMT

The Myth of Chiron

Chiron's mythology has much significance in the area of healing. In his article Chiron Astrology and Healing, Martin Lass tells us, "A native American prophecy states that when the planet of healing is discovered in the sky, the ancient sacred warrior teachings will return to the Earth. In 1977, Chiron, the Planet of Healing, was discovered."
Chiron (or Cheiron) is the Wounded One, the One Who Wounds, and the Wounded Healer. The root of the word is "cheir" which means hand, manual skill, or surgery.
On the Mythology Page of the Creative Minds Unlimited Web site, an article on Chiron states:
"All the Myths of Chiron say he was a centaur... He was a great healer, astrologer and an oracle. Chiron rules crystals and healing and was suppose to be the teacher of heroes to help them discover their destiny.
"Chiron's pupils came to him to learn the pragmatic way to fulfill their highest potential. He taught Jason (Golden Fleece) how to undertake the quest, and he taught Achilles to be a sacred runner... Asclepius was taught the art of healing and thus Chiron is actually the father of Medicine and is mostly associated with ancient medicine...
"The Chiron mythology on death is particularly fascinating. The centaurs were... becoming extinct. Chiron became the only one left. His staying alive was crucial to there being any centaurs in the world. His death was a tribute to mankind. Chiron gave himself willingly so that fire could be released from the Underworld by Prometheus. This was done so that humankind would learn to use power in the right way. In the process of obtaining fire, Chiron had to die. The teacher/healer took a poisoned arrow of Hercules and dropped it on his foot, poisoning himself. This poison was the very one that the teacher had given to the student. Chiron gave his life for the greater good of humanity...
"So powerful was his influence on the legends and myths of the ancient world that today many of the root words of the ancient healing arts are connected. Chiral means the polarization of light from one hand to the other; chiromancy is reading of the hand or palmistry. Chiropractic is healing of the joints and bones by means of manipulation, Chirothesia is energy in the hands during sacred rites, a blessing without hands is Chirotony and another word, Chirurgery is an ancient word which later became surgery. And even the magical divination form of Chiron is chiromancy, which is the Tarot..."

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