Chiron, a unique celestial body, was initially discovered and classified as an asteroid before its identity evolved into that of a centaur, embodying characteristics of both asteroids and comets. This episode delves into its fascinating astronomical journey and the mythological significance that has captivated astrologers and enthusiasts alike. The speaker, with a background in academia, shares insights gathered from an extensive literature survey conducted over several months, exploring how Chiron is interpreted in astrological practices. Key themes include Chiron's dual nature, its elliptical orbit which brings it close to Saturn and far out toward Uranus, and how its physical transformations, such as the development of a tail, have led to shifts in its classification. Through the lens of mythology and astrology, the discussion reveals Chiron's role as a symbol of healing and the exploration of personal wounds, inviting listeners to reflect on their own charts and the broader implications of Chiron's influence in astrology.
Takeaways:
The asteroid Chiron, discovered in 1977, has a complex classification as both an asteroid and a comet.
Chiron was initially thought to be a simple asteroid but was later reclassified due to its unique characteristics.
Astrologers regard Chiron as the Healer, connecting its symbolism to ancient Greek mythology and human experience.
The celestial body Chiron has an elliptical orbit that varies significantly in distance from the sun.
Chiron's transformation from tailless to tailed and back again illustrates its dynamic nature through its orbit.
Understanding Chiron's astrological significance can enhance one’s personal insights and client consultations.
So you joined us today to talk about asteroid, and this asteroid happens to be Chiron.
Speaker A:
Oh, okay.
Speaker A:
Tell us about Chiron.
Speaker B:
Sure.
Speaker B:
I have been using Chiron in my charts for a long time, but my knowledge of Chiron was pretty limited.
Speaker B:
I knew it was an asteroid, as you were saying, and that a lot of astrologers use it.
Speaker B:
And I'd often heard it called the Healer and knew that it was related to some ancient Greek mythology, but I didn't know a whole lot about it.
Speaker B:
And so I took on a project, I guess, about eight months ago that I started just sort of reading all the books and articles and watching videos on Chiron.
Speaker B:
My background is academic, and so, like, when I went to do a research project, we always do what we call survey of the literature.
Speaker B:
So what I really did is did a survey of the literature with Chiron to.
Speaker B:
To see how astrologers are using it and what the various meanings are and to determine then how I could use it in my own life and as I consult with clients.
Speaker B:
So I learned a lot of really cool things.
Speaker A:
Okay.
Speaker A:
And you're here to share some of that with us today?
Speaker B:
I am.
Speaker A:
All right.
Speaker B:
Yeah.
Speaker B:
st of:
Speaker B:
But a number of things changed over time and they begin to wonder what it really was.
Speaker B:
So In December of:
Speaker B:
However, it started changing in its appearance over time.
Speaker B:
And so in the:
Speaker B:
Today it's.
Speaker B:
If you go to the NASA website, it's still classified as both an asteroid and a comet, but it's more correctly now called a centaur, which is a hybrid object.
Speaker B:
So it's of.
Speaker B:
Part.
Speaker B:
Part they actually call it a dwarf planet or a planetoid, which is a subcategory of asteroid plus part comet.
Speaker B:
And I can.
Speaker B:
I'll go into that more when we talk about the astrological meaning of Chiron.
Speaker B:
But I thought that was fascinating that it actually has multiple roles even in the sky, and it has different appearances depending on where it is, which would
Speaker A:
kind of tie into the centaur being half man, half horses have.
Speaker B:
Exactly.
Speaker A:
Half asteroid, half comet.
Speaker B:
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:
Did you have some other introductory remarks you want to make or shall I.
Speaker A:
No, no, keep it rolling.
Speaker B:
I have a few slides for those who are going to watch this on video.
Speaker B:
And so I Wanted to, to put that up for you.
Speaker B:
So what I thought I'd generally cover today is kind of the history of Chiron through its astronomy, as well as the mythological stories of Chiron and some other just things that were going on in history when it was discovered.
Speaker B:
And then talk about some key words for Chiron, what its astrological meaning is, and really how you might start to think about it in your own chart and in the charts of other people, if you are working as an astrologer.
Speaker B:
All right, so we already talked just a little bit about the astronomy of Chiron.
Speaker B:
Like I said, today it's known as a hybrid centaur as well.
Speaker B:
It's also considered to be a Kuiper Belt object.
Speaker B:
There are hundreds or thousands of these Kuiper Belt objects, which are objects that are in elliptical orbit around the sun, part of our solar system.
Speaker B:
And generally they are between Jupiter and Neptune's orbits.
Speaker B:
Chiron specific path connects.
Speaker B:
It goes just inside of Saturn's orbit and then out to Uranus, past Uranus.
Speaker B:
So it's very elliptical.
Speaker B:
Right.
Speaker B:
Like an egg.
Speaker B:
Sometimes it's closer to the sun and sometimes it's very far away.
Speaker A:
Is the Kuiper Belt the same thing as the asteroid belt?
Speaker B:
It is an asteroid belt, but then there are other asteroids further on out.
Speaker B:
Yes.
Speaker A:
Oh, okay.
Speaker A:
Okay.
Speaker B:
Yeah, so there's both, but yeah, I think it was called that for a long time.
Speaker B:
And now I guess Kuiper was a person's name and I didn't bother seeing whose that was, but.
Speaker B:
All right, it is called the KBO or Kuiper Belt object.
Speaker B:
What I thought was sort of cool is it's essentially a ball of dirty ice.
Speaker B:
And so when Chiron is closer to the sun, so it's within the path of Saturn, that's when it starts to melt and it develops a tail.
Speaker B:
And then as it orbits further away from the sun, out towards Uranus, it sort of freezes back up and the tail goes away.
Speaker B:
So that when it was first discovered, it was tailless.
Speaker B:
And then within 20 years it developed a tail.
Speaker B:
And.
Speaker B:
And now I believe it's tailless again.
Speaker A:
So.
Speaker A:
So the tail appears disappear.
Speaker B:
Yeah.
Speaker B:
Which you can imagine that made it very confusing for astronomers.
Speaker B:
Like, what is this thing?
Speaker A:
Is that a 20 year process?
Speaker B:
No, it's longer than that.
Speaker B:
But.
Speaker B:
Well, the whole orbit of chiron is about 50 years.
Speaker B:
Okay, 49 to 51 years.
Speaker B:
So it does take about 20 years to develop and then go away and then fade again.
