Chiron spends a lot of time in retrograde motion (up to 4-5 months every year).

One of the first questions that often arises is: what does it actually mean to have Chiron retrograde? How is Chiron retrograde different from Chiron direct?

Chiron Retrograde – What Does It Mean

A very important distinction here – especially when discussing slow moving planets – is that it’s the change in direction, also called the stationary phase, that is important, not necessarily the retrograde itself. 

The stationary phase refers to the particular week (a few days before and a few days after) when a planet changes direction, either from retrograde to direct or from direct to retrograde.

That change in direction is crucial because it marks a significant turning point and a shift in energy that alters how we experience the planet’s influence.

During a stationary phase, the planet’s energy becomes highly focused and intense, often overshadowing other significant transits. We cannot help but pay attention to the planet that changes direction. 

This also makes sense when we look at the degree where that planet changes direction. A planet slows down significantly as it shifts direction, causing it to linger waaaay longer at a particular degree compared to its usual pace in direct or retrograde motion.

If Chiron goes retrograde at 23° Aries for example, it will remain at this degree much longer than it did at 19°, 20°, or 21° Aries. This means that if someone has a planet or angle at 23° (especially in Aries, Cancer, or Libra) then that planet will experience a more intense activation by Chiron while it is stationary at that degree.

And then, of course, we must consider how retrogradation is different from direct motion. A retrograde planet functions differently from a direct one. 

Chiron Retrograde – Locked In A Room With Chiron

A metaphor I like to use to explain retrograde planets is imagining being in the same room as the planet.

Picture yourself in a room with Chiron, the door is locked, and there’s a key in the door. When you turn the key clockwise, the door unlocks, and Chiron walks out (or trots out, if you like). This is analogous to when a planet turns direct.

Conversely, when a planet turns retrograde, we turn the key counterclockwise. We lock ourselves in with Chiron.

Being in the same room with Chiron means its influence is inescapable and becomes more internal and personal, as we are directly experiencing its presence. 

Astronomy supports this metaphor. When a planet is retrograde, it is, in fact, at its closest point to Earth in its orbit. As a result, a retrograde planet exerts a stronger influence on us compared to when it is in direct motion.

That’s why it’s said that people become more introspective when a planet is retrograde. 

Retrograde means to ‘go back’ and revisit our past experiences. In the moment, we often react without fully processing what’s happening. There isn’t enough time to completely ‘digest’ our experiences as they occur. 

It’s only when we take a step back and reflect that we gain true understanding. During a retrograde period, we revisit past experiences with a more reflective perspective.

We ask ourselves: What does this mean for me? Why did I react the way I did? What were the underlying emotions and difficulties I faced?

This process of revisiting and reflecting on our wounds is crucial. Many people avoid this introspective work because confronting negative emotions is uncomfortable, and who wants to experience negative emotions? We are not wired for that.

However, without experiencing and understanding them, we remain stuck in repetitive patterns, sometimes with clockwork precision. 

What kind of wounds are we talking about? 

Chiron In Aries – The Identity Wound

Chiron in Aries highlights that the wounds we are addressing involve issues of identity. Aries, being the first sign of the zodiac, symbolizes the self and personal identity.

When we talk Chiron in Aries, we talk Identity wounds. 

It’s been a while since Chiron entered Aries in 2018. 

Who am I? This question is perhaps the most important question we can ask, and Chiron in Aries has intensified our focus on questions of self-identity.

Understanding who we are and affirming our existence is a fundamental drive that influences all aspects of our lives. Yet, we often neglect to actively explore and answer this question.

Chiron in Aries has brought to the forefront feelings of hurt and insecurity. These are those feelings you experience when someone doesn’t acknowledge you, or when you fail and feel you’ve let yourself or others down. 

With Chiron in Aries, we question our sense of belonging, our actions, and the significance of our existence.

Why am I overlooked? Why do I feel so much self-doubt? Why does it hurt so much when someone dismisses me, criticizes me, or looks down on me? These are some of the key existential questions highlighted during this transit.

Since Chiron entered Aries, there has been increased sensitivity around issues of identity, leading to a rise in cultural, gender, and identity movements. 

This heightened focus on identity has also contributed to a surge in face-related plastic surgeries, particularly facial fillers (as Aries rules the face), compared to other procedures like breast surgeries (which are associated with Cancer).

The proliferation of filters on social media is also related to this trend. While Neptune in Pisces plays a role, the core issue is tied to our sense of identity and how we present ourselves – an Aries theme.

That’s not to say there is something wrong with these trends. Improving self-esteem through various enhancements or treatments can indeed be beneficial and healing.

But here’s the thing: Chiron in Aries first brings our insecurities to light. The journey to understanding and addressing these insecurities can lead to healing, but it’s vital not to get trapped in superficial fixes or external solutions.

True healing comes from confronting and understanding our deeper identity issues.

People’s wounds and insecurities are rarely what they appear to be. Often, what we observe are ‘reactionary’ wounds – surface reactions that don’t necessarily reveal the true source of their pain.

For example, if someone is desperate for a promotion at work, that desperation indicates underlying issues. If someone ‘desperately’ needs a partner, perhaps there is something else going on. Maybe they need validation. Maybe they need company. 

It’s the not knowing, the uncertainty, the deep-seated confusion, the lack of context, that leads us to believe that a single solution, like the promotion or the partner, will fix everything.

Chiron Retrograde – Heal Those Wounds 

Until we address that inner void and heal those wounds, we will continue to attract wounded people and situations that mirror our pain, essentially repeating the same message: heal yourself first.

The worst thing we can do during a Chiron transit is to ignore it, avoiding the call and the negative feelings that inevitably arise as we embark on our healing journey.

Chiron retrograde periods are excellent times to reflect, reassess, connect the dots, heal, and release patterns that keep us stuck in what’s not working. 

Take advantage of this energy by reflecting the wounds that have been stirred inside you in the past months. Try to go deeper. Look beyond the initial hurt to uncover the underlying wounds. What insights come to light?

If you want a step-by-step framework to help you understand your Chiron chart placement, enroll in the “Chiron – Your Deepest Wound, Your Greatest Gift” program.

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