The stories and legends that make up Greek mythology tell us about the human soul: its fears, desires, struggles and passions. The emotions they express are relevant to all of us because they circulate through our system; hence its importance and interest for psychology.
Chiron, the wise centaur: how his story helps psychologists and psychotherapists to be better
In Greek mythology, there is a character that is especially relevant to psychologists, psychotherapists, doctors and other professionals dedicated to recovering physical or emotional health.
It is about Chiron, the wise centaur, who remembers the importance of being generous in that noble profession and at the same time, knowing how to ask for help when needed, since this is part of the essence of human beings.
Chiron, whose name in Greek is Χείρων, shows us human vulnerability. This wounded healer and his relationship with wisdom, as well as his teaching in the arts of medicine and psychology, are especially relevant to those in these professions.
The legend of Chiron, the disciple of Apollo who inspired Achilles and Aeneas on their path to spiritual healing
The story goes that although the gods are revered and inhabit Olympus, they also have suffering that they cannot control or cure. This makes them close to us, the common human beings who populate the earth and who one day arrived without many explanations.
According to legend, the god Cronos fell madly in love with Philyra, daughter of Oceanus and Thetis. Faced with Cronus’s obsessive harassment, the nymph asked Zeus to turn her into a mare in order to dissuade her intentions. However, Cronos noticed Filira’s action and turned into a horse to possess her.
From this union Chiron was born, who was half man and half horse.
Philyra is known to have given birth to Chiron after a torturous birth. However, upon seeing the fruit of her womb, she asked Zeus to turn her into a linden tree so that she would not have to nurse the creature and later abandoned her.
Chiron, for his part, grew up under the protection of his adoptive father Apollo and in the shade of his mother’s tree.
Endowed with kindness and wisdom, he showed a great interest in poetry, writing and above all, in healing sciences, such as medicine and its remedies, offering relief to the sick and spiritual strengthening to the dying.
Over time, many became Chiron’s disciples and friends, including Achilles, Aeneas, and Aesculapius, who sought his advice and followed his example.
The Wisdom of Pain: The Story of Chiron, the Wounded Healer in Greek Mythology
One day Chiron was accidentally wounded by an arrow poisoned with the blood of the Hydra, launched by his friend Heracles (known as Hercules) during a fight with other centaurs. The wound affected one of his biform form’s legs and left him badly injured.
Added to this suffering was the pain of having been abandoned by his own mother. Despite this, Chiron decided to open up to others in search of the necessary relief for his ills.
Chiron gained wisdom and knowledge from experiencing pain and suffering, allowing him to accept and heal both the wounds in his body and his soul. His closeness to the pain of others gave him the ability to be a wounded healer, capable of healing the wounds of others, even if he could not heal his own.
Despite being immortal, Chiron condemned himself to eternal pain, but instead of becoming bitter or directing his anger towards others, he used his pain as a source of learning and wisdom. Thus, he became the greatest of the healers in Greek mythology.
The constellation of Sagittarius: Zeus’s homage to Chiron’s sacrifice
During his search, Hercules found Prometheus, the Titan who had given fire to men and had been punished by Zeus, chained in the Caucasus.
Every day, an eagle devoured his entrails, which then grew back, condemning him to incessant pain. Hercules took pity on Prometheus and decided to help him, freeing him from his sentence.
But Hercules was not the only one who demonstrated a great act of love and sacrifice. Chiron, seeing his friend suffer from him, decided to take his place in condemning Prometheus. As a result, Chiron died, freeing himself and himself from suffering.
Zeus, in recognition of Chiron’s act of love and sacrifice, placed it in the heavens as the constellation Sagittarius, although some sources also identify it as the constellation Centaurus.
This story reminds us that even in the darkest of times, love and compassion can prevail, and that sometimes what appears to be misfortune can ultimately be a gift.
Also, that we are not 100% self-sufficient and sometimes we need to turn to those close to us to find the healing and support we need. Ultimately, we all have something to contribute and we can all learn from each other.
The etymological origin of the operating room in the myth of Chiron
The word operating room, a place where surgeries are performed, has its roots in the name of Chiron, the centaur from Greek mythology who was known for his ability as a healer and healer.
Chiron is an archetype of the wounded healer, one who has the ability to heal the pain of others despite his own suffering. , the Swiss psychologist, studied this myth and used it to explain the concept of the psychologist as patient and healer. Jung was also based on theories, which explain the polarity present in our psyche.
There is a light side and a dark side that fight to prevail, but only through their integration can peace and inner wisdom be achieved.
From March 9 to 15, 2023, Jupiter, the planet of expansion and abundance, will unite with Chiron, the wounded healing asteroid. This rare and powerful event will unlock a portal to receive potent healing energy into the deepest recesses of our mind, body, and soul…