Between July 26th - December 30th 2024 Chiron switches to Retrograde mode. Chiron is the shamanic figure in our community, the friend who has now committed her life to the path of herbalism since the pandemic, the teacher who reminds you that being strong and soft can coexist, and the doctor you go to see for an annual health check-up. In astrology, Chiron is the centaur who was the medicine man for heroes and heroines alike, who came to him for cures and healing balms for their wounds. Ironically, his journey began when he was accidentally wounded by Hercules with a poisoned arrow, but even after going to the hills and back for the right medicine, nothing seemed to work. So, there we have it, the term ‘wounded healer’ has been attached to him ever since.

Chiron goes retrograde once a year for around five months, and so during these times we can add some holy ointment into our open wounds and figure out what it truly means to tap into our own inner Chiron shamanic powers. As this Chiron Retrograde is in the sign of Aries, you could expect themes around your identity, creative power, and autonomy.

Calling lost parts of you back home

There’s a term often used in shamanism called ‘soul retrieval.’ Essentially, it’s a shamanic healing practice that can help us to go through the rubble of our pain and recover ‘fragmented parts’ of ourselves that have been injured by trauma and abandonment. Indigenous beliefs believe that the soul-self can be restored to come back to a sense of wholeness. Yet, just like Chiron, soul retrieval reminds us that our wounds can become battle scars.

The journey of soul retrieval is vast, and we can do this in a number of different ways, such as gathering in community, voicing our stories, and letting people witness us. Shame keeps us in hiding and by being more open and vulnerable about our journey, we can invite all parts of us to take a seat at the table. Guided meditations or seeking professional counselling and therapy are other tools that can aid this process.

Redefining the narrative and reimagining yourself

Many of us can remember negative feedback and opinions we received even as children, and we often don’t realise how much we still harbour these floating words around our subconscious. Internalising these voices that aren’t even our own can feel incredibly burdensome. Redefining these narratives is crucial for us to take our power back if they have deeply affected our confidence and fed off our power and inner light like a vampire in the night.

Perhaps the volume of their voices echoes so loudly in our minds, that we can’t even hear our own, or even trust it. Leading us to outsource our decision-making to other people, constantly seeking their approval. A practice I take my clients through is asking them to take a step back, so they can look at themselves as if they are staring into the eyes of their inner child.

“One of the best guides to how to be self-loving is to give ourselves the love we are often dreaming about receiving from others.” - bell hooks

Children are so pure, and we can often see what makes them unique. By imagining yourself wearing a divine halo, you can get a clearer picture of your personal strengths and talents, even if you don’t believe it at first. It takes time to heal these core wounds, but by devoting ourselves to changing the narratives, we can make leaps and bounds to show up as we are, without feeling as if we have to wear a mask to feel accepted, no matter where we are.

Our overthinking minds can often lead us to dark corners of our psyche, so to put a stop to these spiralling thoughts, detach from them for even 15 minutes a day, and unpack the root of where these words have come from, so that you can see how much your daily choices are influenced by people outside of you. You are your own best healer.

If there’s one thing to remember, healing isn’t linear, and it can’t be done in isolation.

Want to stay on top of the other retrogrades of 2024? Here's a comprehensive guide to every retrograde happening this year.

Photo by Scott Lord on Unsplash