“In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs it is the rule.”
— Nietzsche

What is Chiron? An asteroid, and a pain in the ass mythological figure also known as “the wounded healer.” Chiron bids farewell to the constellation of Aquarius after spending seven years (Feb. 21, 2005 and Feb. 8, 2011) triggering every social, group and friendship wound we’ve ever felt. The Chiron in Aquarius finale packed a series of punches on the collective since 2005. Sorting out the needs of the group versus the needs of the individual is never a simple affair.

Do we lose ourselves in groups — devolving into sheep, girls gone wild or conformists? Or do groups inspire, give us strength in numbers and sense of belonging, and unify us around a kindred theme? Are we prone to the horrible disease of “group think” where we suddenly lose the ability to make rational, individually informed decisions? Or do we succumb to the lowest vibration or caveman denominator in our midst? We’re no strangers to group contagion, the stupidity of trends and “Lord of the Flies.” Chiron in Aquarius at its worst: Super Bowl Sunday and Facebook.

“Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer …”

In our social circles, networks and other such collectives, the shadows of competition, rivalry, backstabbing and envy often loom heavy. During the final days of Chiron in Aquarius we would expect to see these issues to reach a fever pitch. Chiron in Aquarius has been dubbed the “wounded community.” Where have our associations with groups, families, and bigger collectives been healing? Where have they only served to open up old wounds?

Usually it’s a combination of both, but with Chiron transits there’s the feeling of pouring salt into the wound in order to bring our attention to it. Aquarius rules our friendships, so it’s not surprising to hear people lamenting, “I don’t know who my real friends are anymore” or “Who can I trust?” Chiron in Aquarius taught us that true friends are precious, extremely rare and perhaps a dying breed.

Look to the placement of Chiron in your natal horoscope to see where your psyche contains the deepest wounding from childhood and consequently needs the most healing. But this is the kind of healing that one must give to oneself. Only through our own efforts, life experience and wisdom gained can we heal the depth of our Chiron wounds.

The lessons typically culminate in some sort of integrated fashion around the age of fifty during the Chiron Return provided we’ve done the work. Every seven years we have the opportunity to work an another layer of healing, similar to Saturn cycles. With Chiron in Aquarius, we were given the opportunity to honor and hopefully embrace our unique, eccentric, rebellious qualities despite the pain of earlier experiences of not fitting in, or feeling like a freak for being different.

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” — Crankydragon from Dr. Seuss