So many people embody this archetype, especially in the industries I have worked in for many years. The concept was developed by psychiatrist Carl Jung and was inspired by ancient Greek mythology. The concept describes psychoanalysts who treat or ‘heal’ patients because they themselves are psychologically and emotionally wounded. Although the concept was initially developed for psychoanalysts, it can be applied to anyone, in any profession and any caregiver.
The Greek mythology surrounding this archetype is the figure of Chiron and can help us gain a deeper understanding of the energies within it.
I am not an expert in Greek mythology and so I will share a brief summing up as I understand it from my own learning and some guidance from experts.
Chiron was a centaur, half man, half horse. Son of Cronos, who took the form of a horse and he lay with the ocean nymph Philyra. She fell pregnant and upon seeing her son, born as a centaur, Philyra was so disgusted she abandoned her son. Both parents rejected him and so here are the beginnings of his wounding.
Chiron was adopted by Apollo and he was renowned for his skills in the healing arts. His mastery of these skills suggests a compensation for his early rejection, he was looking to the master the healing arts in order to heal himself.
As the son of Cronus, Chiron was born immortal, however he exchanged his immortality for Prometheus’ life and so he became mortal in a very selfless bargain. Then in an altercation, Chiron was pierced by Hercules arrow which had been treated with poison. The wound was deep and deadly and although Chiron had mastered the healing arts he could not heal himself. Zeus took pity on his mortality and placed him amongst the stars for eternity as the constellation Centauri.
I can't speak for anyone else, but this mythology speaks to me and how I came along my own path to the work I do now. I meet so many others in the same field with similar stories.
In my early years I suffered rejection, chaos and my fair share of bullying. On reflection I see now how the manifested illness at seventeen was the first call to look deeply within and begin to master my own craft. I have learned an incredible amount about my own healing and now I can use this learning to support others. This was never intentional., but as I have spoken of before, there were whispers that gently called to me over time.
To have the capacity and ability to see the wounding as a gift allows us to reveal the deep compassion that pours forth from our own experiences. There is depth of wisdom once we understand and see the path. How you can bear your own pain and suffering in the right Spirit, to see the gifts, never to fear it but to learn and grow within it. From this place we can transmute the path toward grace. Understanding and helping others transmutes the wounding from being about you and allows you to serve others.
Perhaps you identify with Chiron's story?
Some perfect examples of this archetype are:
Mother Teresa who acknowledged their struggles with the darkness of doubt.
St. Thomas More struggled with fear and depression.
Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, a survivor of a Nazi concentration camp, had struggles and after his experiences consequently created logotherapy—a therapeutic approach to helping people find their life purpose, which you can read about in his amazing book. Man’s Search for Meaning.
Adriana Ayales from Anima Mundi Herbal writes "Chiron represents our deepest, most tender wounds that are the most difficult to heal, yet it also marks where we hold our greatest gifts" her card deck uses the dandelion to represent this archetype as she explains "Dandelion is a survivor. It has an extraordinary ability to withstand hardship and thrive in disturbed environments" she goes on "It assists us in renewing, cleansing, mineralising and adapting"
I believe this is what we are learning now as a collective at different levels. The growth, the understanding and the healing comes from the wounds and the pain we suffered. We have lived the lives of papering over the cracks with silence and substance and we are seeing how this is hurting not only ourselves but the ones we profess to love.
The study I am undertaking just now is about the root cause of our symptoms, what our body is showing us in the messages showing as depression, autoimmune disorders, skin irritation, the list is endless. As a society we are sick and these old coverings are being seen for exactly what they are. A band aid for a gaping wound.
So how do we begin to heal?
Acceptance of the issues is the first step, from that place we lose the limitation of "I wish it was different" and start to deal with all we have in front of us. Then we take the next step and the next. We seek support where we can. We listen to the messages the body is screaming at us. And we choose the path.
Nobody ever said it would be easy, but look where the easy road has got us thus far.