Chariklo:  Spinner of Grace and Weaver of Unconditional Positive Regard

Chiron, the Wounded Healer and first Centaur asteroid discovered orbiting between Saturn and Uranus, is a rather familiar influence in modern astrology.  Chiron is recognized to have a profound influence upon our paths through trauma and healing, but he doesn’t operate alone and only of his own accord.  Chiron had a wife and consort, a supportive and enduring counterpart in Chariklo, and I think it’s time that I explored her energy with you.  When I choose asteroids and dwarf planets to detail for Patrons, you can trust that I’ve worked with these energies for a considerable length of time and have been paying attention to how they function in natal charts as well as tracking them in transit to observe their influence.  My take on these things come from analyzing what we know according to science about these bodies and from contemplating their roots within mythology.  

Chariklo, discovered on February 14, 1999 at 7:51 PM MST in Tucson, Arizona, is an asteroid that doesn’t exactly have much in the way of deep dive understanding material out there to research and learn from.  Asteroid and dwarf planet bodies discovered within the last 30 years are all still under observation and scrutiny as astrologers bear witness to what they do and how they operate.  It’s a fascinating journey of discovery and inspiration to behold.  First, I’ll talk about the astronomy followed by the mythology of Chariklo, and then we’ll see what we can discover within the context of the chart of her moment of discovery.  It’s ultimately helpful that we have a precise documented time of first witness, so that we can truly discern what the experience of her chart entails. 

The astronomy of Chariklo finds her out in orbit between Saturn and Uranus with the rest of the Centaurs, icy asteroid bodies, and she has an erratic orbit that takes almost 63 years.  From this we see that she spends quite a long time in each sign, her influence is long reaching as she wavers back and forth in transit.  Chariklo is the only asteroid body proven to have rings like Saturn and Uranus, 2 rings in fact, a significance that I consider to highlight her unique role in the healing dynamic she plays between the two of them.  Remember, Saturn is authority and discipline, Uranus is rebellion and awakening, the unexpected spins we encounter.  Chariklo in orbit between is an influence that is supportive as they dictate limitations and change.  When it comes to both Saturnian restriction and Uranian sudden shifts, we need SUPPORT and UNDERSTANDING.  That’s where Chariklo comes into her own, an influence of healing and profound unconditional positive regard. 

Chariklo within mythology has several different manifestations, as we know, mythology evolves over time, the characters are spun into new aspects of cultural context, but the archetypal energy remains relatively consistent as they go through transformation through an ever changing lens of cultural influence.  As such, she is a figure of transformation, of regeneration and shapeshifting…the spiritual chameleon, who understands all and can shift to mirror and make others feel understood.  Chariklo began her journey as a water nymph, married Chiron the Centaur, and some later accounts record her as a Centaur…this is where she is sometimes given the attribute of shapeshifting, of spiritual transformation.  Some sources consider nymph Chariklo being separate and different from Chariklo wife of Chiron, but the two are conflated with enough consistency that both aspects are considered to be of the same source, just shifting over time as the mythology evolved and played out.  She was a nursemaid to the warrior Achilles, and she was favored by and loyal to Athena, ever at her side.  Chiron was not her first husband, but was the one that she spent her eternity with, ever tending to him in constant support.  She plays the role of both fierce feminine loyalty to Athena, and endless, unconditional devotion to Chiron.   Chariklo translates to “graceful spinner” and this evokes an ever shifting, ever moving energy of creation, grace and flow are hers to bestow.   I think about her this way, often…if Chiron is the Wound that does not heal, Chariklo is what we need not to overcome it, but to accept it and flow with what we must endure.  Chiron taught those who sought him, warriors and healers and prophets alike, he taught all modes and methodologies of the wise…but it was Chariklo who attended to the emotional needs of his students, it was she who was the mother, the nurturer, the counselor.  

Let’s take a look at her chart of discovery, it’s a fascinating revelation to behold! 

Even with the heavy amount of asteroids that I have detailed in this chart, it’s easy to see that Chariklo, which was at 6 degrees Leo upon her moment of discovery, was at one point of a perfect 6 point star aspect pattern!  What an auspicious embodiment of grace.  Six pointed stars are an aspect of heaven and earth…as above, so below.  Spirit and body are one.   When we see these patterns, they are typically spread by an orb of several degrees, but THIS is one that is almost EXACT!  Given that Moon is one of the bodies involved, this exactitude would not be the case if her discovery had happened even 4 hours before or 4 hours after.  She was discovered precisely when it was time to reveal her always shifting, ever present support.  In this chart, Chariklo is at 6 Leo, Mars at 5 Libra, Pluto at 5 Sagittarius, Jupiter and Uranus conjunct at 5 Aquarius, Saturn at 5 Aries, and Moon at 5 Gemini…sextiles all around the wheel in Air and Fire signs!!!!!!!!!  This is movement, this is power of Leo confidence that doesn’t have anything to prove…sextiles are door opening, supportive aspects, and all of these working together in harmony in this type of tight formation is a rare occasion indeed.  The Moon/Pluto opposition serves to allow Gemini Moon communication into the deepest parts of the hidden, Chariklo intuitively sees through masks, and knows exactly how to inspire us to let go of that which we need to release in order to transform.  This six point star that promises the heavens and earth in harmony tells us that Chariklo is here to help us learn to integrate the balance between the body and the soul.  As such, in working with her, imbalances may be triggered in order to awaken us to them, so that we can seek to heal them. 

Chariklo was discovered under Aquarius Sun, and with a Jupiter/Uranus conjunction at hand, and was with a Stellium along with Venus and Mercury in this sign as well…and it’s rather interesting that eminent astrologer Zane Stein has tied her into charts of many works of science fiction, and future oriented fascination.  This strong Aquarius influence in her discovery chart, which we consider to function like her natal chart, certainly resonates with that interpretation.  We can infer from this that in transit, Chariklo seeks to release us from the Chiron wounds of the past through empathy and understanding, and wants to guide us toward the future.  If Chiron is the bridge between the cold hand of Saturn and the shock and awe of Uranus, it’s Chariklo who says ENOUGH!  It’s time to accept the things we cannot change, and to honor what we’ve given as we’ve endured.  This detached Aquarian influence sees Jupiter, planet of spiritual growth and Uranus in a partile conjunction at 5 degrees, opposing Chariklo at 6 Leo in this chart, which is what brought her into our consciousness.  

I could expound upon the significance of this 6 point star all day, but there is yet another fascinating layer to behold here, and one that I’ve never seen anyone else mention in everything I’ve ever read or seen about Chariklo.  This doesn’t mean I’m the only astrologer who has noticed this, others may have and I’m unaware of it, but this is something profound and meaningful to me, so I’m surprised that I haven’t seen this be more of a big deal, so to speak.  See the little Rx next to Chiron?  Well, I always look at not just current planetary position, but also at a list of last and next planetary Station times.  CHIRON WAS NOT JUST RETROGRADE.  CHIRON WAS AT STATION.  He had Stationed 23 hours previously and was still at a standstill, had not moved a minute yet.  He was deep within his cave, vulnerable and at a point of need, at 2 degrees Scorpio, loosely square Chariklo.  This speaks to me of Chiron shutting down, going cold, withdrawing in Scorpionic contempt, and Chariklo rising to the occasion regardless, Leo is a sign that brings complete devotion and unconditional support, when the one they love is worthy and deserving.  Chiron needed to be quiet and vulnerable so that Chariklo could be drawn into the collective consciousness.  Chariklo at 6 Leo came to him with unconditional understanding under this chart influence, and it’s clear looking at her chart that SHE is the force behind the most profound and raw healing that comes through Chiron, she’s the one caring for others, she’s the one who offers understanding where Chiron brings inevitable pain.  Chiron forces us to confront and to do the work, and Chariklo picks up the pieces of what’s left.  Chariklo is the graceful spinner, the weaver of support and devotion of the heart.  Chiron would not fare so well without Chariklo to give him the necessary space to endure.  

Now that we’ve got an understanding of Chiriklo’s shapeshifting, infinite grace and unconditional acceptance, let’s take a look at where she is NOW in the celestial scheme of things…

Chariklo is currently at 7 degrees Aquarius, having just opposed her degree of discovery at 6 Leo!  This is coming halfway through the Zodiac since her discovery, and given this time of coming to a checkpoint like this, it’s important to me to acknowledge her influence and to hopefully call attention to her in a way that helps facilitate her integration into consciousness.  We have Mars Station at 8 degrees Gemini, rather close to Moon at her time of discovery, so I thought this was a particularly inspiring time as well. Mars Station is time to pause, to consider how to move forward, and the healing influence of Chariklo can be particularly helpful during times like this.   Black Moon Lilith was also in Leo at her time of discovery, so there is a Lilith Return influence for her here as Lilith has just ingressed to Leo again where she will spend the majority of her wandering and meandering this year.  Venus is at 12 degrees Aquarius, and in her discovery chart, Venus was at 14 degrees Aquarius.  As Chariklo will be in Aquarius until 2028, and we have Pluto bringing profound transformation to this sign beginning in March for a transit that will last 20 years, I think that her influence can be ultimately helpful in understanding where we need to let go of things over the coming year, whatever Aquarius means in our charts…in her discovery chart, the opposition between Moon and Pluto cuts deep, to the very core…but remember, it’s all part of a powerfully supportive 6 point star, so when it comes to working with Pluto, Chariklo is no stranger to its depth.  Her role is to give us the grace that we need, both in regard to moving with fluid adaptability, ever spinning and in acceptance, as we navigate change.  As I track her movements in transit, of course you will see that I pay special attention to her relationship dynamic with Chiron.  They are currently in signs that work well together, and that complement her discovery chart of Air/Fire.  I don’t typically detail aspects between asteroids, I usually only dive into aspects that entail how a planet or luminary aspects each asteroid, but I would be remiss to ignore the dynamic between Chariklo and Pallas-Athena here, so going forward this will be the only asteroid/asteroid influence that will be covered on this Tier.  Their connection is too strong to deny.  

When it comes to thinking about Chariklo in your own natal chart, look for aspects to your natal planets or angles in tight orb, and look to see if you have any connections to her discovery chart as well.  I’ve got several deep connections, and I can say with clarity and confidence that she’s a profound influence wherever she arises for you.