The Chiron Return: When Old Wounds Resurface for Healing

Most of us have heard of the Saturn Return, that cosmic checkpoint in our late 20s. But did you know there is also a Chiron Return?

Recently, I’ve noticed old wounds resurfacing — patterns and feelings that have been with me for years rising again as if they wanted to be seen. Instead of brushing them aside, I decided to sit with them and check my chart. With some help from ChatGPT, I realized I am moving through my Chiron return.

✨ (Side note: I know there are conversations about AI and the energy it uses. Personally, I don’t think the solution is to shame people for using AI — just like we don’t shame people for streaming videos, which actually uses more data. To me, the bigger issue is how data centers are run and finding more sustainable ways forward. I see AI as a tool, like tarot or astrology software, and it’s about the intention behind how we use it.)

What is Chiron?

Chiron is often called the “wounded healer.” In mythology, Chiron was a teacher and healer who carried a wound he could never fully cure. In astrology, it represents the wounds we carry, the ones that shape us deeply, and the wisdom we gain from learning to live and heal with them.

You can find Chiron in your own chart by looking for the key-shaped glyph (⚷). Sites like Astro.com or Astro-Seek.com will generate a free natal chart for you.

✨ Free resources will show you where Chiron is, but they will not explain what it means for you personally. That is where a full natal chart report can connect the dots between Chiron, your rising sign, your houses, and your story.

Okay, so what’s a Chiron Return?

Like Saturn, Chiron eventually circles back to where it was when you were born. This happens once, around ages 49 to 51, and it is called your Chiron return.

This return can stir up old wounds and patterns, not to punish you but to invite you to face them with the wisdom you have gained. It is often linked to the “midlife crisis,” but astrologically it is more about realignment and healing than crisis.

Do you only feel it at 49 to 51?

Not always. Chiron is currently moving through 19–23° Gemini, and if you have planets or angles there (which I do), the themes may show up early.

You may also notice it if Chiron is making strong aspects (conjunction, square, opposition) to your natal planets, or if you are extra sensitive to the other midlife transits that weave into this season (like the Uranus opposition or Saturn opposition).

Upcoming Chiron Returns

Chiron moves slowly, about 50 years for one full orbit. That means whole generations share the same Chiron sign, though the house and aspects make it personal to you.

Here are the next five cycles:

Chiron in Gemini → 2024 to 2027
Chiron in Cancer → 2026 to 2029
Chiron in Leo → 2028 to 2031
Chiron in Virgo → 2031 to 2034
Chiron in Libra → 2033 to 2036

✨ If you were born with Chiron in one of these signs, those are the years your return will be strongest.

My Chiron in Gemini (1st House)

For me, Chiron lives in Gemini in the 1st house. My wounds, and my healing, are tied to how I express myself and how I am seen in the world.

Throughout my life, I’ve felt the tension between wanting to use my voice and fearing it would be misunderstood. Chiron also squares my North and South Nodes, which means my healing journey is directly tied to my soul’s path. I cannot move toward my destiny without facing these wounds around self-expression and visibility.

This return has been asking me to show up differently, to claim my presence, and to share more authentically. It’s no coincidence that this is the season I created The Soft Work — a space where I can write more openly, share in my own rhythm, and step into alignment with the path I am meant to walk.

Are You Feeling This Too?

Even if Chiron isn’t touching your chart directly right now, you may notice themes of old wounds and healing surfacing in subtler ways — the collective energy often stirs us all.

If you are a Gemini rising, you might be feeling this energy right now. Maybe you are noticing changes in how you speak, write, connect, or in the way you want to be understood.

Other mutable signs — Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces — may also feel it if they have placements at those degrees, since Chiron in Gemini makes tense aspects to them.

How to Navigate a Chiron Return

Every Chiron return looks different depending on your chart, but the themes are universal: old wounds resurface so they can be healed, integrated, and transformed into wisdom.

Here are some ways to move through this season with compassion:

Notice the stories that keep repeating and reflect on what they’re teaching you
Journal or talk through your patterns without judgment — sometimes naming the wound is the first step toward healing
Lean into practices that feel supportive: therapy, ritual, creative expression, or simply rest
Allow yourself to be tender; healing doesn’t mean striving, it means making space for what’s ready to shift
Trust that what feels uncomfortable now is guiding you toward greater alignment

A Tarot Spread for Your Chiron Return

Use this 5-card spread to explore what your Chiron return might be teaching you:

The Wound — What old pain or story is resurfacing for me now?
The Lesson — What wisdom is hidden in this wound?
The Block — What keeps me from moving forward?
The Gift — What healing or strength can I claim through this process?
The Path — How can I step into alignment with my purpose?

Take time with each card, and let your intuition guide you. This spread can be revisited throughout your Chiron return, since different layers may reveal themselves at different times.

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