There are emotional and spiritual wounds we carry as humans that don’t bleed but never stop aching. In astrology, an asteroid known as Chiron reveals where we carry this karmic pain. Known as the wounded warrior, Chiron represents the wound that has been with you from the start and will be your companion, in some form, for life. It may not be tied to a specific traumatic event, but it is the continually surprising pain that pops up in a specific area of your life with a familiar sting. Pema Chodron talks about the concept of “shenpa,” or the issues that continually hook us—we commit to healing, only to find ourselves snagged by the same pain we thought we’d moved past. This “hook” sends us scrabbling on the edge of a cliff, desperately searching for solid ground every time it gets activated. Chiron can certainly be like this. The placement of Chiron gives us insights into the specifics of this wound. Chiron in the first house could represent a wounding around self-image or self-esteem. In the 7th house, it could show up as painful romantic partnerships or wounds around intimacy.

This pain isn’t purposeless. The place where you are wounded is often the thing you become most qualified to heal. Understanding the intricacies of our wounds makes us sensitive and skillful healers adept at identifying these emotional maladies in others. This might seem like an obvious statement: of course I’m more able to diagnose your broken pinky and offer advice if I’ve gone through that same injury myself. I could ask you about the swelling and compare it to my own experience; I could tell you you’ll likely need a splint; maybe I could even recommend the doctor I saw. But astrology points to a more poignant and esoteric version of symptom recognition.

One planet that I see time and time again as a supporter of Chiron is Mars. Mars is the warrior planet—ruling anger, aggression, masculinity (in an energetic, not always gendered sense), motivation, sexuality, and stamina. Anger is something that society often considers harmful or “bad,” something destructive that doesn’t have a helpful purpose, but anger has the power to heal. Anger identifies wounding and marks it as important, as worthy of energy. Anger says, “This shouldn’t have happened and it needs to be made right.”

Harnessing our righteous anger allows us to take bold action. It calls us to wrap up the wallowing and get back into battle. Anger is the knife that debrides the wound, the heat that cauterizes decay, the needle that punctures the skin to deliver life-saving medicine. It gives us the courage to actively heal.

In my astrological practice I see this connection again and again. Chiron lives in my 9th house of philosophy, spirituality, and higher education, under the sign of Virgo—the tireless perfectionist. For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled with a deep sense of self-criticism around my intellect, my philosophical prowess, my ability to see and understand spiritual truths, and my relationship to religion and higher education. I spent most of my life feeling so lost and confused by my need to understand the esoteric and my inability to trust in my intuition or intellect. I could never be smart enough, I could never be “deep” enough, I was always terrified that I was somehow delusional or not in touch with reality. My Cancer Mars in the seventh house of committed partnerships has been the gentle and nurturing warrior that has led me to relationships that heal this. My motivation to protect and care for this part of myself knows no bounds. Bolstered by loving and caring committed partnerships, I have the fire and drive to go to battle with the voices that question my truth and perception. I use this to hold space for others to explore their sense of truth, their inherent wisdom, their diverse spiritualities, and their unique intellects. In my chart, nurturing and safe teamwork is the antidote to spiritual confusion. Where we are most angered can be where we most have the energy to heal.

We are blessed to be wounded. We are blessed to be angered. This dance between the two experiences results in one of the most beautiful alchemies of the human condition. Rage on, wounded warriors.