Last week, astronomers shared news of their discovery that Chariklo, an asteroid (or possibly dwarf planet), has rings around it — something thought to occur only in larger planetary bodies, like the planet Saturn.
But Chariklo had a few surprises in store for the astronomers, as it turned out.
“We weren’t looking for a ring and didn’t think small bodies like Chariklo had them at all, so the discovery — and the amazing amount of detail we saw in the system — came as a complete surprise!” says Felipe Braga Ribas of Observatório Nacional/MCTI in Rio de Janeiro. (Braga-Ribas led the discovery and is an author of the paper announced in Nature on March 26, 2014.)
Chariklo is the largest known centaur-category asteroid; Chiron is the second-largest. Both are found between Saturn and Uranus, with Chariklo said to be “grazing the orbit” of Uranus.

In mythic-astro and thus Mythic Astrology, such discoveries are said to bring specific archetypal energies into consciousness, where they’d been operating behind the scenes or unconsciously before that.
So with Chariklo and her elegant and newly noticed ring system, what’s coming into consciousness? Let’s look to the myths for clues about the archetypal energies coming to attention.
In Greek mythology, Chariklo (or Chariclo, in the Latin) and Chiron were married and fostered some of the next generation’s wise healers, guides, and heroes.
Chiron is often called the Wounded Healer, a wise, initiated mentor and guide.
Chariklo, as with the telestai of old, could be seen as the Feminine complement to Chiron in that ‘great work’.
Chariklo is said to have been one of the nymphs or naiads — Water Spirits, or more ancient-still, local Nature goddesses — and at the time of this astronomical discovery on June 3, 2013 was dancing in the midst of a Grand Water Trine.
In addition to her relationship with Chiron, Chariklo was said to be a devotee and steadfast companion to the Goddess Athena, and was the mother of the future-visioned shaman-prophet, Tiresius.
Chariklo’s name translates to Graceful Spinner; we know that spinning and weaving are powerful ancient metaphors in the weaving of energy and fate or destiny. Think of Grandmother Spider, the Northern European Norns, or the many symbolic references to the Divine as Great Weaver, and you’ll be in the right neighborhood.
Add Grace, and you’re even closer.
Charis is ‘grace’ or ‘graceful’, and can be found, too, in the word charisma. The word and name are also associated with flow or flowing, hence the Water Spirit connection.
But Grace, the Graceful Spinner, is right in the mix, and calling for our attention now, with the discovery of Chariklo’s rings and thus more-than-originally-thought power.
At the time of the announcement last week, Chariklo in transit was at 26-27 Sagittarius, spot on the astrological Galactic Center.
We could say that that Chiron’s Feminine complement, Chariklo — wise woman initiate and mentor, Feminine healing, the healing power of Grace and its children: graciousness, gracefulness; the graceful (rather than heavy-handed) wielding of energy and power — is more powerful than previously thought and is now calling for (graceful) attention and (gracious) intentional embodiment.
Given the dynamic, potentially volatile and definitely transformative astro-energetics of these times — it seems unrelenting, indeed — we can easily see the wisdom of a more-powerful-than-expected dose of grace, graciousness, and graceful weaving, yes?
On a fun and perhaps also telling note, too, the astrologer Zane Stein notes that Chariklo is often powerfully located in the charts of horizon-edge scientists and science-fiction writers.
Remember, Chariklo gave birth to the future-visioned shaman-prophet Tirisius?
I checked the charts for Marie Curie and Ursula Le Guin — scientist and sci-fi writer, respectively — just to do a wee sampling of this theory, and sure enough, Chariklo is powerfully located.
Where’s Chariklo beaming her gracious wisdom, healing mojo, flowing grace, and prophetic vision in your blueprint and life?
You’ll find her by looking for 10199 Chariklo (asteroid) in your astro-story blueprint (chart).
Chariklo Blessings,
Read more about the Healing Feminine …
The Return of the Healing Feminine
Benefit from personalized (experienced) mentoring & insight …
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Labyrinth image credit: Green labyrinth in Luxembourg City. PD image from Lode Van de Velde, PDpictures.net.
March 31, 2014 at 9:18 pm
Very interesting. Plus the 27th was my 29th bday. April 15th Andrew and I are making it legal. We pick up our license trw. 🙂 How are you. <3 Ashley Persephone Selvig
March 31, 2014 at 11:06 pm
A big happy birthday to you, Ashley Persephone. And another big congratulations on makin’ it legal with Andrew. All very cool; lots of blessings to you both. All’s well in my corner of the multiverse, surfing these wild, wild energies. 🙂 ~ Jamie
March 31, 2014 at 9:46 pm
Reblogged this on Love Earth Visionary.
March 31, 2014 at 10:02 pm
Hi Jamie, do you know of an online Ephemeris that will show Chariklo?
March 31, 2014 at 11:05 pm
Hey there, Julianne. You can include Chariklo on your chart at astro.com’s extended chart option. Chariklo is 10199; you can add the number at the bottom of the chart selections page. (You may already know that; I included it in case it’s helpful for others as well).
April 1, 2014 at 2:05 pm
Thank you!
April 1, 2014 at 3:47 am
Yes, I was very excited too, when I found out the news of her rings, in National Geographic! My Chariklo is 28 34 50 in Aquarius 2nd house ( more Aquarius), opposite my Virgo moon in 8th, trine my Cancer Jupiter in 5th house and trine my MC Libra.
April 1, 2014 at 1:04 pm
Hey there, Bridget. It is exciting, isn’t it, with these sorts of discoveries, and in this case those beautiful, elegant rings. Thanks for sharing where Chariklo’s thread weaves into your unique tapestry. Chariklo weaves-in at 18+ Aquarius in my natal blueprint – so another Aqua-flavored Chariklo, connecting with Sun-Saturn, Magdalene-Mars, and Neptune. Still communing with Chariklo’s vibe, so we’ll see what else emerges. xoxo Jamie
April 1, 2014 at 7:28 am
Very interesting. This info re Chariklo has passed me by up till now, so thanks for the post.
In my natal chart she is actually conjunct Chiron at 6 Sag and her current position at 26/27 Sag is on my IC. Much to ponder and investigate here I think.
April 1, 2014 at 11:49 am
You’re welcome; Chariklo has been working on me, so I’m glad to share what’s come up so far. Very interesting that she’s conjunct Chiron in your chart; does the Sabian for 6 Saj resonate with you? I’ve got Venus at 26+ Saj, too, so right there with your IC. Enjoy musing with Chariklo. Blessings, Jamie
April 1, 2014 at 4:42 pm
The conjunction of Chiron and Chariklo in my chart is particularly striking for me because throughout my life I have had – and still have thanks to the current Neptune in Pisces square – recurrent and seirous chronic health issues. I sense that my recent discovery (through this post, thank you Jamie) of Chariklo might bring a new element into my search for healing and understanding. It feels significant.
The Sabian symbol for 6 Sag is “Cupid knocks at the door of the human heart”. It certainly resonates for me.
April 1, 2014 at 7:40 pm
You’re very welcome. That can be really frustrating with the chronic elements (particularly those that seem to defy ‘best efforts’), so may this Chariklo Seed bring new healing and understanding into your experience (and energy field!). That’s a beautiful Sabian as well … eros knocking at the heart’s door. Some power there, too. 🙂 Chariklo Blessings to you. Big Love, Jamie
April 1, 2014 at 11:15 am
Very interesting Jamie and thank you for sharing this. 🙂 I will check it out in my chart! ☀♥♥♥☀NadineMarie☀♥♥♥☀
April 1, 2014 at 11:42 am
Thanks for stopping by, Nadine Marie. 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed visiting with Chariklo for a bit. Big Love, Jamie
August 29, 2014 at 3:37 pm
oh my! More delicious food for thought!
Chariklo is at 10° Sag in my natal chart, conj. Ceres & Chiron, at 10° & 15°! 3rd house.
Square my natal sun (Virgo) … I nurture through sharing info and ideas ….
as Bridget commented on your Virgo as Flame Keeper post, I do store thoughts for later retrial & look for meaningful connections…
I also have disseminating moon (18° Taurus) which enhances that desire to share info!
Thank you for introducing me to Chariklo! I “met” the asteroid (& Chiron) via Doug B. & Demetra George’s “Asteroid Goddesses,” & later took workshops with Demetra and Vicky Noble.
September 4, 2014 at 6:26 pm
I can see where Chariklo would beckon to you, Nadya, and be a powerful part of your magic (being snugged up there with Ceres and Chiron as she is). So wonderful that you were able to take the workshops with Demetra George and Vicky Noble – for a long while Demetra’s work was among the only available when it came to the asteroid goddesses! Love, Jamie
December 27, 2019 at 8:29 pm
Well, my Nana’s name was Sophia:)
I feel like Chari was the missing entity in my birth chart. Her placement, her message, brought me to tears. I was introduced to her today, will cherish her my lifetime!
January 11, 2020 at 6:13 pm
That’s a nice Sophia sync Sue. 🙂 It really is nice to find those elements, like Chariklo, that really resonate and shine back their insight to us!
January 11, 2020 at 6:13 pm
Thank you! 🙂