Chiron (Χείρων, hand) was by all accounts the wisest of the centaurs, one of the last survivor of his species. Abiding in Mount Pelion, he had many heroes as pupils, Asclepius, Theseus, Achilles, Jason and Heracles.
Mortally wounded by Heracles’ arrows, poisoned by the blood of the Hydra, he was allowed by the gods to bestow his immortality to Prometheus thus freeing him from an unbearable pain. He then became known as the constellation Centaurus.
He was a master of healing arts, an oracle, but among his many talents, his greatest gift was perhaps his ability to guide his pupils towards knowledge of the Self, and allow them to realize their potentials, and fulfill their destiny.
The myth attached to Chiron is encapsulated in the term Wounded Healer, as an epitome of the therapist the most able to heal, for he has been through the very torments he is asked to heal.
This same quality is generally associated in astrology to the celestial body named after him. Orbiting in the Kuiper Belt, between Saturn and Uranus, his double nature of asteroid and comet reminds us of the centaur nature.
Work in progress
Below, one can find a picture with the various steps leading to this picture. As one can see, the process is far from linear.
Step by step
Marvellously clever Eric how you illustrate Wisp Poetry 3 years early
[note: published in Wisp#8]