The 2024–2026 U.S. Chiron Return: A Turning Point in American History
What the 50-Year Chiron Cycle Reveals About America’s Next Two Years
I’ve covered in previous articles (here, here, and here) the vexing and unprecedented astrological weather the United States is currently navigating. I’ve not seen anything comparable to it in my many years of astrological study. This article will cover another astrological challenge the US is currently up against: the 5th iteration of its Chiron return.
With a Pluto return and a Neptune opposition in full swing, you might not think a Chiron return would add that much more, relatively speaking, to the mix. That’s not the way I see it, though. This Chiron return - due to a bevvy of additional astrological energy - will pack a special punch. More so than any of its previous episodes in US history. This is no ordinary return; it arrives under a sky already saturated with Piscean energy, amplifying the nation’s deepest wounds and demanding a confrontation with its illusions, betrayals, and existential crises. But what does this truly mean? And why is this return unlike any before it?
To understand this we must first understand what Chiron represents.
Chiron: The Wounded Healer in Myth, Astrology, and Astronomy
Chiron - the wise centaur - was, from the very beginning, unlike his wild and reckless kin. Born of a union between Kronos (Saturn) and the nymph Philyra, Chiron was abandoned at birth, yet raised to be a master of healing, philosophy, and martial arts. He became a mentor to heroes—Achilles, Asclepius, Jason—and yet, despite his vast knowledge, he suffered an incurable wound. Struck by a poisoned arrow, he could not heal himself, embodying the paradox of wisdom born from suffering. In his pain, he ultimately chose to relinquish his immortality, trading his endless suffering for liberation.
This myth lays the foundation for Chiron’s astrological significance—a symbol of wounds that never fully close but, if we choose to confront them, become the gateway to deeper wisdom and transformation.
In a personal chart, Chiron represents the deepest wound a person carries—often emotional, spiritual, or psychological—but also the path toward healing. Chiron is the place where pain lingers, where old scars throb, and where profound lessons are learned only through experience.
In a country’s chart, Chiron functions similarly but on a collective level. It reveals the ancestral trauma, foundational betrayals, and repeating cycles of national suffering and crisis that shape a nation’s history. The U.S.'s natal Chiron is located at 29°24' Pisces in the 4th house, the house of homeland, ancestry, and deep psychological imprinting. This placement speaks to an unresolved wound at the very root of the nation—a wound with a Piscean flare of deception, idealism, and broken promises.
Furthermore, Chiron is positioned at the Gandanta point, the final degrees between a water and fire sign, symbolizing an inescapable crisis that demands transformation. This placement makes the U.S.'s Chiron return even more intense, as Gandanta points often signify a threshold where the past dissolves, and the future is forged in the fire of karmic reckoning.
Discovered in 1977 by Charles Kowal, Chiron was the first-identified member of a new class of objects now known (fittingly) as centaurs—bodies orbiting between the asteroid belt and the Kuiper belt. Chiron orbits the Sun between Saturn and Uranus. This orbital position is crucial, as it establishes Chiron as a bridge between the structured reality of Saturn and the radical awakening of Uranus. In this way, Chiron represents the transition between the old order and the new paradigm, a perfect symbol for the turning point the United States now faces.
What a Chiron Return Represents
A Chiron Return (which happens approximately every 50.4 years) occurs when transiting Chiron returns to its exact natal placement in a chart. This occurrence represents a moment of reckoning, exposure, and transformation. It forces a confrontation with the core wounds of the individual (or nation) and demands a path forward—whether through healing or through further fragmentation and disavowment.
For the United States, this return is especially significant because it coincides with a period of (1) immense astrological activity in Pisces, and (2) The aforementioned Pluto return and Neptune opposition, all of which greatly intensify the themes of disillusionment, sacrifice, and redemption.
In order to understand what this Chiron return means, we must first understand the themes of the natal Chiron placement. This is true for an individual or a country.
The US Natal Chiron
Let’s pull the thread on what the US’s natal Chiron placement represents. Because if we know that, we’ll know what kinds of potential events may occur during Chiron’s return to his natal position; the Universe’s way of prompting the nation to face (and deal with) its wounds.
This isn’t about retribution, or “bad karma” - though it can certainly feel that way to someone experiencing a Chiron return. Or being part of the collective consciousness of a nation dealing with one. A nation’s Chiron return is about learning and integrating (or not) a set of collective lessons. Because, in a sense, this Chiron return is our Chiron return, too.
Let’s do a quick, bullet-point assessment of the US’s natal Chiron placement:
Chiron in Pisces (29°24’)
The final degree of Pisces (gandanta) signifies a kind of spiritual exhaustion, dissolution, and the need for deep surrender before a new cycle begins. The abyss prior to a rebirth.
A wound related to illusion, deception, and misplaced idealism—in this case, a nation struggling with its own mythology, narratives, and dreams vs. reality.
Pisces themes: Religious and spiritual movements, mass consciousness, deception, escapism, martyrdom, disillusionment.
The U.S. has repeatedly been torn between savior narratives vs. deception and mass illusion (e.g., "city on a hill," American exceptionalism, the American dream, and the repeated pattern of public disillusionment with government, media, and institutions).
Chiron in the 4th House (conjunct the IC)
The wound of the homeland—deep, ancestral pain rooted in the nation’s very foundation.
This manifests as generational trauma, displacement, internal divisions, and questions about what "home" truly means.
Example historical manifestations:
Trail of Tears & Indigenous Displacement
Slavery and its lasting generational effects
The Civil War & Reconstruction wound
Economic collapses & betrayals of the people (Great Depression, 2008 Crisis, etc.)
Mass surveillance and loss of personal privacy
National identity crisis—what does America "stand for" anymore?
The wound of home & identity keeps reopening, never fully healing—hence, the cycle of national crises every Chiron return.
Major Aspects to Natal Chiron
Chiron opposite Saturn (24°04' Virgo, 10th house)
The wound is institutionalized—structures (government, law, authority) are built on the very pain they claim to protect against.
Cycles of authority tightening control in response to social pain.
The U.S. oscillates between "order vs. chaos"—over-correction leads to suppression, which breeds rebellion.
Chiron square Mercury (3°26’ Cancer, 7th House)
Wounds in national dialogue & propaganda machinery
The nation struggles to communicate painful truths—whether about its past, its people, or its role on the global stage.
Mercury in Cancer (7th house) suggests an emotional, protective, and oftentimes manipulative approach to speech, diplomacy, and media.
Chiron in Pisces (4th house) represents foundational deceptions, myth-making, and unresolved historical trauma that continuously distort public discourse.
This aspect indicates media manipulation, national gaslighting, “red flag” events and selective storytelling. The U.S. has a long history of rewriting its own narrative in times of crisis.
Additionally, the 7th house rules treaties, partnerships, and foreign negotiations. With Mercury there, communication in these areas is key—but the square from Chiron suggests that the U.S. has a pattern of betraying agreements, breaking treaties, and engaging in deceptive diplomacy that cuts to the bone at home. That is, the American people repeatedly feel duped, taken advantage of, or in some way swindled by its leadership.
We can begin now to see the wound for what it is. And every nation has one. As does every individual. The question is, do you navigate it successfully and turn it into a strength, OR do you allow fear and victimhood to take charge and allow the wound to fester?
Chiron’s Slow Movement & Its Pendulum Effect: The Three Direct Hits
Unlike fast-moving planets such as Mercury or Venus, Chiron is a slow-moving celestial body, taking approximately 50.4 years to complete one orbit around the Sun. Because of this, Chiron lingers in the same region of the zodiac for extended periods, ensuring that its influence is felt as a gradual process (or theme) rather than a singular event.
Due to its elliptical orbit and periodic retrograde motion, Chiron’s passage over a natal placement isn’t just a one-time conjunction. Instead, it behaves like a pendulum, sweeping back and forth over the same degree three times (generally) during its return cycle.
*The US gets a bonus 4th hit this time around because Chiron stationed retrograde on July 26th, 2024, at 29 Pisc 20 - just 4 minutes from an exact conjunction*
This means that when Chiron returns to its natal position, we experience three (in this case, four) “direct hits” where its energy peaks:
First Exact Conjunction (Direct Motion): The first time transiting Chiron touches its natal degree, initiating the awareness of the wound. This is often when an event or realization triggers the beginning of the reckoning process.
Second Exact Conjunction (Retrograde Motion): As Chiron moves backward (retrograde), it reactivates the exact degree again. This period often represents the deepest part of the cycle, where the true nature of the wound is fully exposed and the collective must confront what has been hidden, suppressed, or denied.
Third Exact Conjunction (Direct Motion Again): Chiron moves forward once more, returning for a final direct hit. This phase often brings either resolution, acceptance, or deeper fragmentation, depending on how the nation (or individual) integrates the lessons of the return.
What this means is that instead of a sudden, isolated event, a Chiron return is a process—one that mirrors the rhythm of ebbing and flowing tides or the peaks and valleys of a bell curve.
This is not to say that big events don’t happen - they most certainly do - but those big events will cluster around a common set themes. And those common themes will mirror the natal configuration. Because what is being asked for is resolution of the original wound. Not blame, not victimhood, not shame or guilt. Resolution.
This ensures that the return’s impact is not fleeting, but rather a prolonged process of dismantling, suffering (if one chooses to experience it as such), and ultimately, transformation.
So, what are the specific “direct hit” dates for the US Chiron return? Because the energy peaks at this time. And what might we expect from each hit?
First Hit (Station Retrograde): July 26, 2024 (Chiron at 29°20' Pisces)
This is critical because a station retrograde amplifies energy, acting as a freeze-frame moment where the wound is fully exposed but unresolved.
This marks the initial moment of realization, a shockwave event that triggers the national reckoning.
What did we see occur near this time that fits the narrative of the US Chiron return? Because if we understand this, we’ll know what to expect more of during the remainder of the return period.
There were for sure a few things of note. But I’ll concentrate on what I feel were the most significant in relation to the Chiron return itself.
1. Attempted Assassination of Former President Donald Trump (July 13, 2024): At a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, an assailant attempted to assassinate (at the time) former President Donald Trump, resulting in the death of one attendee and injuries to others. This act of political violence not only threatened individual lives but also underscored deep-seated divisions and tensions within the nation. Such an event highlights the collective wounds related to political polarization and the potential for violence in public discourse.
2. President Joe Biden's Withdrawal from the 2024 Presidential Race (July 21, 2024): President Biden announced his decision to withdraw from the upcoming presidential election, a move that introduced significant uncertainty and upheaval within the Democratic Party. This unexpected decision prompted urgent procedural adjustments to identify and support a new candidate, reflecting potential vulnerabilities and the need for adaptability within the nation's political structures.
3. Escalation of Natural Disasters: Throughout July 2024, the U.S. faced numerous natural disaster challenges, including record precipitation, tornadoes, hurricanes, and wildfires. Notably, Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Texas on July 7, leading to extensive damage (western North Carolina being the epicenter) and a series of tornadoes across multiple states. These environmental crises not only caused immediate harm but also exposed systemic issues related to infrastructure resilience and emergency preparedness.
These events, occurring in close succession, mirror the introspective and transformative energy characteristic of a Chiron return. They push the nation to confront deep-rooted issues, from political violence and leadership instability to disaster preparedness and crisis management. The convergence of these challenges during this period suggests a pivotal moment for collective reflection and the potential for transformation and healing.
These events will set the tone for the coming year. With an emphasis on the weeks surrounding these three upcoming dates:
Second Hit (Direct Motion): April 22, 2025
First pass in full direct motion—this is when the impact of the wound becomes undeniable and national discourse intensifies.
There will be heated calls for reform, exposure of deeper truths, and increased tension in political and social structures.
Third Hit (Retrograde Motion): November 14, 2025
The deep cut. This retrograde pass is often the most painful phase, where the full weight of the wound is confronted, resisted, or repressed.
Expect reactionary forces to push back, denial to be strong, and fear and/or victim-based responses to take hold.
Fourth Hit (Final Direct Motion): February 19, 2026
The final reckoning—a choice between integration or deeper fragmentation.
If lessons are ignored, this can lead to entrenchment in division and crisis. If embraced, it can set the stage for national transformation.
Each of these events—political violence (Trump assassination attempt), leadership instability and division (Biden’s withdrawal), and environmental catastrophe — exposes a structural weakness in the U.S. foundation. They collectively force the nation to confront painful realities that have long been ignored, suppressed, or disguised.
These events don’t just represent isolated crises—they are symptoms of a deeper, systemic collapse. They reveal the erosion of trust, the failure of leadership, and the existential threat posed by both human and natural forces.
Again, these wounds are not some kind of “cosmic retribution” for past karmic missteps, moral judgements, or anything of the sort. Either in an individual’s or nation’s chart. They are simply an opportunity to grow and evolve. And along with that comes, too, the opportunity to wallow and allow the wounds to fester. There is, as always, choice, free will and sovereignty.
As astrology is a study of cycles, a large part of predicting the future is knowing the past. So what did the US endure during its last most recent (mid-1973 to mid-1975) Chiron return? Let’s take a look:
Watergate Scandal and Presidential Resignation:
Senate Watergate Hearings Begin (May 17, 1973): Televised hearings brought the Watergate scandal into the public eye, revealing extensive governmental misconduct.
"Saturday Night Massacre" (October 20, 1973): President Nixon's dismissal of special prosecutor Archibald Cox, leading to the resignations of top Justice Department officials, intensified the crisis.
Nixon's Resignation (August 8, 1974): Facing imminent impeachment, Nixon resigned, marking the first time a U.S. president left office under such circumstances.
Conclusion of the Vietnam War:
Paris Peace Accords (January 27, 1973): The U.S. signed agreements to cease direct military involvement in Vietnam.
Fall of Saigon (April 30, 1975): The capture of Saigon by North Vietnamese forces marked the definitive end of the Vietnam War, leading to a period of national reflection on the conflict's impact.
Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Decision (January 22, 1973):
The landmark ruling recognized women's constitutional right to abortion, igniting ongoing debates over reproductive rights and personal autonomy.
These events pushed the nation to confront issues of trust in leadership, the morality of war, and individual rights, aligning with Chiron's themes of exposing the deep wounds signified in his natal placement. All in order to facilitate healing and transformation.
The Bottom Line: The U.S. Chiron Return (2024–2026) Marks an Era of Reckoning
Every Chiron Return forces the U.S. to confront its deepest national wounds. To address the unresolved betrayals, illusions, and systemic dysfunctions that have accumulated over time. Looking at past cycles (1973–1975, 1925–1927, 1875–1877, and 1825–1827), each return has forced a collective crisis, exposing painful truths and reshaping the country’s trajectory.
That said, here’s what we can expect during this Chrison return:
Political Upheaval & Institutional Crisis
Just as Watergate led to Nixon’s resignation (1973–1974), we should expect a major crisis of leadership—potentially involving presidential legitimacy, government overreach, or deep institutional corruption.
Biden’s withdrawal and the attempted assassination of Trump (2024) already signal instability. There will be revealed scandals involving high-ranking government officials. Corruption on an almost unimaginable level will come to light.
The End of an Era: Loss of National Identity & Mythology
Chiron in Pisces (4th House) marks a collapse of national illusions—forcing the U.S. to reckon with the gap between its (delusional?) self-image and reality.
Vietnam exposed the U.S. as an overextended empire (1975), just as the Fall of Saigon shattered the illusion of American military invincibility. Expect similar global shifts that challenge perceived U.S. dominance.
Social & Legal Reckoning: Roe v. Wade 2.0?
Roe v. Wade was decided during the last Chiron Return (1973). We can expect another major legal or constitutional battle—likely surrounding personal autonomy, bodily rights, or governmental control. We already see hints of this in the gender identity / DEI wars. This will intensify greatly.
This could involve abortion rights, medical freedom, surveillance laws, or free speech. Does government have the right to spy on its citizens?
Economic & Structural Breakdown
The Great Depression took root after the 1925–1927 Chiron return set the stage (financial delusion). Economic instability is a key theme in these cycles. And with a Pluto return in progress on the cusp of the US 2nd house, financial chaos is all but inevitable. And likely tied back to the unimaginable corruption discussed in point #1.
Expect major financial revelations, corporate collapses, or debt crises that expose systemic fragility.
Climate & Homeland Disruptions
The U.S. is already experiencing record-breaking climate disasters (hurricanes, wildfires, floods). The 4th house governs the land itself, and Chiron’s return suggests worsening environmental instability.
Infrastructure failures, resource crises, and displacement due to climate events are highly probable. Expect a grid-down scenario. Either by hack or natural disaster. Border disputes and ICE protests will rage.
The core lesson here is undeniable: the United States stands at a major inflection point, where it must either confront its deepest wounds and evolve or, dodge and deny them, and fracture further. This is not a fleeting moment but a narrative woven into the fabric of history. A narrative that demands a choice between honest transformation or the compounding weight of unhealed betrayal and the avoidance of action.
Outcomes are never fated. What astrology (done correctly) shows are the inflection points. That is all. And it doesn’t matter how much astrological energy is weighing the outcome one way or the other, free will prevails. Choice remains the ultimate unknown.
The path forward is neither easy nor inevitable, but what is certain is this: what remains unacknowledged will continue to resurface, each time with greater force and consequence.
If history is a guide, the pain will be unavoidable—but the response will determine whether the nation integrates these lessons or repeats the cycle once again in 50 years.
This process is not coming. It has already begun.
– Keith
Want to Learn Functional Astrology?
This is astrology like you’ve never encountered it before. If you’re done playing charades and want to learn a system that works, join us.
Put us on retainer.
Serious climbers hire a sherpa. Are you ready to summit life?