Since the recent discovery and naming of the small planet Chiron, this deity and the legends associated with him have formed a major theme in modern 'new age' issues, particularly to do with healing. 
    For according to myth Kyron was wounded by one of Hercules' arrows, the wound was incurable but Kyron devoted his energies to the healing arts, wise counsel and playing mentor to Greek heroes in their youth.

Following such mythic tales and 'new age' imaginings, we may form an impression of Kyron as a friendly, gentle, sage-like healer who although half-horse is more than human-orientated. The truth of Kyron is quite different, team-members recount encounters with him as intense. Kyron may be half-'human' but he is also half horse. Kyron is a centaur, and centaurs play rough. During most early encounters team-members found themselves hanging upside down from tree-branches while Kyron galloped around kicking and head-butting.
    We spell his name in this way and not Chiron, because that is how his name appeared to us, written in gold light.

"I am Kyron and all should know of me. I am mighty.I am VERY powerful, one of the most powerful. You honour me, that pleases me. You offer wine, that pleases me. You offer incense, that pleases me. One day all mortals will do what you are now doing and that will please me even more."

Kyron's presence is awesome. He can appear from a blinding flash of light. He stands four metres tall, is naked from the waist up and is both horse and human-like. It is difficult for human beings to understand how such deities function, but when you see Kyron this combination seems perfectly natural, and no one in their right mind would chance questioning this fierce God on such an issue. The following team-member's account was enlightening for many reasons:

'...I found myself on the edge of a high cliff. 
    Down below were jagged rocks and crashing sea. In front was a vast barren plain. Kyron was beside me and he made a strange shrill whistling sound and then in the distance I saw a cloud of dust. I watched for several long moments as it came in our direction and then realised what it was. There were lots of centaurs galloping towards us.
    "These are my people,' said Kyron. "Sit."

I sat on the ground in front of him and he towered above me. The other centaurs were not quite so big as Kyron. 
    "There are MANY, MANY like me. Yet they are not Gods. I am the only one. Remember this.
    I can behave like a God or an animal. Which would you have me be?"

I wanted to say 'like a God', but it seemed wrong to say that so I answered, 'I want you to be as you wish to be.' He laughed, a strange whinnying sound. 
    "You have wisdom to answer so."
    He looked so ferocious. He reared on his back legs and brought his front hooves down with tremendous force and stopped a quarter of an inch from my head.
    "You have courage, I admire that. I am strong and I am feared. I look half mortal, half animal. I am playful. I am old, yet I am young. No one should grow old, not even a mortal. Babies may, minds should not. 
    In my temples I often give the clergy a kick. These clergy will turn round quickly and jump and see no one. If I do it several times I find it puts them off standing prattling a lot of nonsense to a group of mortals who look like sheep. Some have seen me, most are frightened. There are those that accept me and I listen to their prayers."

Kyron has a strange way of making you move, it is hypnotic and telepathic. You find yourself doing what he wants, sometimes pulled, or pushed or even dragged.
    "You may not realise, but there is a tendency toward change in your world, now that we take over. I have half the body of a mortal and half the body of an animal as you know, I am very pleased to intervene when it comes to anything to do with animals. All the Gods and Goddesses have joined in to stop the trapping and shooting of animals. Many mortals have already suffered for their cruel practices. I gain power over mortals to make them stop their cruelty and recognise us, Gods and Goddesses and even monsters. Mortals should fear me as well as love me, I am so mighty.
    Those who treat animals often cause them pain and discomfort when they should be more compassionate. You in your country call them by a strange name, vet. It grieves me to see some of them taking lives when those lives should not be taken. Animals, especially horses are as important as a mortal.

It is the animals I think of, especially the cruel practices of hunting a fox, of trapping rabbits and of tearing badgers to pieces with dogs and many more unspeakable crimes. You have a choice. You may come with me and walk in beautiful gardens, beside delightful streams and see waterfalls which you will enjoy; but it will do nothing to help the animals. Or you can experience the tortures of these animals and therefore start to save a few of their lives. The choice is yours."

I made my choice, though the garden walks sounded much more pleasant, and most times with Kyron it ends up being painful. But I found myself being chased by a pack of dogs and men on horseback. The dogs pounced on me and dragged me and I could feel them tearing me to pieces. I couldn't get away. I tried to run but couldn't. I wanted to scream but couldn't. Then it was over, I felt as if I had died the death of a fox.
    Next I was caught in a trap and it was tearing into my flesh. It was right through to the bone. It was agony. I tried to escape, I twisted and pulled and couldn't get free. I fainted. Then I could feel the pain again and I struggled and struggled. Then that ended. Next I found myself burrowing down a long hole and there were men shouting, trying to dig me out. I burrowed deeper and deeper but there was a dog. I fought it, but it was no good, it dragged me out and the men had spades and they set about chopping at me with spades. This went on for what seemed like ages, until the scene just faded away and I found myself back beside Kyron.

"You made the choice. I admire you for that and although many animals will still be killed, there will be many saved through this and eventually these cruel practices will stop. In years to come it will be talked about. Now you may return to your body, without too much pain I hope. I give you the gift of joy which you richly deserve."

Festival of Kyron - 17th October