Well Being at the Convent

The Chiron Centre is now located at the Abbotsford Convent in the wing known as Well-Being at the Convent.  Please see the map of the Abbotsford Convent precinct.  We are # 8 on the map, located in the main convent building to the immediate right of ‘you are here’.

To reach the convent by car, turn off Johnston Street (at the Kew end) onto Clarke Street. Turn left at the first street - St. Heliers.  You will see a sign Collingwood Children’s Farm and about ½ down the street on your left is a parking lot where you are able to park for a flat fee of $ 4 (have 2 x $ 2 coins handy).  If you are using public transportation the bus stops on Johnston Street at Clarke Street.  Enter the main gate of the Convent which is directly opposite the car park. In front of you will be the main directory board which is similar to the attached map.  Follow the arrow to the right, past the bakery and outdoor seating, toward the main Convent building.  At the first corner of the building there are double red doors.  Enter here and take the stairs to the first floor.  At the top of the first flight of stairs you will see a sign Welcome to Well-being at the Convent. Upon entering there is a waiting room immediately on the right and The Chiron Centre is the first room on the left as you enter the corridor. Our room number is 1/47 and our name is on the door.

In 1989 the Chiron Centre was established.  The name Chiron was chosen in respect of the lineage of healers who practiced the ancient healing arts.Since 1989 the Chiron Centre has provided a variety of wholistic counselling services and educational programs to the community.Over these past years the Chiron Centre has come to be recognised and respected by practitioners from all areas of natural therapies as well as those involved in a more traditional medical or psychotherapeutic model. The Chiron Centre’s practitioners offer a wide range of services including.

Astrology • Dream Work • Family Therapy • Grief Counselling
• Mythology •

Achilles tells of his fostering by Chiron through the voice of Euripides:

Pride rises up in me
and draws me on.  But I have learned
to curb my grief in adversity, and my joy
in triumph.
Mortals who have learned this
can hope to live by reason.  There are moments
when it is good not to be too wise,
but there are times too when taking thought is useful.
I was brought up in the house of Chiron,
the most righteous of men,
and he taught me to act from a simple heart.

- Euripides, Iphigenia at Aulis,

John Singer Sargant painted this mural of Chiron and Achilles in 1921, which is displayed in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.  It was in Homer’s epic, the Iliad, where Achilles is first linked to Chiron through the healing medicines the Centaur gave him, as well as the spear his father had received as a wedding present from Chiron.  The theme of Chiron’s mentorship is an archaic motif.

Our practitioners at the Chiron Centre are:

BRIAN CLARK

BRIAN CLARK is a counselling astrologer in private practice at the Chiron Centre. Brian has practiced as a counselling astrologer for over twenty years merging the skills of horoscope delineation and planetary cycles with his interest in mythology, individual and family psychology, counselling and human potential. Brian is also one of the main tutors in the Astro Synthesis four year program in applied astrology. He is the author of The Sibling Constellation (Penguin: 1999), Celestial Tarot (2005) contributing author to Intimate Relationships (Llewellyn: 1991) as well as numerous articles and booklets on astrology. Brian may be contacted at the Chiron Centre or on: AstroSynthesis@bigpond.com

GLENNYS LAWTON

GLENNYS LAWTON is a counselling astrologer, family therapist and bereavement counsellor in private practice at the Chiron Centre. As a counselling astrologer Glennys brings to the consultation her extensive training and expertise in all these roles. She is also available for consultation specifically as a family therapist or bereavement counsellor. Glennys is one of the main tutors in the Astro*Synthesis four year program in applied astrology and also conducts course in understanding grief and the dynamics of family relationships. Glennys may be contacted at the Chiron Centre or on: glennyslawton@bigpond.com

MARY SYMES

MARY SYMES is a dream counsellor bringing to her dream work an interest in astrology, mythology and Jung’s approach to the unconscious and imaginal realms. She conducts on-going dream discussion groups at the Chiron Centre including an astrological dream group and also offers individual dream work sessions. Mary teaches in the Astro*Synthesis Advanced Program, is the author of Grief and Dreams as well as articles on Chiron and Ariadne. Mary can be contacted on 9844 3406 or on: maryjsymes@yahoo.com.au

The Chiron Centre, PO BOX 407 KEW VIC 3101 Phone: (03) 8415 0315