It is thought that modern man is completely removed from the traditional astrological realm, yet our language indicates otherwise. Many of the aphorisms we use today in common speech are derived from astrological language: if we could invest time in pondering the origin of these words and their true meaning, we could begin to reclaim the understanding of the cosmos and its hidden beauty, which is able to assist us with our daily lives and relationships.

It is most enjoyable to think about the origin of phrases and to find the planetary signatures for them: what is said in jest about a person is often a profound truth which can be found in their birth chart.

Examples are:

• “He has no backbone”: the reference here is to a weak Saturn which rules the skeletal system and all foundations and boundaries. When we say someone has no backbone, we are saying their Saturn-part is not up to scratch; indicating a person whose boundaries (the ability to say no) and self-worth (the foundation of who we are) are adversely affected.
• “He is spineless”: as above.
• “He is thick-skinned”: again Saturn who rules the integumentary system, the skin being the most obvious boundary we possess. This person has a healthy Saturn in that he is able to discern what to take personally and what to discard.
• “He has a big mouth”: by this we mean the person is unable to keep secrets or to apply discretion. This alludes to a debilitated Mercury, the ruler of the tongue and our communication. Mercury, when posited in certain signs, especially those of Jupiter, battles with which information it must hang onto and which information it must impart.
• “She is a drama queen”: alludes to the Moon, our emotional nature. In certain signs and with certain accidental factors, the Moon will be prone to acting out emotionally; this is most true if the Moon is in the Via Combusta, the area between 15 Libra and 15 Scorpio where she is emotionally distraught.
• “Skeletons in the closet”: again Saturn as he is the author of grave mischief and rules the pain and hardship we cause for ourselves as he joys in the 12th house of self-undoing. He also rules confined spaces such as closets.