The Bull
April 21 to May 20
Taurus is the second Sign of
the Zodiac. Moving beyond the birth and first realization of Self represented by Aries, Taurus begins to physically explore the world. As such,
possessions and physical touch are very important to Taureans. They tend to be richly
sensual, enjoying the good things in life and the physical pleasures that come with them.
Taurus is the Sign of the Physical. As the second Sign, Taurus also rules the second
House: the House of Money and Possessions.
The Astrological Symbol of Taurus is the Bull. The term "bull-headed" applies to Taureans in both its positive and negative connotations, and Taurus exemplifies the Fixed Quality assigned to it. They are among the strongest Signs when it comes to getting things done because of their reliable persistence in moving toward completion of projects. On the other hand, they can be very stubborn and argumentative. Within the Zodiac, Taurus is opposite Scorpio, the Sign of group possessions, so Taureans tend to be about personal assets rather than group or family holdings. They can be self-indulgent, even greedy, but they are immensely practical and stable.
Taurus is ruled by the Planet Venus. In ancient Roman mythology, Venus (and her Greek equivalent, Aphrodite) was the Goddess of Love, Beauty, and Pleasure. She represented joy, happiness, and appreciation of beautiful things. On the negative side, her appreciation for sweets and luxury could result in overindulgence, and she could be materialistic. Venus rules both Taurus and Libra. Taurus is the feminine, or night, aspect of Venus; Libra is the masculine, or day. Both Signs have a great appreciation for beauty: Taurus focuses on the beauty of objects, and Libra prefers the beauty of other people. Taureans have a great love for culture. It's important to them to feel good. They often maintain extensive art collections are tend to be artistic themselves, sometimes through singing. They enjoy partnership and marriage, and use their charm -- as well as their focused perseverance -- to work toward harmony and personal security. Their sentimental, loyal, and romantic nature is sometimes wounded when they are contradicted or given orders.
The Element associated with Taurus is Earth. Earth Signs are practical: they tend to respond to the world by examining the worth of each possible response, rather than through physical action, intellect, or emotion. One of their great skills is their ability to follow through and complete projects that others may have abandoned through boredom or because it was too difficult. Taureans are extremely patient and dependable. Their ambition ensures that they are both hardworking and helpful to others. Because of their association with Earth and their general focus on building things, many Taureans are skilled gardeners.
Taureans tend to be even tempered and solid citizens. Their need for physical pleasure can lead to an overemphasis on money and possessions to the point of materialism, but their innate conservatism ensures that they are cautious and practical rather than extravagant. They may be more focused on status than they should be, and they may be perceived as snobs. However, despite their opinionated appearance, they tend to be tolerant and gentle, and they are always dependable.
In their leisure time, Taurus tends to enjoy outdoor activities that allow them to get close to the Earth. They often enjoy hiking. Like the Bull, they tend to be strong and well-built, and may enjoy tests of strength. Conversely, their appreciation of art and culture sends them to the opera and exclusive galleries. In love relationships, Taurus is devoted, romantic, and sometimes jealous!
Taurus rules the neck and throat. People born under Taurus may suffer from sore throats, coughs, and strained neck muscles more often than people born under other Signs. Brow and other earth tones are Taurean colors, exemplifying their quiet and earthy nature.
The great strength of the Taurus-born is their stability and perseverance. Their methodical determination enables them to be productive when other people have long since given up. They are among the most dependable characters of the Zodiac.