TAURUS -The Bull
Those born between April 21 to May 21
Traditional

Taurus Traits
Patient and reliable
Warmhearted and loving
Persistent and determined
Placid and security loving, Loyal,
consistent, patient,
tolerant, dislikes conflict,
friendly, non-judgmental
Generous
Main motivation:
“Don’t push — leave me alone.”

On the dark side....
Jealous and possessive
Resentful and inflexible
Self-indulgent and greedy
Delusional

How to improve relationships with a Taurus:
Show love, affection, and empathy
Don’t push right away
Refer to the consequences of not changing
Keep the pressure on them
Help them to discover the illusionary comfort of physicality

Steadfast, strong-willed, purposeful, cautious and patient aptly describe Taurus the Bull, the most solid and deliberate of the Zodiac signs. Its glyph is reminiscent of the Bull’s head, replete with horns!

In life, the Bull stands placidly in his field, chewing the cud and sure of where his dinner is coming from - he’s standing in it! His movements are slow and measured and there is little expenditure of energy without necessity. Nonetheless his very solidity commands respect and his potential once roused is legendary. It is a brave and experienced person who would attempt to guide such a character and a foolhardy one who would incur his wrath.

The Taurean's characteristics are solidity, practicality, extreme determination and strength of will - no one will ever drive them, but they will willingly and loyally follow a leader they trust. They are stable, balanced, conservative good, law-abiding citizens and lovers of peace, possessing all the best qualities of the bourgeoisie. As they have a sense of material values and physical possessions, respect for property and a horror of falling into debt, they will do everything in their power to maintain the security of the status quo and be somewhat hostile to change.

Mentally, they are keen-witted and practical more often than intellectual, but apt to become fixed in their opinions through their preference for following accepted and reliable patterns of experience. Their character is generally dependable, steadfast, prudent, just, firm and unshaken in the face of difficulties. Their vices arise from their virtues, going to extremes on occasion, such as sometimes being too slavish to the conventions they admire.

On rare occasions a Taurean may be obstinately and exasperatingly self-righteous, unoriginal, rigid, ultraconservative, argumentative, querulous bores, stuck in a self-centered rut. They may develop a brooding resentment through nursing a series of injuries received and, whether their characters are positive or negative, they need someone to stroke their egos with a frequent, "Well Done!" Most Taureans are not this extreme though.

Possessiveness can easily extend to jealousy, greed, avarice and an over-materialistic outlook. Whilst Taureans may accumulate a great deal in the material sphere, due to their inherent caution and conservatism they are typically more likely to do so through steady, slow, methodical and conventional means rather than sudden spectacular gains. They would prefer to make less money on a dependable basis than lose their safety-net. Also, tried and tested methods will hold more appeal than the wild, risky and unconventional.

Their natural possessiveness may also extend to people - their partner, friends and family. Their dislike of changes in the customary can lead them to be very controlling and authoritarian. Their opinions may be held very strongly and are often not open to discussion or negotiation. Some of the world’s greatest dictators have been Taureans!

They are faithful and generous friends with a great capacity for affection, but rarely make friends with anyone outside their social rank, to which they are ordinarily excessively faithful. In the main, they are gentle, even tempered, good natured, modest and slow to anger, disliking quarreling and avoiding ill-feeling. If they are provoked, however, they can explode into violent outbursts of ferocious anger in which they seem to lose all self-control. Equally unexpected are their occasional sallies into humor and exhibitions of fun.

Although their physical appearance may belie it, they have a strong aesthetic taste, enjoying art, for which they may have a talent, beauty (recoiling from anything sordid or ugly) and music. They may have a strong, sometimes unconventional, religious faith. Allied to their taste for all things beautiful is a love for the good things of life pleasure, comfort, luxury and good food and wine and they may have to resist the temptation to over indulgence, leading to drunkenness, gross sensuality, and covetousness.

In their work, Taureans are industrious and good craftspeople, and are not afraid of getting their hands dirty. They are reliable, practical, methodical and ambitious, within a framework of obedience to superiors. They are at their best in routine positions of trust and responsibility, where there is little need of urgency and even less risk of change, and a pension at the end. Yet they are creative and good founders of enterprises where the rewards of their productiveness come from their own work and not that of others.
They can flourish in many different trades and professions: banking, architecture, building, almost any form of bureaucracy, auctioneering, farming, medicine, chemistry, industry Taureans make good managers and foremen surveying, insurance, education and, perhaps surprisingly, music and sculpture. They make an ideal trustee or guardian, and can attain eminence as a chef. Some Taureans are gifted enough in singing to become opera stars or to excel in more popular types of music.

They are more than averagely amorous and sensually self-conscious, but sexually straightforward and not given to experiment. They make constant, faithful, home loving spouses and thoughtful, kindly parents, demanding too much of neither their spouses nor children. They can be over possessive and may sometimes play the game of engineering family roles for the pleasure of making up the quarrel. If anyone offends their amour proper they can be a determined enemy, though magnanimous in forgiveness if their opponent makes an effort to meet them halfway.

No other sign in the zodiac is closer to earth then Taurus. The main objective in leading a Taurean life is primarily (though not entirely) to maintain stability and physical concerns. Your inner spiritual sense longs for earthly harmony and wholesomeness. When you fully understand this, and work toward this end, you will no longer need to blindly reassure yourself with external possessions and comforts. A realization that finding this inner peace will cause all of the above mentioned positive things will overtake you and your life will be very full.

Ultimately the Taurean needs to discover their truest, deepest and highest values. When they know what is truly valuable, they are no longer chained to people and to things that have to do with lesser values. The greatest indication of value to a Taurean is beauty, which cannot be owned, only appreciated. But to compensate their ruling planet Venus also ensures a far more likeable and pleasant side to their natures. They are generous to loved ones, liking to express their love in palpable ways and are warm, affectionate, tactile, romantic and sentimental. There is often creative talent too - perhaps especially in the realms of painting, art, fashion, design or music - or perhaps purely expressed through their dress or through beautifying their home and garden.



Possible Health Concerns...

Taurus governs the throat and neck and its subjects need to beware throat infections, goiter and respiratory ailments such as asthma. They are said to be at risk of diseases of the genitals, womb, liver and kidneys, and of abscesses and rheumatism. Because their body type has an inclination to physical laziness, Taureans can be overweight.
 

LIKES
Stability
Being Attracted
Things Natural
Time to Ponder
Comfort and Pleasure
DISLIKES
Disruption
Being pushed too hard
Synthetic or "man made" things
Being rushed
Being indoors


PROBLEMS THAT MAY ARISE FOR YOU, AND THEIR SOLUTIONS

If you are in love with a Taurus man or woman, understand that this person is a one-woman man or a one-man woman (unless Gemini predominates elsewhere in the natal chart). Primarily interested in security, this being is looking to settle down and doesn't need a lot of movement. Preferring routine activities and traditional, established pleasures, this person is happy to continue on with whatever he or she has been doing for years. You will need to be able to fit somewhat into this already settled routine.

You will attract his or her attention by giving gifts of quality; ticky-tacky is a turnoff for these practical souls. Known for their good taste, you will be more interesting to this being if you value yourself. Paying attention to your clothing and hair will help to show him or her that you understand the importance of appearance.

Taureans love to stay home and get cozy in their nests. Their idea of a good time is to rent a bunch of videos and veg out on the couch or in the easy chair. They also enjoy gourmet foods and fine wines and will often have highly developed culinary abilities. These souls can definitely be won over through their stomachs, so dig up your best recipes and give it a try.

They do, however, sometimes resemble their animal, the bull, in that they cannot be pushed; you will see some real digging in if you try. Gentle persuasion is a much better tool with these people. You also should be aware that, in general, they often need to ponder each word that you speak before being able to give you an answer. Allowing these souls a moment to think before expecting a response will result in a much happier relationship.

Taureans also have a real need for security; you won't make points by squandering assets or avoiding saving. These beings need to have a home base which belongs to them and where they know they can retreat to in times of trouble. A nest egg for rainy days is also an essential here.

This article is excerpted from the book Love Signs © 2000 by Celeste B. Longacre. Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Sweet Fern Publications, New Hampshire, USA.


 Kabbalah Center, Paul Wade, Mirthe Valentijn © 1996-2006