A PROFILE OF TAURUS: I CHERISH THE WORLD THROUGH MY SENSES AND MY GIFTS ARE STABILITY AND TRANQUILITY



Taurus the Bull



Preface:  As I do every month for each of the signs, I want to emphasize that if your birthday does not fall during the Taurus timeframe for the year you were born, this DOES NOT mean that you do not experience the energy of Taurus, because somewhere in your natal birth chart, it is present.  All twelve signs of the zodiac are expressed in your being, although some signs, and therefore their corresponding energies, may be more emphasized than others.

The Sun sign is about your essence, your vitality (what makes you feel alive), and your self-image.  Whatever your Sun sign, you are on a life-long journey to discover and fully embrace this sign’s energy.  You may be tested in life to experience the meaning of your Sun sign’s energy.

TAURUS SENSES

By Chris Gonzalez

In a lush meadow, the Bull grazes to his heart’s content,

Savoring woody green grass scents and tastes

He sips water and rests at every level of his descent,

Navigating rolling hills without haste.

Taurus, in human guise, partakes of earth’s sensual pleasures–

Textured fabrics, mud baths, and furry rugs.

He places great value on all of Earth’s tactile treasures

And for the Bull, this includes frequent hugs.

Earthy and focused, Taurus is a reliable choice

For getting work done at a steady pace.

Making a solid contribution is one of his joys,

Reaping rewards in Venusian ways.

The Sun begins its transit of Taurus on April 20, 2011PDT and remains in this sign through May 20, 2011 PDT.   Taurus is the second sign of the zodiac and it rules the second house of personal resources.

After the excitement of the beginning of spring, we are prepared to settle down and live life at a slower pace.  In the middle of spring we see the emergence of a new energy represented by Taurus the Bull.  The season has matured, and the thrust is to grow and till the garden whose seeds were planted by the initiating actions of Aries the Ram.  Taurus will devote steady energy to this task, and because of this care and nurturance, the garden will provide the Bull with the fruits of his labor.

A debate has ensued among astrologers as to the planetary ruler of Taurus.  Venus is viewed most commonly as the ruling planet, but some astrologers propose that the planet Earth is the more logical choice.  In most geocentric astrological systems, Earth is not viewed as a “planet.” (In a heliocentric system, that is, from the perspective of the Sun, the planet Earth is one of the planets).  Astrologer Cynthia Wood argues that an Earth rulership of Taurus better explains its more solitary nature and quiet demeanor than would a Venus rulership where a high degree of sociability would be displayed.[1] Nevertheless, even in an astrological system with a Venus rulership, Taurus is considered an earth sign in a fixed mode.  Taurus is a feminine sign which incorporates the receptive quality.

Astrologer Dana Gerhardt writes that Taurus’ goals are simplicity, serenity, and peace, qualities that can deepen one’s pleasure of living on earth.[2]  President Harry Truman, whose sun sign was Taurus, said, “I would rather have peace in the world than be President.” Another time he showed the Taurean appreciation of other priorities with this statement, “If I hadn't been President of the United States, I probably would have ended up a piano player in a bawdy house.” [3]

Taurus energy prefers a peaceful demeanor.  This personality type is slow to anger, but any slow-building resentment may eventually be displayed, like raging Bulls in a bullfighting ring or the bulls set free on human mobs on the streets of Pamplona, Spain. 

Whereas Aries demonstrated strength in action, Taurus shows strength in stillness, says astrologer Deborah Houlding.[4] Like an animal that will not budge, Taurus adherence to a position can be seen as a reflection of it s commitment to a stance, but it can also be viewed as stubbornness if a situation requires greater flexibility.  Likewise, the Taurean tendency to conserve can be evidenced in a healthy accumulation of resources, but can be taken to an extreme when insecurity drives the Bull to hoard and stockpile resources. 

Taurus is a highly physical sign, and derives pleasure from anything indulging the senses, be it tactile as the feel of sensual fabrics, auditory and vocal such as a melodious song, or the taste of appealing foods on the palate.  Taurus applies the qualities of Venus in very tangible forms, such as pottery-making, flower arranging, and cooking.  Like the other earth signs, Taurus needs tangibility in work and play.  Taurus needs to at least occasionally be in nature.  Taurus preservationist and naturalist John Muir expressed his sign’s sentiments in the following: “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”[5]

Taurus seems perpetually to be seeing past the complexity of situations and finding simple truths.  Sigmund Freud, the great psychoanalyst whose natal sun was in the sign of Taurus, reflects this quality in his statement, “Love and work... work and love, that's all there is.”[6]

All of the zodiac energies play a valuable role in the textures of our lives.  I know how soothing it is to be surrounded by the tranquility of Taurus.  My maternal Grandmother had her natal sun in Taurus (but with a feisty tongue, courtesy of Mercury in Aries) and her stability and strength were important traits in raising a healthy and loving family, and who was instrumental in providing a grounded female role model for me, her granddaughter.

The following are some well-known personages with their natal sun in the sign of Taurus[7]:

April 21, 1816 – Charlotte Bronte – Writer
April 21, 1838 – John Muir – Naturalist
April 21, 1926 – Queen Elizabeth II – British Royalty
April 22, 1724 – Immanuel Kant – Philosopher
April 22, 1870 – Vladimir Lenin – Marxist Russian Leader
April 22, 1904 – Robert Oppenheimer – Physicist
April 22, 1937 – Jack Nicholson –Actor

April 23, 1452 – Leonardo Da Vinci – Artist

April 24, 1942 – Barbra Streisand – Singer

April 23, 1891 – Sergei Prokofiev – Composer

April 25, 1908 – Edward R. Murrow – Broadcaster

April 26, 1933 – Carol Burnett – Comedian
April 27, 1822 – Ulysses S. Grant – Civil War Union General & U.S. President

April 27, 1891 – Samuel Morse – Inventor
April 27, 1927 – Coretta King – Activist

April 29, 1936 – Zubin Mehta – Conductor
May 01, 1918 – Jack Paar – TV Host
May 02, 1903 – Dr. Benjamin Spock – Renowned Pediatrician
May 02, 1903 – Bing Crosby – Singer
May 03, 1919 – Pete Seeger – Singer
May 05, 1818 – Karl Marx – Political Philosopher

May 05, 1943 – Bob Woodward – Reporter (of Watergate fame)
May 06, 1856 – Sigmund Freud – Psychologist
May 06, 1895 – Rudolph Valentino – Actor
May 06, 1915 – Orson Wells – Producer
May 06, 1931 – Willie Mays – Sports Figure

May 07, 1833 – Johannes Brahms – Composer
May 08, 1884 – Harry S. Truman – U.S. President
May 09, 1944 – Daniel Barrigan – Anti–War Activist Priest
May 10, 1899 – Fred Astaire – Dancer/Actor
May 10, 1902 – David O. Selznick – Movie Producer