Taurus - from the Box of Stars

The green earth, fertility, flowers, sensuality, the pleasures of this world,,
strength, endurance, continuity, firm foundations, loyalty

Aldebaran, 'the watcher in the East', one of the four ancient 'key stars of the heavens', marks the Bull's eye. The oldest Zodiac was measured from it.

The Sun in Taurus

With the Sun in earthy Taurus, your main concern in life is the real world around you. You do not have much time for abstract thought. Unless, that is, you can turn it into something useful in the here and now. Which you usually succeed in doing, as you have enormous strength and perseverance. What you build is built to last and you rarely change your mind once you have decided on a certain course of action, which means you can be stubborn. You are slow to anger, but once your blood is up, you can hold grudges, and, although you are loyal and true, you can also be possessive about those you care for, as what you own is of great importance to you, whether it is love or money.

Most importantly, perhaps, as the sign that rules the earth when it turns green in springtime, sensuous, fertile Taurus is concerned with the sensual pleasures of this world and with nurturing new life.

Taurus is the first of the three earth signs, and is ruled by the voluptuous planet, Venus.

After the zodiac's fiery, pioneering start in Aries, Taurus concentrates on giving form and substance to what Aries has begun. Taurus is a fixed sign, and its natives have all the strength and endurance of their symbol.

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The Myths and Legends of Taurus

Taurus, the white celestial bull, is one of the most ancient symbols of fertility and power and was sacred to the Great Goddess. It was placed in the heavens at the request of Ishtar, the barbaric Babylonian Venus, in order to destroy Gilgamesh, the world's first hero, who had spurned her favours. He accused her of destroying all her lovers, which included lions and horses

In her rage, she flew up to heaven and forced her father Anu to create the 'Bull of Heaven' to destroy him. The sign of Taurus is ruled by Venus to this day.

Europa

Other Taurean myths include the story of Europa, who was seduced by Zeus in the form of a white bull. He swam out to sea with her, garlanded with flowers, and landed on the shores of Crete.

Venus, Ruler of Taurus

Born from the white foam of the sea, Venus is the goddess of beauty, love and pleasure. The brightest of the planets, known to us as both the Evening and the Morning Star, belongs to her. It governs harmony, friendship, affection and relatedness of every kind - as well as sensuality and lust. Its position at birth shows how you love, and whom.

While the Moon is the symbol of the mother, and of all maternal love and caring, the love goddess, Venus, is a beautiful young woman.

Venus's sign and house position, as well as the links it makes to other planets, show how you attract others to you and your attitude towards romance. It softens any planet that it touches. In a woman's chart, its sign reveals your type of femininity and sexuality, while in a man's chart it indicates what kind of woman you are drawn to. It also shows what you find beautiful, harmonious and desirable and what gives you pleasure. Venus also rules the arts and music.

The Stars

Aldebaran, the Watcher in the East.

The great 'red giant', war-like Aldebaran, is the star of the Archangel Michael, one of the ancient 'key stars of the heavens', the 'Watcher in the East'. The oldest known zodiac was measured from it, and its rising in April marked the beginning of the Babylonian year. Because of this, it was known as the 'Forecaster' and the 'Star of the Tablet', and was sacred to the god Nabu, who inscribed on a tablet the decisions taken at the spring congress of the gods. The most important Druid festival also began when the sun entered the sign.

The Age of Taurus

The Age of Taurus, which started around 4139 BC and ended in 1963 BC, saw the beginnings of a less nomadic life style in the Middle East. The Hyades, which herald rain, and the Pleiades, or the Seven Sisters, which promise fair weather, were the daughters of the giant Atlas, who supported the world on his shoulders, and which the mountains of Morocco may be named after. In the festival of Hallowe'en can be seen traces of the early worship of the dead, which was connected with the first rising of the Pleiades in November.

To Locate

To locate Taurus, which is an easy constellation to see clearly, look towards the south and follow the line of Orion's belt upwards during winter and early spring until you reach Aldebaran, the Eye of Taurus, surrounded by the V-shaped cluster of the Hyades, which makes up the Bull's face. The Pleiades are on the Bull's back. It can be seen to the north between November and February south of the equator.

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