TAURUS

April 20 - May 20

Spirit: Conservation, methodical, to enjoy comfort

Objectives: To accumulate money

Ego: Affectionate, stubborn, competent

Personality: Indolent, voluptuous

Ruling Planet: Venus

Empowerment Colors: Pale blue, green

Moderating Colors: Yellow

Best Day: Friday

Fortunate Stones: Sapphire, emerald

Body Rulership: Neck, throat, lower jaw

Best Foods: Lemons, grapefruit, melons, carrots, buckwheat, banana

As the second sign of the zodiac, Taurus represents the second stage in the evolution of man and his place in the universe. The first thing man uses are his physical senses. What he can see, touch, and physically hold represents the reality of his position. It is why the celestial heritage of Taureans is to conserve physical resources and possessively cling to people whom they regard as their own. Their strongest desire is for personal security. Broken promises or the betrayal of others are threats to this security. Their reaction to such personal affronts is likely to be bitter, and those who inflict such abuses will not be given another chance. Disappointed Taureans can behave in a manner totally against their own best interests. They may completely retreat from the world, or, go in the opposite direction and become promiscuous. Whatever direction is taken, they may end up sacrificing the meaningful, enduring relationships they really need to feel emotionally secure.

Taureans are stubborn and impervious to changes not of their own making. However, they are able to accomplish things in life because of their tenacity in sticking to projects in which others may have long since lost patience or stamina. The astrological symbol for Taurus is the Bull and indeed, the stubborn bullheaded nature of the Taurean personality can be extremely formidable to those who have the unfortunate experience of coming up against it. On the positive side, their quiet strength and determination inspires others to trust them. Because they dislike being unable to rely on others, they are usually very dependable themselves. Taureans are loving and patient when trying to accomplish what they think is worthwhile and when dealing with people they care about. As a rule, they do not enjoy surprises or spontaneous changes. They are far more comfortable when given sufficient time to prepare for things and allowed to follow their planned agenda.

Taureans react to what they experience by assessing its possible worth. That is, before they take physical action, before they sort out their emotional involvement, and before they reason it out intellectually, they ascertain what tangible advantages are to be gained from the experience. What appears too abstract or vague fails to attract more than their passing interest. They need a definite purpose in what they do and in relationships they form. Because they don't want to be unnecessarily burdened, they willingly rid themselves of worn out items, but only if they cannot find any other way to make use of them.

Venus, planet of beauty and pleasure, rules Taurus, which means that by nature, people born with Sun in Taurus are tactile and sensuous, seekers of personal comfort and physical pleasure. By design however, they are pragmatic with an appreciative eye for both monetary value as well as aesthetic beauty. They are lovers of nature and natural things. Their harmony in life is tied to reality and the material world, but sometimes they get carried away with personal acquisitions. When they go too far afield they tend to either accumulate wealth and never use it, or recklessly squander it without improving the quality or enjoyment of their lives. As a result of their addiction to personal pleasure and comfort, Taureans can be very lazy as well as very vulnerable to the unpleasant consequences that invariably result from overindulging in rich food and other physical pleasures. Their natural cautiousness saves them from making mistakes, but it can also prevent them from taking advantage of valuable opportunities.

As a rule, Taureans are physically strong and solidly built. Even those who are not fat, may be physically more dense per pound of body weight. Many of them favor weight lifting or other body-building routines as a way to keep in shape. They enjoy participating in sports that require strength and endurance. They usually like to putter around the garden, and readily engage in other outdoor activities such as picnics, hikes, and trips to botanical gardens or a zoo. They love music and art and may have considerable talent in these areas. They often have a pleasant speaking or singing voice. Though Taureans tend to be rather subdued, they have a lively sense of humor, and enjoy socializing.

Taurus colors are brown, russet, and turquoise. Vulnerable parts of the body are the neck, throat, shoulders, and upper torso. Stiff necks, sore throats, and earaches are common Taurean complaints. The emerald, a variety of the mineral beryl and as costly as a diamond, is the Taurus birthstone. The emerald's rich green color is suitably Taurean since it is the color of money, green pastures, and serenity. The emerald has a six-sided geometric form. Six is the number assigned to Venus which in turn, is the planetary ruler of Taurus. Flowers for Taurus are the rose (red), daisy, lily, and daffodil.