Element: Earth Modiality:
Fixed Ruling Planet: Venus
Personality Traits: Patient,
Reliable, Enduring, Stable, Trustworthy, Affectionate
General Compatibility: Virgo, Capricorn
Color:
Warm Red, Orange
Gemstones: Carnelian, Fire Opal,
Amber, Topaz
Foods: Pork, Bacon, Celery, Carrots,
Cantaloupe, Peaches
Obstinacy is the sister of constancy.
—MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE
Taurus, the second sign of the zodiac, is
symbolized by the bull. Persons born under this earthy, fixed sign
are as strong, as steady as the enduring magnificence of a great
mountain. Through the years, the mountain stands impervious to the
onslaughts of weather, time, floods, droughts and fire, and
remains— beckoning our respect and admiration. Its presence
creates a beautiful picture, a landmark, a symbol of security for us
to identify with, now and for years to come. Taurus individuals are a
lot like that beautiful mountain. They seem to have a timeless
quality, solid as the Rock of Gibraltar, apparently unchanged by the
tide of human events, and unmoved by the pettiness of other mortals
around them. Removed as they might seem from human interaction, they
still manage to fit into the picture quite admirably, like the
mountain, beckoning our respect and admiration. They most often
typify the solid citizen and can be found in occupations such as a
real estate broker, banker, farmer, financial consultant and the
like. But even the mountain, steady as it may seem, will every once
in a while, every once in a great, great while, give in to its inner
rumblings and spew forth its torrents of utter devastation as a
volcano. Nothing can stand in the way of its tremendous power, nor be
untouched by its destructive flows. And when all the dust has
settled, everything seems to return to its former tranquility, not to
be disturbed again for another hundred years or so.
Taureans disposition will probably show their destructive side a few
times more per century than the volcano, but not many times more.
They are very slow to anger and may even bear indignities silently
for many years without complaint. The full extent of their fury may
erupt only a few times in their entire lifetime, but when the
Taurean's temper finally blows, there is unleashed a destructive
force that indeed bears resemblance to that of a volcano. The
scathing wrath of a Scorpio doesn't compare to the bull's
intemperance. The analogy of 'a bull in a china shop' accurately
forebodes the kind of destruction that is likely to attend their
blind rage.
This is not to say that the Taurean personality is by any means
cruel, overreacting, or violent. Quite the opposite is true. May-born
are the most placid, self-controlled individuals you'd ever want to
meet. They don't want to go out of their way to hurt you; they just
want to be left alone. Their normally staid countenance and
easy-going manner bespeak a reverence for the earth, and a desire for
harmony among its inhabitants. It takes an awful lot to make the
Taurean angry, and the bull will normally take all kinds of insults,
derisions, or off-color remarks quite easily in stride, keeping his
emotions in check beneath a strong, cool composure. But try and
impose one indignity more than he's willing to bear, or wave one red
flag too many in the bull's idyllic pasture, and you had better run
for your life. The bull will flare his nostrils, lower his horns and
charge! Make no bones about it. The Taurean's fury, once set in
motion, is impossible to stop and must run its course. No amount of
reasoning or logic will prevent it.
Physically, you can expect Taureans to very much resemble their
zodiacal mascot, the bull. The shape of the face is often square, and
the ears are usually small and close to the head. The hair is
generally dark, ranging in texture from the wavy to curly to crinkly,
and you may notice a tuft or curl of hair above the center of the
forehead, curiously similar to the growth between the bull's horns.
The eyes are soft and affectionate, much like a puppy dog's, and
members of the opposite sex can find it hard to resist their
seductive charm. The neck is usually short and sturdy-looking. The
general countenance is serene, characteristic of their zodiacal
mascot, combining great mildness with great strength. They are often
big-boned with large, imposing bodies, giving an appearance of
weightiness in every sense of the word. They appear to have an extra
layer of insulating fat, distributed more or less evenly over the
entire body. This layer of fat is by no means unattractive, appearing
solid, and well suited to the Taurean frame. Consider the likes of
Taureans Ann Margret or Cher, and you need wonder no longer just how
appealing May-born can be! In spite of the fact that many Taureans
give the impression of bigness, they aren't exactly what you would
call fat. Stocky or solid far better describes them, and the average
Taurean wouldn't be the least bit offended by these terms.
The big-bodied image of Taureans, however, can be misleading and
should not become too firmly implanted in one's mind. Many are quite
thin, even frail, their appearance defying the usual Taurean physical
characteristics. These May-born will probably have a Gemini,
Sagittarius, or Pisces Ascendant which will greatly alter the
classical Taurean appearance. Nowhere else in the zodiac are physical
characteristics so mitigated by other planetary influences than in
Taurus. How else are you going to explain those May-born
slight-of-frame such as Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, or Audrey Hepburn?
Varied as the natives of this sign may appear, there is one telltale
characteristic which will always give the elusive bull away. The eyes
will appear to bulge slightly, having a conical or pointed shape at
the cornea. Sound too easy to be true? Just look closely at your
Taurean friend next time you run into him, and when he catches you
examining his eyes, just tell him your making sure he is who he says
he is.
In their expression and manner Taureans convey a feeling of extreme
nonchalance. The image Taurean Bing Crosby presented in his "road
movies" with Bob Hope is hardly that of the excitable type.
Even though he faced extreme danger, this venerable Taurean, unlike
his Gemini sidekick, seemed to take it all in stride, with hardly a
flicker of anxiety. Too often the Taurean nonchalance is mistaken for
disinterest or apathy. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Taureans are intensely aware of their surroundings, and they haven't
been cut short in the feelings department either. They have a
reputation for passion second only to Scorpio. Just try and violate a
moral or philosophical issue the Taurean really believes in, and you
may have a bull opposite your corner ready to lower his horns. In
most cases, however, these May-born aren't going to get all hot and
bothered over something unless they feel it is really deserving of
their attention. Taureans have an air of imperturbability about them
which can make you think you're talking to a brick wall. They really
do feel what you're talking about; they'd just rather not give you a
reaction until they have had time to think about it. Besides, they'd
rather see you do all the work canvassing the issues, investigating
the pros and cons, and finally bringing back to them the distillation
of all your effort. Taureans have a knack for drawing things to them,
and it is amazing how people will almost bend over backwards to do
for them.
The Taurean is very slow to form any new opinions. He has to weigh
things very carefully, sometimes even for years, before accepting any
new idea, concept, or philosophy. But when he does, you can be sure
it will be based on the foundations of logic, moral righteousness,
and cautious conservatism, and he'll probably believe in it for the
rest of his life. Taurus-influenced individuals are actually the
stabilizing factor in society. They help keep the rest of us from
rashness or impetuousness, and prevent us from changing too fast.
When those of any group or faction, be they political, moral or
philosophical, get too far out of line, it is the bull which gathers
them back into his never-changing pasture, to reaquaint them with the
virtues of tradition, 'tried-and-true' methods, conservatism and
common sense.
It doesn't take a lot of change to keep the average Taurean happy. In
fact, he'd probably be quite content to follow the same routine for
years without any real changes, excepting perhaps a continual rise in
his income. Just plunk the average Taurean down in his old familiar
easy chair, let him read the financial news or stock market reports,
and he'll let the rest of the world go by. Try and get him to sit in
another chair or read the sports page instead, and he'll balk. Most
Taureans don't like a change in routine. It somehow disturbs their
equilibrium. If you're married to a May-born, don't let him come home
to find that you've rearranged the furniture or re-painted the walls
a different color. The shock will be too much for his system, and he
may actually appear to get physically ill. The secret to handling the
average Taurean is to warn him at least a week ahead of time of any
changes that may be coming up. That way he'll have plenty of time to
prepare himself and gradually accept the new conditions. But try to
spring a change on him suddenly, and you'll be confronting a brick
wall. Most Taureans don't like to be pushed around by what they
consider flights of fancy, but if given enough time, they can adapt
to almost anything.
What has been sometimes been attributed to Taurus as sluggishness is
actually a quality of inertia. Like a locomotive, they are slow to
get moving, but once in motion, and having gained momentum, they are
impossible to stop. Taureans can be powerhouses once they feel what
they are doing is right or productive. Whoever accused them of
sluggishness had seen them before they had gathered steam. At full
throttle, the Taurean is a tireless worker, keeping to the straight
and narrow track and will not stop until he has reached his goal or
objective. Though you may try to deter him from his self-appointed
path, the bull will forge ahead letting nothing stand in his way. If
he has made an error in judgement along the way, he himself must see
his oversight, steer himself in the new direction, and continue on.
The bull will rarely succumb to outside influences when pursuing his goals.
If you have deduced from this that the Taurean is a bit stubborn, you
are wrong. He is a lot stubborn! When his mind is made up, it's made
up, and all the forces of Aristotelian logic or psychoanalytical
persuasion won't deter him from his point of view! The bull will seem
quite unruffled if you get frustrated with his hard-headedness. After
all, he knows the real truth, doesn't he? Your arguments will only
seem left-wing or extremist to him, and why should he waste time
arguing over something that's already been settled in his mind?
May-born can sometimes hold onto a belief or attitude long after all
sense of logic or reasoning has proved them wrong, and trying to
argue with them about it is a losing proposition from the start. Just
give the bull a little time, however, and he'll come around, though
he may be too proud to admit he was actually ever wrong. On the plus
side, the Taurean will never keep you guessing about where he stands.
His opinions are never 'way out,' radical, or too progressive, and
you can count on his usually conservative stance now or years from
now. He'll never ride the fence on an issue, and will even defend his
cause vehemently, if necessary. Though he may not be overly
expressive or verbal on the issues, his confident silence seems only
to reaffirm the solidity of his position, and indeed, the veracity of
his beliefs.
As friends or mates, Taureans will always be there when you need
them. Their attribute is constancy, and you'll have comfort in
knowing that, like the great mountain, they'll weather even the
toughest of times and come away just as before, but stronger.
Definitely the strong, silent type, their calm exterior reflects the
strength of inner convictions. Taurean Gary Cooper is a perfect
example of the bull's uncanny ability to display great strength
without moving a muscle. With a bull in your corner, you will have a
most trustworthy ally, whose strength of character stands like a
mighty oak, and whose affections can be as permanent, as enduring as
the earth itself. To those who really know the bull, this can be a
comforting thought indeed.
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Excerpted from The Astrology Diet,
Copyright © by Jon Stevens. All rights reserved.
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