Taurus (from the Latin for Bull) is a fixed earth sign; the second sign of the western zodiac, and represents the height of spring in the northern hemisphere in all its budding glory. Ruled by the planet Venus and the goddess herself in all her verdant mythological glory. The first decan of Taurus in April is the month of “opening,” budding. May, the time of the second and third decans of Taurus, is the month of Venus and Flora (also known as the goddess Maia.)

Shown here with the Graces, painted by Botticelli in his famous painting, the Primavera.

Taurus season was the time of the calving of the ancient wild cattle, the auroch. In the UK, they gathered on Salisbury Plain, and the site of Stonehenge was once a “lek”-a mass gathering site- on their annual migration route. The remains of auroch have been discovered nearby at Blick Mead.

Source “Forget about ancient ancestors, healing stones, solar solstice alignments and periglacial stripes. Stonehenge is where it is because it’s on an auroch migration route.”

No other zodiac sign has more ancient mythology or cult history attached to it than the sign of The Bull, revered for its power and potency since it was hunted by early man, before the first cattle were domesticated, about 10, 500 years ago. This was in the Near East, suggests the DNA evidence, tracing a herd of an estimated 80 animals.

The Stars of Taurus

We can see Taurus between August and April. The best months are December and January when it is visible all night, looking up to the right above, and beyond, the three stars of Orion’s Belt. You’ll especially notice a bright reddish star, Aldebaran, the Eye of the Bull, glaring down at Orion the Hunter. Should the Bull escape his enclosure, and break through the gate being guarded by the Seven Sisters (Pleiades) said an ancient Arab legend, he would stampede the Universe to pieces. Let’s hope he has plenty of daisies and buttercups up there to keep him happy, and some cows, and no mosquitoes or horseflies to bother him.

The Bull disappears in June and July, hidden in the glare of the Sun.

Venus, the planetary ruler of Taurus is also known as Hesperus the Evening Star (Vespers = evening prayers) and Lucifer the Morning Star. At this time of year, Venus rises as the Morning Star.  Taurus is also especially subject to the Moon, although this influence is more commonly associated with Pisces and Cancer. Note the bull horns on the goddess of Ancient Egypt, Isis, Ishtar, goddess of love and beauty, also called Hathor, The High Priestess in the Tarot, associated with Moon Day/Monday. The horns of the bull are conflated with the crescent moon.

All the zodiac stories deal in archetypes, meaning something that is considered to be a perfect or typical example of a particular kind of person or thing.

As a fixed earth sign, Taurus rules anything associated with the mid- zone of spring, the height of the season. The fixed signs are traditionally considered the most stable and steadfast signs, protectors of the status quo, the signs most at ease with ancient things, the guardians of conservation and protecting continuity. Taurus is all about security, warmth, comfort and luxury. Taurus adores everything that looks beautiful,  smells beautiful, sounds beautiful, feels beautiful-…and is tasty. Yum yum.

Taurus rules the ears, neck and throat, and the Taurus native is known for their distinctive, smooth speaking voice. Famous Taurus singes include Willie Nelson, James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, Cher, Bono, Billy Joel, Olly Murs, Enya, Adele.

Taurus may seem slower to learn compared with say, a mercurial, quicksilver Gemini native. But their grasp is both intuitive and thorough, and they generally possess an excellent memory. Once learned, never forgotten is the Taurean way.  They will not be pushed or driven. Notoriously resistant, their emotional stability is the other side of this coin. Taurus can be relied on for good advice and encouragement, with a particular way of soothing others, but gets irritable, a bull shaking off gadflies, if they feel they are being crowded while their thoughts are elsewhere.

Taurus is the quiet hero, just getting on with life, and stopping every now and then to sniff the daisies. Peaceable until pushed to defend what s/he loves.

Books

Non-fiction books like Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring,” deal with key Taurus themes, agriculture, food and fertility.

“Silent Spring is an environmental science book by Rachel Carson. Published on September 27, 1962, the book documented the environmental harm caused by the indiscriminate use of DDT, a pesticide used by soldiers during World War II. Carson accused the chemical industry of spreading disinformation, and public officials of accepting the industry’s marketing claims unquestioningly.”

In fiction we have The Hobbit, a rural idyll before the storm hits. We have novels like The Bull From The Sea, 1962, by Mary Renault, dealing with the Theseus myth. Taurus, that ultimate land animal,  is mythically also connected with the god of the sea, Poseidon, and with earthquakes. The bull from the sea is a reference, among other things, to the earthquake that devastated the Minoan culture in around 1600 BC. More about that HERE

Taurus is the zodiacal sign that stands for the relationship of Church and State. Thrillers to do with governments, the Vatican, big money, heists and corruption, are essentially dealing in Taurean themes, as symbolized by the famous charging Bull of Wall Street. Think Frederick Forsyth and The Day of The Jackal. Think Dan Brown and the Da Vinci Code.

The Charging Bull of Wall Street by Arturo di Modica, photo credit, Andrew Henkelman

Taurus in the Tarot

The Pope Francis, RIP, has died today, 21 April 2025 in Taurus time. The major Tarot card associated with Taurus is The Hierophant, (aka, The Pope)

Card Meanings: a man of authority, tradition, the status quo, marriage, religion, the Church, Teachers, mentors, Universities, agriculture, money, finance, Banks, publishing, keys.

Till next time.

Further reading:

https://lithub.com/writers-of-the-zodiac-revolutionary-taureans-make-the-world-a-wonderful-place/