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Taurus
'Taurus' from 'Urania's Mirror or, a view of the Heavens' (1824)
Contents
Cover
The Myths and Legends of Taurus
The Stars
The Sun in Astrology
Venus, Ruler of Taurus
The Flowers of Taurus
Copyright Information
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 he 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.
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
Taurus, with its 'V' shaped face of stars, lies to the north of the Great Hunter, Orion, on the zodiac
band between Aries and Gemini. On either side of him are the heroes, Perseus and Orion and, at his
feet, the mighty river Eridanus, which flows down towards the southern pole.
To locate Taurus, which is an easy constellation to see clearly, look south and follow the line of
Orion's belt upwards during winter and early spring in the northern hemisphere until you reach
Aldebaran, the Eye ofTaurus, 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 between November and February south of the equator.
The Sun in Astrology
Just as the sun in the sky is the center of the solar system, the Sun in astrology is the central nucleus
of your personality. If each of the planets circling round the sun represents a single facet of your
personality - Venus describes how you love and Saturn how you relate to responsibility, for
example - then the Sun is the conductor of your personal orchestra, giving meaning and coherence
to the wholeness that is you. It is the part of yourself that you identify with, your sense of self. Its
sign - your sun-sign - and house position, as well as the aspects that it makes to other planets,
describe your true potential; the 'you' you are deep down and are striving to express, as well as your
will, your goals and purpose. While the feminine Moon represents your Soul, the masculine Sun
represents your Spirit. Its position in your chart also shows the ways in which your outlook has
been influenced by your father.
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, the sign of the earth when it turns green
in spring, 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.
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 Flowers of Taurus
The sweetly scented damask rose, the violet and primrose, as well as the soft mallow and vervain,
sacred to the druids, are the flowers of the voluptuous planet, Venus, and so of Taurus. Your trees
are the apple, the apricot and cherry, the birch, the tamarind and the myrtle, with its sweet,
incense-scented leaves. Your herbs are pennyroyal, tansy and yarrow.
Your essential oils are pennyroyal, rose and violet. Pennyroyal, which is said to bring peace
between lovers, is uplifting and refreshing, while sensuous rose and delicate violet soothe and
harmonise your powerful Taurean emotions.
The Jewels of Taurus
The emerald is the precious stone of Taurus, the sign of the earth when it turns green in spring and
life returns after the long winter. The physical world and life's simple - and sensual - pleasures
belong to Taurus. The emerald's rich green reflects the earth's abundance and fertility. To wear one
is to draw these aspects of existence to you. Taurus is also a fixed earth sign, strong, enduring and
loyal, and, in many lands, green is the colour of the faithful. It was also thought to give prophetic
powers to increase sensitivity to others.
Copyright Catherine Tennant, from 'The Box of Stars,
a Guide to the Night Sky and to its Myths and Legends'.
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