Taurus - Durable Determined Earth Spirits

by Robert Wilkinson

May accents the earth sign Taurus, where we confirm and consolidate the new beginnings of Spring. This sign is slow and steady, showing all how to enjoy life, whether working or playing or just hanging out.  Being the second sign of the zodiac, this is the time to solidify, capture, and otherwise make solid what we value, or what we need to have to move forward in our life and affairs. We now can learn to value what is meaningful to us, and not get ruffled by conflicting stimuli. The Sun in Taurus shines the light of wisdom on how we must be clear, simple, and firm about what we value or what we have, opening us to what endures from the old life and redeeming whatever promise it held as we confirm new possibilities.

Taurus is symbolically associated with the Bull or Ox, the creature that assisted humanity in farming, the foundation of current civilization. It was once said that “When the wild ox was domesticated – a nearly impossible task – it could transport heavy loads.” Combining the symbols of farming and trade with distant regions, you get a sense that Taurus is vital in keeping us all fed and feeling good about the way things are, or allows us to feel discomfort when something is not enjoyable so we may change things for the better.

Mythologically, Taurus is in the axis of the Warrior, or Guardian. This sign (along with its polar opposite, Scorpio) confirms the dance of relationship between self and others begun in Aries. Taurus shows us the lessons of “mine and thine” as we interact with others. It is the part of us willing to hold the line on what we value and have, drawing clear and definite boundaries between our likes and those of others.

Taurus, when freed of the traps of stubbornness, self-satisfaction, inertia, and “sit-down-itis” demonstrate a consistency and reliability that assists and stabilizes situations and groups. They are the antithesis of impulsiveness and the embodiment of contentment and endurance. Taurus, like Aries, is highly self-sufficient, but slower and calmer in bringing their total focus to situations. They also hang in there after everyone else has bailed. Taurus endures of its own initiative. Convinced in its own “rightness,” this sign loathes being challenged, and sometimes refuses to change its point of view on the principle that they simply don’t have to.

They are usually pleasant to be around, except when crossed, at which point they snort and stomp, and want things to become more agreeable. On their terms. They believe they win by sitting down, or conversely, by being the proverbial “bull in the china shop.”

They are innately kind, sweet, and straightforward. When Taurus’ tremendous energy learns to speed up, consider other options, and express generosity, they offer others simple, refreshing ways to enjoy life and its creature comforts. Where it falls in our charts shows us the way to solidify, value, and enjoy the areas of life it influences. Taurus energies show everyone how to find wealth, comfort, peace and calm in being self-sufficient unto themselves over the long haul, unmoved and unruffled by passing problems.

These qualities all come forth in practicing the illuminated teachings of perhaps the most famous Taurus of all, Gautama Siddhartha, also known as the Buddha. His teachings about the 4 Noble Truths, and the 8-fold Path to the end of suffering, have impacted literally billions of people throughout the world in the 2500 years his teachings have been known. Another Taurus, Socrates, the teacher of Plato, is said to have been the wisest man Greece ever knew, impacting world thought to this day. William Shakespeare, the playwright and front man for a secret society of enlightened beings and their friends influential in guiding world affairs, was a Taurus. Said to be a simple man, his plays are masterpieces of an intricate weaving of philosophy, human interactions, and historical affairs. The works of these 3 bulls will endure forever.

Taurus is featured heavily in American Presidents: James Monroe, James Buchanan, U.S. Grant, and Harry Truman all were known for both their stubbornness and straightforwardness. Other political heavyweights born under this sign include Malcolm X, Marcus Aurelius, Oliver Cromwell, Queen Elizabeth II, Catherine the Great, Ho Chi Minh, Golda Meir, Pope John Paul II, and Coretta Scott King, all examples of the staying power of this sign. Other examples of political Tauruses who found themselves on the wrong side of history include some of the most infamous figures of the 20th century, including Adolph Hitler, Lenin, Hirohito, Saddam Hussein, Rudolph Hess, Ayatollah Khomeini, Josef Tito, and Eva Peron.

Famous Taurus philosophers include Krishnamurti, Immanuel Kant, Bertrand Russell, Karl Marx, Kierkegaard, Sigmund Freud, and John Stuart Mill. In the literary world this sign gave us some very interesting writers, such as the English Master Robert Browning, L. Frank Baum, the satirist and creator of “the Wizard of Oz,” and Machiavelli, whose name became a synonym for ruthlessness. Other famous literary Tauruses include Balzac, Charlotte Bronte, Katherine Ann Porter, Vladimir Nabokov, Harper Lee, Joseph Heller, Terry Southern, Peter Benchley, Nora Ephron, and Studs Terkel.

The world of music features some of the most incredible talent of all time. Of course, this makes sense since Venus, the planet of beauty, love, and music rules Taurus. This sign’s musical hall of fame includes such classical musicians as Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Eric Satie, Zuben Mehta, and Yehudi Menhuin. In the world of jazz, blues, and American standards we have such luminaries as Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Irving Berlin, Bert Bacharach, Woody Herman, Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Bobby Darin, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbara Streisand, Maynard Ferguson, Lionel Hampton, Albert King, and Otis Rush.

In contemporary music, Taurus includes some enormously talented individuals. One of them is my old acquaintence from Austin, Willie Nelson. Other legendary Taurus stars include Roy Orbison, Pete Townsend, Pete Seeger, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Bono (Paul Hewson), Stevie Winwood, Joe Cocker, and Cher.

Finish this incredible musical list with Rick Nelson, Ritchie Valens, Glen Campbell, Frankie Valli, Bob Seger, Judy Collins, Rita Coolidge, David Byrne, Leslie Gore, Tammy Wynette, Eddy Arnold, Donovan, Peter Frampton, Sheena Easton, Carmen Electra, Luther Vandross, Iggy Pop, Joey Ramone, Janet Jackson, Trent Reznor, Enya, George Strait, Trini Lopez, and the flamboyant Liberace, and you get a musical tribe that has major talent and sure seems to know how to have fun!

In the world of famous artists I found only Salvadore Dali and Thomas Gainsborough. However, in the world of film, we have a phenomenal array of superstars, such as Rudolph Valentino, Orson Welles, Fred Astaire, Lionel Barrymore, Gary Cooper, Henry Fonda, Jimmy Stewart, Tyrone Power, and Shirley Temple.

Other show biz hall of famers also include legends Harold Lloyd, Frank Capra, David O Selznick, George Lucas, Audrey Hepburn, Joseph Cotton, Anthony Quinn, James Mason, Glenn Ford, Ann-Margaret,  and Raymond Burr. Other major players include Jack Klugman, Anouk Aimee, Harvey Keitel, Sandy Dennis, Eddie Albert, Celeste Holm, Cloris Leachman, and Albert Finney. Contemporary major league talent includes Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino, George Clooney, Uma Thurman, Dennis Hopper, Shirley MacLaine, Michelle Pfeiffer, Natasha Richardson, Jessica Lange, Debra Winger, Pierce Brosnan, Daniel Day-Lewis, Ryan O'Neal, Michael Moore, Andie Macdowell, Jill Clayburgh, Renee Zellweger, Talia Shire, Cate Blanchett, Kirsten Dunst, Stephen Baldwin, and Emilio Estevez.

In television, we find Taurus offers such amazing talents as Brian Williams, Stephen Colbert, and Jay Leno, as well as legends Aaron Spelling, James L. Brooks, Jack Paar, Carol Burnett, Bea Arthur, George Takei, Phil Silvers, Dwayne Hickman, Lee Majors, Melissa Gilbert, Joyce DeWitt, and Pernell Roberts. Modern major leaguers include Tony Danza, George Lopez, Jerry Seinfeld, and the extraordinary Candice Bergen.

Famous comedians include George Carlin, Mort Sahl, and Don Rickles. Sports figures feature Joe Louis, Willie Mays, Yogi Berra, Reggie Jackson, Meadowlark Lemon, Andre Agassi, and Sugar Ray Robinson. Other heavyweights include the courageous pioneering journalists Edward R. Murrow and Mike Wallace, pioneer dancer-choreographer Martha Graham, “Citizen Kane” William Randolph Hearst, scientist Pierre Curie, Dr. Benjamin Spock, the man who influenced several generations of child-rearing, famous naturalist John Muir, Samuel Morse (Morse Code), Florence Nightengale, and Edwin Land, the inventor of the camera.

A special note must be given to the Taurus who was one of the greatest astrologers of all time, William Lilly. His remarkably durable work on horary astrology is still in print after almost 400 years, and the prime source for most teachings on the horary craft. His steadiness of purpose and reliability of knowledge in several fields served England well during the Revolution, plague, and great fire of London. Another Taurus astrologer for the ages was my old friend Carl Payne Tobey. The first "statistical" astrologer, he was an amazing blend of down to Earth humor and pragmatic analysis, and of course as many know, one of the legendary Grant Lewi's best friends. I have always treasured the years I knew Carl, for his wit, wisdom, and generosity of spirit. His works are still relevant and insightful to this day, so find them when you can.

Finally, a big happy birthday to Holland, Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, Israel, Poland, Tasmania, the states of Minnesota and Georgia, the Transcontinental Railroad, AMA, Empire State Building, Coca-Cola, Suez Canal, and the Virgin Mary showing up at Fatima, Portugal, in 1917.

Comments

[Vick Forman]

My daughter is a Taurus. She will love reading this. Thank you, Robert.

[Robert]

Hi Vicki - When I saw you comment, I thought maybe I needed to add you to the list! Glad your daughter will love reading this. Who knows? Maybe someday I'll be able to add her name to the list of distinguished authors, musicians, actors, or other distinguished individuals.

[Diane Scholten]

Just forwarded this on to my Taurean friends with the heading "for all the Bulls I've loved before..." Good article Robert!

[Robert]

Thanks, Diane. Bulls do love life, don't they?

[emma]

“sit-down-itis,” he he he he. :) good one!

i have Saturn in taurus (in the first) as the point of a yod with Moon (on one side) and Uranus, Jupiter, SNode and Pluto (on the other). ouch.

steven forrest has said that taurus (as opposed to sag or pisces) correlates to Natural Law. do you agree with that, robert?

[Robert]

Hi emma - Yes, several have asked me if I made up the term "sit-down-itis," and I will take credit for it, since it perfectly describes a certain Taurian quality. Taurus is "natural law" in the sense that it is stable Earth, usually inert, manifestly beautiful and bountiful, and fundamentally resistant to manifesting anything other than its own sense of self. That could describe Nature.

However [of course you knew there would be a however!;-)] it is also true that the "tone" of nature is F natural, corresponding to Virgo. The sounds of the wind, sea, and other aspects of nature all have this tone. Nature also has an order unto itself, a natural self-organized "authority" of its own that acts of its own initiative, corresponding to Capricorn.

And of course we find all four elements occurring in Nature. The oceans are Pisces, the lakes and ponds are Scorpio, and the creeks, streams and rivers are Cancer. You can probably figure out the Fire and Air qualities of Nature, and so while Earth describes the forms of nature, so the other elements also reveal aspects of Nature.

Taken all together, they are "Natural Law" in the sense that each element has part of the qualities we know as natural law. Water seeks its own level, and changes state. Air is moveable, less dense than Earth or Water, Fire consumes matter and moves on, and so forth.

[Don]

"Sit-down-itis" is the perfect instruction needed for us water elements today and tomorrow. Since Tuesday the (I feel)folk and the(I desire)people *me and all Water/Air/Jupiter-ruled people I know...completely spinning wheels. I have the dual urge to either sit and try to concentrate (try- the significant word) or leap-up and bounce around like a crazy-ball...anyone remember those?
Robert- great made up phrase- it is so bang-on. Separately the Light on the path reading...whew. Too many mixed thoughts/emotions on that piece but- WOW what an amazing read! I struggled to stop reading at a certain point but I couldn't (how poignant right?). But then I meditated on it- and all was well.
Thank you,
from the bottom of my heart-
and the light I hope see when I'm/others are ready to see-
Don.

[Ana]

Me as an Aris, have amny good friends Tauruses. We're two vary different signs but yet, very similar ones. Thank you Robert, my friens will love reading this. Thos article reminded me: would you, please post an aticle on Kiron? Mine is in Taurus...so I am curious...Thank you, Robert.
Ana

[Ana]

Apologies, I just found out that correct spelling in English is Chiron. Sorry about that and all other spelling mistakes, I was in a hurry :)
Thank you.

[Don]

I congratulate myself for achieving 4 A's, and 1 C+. Not too bad for a guy dealing with personal family loss, a serious relationship, no money or job, and facing some of the most important realizations of my adult life, huh?
Couldn't have done it without striking the balance and help that A-papers has afforded me, so thank you Robert, thank you all A-papers blogger. Now it is off to "sit-down-itis" and sleep for about two days, lol. Have a great full moon and a great weekend all,
Sincerely,
Don.

[Robert]

Hi Ana - spelling errors are okay, since your English is no doubt better than my knowledge of most European languages! ;-) I hope that today's post answered many of your questions about Chiron.

Hi Don - Congrats on your grades in this time of stress. But then, it's a good thing to learn to concentrate in those times, since it will be a useful skill to have given the massive changes confronting the human race in the next 3000 days. And a Happy Buddha Birthday to you too!