Taurus

Taureans ARE very easy creatures to understand. They have very basic needs: male Bulls love grub and girls, and females of this sign adore food and fellas. Simple, isn't it?

Being the first of the Earth signs, Taurus symbolizes rich, rolling fields of very dark brown earth waiting to be cultivated. The Sun sits in the sign of Taurus at Maytime, and so Taurus is linked with the ritual of Mayday, the maypole, young maidens, and earthy, pagan customs and folklore.

Taureans are governed by their love of sensuality in all its forms, and some of them can go a mite mad and overindulge themselves, whether it's with sex or a simmering stew with delicious dumplings.

A lot of Taureans have very expressive, often deep-set eyes. that can put across their message better than a million Gemini words. I know one normally sensible, sane Capricorn girl who was reduced to a gibbering wreck when one of these Bulls looked at her across a crowded room. He didn't have to say a word his eyes did all the talking. (I'd wondered why she suddenly blushed like a beetroot.)

Bulls hate change. They need to know that tomorrow will be the same as today, and that the day after tomorrow will be the same as a week next Wednesday. This is not a sign that is moved by challenge, but Bulls can show tremendous endeavor, patience, persistence and resoluteness.

Ownership is very important to Taureans, Seeing a room full of furniture they've paid for, or a freezer full of food. makes them feel secure. However, negative Taureans can be so possessive and narrow-minded that they can class wives. husbands, kids and pets in the same category as the couch and the cooker and feel that they own them lock, stock and barrel.

To give you an idea of the good and bad sides of the Bull, a country said to be ruled by Taurus is the Emerald Isle. Think of the simple, relaxed way of life there, those glorious greens and beautiful browns of the Irish countryside; then think of the widespread bigotry over religion with both sides refusing to compromise, and you have Taurus at its worst.

In fact, one description of Taurus that you will hear time and time again is 'stubborn as a mule'. Certainly, Taurus is a Fixed sign, and Taureans can be as hard to shift as a sack of soggy cement, but I do think this so-called stubbornness is a wee bit over-emphasized. Of course, there is a diabolical dose of dogged determination in the Taurean character, but these Bulls are not always as obstinate and obtuse as they are portrayed. In fact, if used positively, this steadfast streak can lead to persistence and determination. On the negative side, it can lead to rumbustious rows because of the Taurean's intransigence and inability to see another person's point of view.

But make no mistake. If used in the right way, fixity can be a wonderful thing. If Bulls want something slightly out of reach, they will put their heads down and charge (slowly) straight for it, eventually achieving their goal. even if it kills them in the process!

As you might expect from a sign that symbolizes the countryside, often Taureans aren't very happy in the city unlike Air or Fire signs, who like hustle and bustle. Taureans, on the other hand, need to live in a place where they can commune with nature, feeling the ground beneath their feet and seeing the sky above their heads. Bulls will be at their best in a verdant village, or a comfy crofter's cottage. City Bulls will have stacks of window-boxes crammed with leafy flora, to give them that 'at home' feeling. Bulls' abodes will be warm and welcoming, unless they are going through a desperate disruption or change in their relationships.

Taureans rarely do anything quickly, choosing to take their time. If they're negative, they may prefer to pretend that their position, passion-wise, is pootchy, when even the fly on the wall can see that it isn't. Eventually the world will crumble around their ears, when their amour ambles off with another. Everyone except the Bull will have seen exactly what was happening, and not be outraged at the outcome.

Taureans find it especially difficult to accept change in their emotional relationships, because fidelity and loyalty are paramount to them. But whether a Taurean likes it or not (probably not), changes of some sort or another will be inevitable in their lives, and the sooner they get used to the idea the better. The more they can make themselves cope with change, the less heartache they will have in the long run. I know many Taureans who have resisted an upheaval that was inevitable, and gone through hell and high water as a result.

Venus rules Taurus and Libra, endowing both signs with a love of beauty and a need for harmony, although they seek these ideals in different ways. When ruling Libra, Venus is lighter and more sanguine, but she's much deeper and richer in Taurus. Ubrans love Rodgers and Hammerstein. while Taureans will opt for opera. They love the beauty of flowers, the earth and all the good things in life, and with their classical, traditional outlook, can teach a lot of the more restless signs quite a lesson or two. So don't fall into the trap of thinking Taureans are simply bull-headed. They can be obstinate, though they would call it being strongminded!