Dates: April 20–May 20
Element: Earth
Polarity: Yin
Quality: Fixed
Symbol: Bull
Ruler: Venus
Taurus is the first earth sign of the zodiac. She is a fixed sign, which means that her season, spring, is in full bloom and well established. The fixed signs are also known as the “serpent signs” of the zodiac. In the Hindu tradition the serpent power is called kundalini energy (“the juice of life”), and it travels from the root chakra at the base of the spine to the crown chakra at the top of the head. As the first fixed or “serpent” sign, Taurus has this kundalini energy in abundance, but it is not yet fully expressed; it lies latent.
Though she is a powerful and determined force when she sets her mind to something, she cannot be pushed or forced to do what she is not inclined to do. Taurus takes time to adjust to new ideas and situations. Though it is rare, her power can erupt into anger, and much like her symbol, the Bull, she will see red. Patience is key when Taurus is in this mood; it is best to wait until things calm down on their own: the mood will pass.
The Taurus glyph (picture) represents the head and horns of a bull. The bull is a symbol of rich, fertile power. In ancient Greece the beginning of Taurus was celebrated as the feast of Maia (similar to the traditional May Day), with the sun represented by a white bull with a golden disc hanging between its horns, followed by a procession of virgins who exemplified the fertility of nature in the spring.
A Greek myth to consider for Taurus is that of Europa and Zeus. Europa, a beautiful Phoenician princess and mortal, had a dream that two continents were trying to possess her. The first, Asia, was where she was born and where she lived with her family; the other continent was nameless. Awakening, she went out to gather flowers. Looking down from Olympus, the god Zeus desired Europa, and to escape the watchful and jealous eye of his wife, Hera, he turned himself into a beautiful bull, spiriting Europa away to the island of Crete. Zeus went on to other lovers, but Europa remained in Crete and gave birth to three sons. Europe, the other continent Europa had dreamed about, eventually was named after her. This ancient story speaks to Taurus’s love of land and nature, as well as her connection to the bull.
Taurus’s ruler is Venus, the planet of romance, pleasure, and beauty. Taurus loves the way beauty feels. She likes to touch materials, people, trees—anything. The texture of what she touches communicates directly to her senses and impacts how she perceives the material world around her. Taurus’s sensuality also extends to food and drink.
The tantalizing powers of Venus can also incline people to be overindulgent, and in terms of self-care this is where Taurus will need to be mindful. Appreciating the tastes of food and drink, and the feel of bodily pleasure is good, but if this appreciation becomes unbalanced, there is a tendency to fall into a case of the “too much” syndrome (too much food, too much drink, too much relaxation), which can lead to a decline in energy and mood. If Taurus falls into this rut, it can be hard to break out of, because no matter what Taurus is doing, she likes routine. And if the routine is pleasurable, Taurus will need to tap into her strong bovine willpower to break the cycle.
Taurus rules over the neck, cerebellum, and ears, so self-care related to these parts of the body is especially important. Like her celestial symbol, the Bull, the defining features of Taurus are a thick neck and small ears. Shoulder and neck rolls should be a part of her daily exercise, as tension can often form in these areas. Using yoga foam rolls to massage the spine and neck area will prevent soreness and help move energy through the body.
Perhaps more important than the outer neck muscles, however, is the throat. Taurus is connected to the throat chakra, which controls expression of thought and emotion. Taurus should consider wearing a scarf in both the cold and warm months to protect against cold drafts and sunburn, so her voice is always loud and clear. The throat is also key in singing and humming, activities which come naturally to Taurus. Many great singers, pop and opera alike, are Taurean. Bing Crosby may be from a past time, but his rich, crooning style is a hallmark of Taurus’s sensual approach to life. Singing in the shower is a primo self-care activity. There should be no room for judgment: just letting her voice resonate in those great shower acoustics is a perfect activity for Taurus! And while doing chores, humming is a great way to keep stress levels low. Taurus should also consider singing herself a lullaby before she falls asleep. The soft music will prepare both her mind and body for dreamland.
Just as essential as outward expression is the Taurus ability to listen and reflect inwardly with the information she collects. To keep her ears alert and healthy, she should be mindful of temperature changes and wear earmuffs or warm hats in colder weather. She should also avoid prolonged periods of loud noise that could damage her hearing.
Taurus also rules the cerebellum, which controls movement, coordination, and balance. Exercises that improve and build on good motor function and rhythm are important to the Taurean wellness. Great sports for coordination and motor function include tennis and combat routines. Taurus also has a flair for contact sports that require muscular endurance, such as boxing, and many champion fighters have been Taurus. Coupling exercise with music through dance is the best way for Taurus to keep her rhythm and enjoy exercising. Once Taurus finds a routine that works, she will keep it. If part of Taurus’s routine involves extended periods of joint pressure, such as running on a treadmill, it can cause stress on the body because of the repetitive pounding. Taurus’s great asset is continuity and routine, but if this routine locks in tense muscle patterns, it becomes counterproductive.
The first step in good self-care for Taurus is feeding the senses moderately. Taurus is especially susceptible to every sound, taste, touch, or smell, and this can easily lead to a sense overload that leaves her overwhelmed and unmotivated to do anything—except run from it all. She will be led to successful self-care by the promise of feeling better and the pride in mastering self-control.
If part of Taurus’s self-care involves meeting with a personal counselor or other wellness adviser, she must have an emotional bond with that person. Again, Taurus’s senses are heightened, so she needs an established connection and foundation of trust to properly interpret and absorb what that person is expressing. A pitfall in counseling for Taurus lies in her resistance to change. If she feels she is being ordered or pushed toward something new, she can become stubborn, either closing herself off to the idea, or doing the exact opposite. Guiding her toward improved self-care in a more indirect way will lead to a successful change.
A key sense that is highly developed in Taurus is the sense of smell, which can be instrumental in her self-care. Many “noses” who work in the perfume industry are Taureans. They can detect notes of different oils and essences, and blend them to create a wonderful perfume. Even if you are not a professional “nose,” the power of scent can relax or invigorate, improve mood, recall happy memories, promote communication, and change the entire atmosphere of a space. Taurus should implement different scents into her self-care routine. For example, if she was a bit indulgent the night before, a whiff of diluted (according to instructions) peppermint or bergamot essential oil will encourage her to practice more self-control the following day.
As in counseling, pitfalls to successful self-care for Taurus are overly disciplined approaches to anything. Taurus needs to feel relaxed about any kind of program.
She wants the good feelings of exercising her body, and the pleasure of knowing that her body and mind are in control. A sure-fire way for Taurus to stick to a self-care routine is to “pay” herself for every good action she takes toward caring for herself. This can be in the form of a treat such as a new scarf or eating dinner out, or as a certain amount of money that she moves into a savings account. For all of Taurus’s appreciation for the finer things, she understands the importance of spending her money wisely and a boost to her savings will be just the motivation she needs to reach her goals.
In terms of her soul development, Taurus shares an intimate relationship with both spirituality and the physical world. She views the two as entwined, each growing and balancing the other. Spirituality also goes hand in hand with generosity and kindness for Taurus, and as a nature lover, this kindness extends to the earth. Restorative self-care practices for Taurus will allow her to balance her spirituality with her love for the natural world. Strong and patient just like her element, earth, Taurus values stability and determination. What she shows is that steady progress can bring about actions that make a difference in both personal well-being and the well-being of the world around her.
Be they physical or mental, self-care practices are vital to a healthy, happy Bull. So let’s take a look at the self-care activities tailored specifically to you, Taurus.