Signs are Seasons

Taurus occupies the middle of the spring season in the Northern Hemisphere. The signs in the middle of seasons are called fixed signs (Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius are the others). They tend to resist change. Their purpose is not to stop movement, but to ensure a consistency of values.

Earthy Taurus is about appreciating the natural forces of this planet, its people and plants. It is, in some ways, the sign of the Garden of Eden; it is about enjoying the pleasures of this world. The essence of Taurus, then, is not doing, but simply being. Just stop a moment to feel your body, to smell the air, to sense the light on your face. Physical sensation in its most positive forms are the essence of Taurus.

Comfort or Indulgence

This appreciation for physical pleasure is a reminder that we are each worthy, even without expending effort. At its best, this is the essence of self-acceptance. "I am worthy because I exist," may well be the Taurus motto. The strength of this perspective is that it reduces our anxiety to do, to become someone or make something happen in order to be worthy.

Real self-acceptance is, of course, very healthy. It allows a person to enjoy herself and appreciate her gifts. But, there is also a kind of false self-acceptance that can be associated with Taurus. This is self-indulgent and lazy. It's not about confidence, it's really about fear. The challenge is to transform worth into action. Potential alone will not change the world or improve your life. Yes, meditative moments, walks on the beach and massages do remind us of the sweetness of life and can be delicious. But, growth and change also require action.

When self-acceptance is rooted in real appreciation, rather than resignation or denial, it is inherently dynamic. The in-breath is always followed by an out-breath. The healthy expression of Taurus then becomes highly productive.

The Money Sign?

Taurus, and its key planet Venus, are often associated with money. This, however, can be misleading. Sure, Taurus likes stuff, particularly high quality expensive stuff. It can be possessive, too. But one of the secrets of money is that it is about exchange, that it has no real value by itself.

While Taurus often knows a good thing when he sees it, the idea of exchange is not always easy for this sign to grasp. It needs to learn to give if it's going to get. The risks of sharing can complicate the bull's simple life, but Taurus needs to know about this to be materially successful.

The Non-Material Taurus

Although Taurus is essentially about the physical world, there is another path that some born in this sign have taken. In the pursuit of peace, awareness and the essence of comfort, many bulls are attracted to sprituality.

Foremost among these was the Buddha. Prince Gautama was a Taurus born into a world of luxury and leisure. But his desire for real value and meaning led him down a very different path. The truth, he found, was not in the world bound by flesh and ego, but in the spirit.

Perhaps the reason is that, at its highest levels, Taurus is about enduring values. The flesh will not endure,