The Meaning of Taurus in Astrology

Taurus Quick Facts:
Dates: April 20 – May 20
Day of the Week: Friday
Symbol: The Bull
Glyph: ♉︎
Body Part: Neck, throat, vocal chords, tonsils
Ruling Planet: Venus

Symbolism

Taurus is symbolized by the bull. Bulls were revered in ancient Mesopotamian and Near Eastern cultures as symbols of strength, abundance, and power. They went hand in hand with the deities that symbolize fertility. In Greek mythology, there’s the story of the Cretan Bull. Poseidon, the god of the sea, gives the Cretan Bull to King Minos of Crete. King Minos was completely unable to handle the bull’s ferocity, and it became utterly uncontrollable.

Bulls are notoriously determined creatures. Like the bull, Taureans are grounded, persistent, and perhaps a bit (or a lot) stubborn. Their steadfast nature can be one of their greatest strengths or greatest pitfalls. Taurus individuals seek stability and consistency above all else, making them very reliable and predictable. They’re unwavering in their ideas and beliefs, which helps them to stay focused on their pursuits. The symbolism of Taurus as the bull emphasizes their quiet but powerful resilience. 

Ruling Planet

Each sign in the zodiac has a ruling planet. The planets dictate how the signs behave and shape how they express themselves. By understanding the ruling planets and what role they play in a chart, we can better understand someone’s temperament, potential life path, and areas of focus or challenge in a birth chart.

This is one of many reasons why every birth chart is unique. Not every person born under a certain zodiac sign will have their sign’s ruling planet in the same house, sign, or making the same aspects to other planets. When reading a chart, all parts of the chart need to be taken into account, not just one.

For example, a Taurus placement (ruled by Venus) with their Venus in Aries (the sign of its fall) will have a much different expression of their Taurus traits than if Venus was in a more comfortable place, like Pisces (the sign of its exaltation).

While ruling planets are by no means the sole determinant in a birth chart, they are significant factors in the intricate tapestry of astrology.

Taurus is ruled by Venus, the planet of love, beauty, and pleasure. Venus is a benefic planet in astrology, meaning it is one of the most positive planets in a chart (after Jupiter, the Great Benefic). It governs our relationships, aesthetics, creativity, values, money, and material possessions. Venus is all about what makes life sweet. 

Venus is also the ruler of Libra, which is a cardinal air sign. When ruling Libra, Venus promotes balance, harmony, and fairness. But with Taurus, a fixed Earth sign, Venus becomes much more focused on loyalty, stability, sensual pleasures, and material comforts. 

Taurus has a strong connection to the physical world, and so they’re always searching for a taste of luxury. They enjoy indulging all of their five senses whenever they can. They can be quite hedonistic as they seek worldly comforts.

You can catch a Taurus shopping for quality clothes, breathing in heavily scents, eating delicious foods, or adorning themselves with fine jewelry. 

Element

In astrology, each zodiac sign is classified by one of the four elements: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. We can look at the elements as shared traits between the signs, shaping the way each sign approaches life, relationships, and the world around them. Virgo is one of the three Earth signs, along with Capricorn and Taurus.

Earth signs are grounded, pragmatic individuals. Their focus trends towards practicality, concerned with matters such as financial security and tangible results. These signs are diligent and responsible, and work hard towards their goals.

Having a secure environment is vital for an Earth sign’s wellbeing. But because they seek stability at all costs, they can also stay in unproductive situations longer than they should to avoid sacrificing their comfort.

As an Earth sign ruled by Venus, Taurus has a special affinity for the outdoors and connecting with the beauty of nature.

Modality

 

Aside from their element group, each zodiac sign is part of a specific modality: cardinal, mutable, and fixed. The modality of a sign represents the part of the season that the sign falls in. It mostly describes the way that a sign approaches change and what role they play in the cycle of life. Virgo is one of the four mutable signs, along with Sagittarius, Pisces, and Gemini. It is the only mutable Earth sign.

Fixed signs come in the middle of a season, after the cardinals have introduced a new way of life and before the mutables lead the next transition. The purpose of fixed signs is to maintain what has already been established. People born under these signs possess a strong willpower and a consistent approach to life.

They’re more resistant to change than the mutables or the cardinals, preferring consistency above all else. This is where Taurus signs get their stubborn reputation from, as they tend not to stray from what has already been tested and true. Once they find what works for them, they stick to it. 

Strengths & Weaknesses

Taurus Sun Celebrities