With the Sun in earthy Taurus, your main apprehension in life is the real world around you. You do not have much time for non-figurative thought. Unless, that is, you can turn it into something useful in the here and now. Which you usually succeed in doing, as you have colossal strength and determination. What you build is built to last, and, as Taurus is a fixed sign, you hardly ever change your mind once you have decided on a certain course of action, which means you can be persistent. You are slow to anger, but once your blood is up, you can hold grudges, and, although you are faithful and true, you can also be controlling about those you care for, as what you own is of great significance to you, whether it is love or money. Most importantly, perhaps, as the sign that rules the earth when it turns green in springtime, sensuous, fruitful Taurus is concerned with sensual pleasures and with nurturing new life.

Your ruling planet
Born from the white foam of the sea, Venus is the goddess of beauty, love and happiness. The brightest of the planets, known to us as both the Evening and the Morning Star, belongs to her. It governs harmony, friendship, affection and relatedness of every kind - as well as sensuality and lust. Its position at birth shows how you love, and whom.

Taurus, the bull, is one of the most ancient symbols of fertility and authority and was sacred to the Great Goddess. The white 'Bull of Heaven' was created at the behest of Ishtar, the barbaric Babylonian Venus, in order to obliterate Gilgamesh, the world's first hero, who had spurned her favours. He accused her of destroying all her lovers, which incorporated lions and horses. The oldest known zodiac was measured from the eye of the Bull, the great 'red giant', Aldebaran, 'The Watcher in the East', which was also the star of the archangel Michael. Taurus, with its 'V' shaped face of stars, lies to the north of the Great Hunter, Orion on the zodiac band

The pleasantly aromatic damask rose, the violet and primrose, as well as the soft mallow and vervain, sacred to the druids, are the flowers of the voluptuous planet, Venus, and so of Taurus. Your trees are the apple, the apricot and cherry, the birch, the tamarind and the myrtle, with its sweet, incense-scented leaves. Your herbs are pennyroyal, tansy and yarrow.

Your essential oils are pennyroyal, rose and violet. Pennyroyal, which is said to bring harmony between lovers, is elevating and invigorating, while sumptuous rose and subtle violet soothe and synchronize your powerful Taurean emotions.

The emerald is the prized stone of Taurus, the sign of the earth when it turns green in spring and life returns after the long winter. The physical world and life's uncomplicated - and sensual - pleasures belong to Taurus. The emerald's rich green reflects the earth's abundance and fertility. To wear one is to draw these aspects of existence to you. Taurus is also a fixed earth sign, strong, enduring and trustworthy, and, in many lands, green is the colour of the faithful. It was also thought to give prophetic powers to intensify sensitivity to others.