Zodiac Signs, Signs of the Zodiac, Astrology Signs, Taurus FREE Psychic Chat tap here... Your Zodiac Sign :: Taurus As the zodiac unfolds, and after the trail blazing and initiating energy of Aries, comes stable, patient Taurus helping to make sense and add structure and form. The glyph (graphic of this sign) is of the Bull. Yet paradoxically the ruling planet of this sign is Venus, the planet of love and beauty. Whilst Taurans can be willful and stubborn, they are also capable of being very gentle too. The symbolism of Taurus is of procreation, of all natural reproductive forces. In mythology, it was said that Aphrodite was represented as wearing two horns on her head to imitate a bull. But within this there is also a weird tie-up here between Mars and Venus, the two yet very different planets of love and sexuality. In terms of material resources and the unfolding of the zodiac, the Fixed quality of Taurus along with its elemental rulership of Earth, often makes Taurans highly concerned with values, though not necessarily materialism - though this can be a failing. Some Taurans find great happiness living a very simple life.

This could be in working part-time, making the most of an allotment or small holding and improving their homes through the patient marshaling of resources. Yet other Taurans can take great pleasure in a totally calorific lifestyle of much wine and good food and plenty of excursions to the shopping mall to indulge in some serious retail therapy. Not only can this stretch the patience of their personal banker but also the elastic in their waistlines! But the bigger picture shows Taurans to be constant, able to work towards long term goals but who can get stuck in ruts of beliefs or attitudes which makes them closed to evolving as easily as some signs. Taurans are without doubt very sensual however, and make ardent lovers and stable long term partners. However, obstinate sometimes jealous attitudes, can be very damaging to relationships and Taurans can have a tendency to try to take the object of their affection away from other distractions, which over time can starve the relationship of air and new influences. Famous Taurans include: Queen Elizabeth II, reformer Oliver Cromwell, playright Will Shakespear, Adolph Hitler, daddy of analysists Sigmund Freud, singer/actress Cher and footballer David Beckham.

Read more Taurus horoscope readings Taurus - The Bull - Astrology - The White Goddess Taurus, the second sign of the zodiac, is represented as a bull. In the earliest Egyptian and Babylonian, Taurus is also depicted as a bull. Taurus - The Bull - Astrology - The White Goddess Home ï¿½ Divination ï¿½ Astrology ï¿½ Taurus - The Bull Taurus - The Bull Taurus - The Bull - 21 April - 20 May A Feminine, Fixed Earth sign. Taurus, the second sign of the zodiac, is represented as a bull. In the earliest Egyptian and Babylonian, Taurus is also depicted as a bull. In the esoteric tradition Taurus represents earthiness and fecundity, growth and incarnation.surrounding the Earth, whilst the sign zodiac features the relative position between the Sun and the Earth.

Correspondences Tattoo Ideas: Zodiac Signs -- Taurus | TatRing Tattoo Ideas: Zodiac Signs -- Taurus Tattoo Ideas: Zodiac Signs -- Taurus Updated on May 13, 2016 Joined: 9 years agoFollowers: 1,360Articles: 225 1393 Taurus the Bull zodiac symbol Taurus (April 21-May 22) Taurus is the second sign in the astrological zodiac and is represented by the symbol of a bull. It is an earth sign, and those born under this sign are ruled by the planet Venus (which also rules Libra). When illustrated, the Taurean symbol is a round circle topped by a squiggly U shape to form the appearance of a bull head with horns. Being housed under the sign of the bull, Tauruses are characteristically stubborn, determined, strong, and believes in standing up for what is right. Although often blamed for being headstrong, a Taurus's stubborness is sometimes actually rebelliousness. Taurus is acutely aware of her inner worth and very sensitive to moments when she is being underappreciated as a girlfriend, daughter or friend.

Taurus is calm, level-headed and down to earth, able to objectively view all sides of a problem. They are also very emotional and tend to be shy, reserved and introverted. They are creative individuals who value family, trust, honesty, consistency and stability. Taurus is the most sensual sign in the zodiac--her ruling planet of Venus, Goddess of Love, can account for that. Taureans experience life primarily through all five (and sometimes six) senses, all of which are greatly heightened. They are loyal and deeply romantic. They crave touch, affection, interaction and often feel their lives are not complete without true intimacy. They do not share this intimacy with just anyone, however. There must be an inherent sense of trust before Taurus will give over freely. But once they are willing to give that love--watch out! They will be willing to give it forever. Highly sensitive and sentimental, a beautiful sunset can move them to tears. Taurus's sexuality is strong. They enjoy making love, especially if there's music playing in the background to set the mood, and believe in having a healthy, well rounded sex life. Nobody loves food more than a Taurus, yet at the same time they can be quite picky eaters.

Taurus is one of four fixed signs in the zodiac, and as such they desire security, though not necessarily financially. Emotional security is much more important to them. Because they are a fixed sign, they tend to stick with what they know works as opposed to trying new and different things on a frequent basis. Taurus rules the neck, throat, ears and lower jaw. Taurus women traditionally have gorgeous collarbones and lovely, slender necklines. Many are phenomenal singers. The downside is that they are prone to throat-related problems, such as recurrent incidents of strep throat, colds that settle in the throat, coughs, persistent earaches, stiff necks and other injuries. Taurus is Negative in polarity (along with Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces). Negative signs are generally introverted and introspective. They are much more likely to look inward, drawing upon their own inner reserves of strength and wisdom, as opposed to looking outward towar external stimuli. Negative signs are naturally more nurturing than the Positive signs (Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius and Aquarius). The downside is that Negative signs are more cautious and standoffish than Positive signs.

More than any other sign, Taurus will stew silently and keep their feelings under tight control. Advertisement Taurus: The Bull | Zodiac Signs! Taurus: The Bull Dates: April 20 - May 21 Element: Earth Taurus (♉) (the Latin word for bull) is the second astrological sign in theZodiac. It spans the 30-60th degree of the zodiac, between 27.25 and 54.75 degree of celestial longitude. Under the tropic zodiac, the Sun transits this area on average between April 21 and May 21 each year. Under the sidereal zodiac, the sun currently transits the constellation of Taurus from May 16 to June 15 (approximately). Individuals born during these dates, depending on which system of astrology they subscribe to, may be called Taureans.[1] The symbol of the bull is based on the Cretan Bull, the white bull that fathered the Minotaurand was killed by Hercules.[2] History Taurus used to be the first sign of the zodiacs, because it indicated the vernal equinox.

However, currently, it is now the second sign of the zodiacs, although Taurus is still associated with the renewal of spring. Taurus, meaning bull in Latin, was chosen to represent this kind of personality to portray a strong willed character with great perseverance and determination. Also, in Egypt, Taurus was seen as a representation of the cow goddess Hathor. The cow goddess Hathor was the goddess of beauty, love, and happiness, and she represented all of the riches seen in cattle as the providers of nourishment. Taurus is also ruled by the Roman goddess Venus (the goddess of beauty). ~Wikipedia.com~ Personality : Sporty, adventurous, stubborn, hot-tempered. Sign Ruler: Venus and Terra Secret Teachings of All Ages: The Zodiac and Its Signs p. 53 The Zodiac and Its Signs IT is difficult for this age to estimate correctly the profound effect produced upon the religions, philosophies, and sciences of antiquity by the study of the planets, luminaries, and constellations. Not without adequate reason were the Magi of Persia called the Star Gazers.

The Egyptians were honored with a special appellation because of their proficiency in computing the power and motion of the heavenly bodies and their effect upon the destinies of nations and individuals. Ruins of primitive astronomical observatories have been discovered in all parts of the world, although in many cases modern archæologists are unaware of the true purpose for which these structures were erected. While the telescope was unknown to ancient astronomers, they made many remarkable calculations with instruments cut from blocks of granite or pounded from sheets of brass and cop per. In India such instruments are still in use, and they posses a high degree of accuracy. In Jaipur, Rajputana, India, an observatory consisting largely of immense stone sundials is still in operation. The famous Chinese observatory on the wall of Peking consists of immense bronze instruments, including a telescope in the form of a hollow tube without lenses. The pagans looked upon the stars as living things, capable of influencing the destinies of individuals, nations, and races.

That the early Jewish patriarchs believed that the celestial bodies participated in the affairs of men is evident to any student of Biblical literature, as, for example, in the Book of Judges: "They fought from heaven, even the stars in their courses fought against Sisera." The Chaldeans, Phnicians, Egyptians, Persians, Hindus, and Chinese all had zodiacs that were much alike in general character, and different authorities have credited each of these nations with being the cradle of astrology and astronomy. The Central and North American Indians also had an understanding of the zodiac, but the patterns and numbers of the signs differed in many details from those of the Eastern Hemisphere. The word zodiac is derived from the Greek ζωδιακός (zodiakos), which means "a circle of animals," or, as some believe, "little animals." It is the name given by the old pagan astronomers to a band of fixed stars about sixteen degrees wide, apparently encircling the earth.

Robert Hewitt Brown, 32°, states that the Greek word zodiakos comes from zo-on, meaning "an animal." He adds: "This latter word is compounded directly from the primitive Egyptian radicals, zo, life, and on, a being." The Greeks, and later other peoples influenced by their culture, divided the band of the zodiac into twelve sections, each being sixteen degrees in width and thirty degrees in length. These divisions were called the Houses of the Zodiac. The sun during its annual pilgrimage passed through each of these in turn, Imaginary creatures were traced in the Star groups bounded by these rectangles; and because most of them were animal--or part animal--in form, they later became known as the Constellations, or Signs, of the Zodiac. There is a popular theory concerning the origin of the zodiacal creatures to the effect that they were products of the imagination of shepherds, who, watching their flocks at night, occupied their minds by tracing the forms of animals and birds in the heavens. This theory is untenable, unless the "shepherds" be regarded as the shepherd priests of antiquity. It is unlikely that the zodiacal signs were derived from the star groups which they now represent.

It is far more probable that the creatures assigned to the twelve houses are symbolic of the qualities and intensity of the sun's power while it occupies different parts of the zodiacal belt. On this subject Richard Payne Knight writes: "The emblematical meaning, which certain animals were employed to signify, was only some particular property generalized; and, therefore, might easily be invented or discovered by the natural operation of the mind: but the collections of stars, named after certain animals, have no resemblance whatever to those animals; which are therefore merely signs of convention adopted to distinguish certain portions of the heavens, which were probably consecrated to those particular personified attributes, which they respectively represented." (The Symbolical Language of Ancient Art and Mythology.) Some authorities are of the opinion that the zodiac was originally divided into ten (instead of twelve) houses, or "solar mansions." In early times there were two separate standards--one solar and the other lunar--used for the measurement of the months, years, and seasons. The solar year was composed of ten months of thirty-six days each, and five days sacred to the gods. The lunar year consisted of thirteen months of twenty-eight days each, with one day left over.

The solar zodiac at that time consisted often houses of thirty-six degrees each. The first six signs of the zodiac of twelve signs were regarded as benevolent, because the sun occupied them while traversing the Northern Hemisphere. The 6,000 years during which, according to the Persians, Ahura-Mazda ruled His universe in harmony and peace, were symbolic of these six signs. The second six were considered malevolent, because while the sun was traveling the Southern Hemisphere it was winter with the Greeks, Egyptians, and Persians. Therefore these six months symbolic of the 6,000 years of misery and suffering caused by the evil genius of the Persians, Ahriman, who sought to overthrow the power of Ahura-Mazda. Those who hold the opinion that before its revision by the Greeks the zodiac consisted of only ten signs adduce evidence to show that Libra (the Scales) was inserted into the zodiac by dividing the constellation of Virgo Scorpio (at that time one sign) into two parts, thus establishing "the balance" at the point of equilibrium between the ascending northern and the descending southern signs.

(See The Rosicrucians, Their Rites and Mysteries, by Hargrave Jennings.) On this subject Isaac Myer states: "We think that the Zodiacal constellations were first ten and represented an immense androgenic man or deity; subsequently this was changed, resulting in Scorpio and Virgo and making eleven; after this from Scorpio, Libra, the Balance, was taken, making the present twelve." (The Qabbalah.) Each year the sun passes entirely around the zodiac and returns to the point from which it started--the vernal equinox--and each year it falls just a little short of making the complete circle of the heavens in the allotted period of time. As a result, it crosses the equator just a little behind the spot in the zodiacal sign where it crossed the previous year. Each sign of the zodiac consists of thirty degrees, and as the sun loses about one degree every seventy two years, it regresses through one entire constellation (or sign) in approximately 2,160 years, and through the entire zodiac in about [paragraph continues] CHART SHOWING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE HUMAN BODY AND THE EXTERIOR UNIVERSE.

From Kircher's dipus Ægyptiacus. The ornamental border contains groups of names of animal, mineral, and vegetable substances, Their relationship to corresponding parts of the human body is shown by the dotted lines. The words in capital letters on the dotted lines indicate to what corporeal member, organ, or disease, the herb or other substance is related. The favorable positions in relation to the time of year are shown by the signs of the zodiac, each house of which is divided by crosses into its three decans. This influence is further emphasized by the series of planetary signs placed on either side of the figure. Click to enlarge THE EQUINOXES AND SOLSTICES. The plane of the zodiac intersects the celestial equator at an angle of approximately 23° 28'. The two points of intersection (A and B) are called the equinoxes. p. 54 25,920 years. (Authorities disagree concerning these figures.) This retrograde motion is called the precession of the equinoxes.

This means that in the course of about 25,920 years, which constitute one Great Solar or Platonic Year, each one of the twelve constellations occupies a position at the vernal equinox for nearly 2,160 years, then gives place to the previous sign. Among the ancients the sun was always symbolized by the figure and nature of the constellation through which it passed at the vernal equinox. For nearly the past 2,000 years the sun has crossed the equator at the vernal equinox in the constellation of Pisces (the Two Fishes). For the 2,160 years before that it crossed through the constellation of Aries (the Ram). Prior to that the vernal equinox was in the sign of Taurus (the Bull). It is probable that the form of the bull and the bull's proclivities were assigned to this constellation because the bull was used by the ancients to plow the fields, and the season set aside for plowing and furrowing corresponded to the time at which the sun reached the segment of the heavens named Taurus.

Albert Pike describes the reverence which the Persians felt for this sign and the method of astrological symbolism in vogue among them, thus: "In Zoroaster's cave of initiation, the Sun and Planets were represented, overhead, in gems and gold, as was also the Zodiac. The Sun appeared, emerging from the back of Taurus. " In the constellation of the Bull are also to be found the "Seven Sisters"--the sacred Pleiades--famous to Freemasonry as the Seven Stars at the upper end of the Sacred Ladder. In ancient Egypt it was during this period--when the vernal equinox was in the sign of Taurus--that the Bull, Apis, was sacred to the Sun God, who was worshiped through the animal equivalent of the celestial sign which he had impregnated with his presence at the time of its crossing into the Northern Hemisphere. This is the meaning of an ancient saying that the celestial Bull "broke the egg of the year with his horns." Sampson Arnold Mackey, in his Mythological Astronomy of the Ancients Demonstrated, makes note of two very interesting points concerning the bull in Egyptian symbolism. Mr.

Mackey is of the opinion that the motion of the earth that we know as the alternation of the poles has resulted in a great change of relative position of the equator and the zodiacal band. He believes that originally the band of the zodiac was at right angles to the equator, with the sign of Cancer opposite the north pole and the sign of Capricorn opposite the south pole. It is possible that the Orphic symbol of the serpent twisted around the egg attempts to show the motion of the sun in relation to the earth under such conditions. Mr. Mackey advances the Labyrinth of Crete, the name Abraxas, and the magic formula, abracadabra, among other things, to substantiate his theory. Concerning abracadabra he states: "But the slow progressive disappearance of the Bull is most happily commemorated in the vanishing series of letters so emphatically expressive of the great astronomical fact. For ABRACADABRA is The Bull, the only Bull. The ancient sentence split into its component parts stands thus: Ab'r-achad-ab'ra, i.

e., Ab'r, the Bull; achad, the only, &c.--Achad is one of the names of the Sun, given him in consequence of his Shining ALONE,--he is the ONLY Star to be seen when he is seen--the remaining ab'ra, makes the whole to be, The Bull, the only Bull; while the repetition of the name omitting a letter, till all is gone, is the most simple, yet the most satisfactory method that could have been devised to preserve the memory of the fact; and the name of Sorapis, or Serapis, given to the Bull at the above ceremony puts it beyond all doubt. * * * This word (Abracadabra) disappears in eleven decreasing stages; as in the figure. And what is very remarkable, a body with three heads is folded up by a Serpent with eleven Coils, and placed by Sorapis: and the eleven Volves of the Serpent form a triangle similar to that formed by the ELEVEN diminishing lines of the abracadabra." Nearly every religion of the world shows traces of astrological influence. The Old Testament of the Jews, its writings overshadowed by Egyptian culture, is a mass of astrological and astronomical allegories.

Nearly all the mythology of Greece and Rome may be traced in star groups. Some writers are of the opinion that the original twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet were derived from groups of stars, and that the starry handwriting on the wall of the heavens referred to words spelt out, with fixed stars for consonants, and the planets, or luminaries, for vowels. These, coming into ever-different combinations, spelt words which, when properly read, foretold future events. As the zodiacal band marks the pathway of the sun through the constellations, it results in the phenomena of the seasons. The ancient systems of measuring the year were based upon the equinoxes and the solstices. The year always began with the vernal equinox, celebrated March 21 with rejoicing to mark the moment when the sun crossed the equator northward up the zodiacal arc. The summer solstice was celebrated when the sun reached its most northerly position, and the day appointed was June 21. After that time the sun began to descend toward the equator, which it recrossed southbound at the autumnal equinox, September 21.

The sun reached its most southerly position at the winter solstice, December 21. Four of the signs of the zodiac have been permanently dedicated to the equinoxes and the solstices; and, while the signs no longer correspond with the ancient constellations to which they were assigned, and from which they secured their names, they are accepted by modern astronomers as a basis of calculation. The vernal equinox is therefore said to occur in the constellation of Aries (the Ram). It is fitting that of all beasts a Ram should be placed at the head of the heavenly flock forming the zodiacal band. Centuries before the Christian Era, the pagans revered this constellation. Godfrey Higgins states: "This constellation was called the 'Lamb of God.' He was also called the 'Savior,' and was said to save mankind from their sins. He was always honored with the appellation of 'Dominus' or 'Lord.' He was called the 'Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.' The devotees addressing him in their litany, constantly repeated the words, 'O Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.

Grant us Thy peace."' Therefore, the Lamb of God is a title given to the sun, who is said to be reborn every year in the Northern Hemisphere in the sign of the Ram, although, due to the existing discrepancy between the signs of the zodiac and the actual star groups, it actually rises in the sign of Pisces. The summer solstice is regarded as occurring in Cancer (the Crab), which the Egyptians called the scarab--a beetle of the family Lamellicornes, the head of the insect kingdom, and sacred to the Egyptians as the symbol of Eternal Life. It is evident that the constellation of the Crab is represented by this peculiar creature because the sun, after passing through this house, proceeds to walk backwards, or descend the zodiacal arc. Cancer is the symbol of generation, for it is the house of the Moon, the great Mother of all things and the patroness of the life forces of Nature. Diana, the moon goddess of the Greeks, is called the Mother of the World.

Concerning the worship of the feminine or maternal principle, Richard Payne Knight writes: "By attracting or heaving the waters of the ocean, she naturally appeared to be the sovereign of humidity; and by seeming to operate so powerfully upon the constitutions of women, she equally appeared to be the patroness and regulatress of nutrition and passive generation: whence she is said to have received her nymphs, or subordinate personifications, from the ocean; and is often represented by the symbol of the sea crab, an animal that has the property of spontaneously detaching from its own body any limb that has been hurt or mutilated, and reproducing another in its place." (The Symbolical Language of Ancient Art and Mythology.) This water sign, being symbolic of the maternal principle of Nature, and recognized by the pagans as the origin of all life, was a natural and consistent domicile of the moon. The autumnal equinox apparently occurs in the constellation of Libra (the Balances). The scales tipped and the solar globe began its pilgrimage toward the house of winter. The constellation of the Scales was placed in the zodiac to symbolize the power of choice, by means of which man may weigh one problem against another.

Millions of years ago, when the human race was in the making, man was like the angels, who knew neither good nor evil. He fell into the state of the knowledge of good and evil when the gods gave him the seed for the mental nature. From man's mental reactions to his environments he distills the product of experience, which then aids him to regain his lost position plus an individualized intelligence. Paracelsus said: "The body comes from the elements, the soul from the stars, and the spirit from God. All that the intellect can conceive of comes from the stars [the spirits of the stars, rather than the material constellations]." The constellation of Capricorn, in which the winter solstice theoretically takes place, was called The House of Death, for in winter all life in the Northern Hemisphere is at its lowest ebb. Capricorn is a composite creature, with the head and upper body of a goat and the tail of a fish. In this constellation the sun is least powerful THE MICROCOSM. From Schotus' Margarita Philosophica. The pagans believed that the zodiac formed the body of the Grand Man of the Universe.

This body, which they called the Macrocosm (the Great World), was divided into twelve major parts, one of which was under the control of the celestial powers reposing in each of the zodiacal constellations. Believing that the entire universal system was epitomized in man's body, which they called the Microcosm (the Little World), they evolved that now familiar figure of "the cut-up man in the almanac" by allotting a sign of the zodiac to each of twelve major parts of the human body. p. 55 in the Northern Hemisphere, and after passing through this constellation it immediately begins to increase. Hence the Greeks said that Jupiter (a name of the Sun God) was suckled by a goat.

A new and different sidelight on zodiacal symbolism is supplied by John Cole, in A Treatise on the Circular Zodiac of Tentyra, in Egypt: "The symbol therefore of the Goat rising from the body of a fish [Capricorn], represents with the greatest propriety the mountainous buildings of Babylon rising out of its low and marshy situation; the two horns of the Goat being emblematical of the two towns, Nineveh and Babylon, the former built on the Tigris, the latter on the Euphrates; but both subjected to one sovereignty." The period of 2,160 years required for the regression of the sun through one of the zodiacal constellations is often termed an age. According to this system, the age secured its name from the sign through which the sun passes year after year as it crosses the equator at the vernal equinox. From this arrangement are derived the terms The Taurian Age, The Aryan Age, The Piscean Age, and The Aquarian Age. During these periods, or ages, religious worship takes the form of the appropriate celestial sign--that which the sun is said to assume as a personality in the same manner that a spirit assumes a body.

These twelve signs are the jewels of his breastplate and his light shines forth from them, one after the other. From a consideration of this system, it is readily understood why certain religious symbols were adopted during different ages of the earth's history; for during the 2,160 years the sun was in the constellation of Taurus, it is said that the Solar Deity assumed the body of Apis, and the Bull became sacred to Osiris. (For details concerning the astrological ages as related to Biblical symbolism, see The Message of the Stars by Max and Augusta Foss Heindel.) During the Aryan Age the Lamb was held sacred and the priests were called shepherds. Sheep and goats were sacrificed upon the altars, and a scapegoat was appointed to bear the sins of Israel. During the Age of Pisces, the Fish was the symbol of divinity and the Sun God fed the multitude with two small fishes. The frontispiece of Inman's Ancient Faiths shows the goddess Isis with a fish on her head; and the Indian Savior God, Christna, in one of his incarnations was cast from the mouth of a fish.

Not only is Jesus often referred to as the Fisher of Men, but as John P. Lundy writes: "The word Fish is an abbreviation of this whole title, Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior, and Cross; or as St. Augustine expresses it, 'If you join together the initial letters of the five Greek words, Ἰησοῦς Χριστος Θεου Υιὸσ Σωτήρ, which mean Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior, they will make ΙΧΘΥΣ, Fish, in which word Christ is mystically understood, because He was able to live in the abyss of this mortality as in the depth of waters, that is, without sin.'" (Monumental Christianity.) Many Christians observe Friday, which is sacred to the Virgin (Venus), upon which day they shall eat fish and not meat. The sign of the fish was one of the earliest symbols of Christianity; and when drawn upon the sand, it informed one Christian that another of the same faith was near. Aquarius is called the Sign of the Water Bearer, or the man with a jug of water on his shoulder mentioned in the New Testament.

This is sometimes shown as an angelic figure, supposedly androgynous, either pouring water from an urn or carrying the vessel upon its shoulder. Among Oriental peoples, a water vessel alone is often used. Edward Upham, in his History and Doctrine of Budhism, describes Aquarius as being "in the shape of a pot and of a color between blue and yellow; this Sign is the single house of Saturn." When Herschel discovered the planet Uranus (sometimes called by the name of its discoverer), the second half of the sign of Aquarius was allotted to this added member of the planetary family. The water pouring from the urn of Aquarius under the name of "the waters of eternal life" appears many times in symbolism. So it is with all the signs. Thus the sun in its path controls whatever form of worship man offers to the Supreme Deity. There are two distinct systems of astrological philosophy. One of them, the Ptolemaic, is geocentric: the earth is considered the center of the solar system, around which the sun, moon, and planets revolve.

Astronomically, the geocentric system is incorrect; but for thousands of years it has proved its accuracy when applied to the material nature of earthly things. A careful consideration of the writings of the great occultists and a study of their diagrams reveal the fact that many of them were acquainted with another method of arranging the heavenly bodies. The other system of astrological philosophy is called the heliocentric. This posits the sun in the center of the solar system, where it naturally belongs, with the planets and their moons revolving about it. The great difficulty, however, with the heliocentric system is that, being comparatively new, there has not been sufficient time to experiment successfully and catalogue the effects of its various aspects and relationships. Geocentric astrology, as its name implies, is confined to the earthy side of nature, while heliocentric astrology may be used to analyze the higher intellectual and spiritual faculties of man. The important point to be remembered is that when the sun was said to be in a certain sign of the zodiac, the ancients really meant that the sun occupied the opposite sign and cast its long ray into the house in which they enthroned it.

Therefore, when it is said that the sun is in Taurus, it means (astronomically) that the sun is in the sign opposite to Taurus, which is Scorpio. This resulted in two distinct schools of philosophy: one geocentric and exoteric, the other heliocentric and esoteric. While the ignorant multitudes worshiped the house of the sun's reflection, which in the case described would be the Bull, the wise revered the house of the sun's actual dwelling, which would be the Scorpion, or the Serpent, the symbol of the concealed spiritual mystery. This sign has three different symbols. The most common is that of a Scorpion, who was called by the ancients the backbiter, being the symbol of deceit and perversion; the second (and less common) form of the sign is a Serpent, often used by the ancients to symbolize wisdom. Probably the rarest form of Scorpio is that of an Eagle. The arrangement of the stars of the constellation bears as much resemblance to a flying bird as to a scorpion.

Scorpio, being the sign of occult initiation, the flying eagle--the king of birds--represents the highest and most spiritual type of Scorpio, in which it transcends the venomous insect of the earth. As Scorpio and Taurus are opposite each other in the zodiac, their symbolism is often closely intermingled. The Hon. E. M. Plunket, in Ancient Calendars and Constellations, says: "The Scorpion (the constellation Scorpio of the Zodiac opposed to Taurus) joins with Mithras in his attack upon the Bull, and always the genii of the spring and autumn equinoxes are present in joyous and mournful attitudes." The Egyptians, the Assyrians, and the Babylonians, who knew the sun as a Bull, called the zodiac a series of furrows, through which the great celestial Ox dragged the plow of the sun. Hence the populace offered up sacrifice and led through the streets magnificent steers, bedecked with flowers and surrounded with priests, dancing girls of the temple, and musicians. The philosophic elect did not participate in these idolatrous ceremonials, but advocated them as most suitable for the types of mind composing the mass of the population.

These few possessed a far deeper understanding, as the Serpent of Scorpio upon their foreheads--the Uræus--bore witness. The sun is often symbolized with its rays in the form of a shaggy mane. Concerning the Masonic significance of Leo, Robert Hewitt Brown, 32°, has written: "On the 21st of June, when the sun arrives at the summer solstice, the constellation Leo--being but 30° in advance of the sun--appears to be leading the way, and to aid by his powerful paw in lifting the sun up to the summit of the zodiacal arch. * * * This visible connection between the constellation Leo and the return of the sun to his place of power and glory, at the summit of the Royal Arch of heaven, was the principal reason why that constellation was held in such high esteem and reverence by the ancients. The astrologers distinguished Leo as the 'sole house of the sun,' and taught that the world was created when the sun was in that sign. 'The lion was adored in the East and the West by the Egyptians and the Mexicans.

The chief Druid of Britain was styled a lion.'" (Stellar Theology and Masonic Astronomy.) When the Aquarian Age is thoroughly established, the sun will be in Leo, as will be noted from the explanation previously given in this chapter regarding the distinction between geocentric and heliocentric astrology. Then, indeed, will the secret religions of the world include once more the raising to initiation by the Grip of the Lion's Paw. (Lazarus will come forth.) THE CIRCULAR ZODIAC OF TENTYRA. From Cole's Treatise--the Circular Zodiac of Tentyra, in Egypt. The oldest circular zodiac known is the one found at Tentyra, in Egypt, and now in the possession of the French government. Mr. John Cole describes this remarkable zodiac as follows: "The diameter of the medallion in which the constellations are sculptured, is four feet nine inches, French measure. It is surrounded by another circle of much larger circumference, containing hieroglyphic characters; this second circle is enclosed in a square, whose sides are seven feet nine inches long. * * * The asterisms, constituting the Zodiacal constellations mixed with others, are represented in a spiral.

The extremities of this spiral, after one revolution, are Leo and Cancer. Leo is no doubt at the head. It appears to be trampling on a serpent, and its tail to be held by a woman. Immediately after the Lion comes the Virgin holding an ear of corn, Further on, we perceive two scales of a balance, above which, in a medal lion, is the figure of Harpocrates. Then follows the Scorpion and Sagittarius, to whom the Egyptians gave wings, and two faces. After Sagittarius are successively placed, Capricornus, Aquarius, Pisces, the Ram, the Bull, and the Twins. This Zodiacal procession is, as we have already observed, terminated by Cancer, the Crab." p. 56 The antiquity of the zodiac is much in dispute. To contend that it originated but a mere few thousand years before the Christian Era is a colossal mistake on the part of those who have sought to compile data, concerning its origin.

The zodiac necessarily must be ancient enough to go backward to that period when its signs and symbols coincided exactly with the positions of the constellations whose various creatures in their natural functions exemplified the outstanding features of the sun's activity during each of the twelve months. One author, after many years of deep study on the subject, believed man's concept of the zodiac to be at least five million years old. In all probability it is one of the many things for which the modem world is indebted to the Atlantean or the Lemurian civilizations. About ten thousand years before the Christian Era there was a period of many ages when knowledge of every kind was suppressed, tablets destroyed, monuments torn down, and every vestige of available material concerning previous civilizations completely obliterated. Only a few copper knives, some arrowheads, and crude carvings on the walls of caves bear mute witness of those civilizations which preceded this age of destruction. Here and there a few gigantic structures have remained which, like the strange monoliths on Easter Island, are evidence of lost arts and sciences and lost races. The human race is exceedingly old. Modern science counts its age in tens of thousands of years; occultism, in tens of millions.

There is an old saying that "Mother Earth has shaken many civilizations from her back," and it is not beyond reason that the principles of astrology and astronomy were evolved millions of years before the first white man appeared. The occultists of the ancient world had a most remarkable understanding of the principle of evolution. They recognized all life as being in various stages of becoming. They believed that grains of sand were in the process of becoming human in consciousness but not necessarily in form; that human creatures were in the process of becoming planets; that planets were in the process of becoming solar systems; and that solar systems were in the process of becoming cosmic chains; and so on ad infinitum. One of the stages between the solar system and the cosmic chain was called the zodiac; therefore they taught that at a certain time a solar system breaks up into a zodiac. The house of the zodiac become the thrones for twelve Celestial Hierarchies, or as certain of the ancients state, ten Divine Orders. Pythagoras taught that 10, or the unit of the decimal system, was the most perfect of all numbers, and he symbolized the number ten by the lesser tetractys, an arrangement of ten dots in the form of an upright triangle.

The early star gazers, after dividing the zodiac into its houses, appointed the three brightest scars in each constellation to be the joint rulers of that house. Then they divided the house into three sections of ten degrees each, which they called decans. These, in turn, were divided in half, resulting in the breaking up of the zodiac into seventy-two duodecans of five degrees each. Over each of these duodecans the Hebrews placed a celestial intelligence, or angel, and from this system, has resulted the Qabbalistic arrangement of the seventy-two sacred names, which correspond to the seventy-two flowers, knops, and almonds upon the seven-branched Candlestick of the Tabernacle, and the seventy-two men who were chosen from the Twelve Tribes to represent Israel. The only two signs not already mentioned are Gemini and Sagittarius. The constellation of Gemini is generally represented as two small children, who, according to the ancients, were born out of eggs, possibly the ones that the Bull broke with his horns. The stories concerning Castor and Pollux, and Romulus and Remus, may be the result of amplifying the myths of these celestial Twins. The symbols of Gemini have passed through many modifications.

The one used by the Arabians was the peacock. Two of the important stars in the constellation of Gemini still bear the names of Castor and Pollux. The sign of Gemini is supposed to have been the patron of phallic worship, and the two obelisks, or pillars, in front of temples and churches convey the same symbolism as the Twins. The sign of Sagittarius consists of what the ancient Greeks called a centaur--a composite creature, the lower half of whose body was in the form of a horse, while the upper half was human. The centaur is generally shown with a bow and arrow in his hands, aiming a shaft far off into the stars. Hence Sagittarius stands for two distinct principles: first, it represents the spiritual evolution of man, for the human form is rising from the body of the beast; secondly, it is the symbol of aspiration and ambition, for as the centaur aims his arrow at the stars, so every human creature aims at a higher mark than he can reach.

Albert Churchward, in The Signs and Symbols of Primordial Man, sums up the influence of the zodiac upon religious symbolism in the following words: "The division here [is] in twelve parts, the twelve signs of the Zodiac, twelve tribes of Israel, twelve gates of heaven mentioned in Revelation, and twelve entrances or portals to be passed through in the Great Pyramid, before finally reaching the highest degree, and twelve Apostles in the Christian doctrines, and the twelve original and perfect points in Masonry." The ancients believed that the theory of man's being made in the image of God was to be understood literally. They maintained that the universe was a great organism not unlike the human body, and that every phase and function of the Universal Body had a correspondence in man. The most precious Key to Wisdom that the priests communicated to the new initiates was what they termed the law of analogy. Therefore, to the ancients, the study of the stars was a sacred science, for they saw in the movements of the celestial bodies the ever-present activity of the Infinite Father. The Pythagoreans were often undeservedly criticized for promulgating the so-called doctrine of metempsychosis, or the transmigration of souls.

This concept as circulated among the uninitiated was merely a blind, however, to conceal a sacred truth. Greek mystics believed that the spiritual nature of man descended into material existence from the Milky Way--the seed ground of souls--through one of the twelve gates of the great zodiacal band. The spiritual nature was therefore said to incarnate in the form of the symbolic creature created by Magian star gazers to represent the various zodiacal constellations. If the spirit incarnated through the sign of Aries, it was said to be born in the body of a ram; if in Taurus, in the body of the celestial bull. All human beings were thus symbolized by twelve mysterious creatures through the natures of which they were able to incarnate into the material world. The theory of transmigration was not applicable to the visible material body of man, but rather to the invisible immaterial spirit wandering along the pathway of the stars and sequentially assuming in the course of evolution the forms of the sacred zodiacal animals.

In the Third Book of the Mathesis of Julius Firmicus Maternus appears the following extract concerning the positions of the heavenly bodies at the time of the establishment of the inferior universe: "According to Æsculapius, therefore, and Anubius, to whom especially the divinity Mercury committed the secrets of the astrological science, the geniture of the world is as follows: They constituted the Sun in the 15th part of Leo, the Moon in the 15th part of Cancer, Saturn in the 15th part of Capricorn, Jupiter in the 15th part of Sagittary, Mars in the 15th part of Scorpio, Venus in the 15th part of Libra, Mercury in the 15th part of Virgo, and the Horoscope in the 15th part of Cancer.

Conformably to this geniture, therefore, to these conditions of the stars, and the testimonies which they adduce in confirmation of this geniture, they are of opinion that the destinies of men, also, are disposed in accordance with the above arrangement, as maybe learnt from that book of Æsculapius which is called Μυριογενεσις, (i.e. Ten Thousand, or an innumerable multitude of Genitures) in order that nothing in the several genitures of men may be found to be discordant with the above-mentioned geniture of the world." The seven ages of man are under the control of the planets in the following order: infancy, the moon; childhood, Mercury; adolescence, Venus; maturity, the sun; middle age, Mars; advanced age, Jupiter; and decrepitude and dissolution, Saturn. HIEROGLYPHIC PLAN, By HERMES, OF THE ANCIENT ZODIAC. From Kircher's dipus Ægyptiacus. The inner circle contains the hieroglyph of Hemphta, the triform and pantamorphic deity.

In the six concentric bands surrounding the inner circle are (from within outward): (1) the numbers of the zodiacal houses in figures and also in words; (2) the modern names of the houses.(3) the Greek or the Egyptian names of the Egyptian deities assigned to the houses; (4) the complete figures of these deities; (5) the ancient or the modem zodiacal signs, sometimes both; (6) the number of decans or subdivisions of the houses. What Are The 12 Signs Of The Zodiac? Get A 15 Minute Psychic Reading For Only $10! Call Ask Now Toll Free 24/7: 888-628-1444 What Are The 12 Signs Of The Zodiac? The twelve signs of the zodiac represent twelve astronomical constellations. As the year progresses, the sun moves through each of these constellations in turn. People born when the sun is in a particular constellation are said to have been born under a particular zodiac, or star, sign. Each of the signs of the zodiac is also associated with an element – air, fire, earth or water – and with a ruling celestial body.

It is believed that people born under each star sign share certain personality traits in common. The twelve signs of the zodiac are: Aries (March 21 – April 19) Represented by the ram, Aries is a fire sign ruled by the planet Mars. Arians are thought to be outgoing and adventurous; active, enthusiastic and independent. Although they are born leaders, Arians can sometimes be impulsive, aggressive and self-involved. Taurus (April 20 – May 20) The Bull represents this earth sign. Taureans are ruled by the planet Venus and are considered to be loyal and dependable, generous with time and money, and drawn to security and stability. Those born under the sign of the bull can also be stubborn, possessive, and at times can seem withdrawn from others. Gemini (May 21 – June 20) Often described as “mercurial” for their ruling planet Mercury, people born under the sign of the twins are imaginative, intelligent and creative; they are also the most talkative sign in the zodiac. Gemini is an air sign and Geminis can also be superficial and devious, as well as impulsive.

Cancer (June 21 – July 22) Cancer is a water sign represented by the crab. Ruled by the moon, Cancerians are loyal and dependable, caring and compassionate; they can also be moody, insecure and self-absorbed. Leo (July 23 – August 22) This fire sign is represented by the lion and ruled by the sun. Leos are confident, charismatic and ambitious. They can also be generous and are usually very positive people, but sometimes Leos are also domineering, melodramatic and sensitive to criticism. Virgo (August 23 – September 22) This earth sign is also ruled by the planet Mercury and is represented by the virgin. Virgos are often analytical yet creative; reliable and sensible. Despite their positive traits, Virgos can sometimes seem cold, fussy or narrow-minded. Libra (September 23 – October 22) Ruled by the planet Venus, this air sign is represented by the scales of justice and as such Librans are usually diplomatic in their encounters with others. Librans also tend towards idealism and can be indecisive and unreliable at times.

Scorpio (October 23 – November 21) This water sign is represented by the scorpion and ruled by Pluto. Scorpio is perhaps the most complicated of the twelve signs of the zodiac. Scorpios are passionate, loyal and wise, but can also be jealous, obsessive, suspicious and power-hungry. Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21) Jupiter rules this fire sign and Sagittarius is represented by the archer. Sagittarians are generally adventurous, independent and optimistic, but they can also seem unemotional and tactless. Capricorn (December 22 – January 19) This earth sign is ruled by Saturn and represented by the goat. Capricorns are ambitious and resourceful, yet responsible and patient. They can also be inhibited and distrusting; unimaginative and cautious. Aquarius (January 20 – February 18) This air sign is represented by the water bearer and ruled by Uranus. Aquarians are often clever and independent yet sympathetic towards others – they are often interested in philanthropy or in humanitarian causes.

Aquarians often seem unemotional or detached because they do not display their emotions as readily as people born under the other signs. Pisces (February 19 – March 20) The last sign of the zodiac is ruled by Neptune and represented by the fish. Pisces is a water sign and Pisceans are usually compassionate, devoted and sensitive – they can sometimes seem oversensitive. A Brief History Of Taurus Zodiac Sign | Sun Signs Home » Zodiac » A Brief History Of Taurus Zodiac Sign A Brief History Of Taurus Zodiac Sign Taurus: Zodiac Dates Those born between April 21 and May 21 fall under Taurus, the second sign of the zodiac. Represented by the bull, these people are steadfast and rational with an outlandish temper if pushed too far. Ruled by the planet Venus , goddess of beauty, they enjoy beautiful and romantic gestures of love. Taurus: General Myths & Facts The Taurus sun sign is found between the 30-60th degree of the zodiac. It is an earth element with a fixed modality, and is ruled by a planet identified with the Roman goddess Venus and her Greek counterpart, Aphrodite .

In Greek mythology, Taurus is also linked with Zeus, who it is said changed into the form of a large white bull to abduct Europa, a Phoenician princess. There is another myth where Zeus turned a mistress of his into a heifer to hide her from his wife, Hera. But the bull is seen in other cultures as well, such as early Mesopotamian art. There is a picture of the “Bull of Heaven” standing before Inanna, the Sumerian goddess of sexual love, fertility and warfare . And this depiction followed into the Egyptian’s Dendera zodiac, where the Taurus star sign was associated with the renewal of spring. History of Taurus Astrology Taurus means bull in Latin, and the constellation sits between Aries and Gemini . The brightest star in the constellation, the red giant Aldebaran, is said to be the eye of the bull watching the hunter Orion that sits to the southwest. Taurus is believed to be one of the oldest constellations recorded, as early as the Copper Age in the late 5th century BC.

And in the Babylonian zodiac it was called as “The Heavenly Bull.” The other aspects of this horoscope sign, the earth element and the fixed modality, have to do with how nature has been divided. Empedocles, a 5th century BC philosopher, also recognized the four elements as earth, fire, water, and air. The three modalities are cardinal, fixed, and mutable. Where Taurus falls in the months and seasons, people are planting their new harvests and making sure the earth is fertile enough to support growth. Therefore, those born under this zodiac sign are seen as more grounded and practical in nature, and are not fond of change. Taurus Sun Sign: Personality Traits Other personality traits associated with Taurus zodiac sign are the anatomy of the neck and throat, which holds its head up high and backs down for no one. The metal associated with the bull is copper, which comes from the era in which the constellation was first recorded. And the color that goes with the Taurus sign is green, a muted color that reflects the green grass and blossoming plants and flowers of the season. Just as with the bull, the Taurus man or woman does not like to leave home.

They prefer to graze in their own pasture and spend quiet time with their loved ones. They are strong with great stamina, which reflects the connection with Zeus, but they also enjoy all the beauty the world has to offer. This brings them back to their ruler Venus and her association with beauty and romance . They are gentle souls with nurturing qualities and a strong mind, who will charge only when provoked. With such a long and prominent history, it’s no wonder the Taurean is a proud individual. See Also: Grendel Astrology in Grendel | GradeSaver Grendel Astrology in Grendel Buy Study Guide John Gardner noted that the twelve chapters of Grendel correspond to the twelve signs of the zodiac, both in imagery and in the characters featured in each one. Chapter One is Aries, the Ram. It begins with Grendel frightening off a ram that has come too near his territory. In this chapter, the cyclical view of the universe is expounded, as Grendel notes that he is trapped in the "progression of moon and stars." Chapter Two features Taurus, the Bull. A bull attacks the tree-trapped Grendel on his adventure in the outside world.

Chapter Three corresponds to the Twins, Gemini. This chapter discusses double-talk, as the Shaper creates one reality to stand alongside the experienced reality. Chapter Four belongs to Cancer, the Crab, known as a nourishing force in some astrological belief systems. The Shaper 's songs have created and nourished a religion that gives the people a more fixed alternate reality to believe in against their own miserable, hard existence. Chapter Five is the chapter of Leo, the Lion. Leo is known as a dramatist to some, and in this chapter, Grendel seeks to know his role in the greater scheme of things. The dragon offers him a part to play, but Grendel cannot accept that this is his destiny. Chapter Six refers to Virgo, the Virgin, in Grendel's comment, "So much for the harvest-virgin." Unferth the would-be hero attempts to do honorable battle with Grendel, only to have his naive view of life trampled underfoot by Grendel's refusal to fight him. Chapter Seven corresponds to Libra, the sign of balance and conciliation. Here Wealtheow reconciles Hrothgar and her brother Hymgod, as well as their respective warriors.

Even Unferth finds some balance in Wealtheow's compassion toward his ill-charmed life. Chapter Eight introduces Hrothulf , the potential usurper, as a "sweet scorpion," thus connecting to the astrological sign Scorpio. Chapter Nine alludes to Sagittarius, the archer, in the scene of a Scylding hunting and killing a hart with a bow and arrow. Sagittarius is pictured as a centaur, half-human and half-horse, suggesting a need to reconcile two different natures. Here we see the priests attempting to promote a religion that they themselves do not believe, giving the people of the village hope while simultaneously recognizing that such hope is based on false knowledge. Chapter Ten belongs to the pessimistic Capricorn, the Goat. Grendel has reached the nihilism of Nietzsche in his philosophical quest, seeing himself and all others as alone and abandoned in an impersonal universe. Chapter Eleven is the chapter of Aquarius, the Water-Bearer. Aquarians are described as interested in understanding life's mysteries. Grendel has come through his philosophical journey, but he is no wiser other than in the knowledge that no system of thought will satisfy him.

Chapter Twelve refers to Pisces, the Fish. The number two, as well as an inherent dualism, is often connected to Pisces. In this chapter, Grendel fights Beowulf, his opposite number, and is defeated by the latter's empiricism. Thus, his universe of one has temporarily become a universe of two, and this duality ends by destroying him. Taurus Sun Sign - Zodiac Signs - Article by Astrology.com Taurus Sun Sign - Zodiac Signs BY ASTROLOGY.COM NOVEMBER 20, 2009 05:08 PM EST Share Share Share Taurus, the second sign of the zodiac, is all about reward. Unlike the Aries love of the game, Taurus loves the rewards of the game. Think physical pleasures and material goods, for those born under this sign revel in delicious excess. They are also a tactile lot, enjoying a tender, even sensual, touch. Taurus adores comfort and likes being surrounded by pleasing, soothing things. Along these lines, they also favor a good meal and a fine wine.

The good life in all its guises, whether it's the arts or art of their own making (yes, these folks are artistic as well), is heaven on Earth to the Taurus-born. It's the Bull that serves as the Taurus's mascot, and along with that comes the expectation that these folks are bull-headed and stubborn. Yes, they are. Hey, this sign has a Fixed Quality attached to it after all, so expect that things will occasionally grind to a halt. That said, Taurus doesnÕt start out with the intention of getting stuck. They simply want to get things done, and it's that steady, dogged persistence that winds up being viewed as stubbornness. Bulls are actually among the most practical and reliable members of the zodiac, and they are happy to plod along, as it were, in pursuit of their goals. The good news for Bulls is that once they get to the finish line, they'll swaddle themselves in material goods. A self-indulgent beast? Perhaps, but if you toiled as laboriously as these folks do, you'd need some goodies, too. Taurus is ruled by Venus, a lovely goddess who didn't deny herself many things.

In ancient Roman mythology, Venus was the Goddess of Love, Beauty and Pleasure, and Taurus has pretty much taken up where she left off. Bulls are fond of all things pretty, whether it's in their home, at a museum or on the stage. Life as one sweet pas de deux is how the Taurus-born like it. To onlookers, this may look like so much materialism and blessed excess, but Bulls really aren't interested in living without beauty in their lives. Beauty to the Bull also comes in the way of a happy home life, one that includes a partner and a stable relationship. Taurus values harmony in their personal lives, so they'll work hard on keeping their mate happy. The Bull's penchant for sensual pleasures, of course, can only help things along! Bulls can also be the sappiest of sentimentalists. Will all this overweening attention to their mate turn a Bull into a possessive mess? Probably not, although these folks do have to manage their tendency to latch on a bit tight. At the end of the day, however, TaurusÕs are true romantics and loyal to the core. The Element associated with Taurus is Earth.

No pie-in-the-sky for these practical folks, since they'd much rather be on terra firma. Bulls tend toward conservatism, and this is often seen in their day-to-day behavior. No far-out schemes (that's Air) or shrieking ultimatums (more like Fire) here. Taurus much prefers to take each day slowly and steadily and work toward their ultimate goal. Along these lines, those born under this sign are happy to stick with their projects until they have reached a successful conclusion. They are also extremely patient and dependable along the way. Does that sound earthy enough? The only kink in this well-oiled chain is the heckler in the gallery that tries to upbraid the Bull. These folks may not have a hair-trigger temper, but it's short enough. Bulls in a hissy fit can get pretty argumentative, but eventually they'll calm down and come back to center, since these folks would much rather be Zen. The Earth in this sign does tend to act as a balancing mechanism so that things never get truly out of hand. For every one person who considers the Bull a pain, there are two who will say 'No way!' and happily take the Taurus' gentle charms any day.

Seeing as how Bulls are generally strong and well-built, it's no surprise that these folks enjoy testing their strength on the field of play. Expect to find a Bull engaged in a spirited game of hoops or mountain climbing. Hiking is also a favorite pastime, since it keeps Taurus close to their beloved earth. Indoor adventures are also favored by Bulls, which is why the opera or ballet is right up a Taurus's alley. When it comes to love, the Taurus-born are devoted, romantic and somewhat possessive. Their sensual nature has a way of erasing any mistakes! Since Taurus rules the neck and throat, Bulls would be wise to keep a silky scarf at hand, ideally in a warm (and soothing) earth tone. The great strength of Taurus is in their stability, loyalty and dogged determination. Bulls want to get the job done, and they will. What better way to get the riches they so fervently crave? Sponsored Link The Zodiac in the Ancient World The Zodiac in the Ancient World Notes by Dr. Honora M.

Finkelstein The Babylonian Zodiac (Click to see a larger image.) The Bull of Heaven, whose death and funeral are mentioned as Inanna’s reason for visiting the underworld, is a reference to the astrological sign of Taurus. Bulls were often represented as being sacred in goddess worship, but in this particular case, it has been suggested that it may have referred to the descent of the sign of Taurus below the horizon for a portion of the year, which would have been seen as the “death” of the Bull of Heaven. Our ancestors, from ancient times almost all the way up to the present day, believed that certain groups of stars, particularly those that fall on the ecliptic or Earth’s orbital path, had influence on human destiny. There are various zodiacs from the many cultures around the world—from China, India, the ancient Celts, and even the Americas. There were solar zodiacs with 12 signs and lunar zodiacs with 13 signs. And the Egyptian zodiac, which we’ll have occasion to discuss later on, had even more signs and symbols.

For future reference, simply because the signs appear often in both ancient myths and art and it is useful to know them in order to draw the connections, the signs of the Western zodiac (beginning with the one that supposedly currently begins the astrological year) are as follows: Aries—The Ram—FIRE (March 21-April 20) According to some texts, the ram was sacred to Amon, a god in the Egyptian pantheon whose worship became prominent at about the time the sun would have moved into the Age of Aries. Taurus—The Bull—EARTH (April 21-May 21) The bull was sacred to the ancient cultures that worshipped the Great Goddess or Great Mother. See for example the associations with the Bull of Heaven in the myths of Inanna and Gilgamesh. It has been suggested that this association of the Great Goddess with the bull is why goddesses are often shown in iconography with horned headdresses bearing the moon. The bull is also associated with Mithraism, probably as a connection of the sun with the sign during the Age of Taurus. This is one of the four signs that represent the four corners of the universe in both ancient and Christian iconography.

Gemini—The Twins—AIR (May 22-June 21) Associated in Greek mythology with the story of Castor and Pollex, twin sons of the mortal woman Leda and the god Zeus, who came to her in the form of a swan. When Castor was killed, Pollex asked to die, too; they were allowed to spend part of their time in Hades and part in the heavens, where as twin stars they are patrons of sailors. Cancer—The Crab—WATER (June 22-July 22) This sign is associated with the influence of the moon, which controls the tides and women’s menses. Water is sometimes associated with the unconscious, so the crab is often associated with the content of the unconscious. A variant of the crab in Egyptian mythology is the scarab beetle.

Leo—The Lion—FIRE (July 23-August 23) Sometimes associated with the influence of the sun, this sign is represented in iconography in the lion-bodied sphinx wherever it appears (e.g., on the Giza plain in Egypt; in the story of Oedipus, etc.) This is one of the four signs that represent the four corners of the universe in both ancient and Christian iconography. Virgo—The Virgin—EARTH (August 24-September 23) Associated with the virgin goddesses of antiquity, this sign was chosen by the Catholic Church for the date of celebration of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary. Libra—The Scales—AIR (September 24-October 23) The scales are often associated with the concept of justice. In Egyptian mythology, for example, the goddess Mayet, or Maat, listened to the confessions of the dead in the Judgment Hall of the Egyptian underworld. She then weighed the heart of the deceased individual against a feather; if the heart was light, the individual was judged to be without sin and was thus allowed to go to Osiris, King of the Egyptian underworld, before going on to the land of the blessed.

The Greeks also pictured the concept of justice as a female with balance scales, and that image has carried over into modern iconography in many halls of justice. Scorpio—The Scorpion/Serpent/Eagle—WATER (October 24-November 22) This is the only sign that actually has three iconographic symbols to represent it. The scorpion and the serpent both have poisonous bites. Virtually, all associations of serpents in Western mythology are related to this sign. The eagle is considered to be the energy of this sign transcendent, i.e., it signifies the individual who has eliminated the trappings and desires of ego. Associations with winged-serpents in ancient mythology derive from this connection. Scorpio is associated with hidden knowledge, mysticism, and prophecy. It is one of the four signs that represent the four corners of the universe in both ancient and Christian iconography. Sagittarius—The Archer—FIRE (November 23-December 21) Generally viewed as a centaur, this sign is associated with the mythical Chiron, who was a teacher in Greek mythology of Achilles, Actaeon, and Aesculapius, Father of Medicine.

Chiron was a centaur, half man, half horse, renowned for his wisdom. He was immortal, but was at one point accidentally wounded. Zeus allowed him to die, and in one version of the story, Chiron traded his suffering and his life for that of Prometheus. Capricorn—The Goat—EARTH (December 22-January 20) Sometimes associated with the god Pan, this sign is often pictured with a goat’s head and body and a fish tail, thus signifying the ability to climb to the highest peaks or swim to the deepest depths of the Earth. Aquarius—The Water Bearer—AIR (January 21-February 19) This sign is often represented by a man pouring water from a large urn. It is one of the four signs that represent the four corners of the universe in both ancient and Christian iconography. (The animals that represented the four corners in Mesopotamia and Egypt differed from those in the Greek zodiac, but the idea was much the same.) The Age of Aquarius, which humanity is just entering, is expected to demonstrate open-mindedness, conscious evolution, and a balanced partnership society.

Pisces—The Fish—WATER (February 20-March 20) A symbol of sacrifice. The avatar of the Piscean Age was Jesus the Christ. Early Christians identified themselves to each other by making a sign that looked like a fish.

Question: What sign of the zodiac is represented by a bull?
Answer: Taurus