Hey Toro! It's Taurus Time Again
Season of the Green and Mighty Bull Of Venus, 2025
The annual dates for the zodiac signs can vary by a day or two. This year, 2025, the Sun enters the sign of Taurus 19 April. The word โzodiacโ comes from the Greek meaning โcircle of animals.โ The only zodiac sign that is non-representative of a living creature is Libra, the sign of the Scales, but in astronomy, even the Scales are borrowed from the stars of Scorpio, the claws of the giant scorpion in the heavens next door.
Taurus (from the Latin for Bull) is a fixed earth sign; the second sign of the western zodiac, and represents the height of spring in the northern hemisphere in all its budding glory. Ruled by the planet Venus and the goddess herself in all her verdant mythological glory. The first decan of Taurus in April is the month of โopening,โ budding.
โThe traditional etymology is from the verb aperire, "to open", in allusion to its being the season when trees and flowers begin to "open", which is supported by comparison with the modern Greek use of ฮฌฮฝฮฟฮนฮพฮท (รกnixi) (opening) for spring. As April was sacred to the goddess Venus, her Veneralia being held on the first day, it has been suggested that Aprilis was originally her month Aphrilis, from her equivalent Greek goddess name Aphrodite (Aphros), or the Etruscan name Apru.โ
April 30 marks Walpurgisnacht, the night of St Walburga, opening into May Day, a time of elves, supernatural happenings and witchcraft. Walpurgisnacht began around four in the afternoon April 30, and was seen as as a dangerous time, a time of the thinning of the veil between different realities, the spring time equivalent of Halloween. Christians in Germany feared April 30 and May Day, and named the evening of April 30 after St Walpurga, asking her protection against witchcraft. My own birthday is on April 30, born shortly after 4 in the afternoon. Hitler was a Taurus native, born April 20, died on April 30. Get him hence.
May, the time of the second and third decans of Taurus, is the month of Venus and Flora, also known as the goddess Maia, both shown here with the Graces, as painted by Botticelli in his famous painting, the Primavera.
Taurus season was the time of the calving of the ancient wild cattle, the auroch. In the UK, they gathered on Salisbury Plain, and the site of Stonehenge was once a โlekโ-a mass gathering site- on their annual migration route. The remains of auroch have been discovered nearby at Blick Mead.
What about this? Source โForget about ancient ancestors, healing stones, solar solstice alignments and periglacial stripes. Stonehenge is where it is because itโs on an auroch migration route.โ
No other zodiac sign has more ancient mythology or cult history attached to it than the sign of The Bull, revered for its power and potency since it was hunted by early man before the first cattle were domesticated, about 10, 500 years ago. This was in the Near East, the DNA evidence suggests, tracing a herd of an estimated 80 animals.
The Stars of Taurus
We can see Taurus between August and April. The best months are December and January when it is visible all night, looking up to the right above, and beyond, the three stars of Orionโs Belt. Youโll especially notice a bright reddish star, Aldebaran, the Eye of the Bull, glaring down at Orion the Hunter. Should the Bull escape his enclosure, and break through the gate being guarded by the Seven Sisters (Pleiades) said an ancient Arab legend, he would stampede the Universe to pieces. Letโs hope he has plenty of daisies and buttercups up there to keep him happy, and some cows, and no mosquitoes or horseflies to bother him.
The Bull disappears in June and July, hidden in the glare of the Sun.
Venus, the planetary ruler of Taurus is also known as Hesperus the Evening Star (Vespers = evening prayers) and Lucifer the Morning Star. At this time of year, Venus rises as the Morning Star. Contrary to her popular reputation, as the opposite of Mars, Venus too, the planet of love, beauty, comforts, luxury- and finance-can be aggressive. Just as the Bull is largely peaceable, but is immensely powerful and highly dangerous when disturbed or provoked. Or just in a bad mood, and who doesnโt have those days.
Taurus is also especially subject to the Moon, although this influence is more commonly associated with Pisces and Cancer. Note the bull horns on the goddess of Ancient Egypt, Isis, Ishtar, goddess of love and beauty, also called Hathor, The High Priestess in the Tarot, associated with Moon Day/Monday. The horns of the bull are often confused or conflated with the crescent moon.
The Taurus Archetype
All the zodiac signs represent archetypes, meaning something that is considered to be a perfect or typical example of a particular kind of person or thing.
As a fixed earth sign, Taurus rules anything associated with the mid- zone of spring, the height of the season. The other fixed signs are Leo, midsummer, Scorpio, mid-autumn and Aquarius, midwinter. The fixed signs are traditionally considered the most stable and steadfast signs, protectors of the status quo, the signs most at ease with ancient things, the guardians of conservation and protecting continuity.
Taurus rules the ears, neck and throat, and the Taurus native is known for their distinctive, smooth speaking voice. Famous Taurus singes include Willie Nelson, James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, Cher, Bono, Billy Joel, Olly Murs, Enya, Adele.
Taurus may seem slower to learn compared with say, a mercurial, quicksilver Gemini native. But their grasp is both intuitive and thorough, and they generally possess an excellent memory. Once learned, never forgotten is the Taurean way. And much depends on where their Mercury is sitting in their natal chart.
These bull people may be quietly pleasant, trustworthy and magnetic, or grumpier, taciturn, and self-opinionated. They are usually good dancers. They have natural rhythm. They are strong and with good stamina, but they are not generally sporty types. Taurus โwunt be druv.โ Will not be driven. Notoriously resistant, their emotional stability is the other side of this coin. Taurus can be relied on for good advice and encouragement, with a particular way of soothing others, but gets irritable, a bull shaking off gadflies, if they feel they are being crowded while their thoughts are elsewhere.
Taurus in the Tarot
The Tarot cards associated with Taurus are The Hierophant, The King of Pentacles (Coins, Disks) and the 5, 6 and 7 Pentacles, also called Disks or Coins -the money suit.
The Hierophant
Card Meanings: a man of authority, tradition ,the status quo, marriage, religion, the Church, Teachers, mentors, Universities, agriculture, money, finance, Banks, publishing, keys,
Every suit in the Tarot has its own court with a king and queen, a knight and a page. The principle Court card associated with Taurus is The King of Pentacles, ruler of the element of Earth.
Card Meanings: Earth, mature man, husband, father, grandfather, employer, practical man, capable, responsible, steadfast, determined, instinctive, landowner, banker, prosperity, farmer, builder, businessman, engineer, business owner, artist, singer, sensual, bon vivant
The Decans of Taurus
The minor arcana cards associated with Taurus are the Five, Six and Seven of Pentacles (or Disks or Coins.) These correlate with the decans of Taurus. The word โDecanโ comes from the Latin meaning โten.โ Each zodiac sign lasts about 30 days and is further divided into three blocks of roughly 10 days each. These decans are the โthirty-six faces of astrology,โ bringing added depth and nuance to the psychological profile associated with your sun sign. Taurus is Taurus, whatever the decan. This holds true for all the zodiac signs. But an early-born Taurus, for instance, is born under a more fiery different planetary influence than a more airy later-born Taurus. Itโs all still Taurus, the same heavenly recipe, but with subtly differing seasonings.
21-30 First Decan Taurus (0-10 degrees)
Card Meanings: Upright: exclusion, ill health, money does not buy happiness, fear of loneliness, poverty, unemployment. Reversed: misfortunes are overcome, matters improving.
This is a tough card. Bleak. Just as Life can be tough and bleak sometimes. But this Taurean has Venus and Mercury in their horoscope, and a lot of leftover Aries fighting energy, making this decan the โraging bullโ of the zodiac, with leadership qualities, somewhat more fiery and driven than the other Taurus decans.
These are still patient, determined people, and they have great vitality and will-power. The co-ruler of this decan, Mercury bestows upon them the gift of the gab, or some gab anyway. They are eloquent speakers, natural communicators, and do well in teaching, broadcasting, public speaking, journalism, acting and entertainment.
This Taurus loves to learn and to test things out, figuring out how they work. They tend to be green-fingered, interested in landscape and countryside pursuits, and animals usually respond to them very well. This bull native likes, not so much to be boss, as not to be bossed by anyone else. They are generally benevolent, affectionate in nature, but they know what they want and do not want, and if put under pressure, are experts in the art of passive resistance.
Famous first decan Taurus: Leonardo Da Vinci, Queen Elizabeth II, Ulysses S Grant, Saddam Hussein, Adolf Hitler (Aries-Taurus cusp), Emperor Hirohito, David Icke, Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson, Uma Thurman, Barbra Streisand, Penรฉlope Cruz, Renรฉe Zellweger, Daniel Day-Lewis, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Roy Orbison, Willie Nelson, Iggy Pop, Willem de Kooning
1-10 May Second Decan Taurus (10-20 degrees)
Card Meanings: gifts, community, generosity, charity, emergency aid, give and take, financial ups and downs, surplus and scarcity, historical buildings
Second decan Taurus is ruled by the secretive, psychic, domestic Moon and Mercury, planet of intellect and communication. A glamorous combination, both in the magical sense, as well as the more usual sense of the word. These Taurus natives are studious, alert, perceptive and forceful, they have an unusually active mind. The drawbacks may be carelessness, forgetfulness or fickleness, picking up things or people, only to drop them again. These bulls are socially gifted, natural psychologists, instinctively knowing how other people work and what makes them tick, plus they tend to be very good speakers, and they too, are known for their pleasant, or at least distinctive speaking voices. On the negative side, such is their earthy charisma, like a Pied Piper or Svengali-type figure, they may, if so inclined, use their influence to lead others astray.
Taurus is usually a good cook. It figures. And they are warm and nurturing parents, but the second decan Taurus in particular needs to watch out they donโt behave like a fuss pot or control freak, reining in their managerial instincts. Taurus likes to keep their loved ones safe. But just as they hate to be penned in and told what to do, they need to remember, so do others.
Famous second decan Taurus: Catherine the Great, Karl Marx, Eva Peron Golda Meir (โIron Ladyโ of Israel), Tony Blair, Oliver Cromwell, Sigmund Freud, William Lilly, Orson Wells, George Clooney, Rudolph Valentino, Joanna Lumley, Audrey Hepburn, David Beckham, Donatella Versace, Bono, Tammy Wynette, Johannes Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Robert Browning, J. M. Barrie (Peter Pan)
11-20 May Taurus Decan Three (20-30 degrees)
Card meanings: Upright: hard work, industry, perseverance, slow results, long term planning. Reversed: throwing good money after bad, disappointing results
Third decan Taurus is ruled by serious Saturn, the planet of Old Father Time. This Taurean native is extra responsible, dutiful, thoughtful, careful, patient and considerate. The power of this personality lies in the power of their stability, endurance and tenacity, making gains through thrift and careful investments.
This is Taurus at its most ambitious and hardworking. Saturn governs boundaries, rules, and limitations. These people are cautious and stoic with great respect for authority. They may rebel against authority but they have a strong sense of fair play.
The later natives of this last decan are born close to the Taurus-Gemini cusp, suggestive of multi-tasking and frequent air travel. Saturn is traditionally known as the great malefic. Those born under this decan may also be prone to periods of depression, loneliness or melancholy, more so than the other decans. However, even when this is the case, at least archetypally speaking, we are looking at a person with a magnanimous spirit.
Famous Third Decan Taurus: Socrates, Che Guevara, Mark Zuckerberg, Ayatollah Khomeini, Idi Amin, Malcolm X, George Lucas, Sofia Coppola, Liberace, Stevie Wonder, Cher, Dame Nellie Melba, Pete Townshend, Brian Eno, Enya, Mike Oldfield, Cate Blanchett, Laurence Olivier, Katherine Hepburn, Dennis Hopper, Harvey Keitel, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Margot Fonteyn, Eric Satie, Florence Nightingale, Pope John Paul II
Happy Birthday, Taurus 2025!
General influences this coming year. Saturn the dutiful and diligent taskmaster, guardian of beloved seniors, inheritance, heritage and traditions, continues reviewing and on occasion rectifying your interactions and influence in your communities, local and online. Finances and talents are a major driver during the first half of 2025, but then you may notice a change in tempo May-August. You are letting go of things in the past, and maybe this is just a time for clearing out stuff from the house, but this could also involve releasing some things habits, or connections that mattered deeply once, when you may welcome more quiet time to yourself. Alongside this though, could rise new work or business ideas and expressive opportunities, especially if this involves writing or creative and artistic projects. Your words, and your networking count more than ever this year, in a good way.
Key dates for Taurus in 2025 are discussed on this site here
And in General for everyoneโฆ
April 20: Mars in Leo until early May. This is potentially destructive energy, but also sharp, specific, like emergency surgery. There could be breakthroughs, but the next 9 days or so is not a time to take risks of any kind, especially for the fixed signs: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius. Smoothly does it. Political flashpoints.
April 27: New Moon in Taurus, 7 degrees, Tarot card 6 Pentacles, a turning point or catalyst, home matters, a power struggle, make or break, breaking free from some constriction, Mars Pluto in the fourth house, potential for domestic strife or road traffic issues. Offsetting this potentially difficult domestic energy, this New Moon in Taurus is exalted in Venus, the ruler of Taurus, potentially boosting finances, social activities, reactivating old contacts, or reviving skills and talents that may have lain dormant for a time, maybe a long time.
May 12: Full moon in Scorpio, for Taurus this affects your axis of relationships, and finances, affecting Virgo similarly. But for everyone, this is likely to be a time of intense communication to do with family, legacy and money, and for some, an old connection or activity may rise anew, like the Scorpio phoenix from the ashes.
May 17: Sun-Uranus conjunction in Taurus. Uranus is gearing up to leave Taurus for a while in mid-summer, and go into Gemini. The dust of Uranus in Taurus will finally start to settle for Taurus Sun, Moon and Rising, or there will at least be a breathing space, but for a little while yet, be ready for yet more urgent challenges, shocks and surprises, especially likely to affect third decan Taurus natives.
Thank you for reading.
Back again soon.