Taurus

Excerpt from Degrees of the Zodiac:

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) contributes staying or holding power. It is a fixed earth sign occurring when Spring has established itself. Taurus holds on to what it is or what it has. Being a fixed sign, it is slow to change. Being an earth sign, it is more solid than the other elements of fire, air or water. These are the forces which give Taurians their reputation for stubbornness. Taurus makes the best of what is, rather than quickly and easily replacing it with something new and different. It is the Taurus nature to perfect and establish what has already been started by Aries. Aries is prodigal in the planting of seeds. It is Taurus' job to make them grow. Taurus does not spend time considering what it has received from Aries. Taurus is the good steward who cares for what it has. It seeks comfort and security for the place it lives and is happy to spend an entire life in one place.

Of course, Taurus people like people of any other sign have influences throughout the Zodiac and no one is 100% of any sign. We all have Taurus somewhere in the horoscope. And from whatever point it is found we have those influences stimulating us from that angle. Taurus is the natural 2nd house of the Zodiac and as such it is given custody over possessions. Wherever Taurus is located in your chart, its influence will be felt in that area. It acts as your store house. It is the place where you are more on guard in order to protect what you have stored there. Planets here act under the basic coloring of Taurus, first and foremost. Beyond that they take on the coloring of the particular degree on which they are found. You must also consider the house influence in which any particular planet is located.

Taurus employs the help of Venus as its ruler. The ruler of the sign says much as to the overall action in that area. Venus adds a touch of beauty and affection to the basic nature of Taurus. It also gives it a quality of passive resistance. The basic power of Taurus is growing power. It is not aggressive in this action. It is patient and continuous. Anything growing in the earth will continue pushing under the severest of obstacles wherever it is able to sense the light of the Sun. It takes only a small break in the concrete for something to grow. Taurus, of itself, is not explosive; however, once a fuse is lit under Taurus, it employs the massive powers associated with the Earth. Consider the power of an earthquake.

Perhaps also from the influence of Venus, Taurus has well-developed and keen senses. That is, they see, hear, taste and touch with much pleasure. Taurus, as well as the second house, is associated with bodily awareness because the body is the first possession to be received. Taurus people enjoy these bodily sensations, often to extremes. They often overeat or overindulge their bodies in various ways.