Horoscope

Get ready for struggles Monday. It might be as simple as office territoriality, or as complex as international wrangling over strategic goals, but there will definitely be conflict involving you and your immediate coworkers. Allies will come to the rescue midweek, and you'll owe them surprisingly little after you emerge victorious. Despite pulling out ahead, you could feel a little down on Friday. Don't take those feelings out on your budget -- you can't afford any unnecessary spending just yet.

Taurus is the second Sign of the Zodiac. Moving beyond the birth and first realization of Self represented by Aries, Taurus begins to physically explore the world. As such, possessions and physical touch are very important to Taureans. They tend to be richly sensual, enjoying the good things in life and the physical pleasures that come with them. Taurus is the Sign of the Physical. As the second Sign, Taurus also rules the second House: the House of Money and Possessions.

The Astrological Symbol of Taurus is the Bull. The term "bull-headed" applies to Taureans in both its positive and negative connotations, and Taurus exemplifies the Fixed Quality assigned to it. They are among the strongest Signs when it comes to getting things done because of their reliable persistence in moving toward completion of projects. On the other hand, they can be very stubborn and argumentative. Within the Zodiac, Taurus is opposite Scorpio, the Sign of group possessions, so Taureans tend to be about personal assets rather than group or family holdings. They can be self-indulgent, even greedy, but they are immensely practical and stable.

Taurus is ruled by the Planet Venus. In ancient Roman mythology, Venus (and her Greek equivalent, Aphrodite) was the Goddess of Love, Beauty, and Pleasure. She represented joy, happiness, and appreciation of beautiful things. On the negative side, her appreciation for sweets and luxury could result in overindulgence, and she could be materialistic. Venus rules both Taurus and Libra. Taurus is the feminine, or night, aspect of Venus; Libra is the masculine, or day. Both Signs have a great appreciation for beauty: Taurus focuses on the beauty of objects, and Libra prefers the beauty of other people. Taureans have a great love for culture. It's important to them to feel good. They often maintain extensive art collections and tend to be artistic themselves, sometimes through singing. They enjoy partnership and marriage, and use their charm -- as well as their focused perseverance -- to work toward harmony and personal security. Their sentimental, loyal, and romantic nature is sometimes wounded when they are contradicted or given orders..

The Element associated with Taurus is Earth. Earth Signs are practical: they tend to respond to the world by examining the worth of each possible response, rather than through physical action, intellect, or emotion. One of their great skills is their ability to follow through and complete projects that others may have abandoned through boredom or because it was too difficult. Taureans are extremely patient and dependable. Their ambition ensures that they are both hardworking and helpful to others. Because of their association with Earth and their general focus on building things, many Taureans are skilled gardeners.

Taureans tend to be even tempered and solid citizens. Their need for physical pleasure can lead to an overemphasis on money and possessions to the point of materialism, but their innate conservatism ensures that they are cautious and practical rather than extravagant. They may be more focused on status than they should be, and they may be perceived as snobs. However, despite their opinionated appearance, they tend to be tolerant and gentle, and they are always dependable.

In their leisure time, Taurus tends to enjoy outdoor activities that allow them to get close to the Earth. They often enjoy hiking. Like the Bull, they tend to be strong and well-built, and may enjoy tests of strength. Conversely, their appreciation of art and culture sends them to the opera and exclusive galleries. In love relationships, Taurus is devoted, romantic, and sometimes jealous!

Taurus rules the neck and throat. People born under Taurus may suffer from sore throats, coughs, and strained neck muscles more often than people born under other Signs. Brown and other earth tones are Taurean colors, exemplifying their quiet and earthy nature.

The great strength of the Taurus-born is their stability and perseverance. Their methodical determination enables them to be productive when other people have long since given up. They are among the most dependable characters of the Zodiac.

The slow and steady Bull is one of the Zodiac's great providers. Those born under this Sign are terrific with money, probably because they value it so much. They also love the good life, and that usually costs a pretty penny -- after all, how many Van Goghs go on sale?

Thankfully, the Bull doesn't mind working hard for the good things in life since comfort is worth its price. That's not to say that Taureans don't get a charge from a sunset, a juicy grapefruit, and a good book as well. It's just that shiny new cars are so pretty, and they run like a dream, too, which is exactly what the practical Bull wants. As an Earth Sign, Taureans also enjoy owning a piece of the Earth, so real estate makes for a particularly attractive investment for these folks. It's also a great way to take care of the ones they love.

Taureans have a wonderful ability to keep their eyes on the prize, which means that they will slowly and steadily get the things they want. The Bull loves everything about money -- its color, feel, and smell -- and also feels entitled to it! This comfort level around money helps to make them very good with it. Bulls don't tend to overspend, preferring the security which a stash of money brings. Liking security in general (a partner, their own home), Taureans aren't likely to make rash financial decisions that will cause them to lose their treasure trove.

Tangible assets are best where Taureans are concerned, things which they can see, feel, and touch. Consequently, antiques and real estate are far more appealing than stocks and bonds. Bulls are often long-term investors as well, since they like both making and keeping money. What does the lusty Bull love most in life? Food, sex, and money, although not necessarily in that order!

The Bull is a master at making deliberate decisions where money is concerned, which means that bills will be paid on time and accounts are always in order. That old maxim "neither a borrower nor a lender be" fits the strong and capable Bull to a Taurean T.

No fast moves for the Taurus pet. This is a lethargic, even lazy animal that would much rather sleep than run around! Therefore, be sure that your pet's bed is comfortable, with a super-soft blanket thrown in for good measure. Pampering the Taurus pet is rule number one! These animals love to eat, too, so see to it that Fido's food is fresh and tasty and that Kitty's bowl is swimming in fish. The Taurus pet is also fond of physical touch, which is why you should pat them regularly and brush their coat slowly and lovingly. Not much for exercise, either, you shouldn't expect your Taurus pet to run over the hill and through the woods -- they may not even want to run around the yard! Lounging around is the name of their game. These animals can be persistent and stubborn as well, and if they could talk, they'd probably be arguing more often than not. That said, they do appreciate the comforts of home and are loyal to their masters for this very reason; a Taurus pet is highly unlikely to run away. Since they like to eat so much, keep an eye on your pet to ensure they don't get too fat. Lastly, this tolerant and gentle pet makes for a great companion for kids.