This time of year it is not a bad idea to put away away your fragile things. Anything can be a China Shop.

The sign of Taurus is the Cow: The large mass of muscle and bone which delights the dinner table best. With a low guttural Moo our attention is peaked. We all turn to see a four-legged creature decorated in the most enduring ink blot spots. They have been blessed with infinite stomachs and the ability to keep nourished by their own regurgitative means.

This part of the year is marked with rainfall and the blooming of flowers. Be assured that Taurus has been pounding seeds down into the earth, taking up killer weeds, and otherwise tenderizing the landscape. When Taurus goes out he is on a mission to better the world aesthetically. Being a lover of nature and beauty, our dear friend the cow spends days upon days in the great outdoors, alone, wrapped up in either work or thought. This is a considerate and capable sign focused on the fulfillment of the self in order to help the people surrounding also achieve that same completion. However, if for any reason the bull feels threatened or mishandled they will react by trying crush and impale their opponent into submission.

At heart, Taurus is an artist. They are driven to create, to mold, to form, and add attraction to any lacking element. This is ingrained into their very nature. They are helpers, practical to a fault, with no desire to leave the greener grass on the other side without a good mowing. This can make them hard to deal with. The world is their canvas and whatever is around is just as much their property as it is anyone else's. What is yours is theirs even if (especially if) they don't ask for permission first. If however you are hosting a party the Taurus is a great asset. They have a knack for planning and arranging. So while you ask them to put crackers and cheese on a platter it will be decorative and inviting. Unfortunately people born under bovine persuasion have a set preconception of how things should pan out and are often disappointed when things do not go their way.

The proud bull can become easily enraged. When Taurus gets angry, look out. They will not side track their frustration because someone else has a different perception. If for any reason Taurus' plan is not followed to their own specifications, the culprit of the digression is good as ground beef. Their mindset is fairly understandable, at least to themselves, and they have no use in explaining things which they know are items of common knowledge. The moment you share a new thought with them which clashes with their beliefs the bull will erupt in either a fit of tears or a fight of retaliation. They see that the life hard and sometimes cruel on its own, so they see little need for people to be so difficult with one another. When the world provides taurus with the realization that everything is damn near impossible they retaliate, physically, mentally, and emotionally. However, no matter how much force they put up against the thing that crushed their ideals they can never deny that most things are fragile. So they huff, puff, and stomp their little huffs until there is no more pent up energy to spend and wander off to another pasture where harmony is paramount.

Taurus wants to be loved for all he is. He does not go out of their way to cause conflict. The bull is not a fan of trouble. So he will try his best not to be an antagonist. This often causes disagreements to come to the surface. Part of this problem is the nature of the bull. Being excessively artistic is not always easy to interpret. When the time comes around that their eyes start to glow red, and they exhale steam, it is not always known if the aggression is for show or not. That doesn't really matter, because to Taurus the rules of the game are their own. They play by the beat of their own drum, even if it is not necessary or expected. Any encounter which they find themselves in is a chance to become the star, so if they are not given that credit or applauded for their eccentricism they have a tendency to withdraw. Often to the point of ruining the get together for everyone involved. Being part of the group is like air to Taurus. While he might act like he has no interest to ingrain himself into a collective, it is his deepest desire to be the cornerstone of the group who has invited him to be apart. If the poor bull is not welcomed and given the most prominent position in any situation, he is willing to be kissed goodbye for good. Somewhere out there is the home in which he belongs. It might take years of wandering to seek out and find, which is something else the bull is happy to do.

If you want to keep your lovely powerhouse at home, all you have to do is make them feel they have the control. Take the back seat and be sure to say nothing as they run you through red lights, off the road, and into a ditch. This is all for the sake of sitting in a field enjoying the natural beauty in the surrounding world.

As for their emotions, Taurus is stable in their irregularity. That is, expect the something slightly outside of normalcy. When, in the beginnings of confusion caused by the bull you turn your head and raise one brow, you have taken the first step to understanding them. But if that first moment of questioning brings about a desire to not waste time trying to figure the puzzle out, Taurus will work hard to make themselves even less approachable. Before long that creative drive whirl-winds around until you have a raging bull on your hands. The place you call home will be nothing more than a cage for the monstrosity to demolish. But to Taurus this is no act of destruction. Rather this is all an attempt to shed some light on the situation. Sometimes taking down a few walls is the best way to let the daylight in. When the room has been painstakingly broken down to shards of plywood and paint chips, Taurus will stand there expectantly for the other party to see what it is they know. The landing places of every piece of broken merchandise tell a part of the story. The bull will nod his head looking at the mess, assured the message is right there, often when his opponent can't see beyond the mess or the cost of rebuilding. The moment when realization does not come, but repair begins, the foolhardy culprit of destruction will start once again, continuing until his mates are fed up with being told they know nothing and aren't worth the spit in their own mouths.

The hardest thing for any of this sign to accept is that they are not OK just the way they are. Often Taurus has trouble conveying the intricacies of the things they love in tangible forms. He prefers long hours of sitting together sharing feelings without base modes of expression such as talking or explaining. When Taurus finds someone compatible who can see the beauty even in their confusion, only then will they be able to assure their own life. The bull is most satisfied with others who can see the world in the same way he does without the need of spelling it out.

Keywords for Taurus:
sense, imagination, direction, thought, compassion

For Taurus
Life: must be purposeful and rewarding
Work: must be useful and complete
Love: must be comfortable and fulfilling
Sex: must be fantastic, on each and every plane of necessity.
Friends: must be competent, willing to bend (and in some cases bow to submission), ready to be caught up in pre-meditated flights of fancy with little to no input, and always be/have whatever is needed at any given time.
Family: will be sturdy, strong, proud, and able. (And will most likely be worked as hard as farm animals)

Compatibility
A dependable Earth sign works very well with other Earth Signs. With Water signs Taurus can make grow beauty with the help from his own barren Earth. Fire Signs are unpredictable and can have a tendency to burn up the garden or be trampled out. And while normally sky and earth do not meet well, in this case the windy Air signs will guide the seeking traveler with whims that seem to mirror his own.

Taurus and Taurus
This is a great paring, mostly since these two can see eye to eye and stand horn to horn. When one begins a project, the other knows exactly where it is going and what to do to contribute to the fray. They two will keep one another in step with time and always in rhythm. But if one feels like they are being neglected for the sake of the other, then we have a feverish clash of white, black, and splattered with red.

Taurus and Gemini
The twins love the stability of their friend the bull who will take them places they never knew about but always wanted to go. The pair will inspire in the bull his need to protect and teach. When the time comes that Taurus needs a long moments to himself to reflect, Gemini can entertain herself long enough to return with a wreath of flowers to adorn his heavy thought filled head. But if the twins need constant attention and play, the bull can become worn out from always being the task master if they are unable to express themselves creatively. If the balance between teacher and student can been found and adhered too, this couple will never be bored.

Taurus and Cancer
Surf and Turf... Yes, they are both dinner favorites. But they aren't the greatest of pairings while they are still alive. Both have a tendency to become recluse if they are not constantly pumping up one another's egos. When the cow becomes enraged the crab will hide until the mess has cleared itself up, but then there is no one to marvel at the creations made from chaos. If Cancer can learn to stand in the middle of a hurricane assured he will not be harmed, then Taurus will be able to show him the wonders of vibrant natural creation. However, that doesn't mean that the crab will understand it.

Taurus and Leo
The boss and the King. You can see the power struggle before the pair even meet. Where the Bull asserts his dominance the Lion knows his rightful place. Both are marathon loungers, and the lion can inspire the bull to do his bidding. But that is something Taurus wants to be able to do for himself. But at the core, Leo would prefer to take down the other to feed his family while Taurus is trying too hard to make a family. If the pair can come to an understanding of who's dominion is who's and neither sides has their toes stepped on the couple will not fail.

Taurus and Virgo
Here we have a pair of Earth signs who both enjoy beauty. While Taurus love to change the world, Virgo likes to change her mind. One is more concerned with making the environment better, while the other tries to better themselves. While the concept is the same, implementation is not. If the Cow can lose himself in the complex beauty of the Virgin mind and the Virgin can enjoy the loveliness Taurus brings home the pairing will be successful. But when the Bull's temper riles up the lady returns to a simple, safe place where the expansion of the mind is paramount, which only harasses the Bull's temper further.

Taurus and Libra
The key to any relationship with a pair of scales is to keep balance. While Libra is constantly keeping things in order, Taurus only lasts so long before they explode. While balance exists in over long sweeping chaotic exchanges for the Bull, The Scales are more preoccupied with a set constant. If Taurus is willing to let Libra keep him in check then all will be well. If not, then Libra is left with a destroyed home to restore to regularity, only to have it brought down again and again.

Taurus and Scorpio
The Scorpion finds comfort behind the apron of a Cow. Where as one is meek and striving for some form of comfort the other is fervently trying to create that. Scorpio can become submissive to the overwhelming power of their counterpart. So when danger comes lurking up, the giant mass of power can stamp it out before the little sand stinger has to come out to fight. Both will find attraction in the others strengths and weaknesses, and both are willing to throw a big party to have a crazy time throwing things around. The only draw back here is that both are sensitive and have a tendency to overreact. This pair can be happy together if they can direct that excitable energy on things other than one another.

Taurus and Sagittarius
This is a good paring of both mind, body and soul. Both have the same appreciations, the same desires, and similar drives. While the Centaur lives for adventure, the Bull loves a new endeavor chocked full of new experiences. Both know how to enjoy the simple pleasures of life as well as a good run through wide open plains. Sagittarius is glad to take a back seat to the driving of the Taurus. The only problem with this pairing is that the heat might grow stale from extreme regularity. As long as they keep moving and get plenty of time together outside they will find completion in one another.

Taurus and Capricorn
The goat is concerned with making his own way to the top. The bull wants to take the other on a ride. They are both painfully stubborn and are fairly assured their own abilities without the help of the other. Both want to lead, neither is willing to submit to the other. While the Capricorn is willing to let Taurus have his own way for a while, in time one or the other will grow weary of the one's disinterest in investing in the other. If the goat is willing to embark with the bull on his frivolous excursions and the bull is willing to accept the others silent superiority, they could make a good duo.

Taurus and Aquarius
Both of these two are very individualistic. This is what can attract them initially to one another. Each does things their own way, but Taurus is attracted to the solidity of the Aquarian mind, while the Aquarian is intrigued by the focused flippancy of Taurus. They both want to help make the world a better place by focusing on the needs of one other. The only problem with this couple is that the water barer is hardly ever on time, while the bull is marking down every tardy in preparation of punishment. If both sides can see they are each valid in their own ways they can be an brilliant couple.

Taurus and Pisces
The fishes are tied to themselves and often spin off in any direction the current takes them. If the bull is controlling that torrent, they can make the best use of the Piscean abilities. Both are wanderers set to the course of nature. Together they can float or flow into just about any situation, which satisfies both of their needs for adventure. If both parties are happy to get lost with one another, they will definitely be personally fulfilled. But if that temper flares up the fishes will just float on to something new and the bull will rampage a city where he knows he has some impact.

Taurus and Aries
These two are both hot and heavy. While one has a desire for destruction, the other loves to watch that in play. Taurus is enamored by Aries, while Aries is dazzling the eyes of his audience. There is the problem here that the ram will get all the spotlight and attention while the bull is left to the wayside. But when this causes an explosion of flared tempers, we have a cataclysm of trouble. When Taurus can accept that his counterpart is just as amazing as himself, Aries will find comfort and passion with another strong volatile creature.

One final note about Taurus: Do what they say and no one gets hurt.
If you are seeing out a Taurus look for them in wide open places where they are free to run, stomp, jump, and really spread their wings. Since they are always working to better the world and have artistic inclinations, you are most likely to find them in an art gallery, at the theater, in a local music venue, or in any place that facilitates their being in such places. You know, like studios, local theater troupes, and garages. But to get the attention of a Taurus you will need to be doing the same thing they are, but in a different way. So gather up your talent and put yourself in a place where you wouldn't be expected but desperately needed. Climb up a tree to talk to squirrels, take a canvas and paints to the local bar, or an acoustic guitar to a fancy dinner party. Sooner or later the cow will wander by and marvel at the surprise (which is you) the universe has bestowed upon them.
Once you two are engaged in one another's vision, swoop down and overtake the Taurus with sweet nothings, soft words, and a self-assured suave romantic demeanor. They will settle down into your arms. If you can keep them in good company though the day, past the sunset, into and out of darkest part of the night, you will have them hooked. From there on out you will have to prove your competence regularly. If you falter for a moment, the bull will pound you until you get it right. If you aren't doing it their way, there is a high chance you will be living out the rest of your days paralyzed, brain-dead, or both.