Aspects for the week beginning 4 May 2025

Taurus Archetypes

This is the fourth of my new series specifically on astrological Archetypes.  We are now in the month of Taurus, and it is time to embrace the potential of that sign, turning the spotlight on its Archetypes.  The Sun entered Taurus on Saturday 19th April, and we are now experiencing some warmer weather: 1^st May was the hottest start to May on record, hitting 28 degrees centigrade at Kew Gardens.

Taureans are the salt of the earth, and often the rock upon which many people rely.  No wonder then, that they are adept at earth based and material pursuits, which are reflected in their Archetypes.

So, following, are the Archetypes I highlighted back in my 2016 blog, and then some chronological historic examples of Taureans and their Archetypes, from history:

“Artist

The Artist is one of the most basic of Taurean archetypes.  In my Past Life Archetypes, I go back to the cave paintings of bulls for my Taurean archetype.  That is in itself such a basic image and imbued with such meaning for this sign.

In previous centuries there was a prevalent Archetype of the talented artist starving in a garrett in his lifetime, and possibly gaining success posthumously.  The memory of this may unconsciously hold you back if you are an aspiring artist in this lifetime.

Caroline Myss brings the Archetype much more up to date in her book on the subject.  She observes: “In our society, art is generally regarded as a risky, if not altogether reckless, occupational choice, and any activity that isn’t financially rewarding is automatically classed as a hobby.”

She is very encouraging to the budding artist, and her final thought is: “The Artist/Creative archetype has an inborn calling to contribute to life creatively.  It is a privilege to possess artistic gifts and talents.  Cultivate yours.  To deny them is true suffering.”

Midas/The Moneylender

The Taurus/Scorpio polarity has a cluster of Archetypes around the theme of money.  Taurus generally represents one’s own earnings and possessions, and Scorpio (its opposite) represents dealing with other people’s money, e.g. through banking or insurance.  But of course money has to flow between these two ends of the polarity, and as has already been mentioned the current crisis over the Panama offshore tax havens [2016] highlights aspects of this relationship.  Is the rich man hoarding wealth the Midas?  The literary archetype of the moneylender is embodied in Shylock in the Merchant of Venice.  The moneylenders of the Bible have also coloured our perceptions of the profession.  More recently, the banking crisis of 2008 adversely altered the reputation of those who have monetary power.

Again, the last word goes to Caroline for the description of this Archetype: “Entrepreneurial or creative ability to turn anything to gold.  Delight in sharing life’s riches…look for a pattern of creating wealth and/or confronting how far you’re willing to go to create it; also for a pattern of difficulty sharing wealth”.

Chief Sitting Bull

I asked a close friend who is a Taurean if she identified with any particular archetype. Quick as a flash she came back with Chief Sitting Bull, and the more I thought about it, the more apt I found it. She herself had a past life as a Native American chief (not sitting bull), so the archetype is perfect for her personally. The historical figure must have had the qualities of the bull, as his totem animal. Taureans, as mentioned previously, are like a rock for their immediate friends and family. And Sitting Bull represented the oneness with the land (another Taurean feature) which gave rise to many deep sayings.  The theme of the long fuse of the bull comes up again, for Sitting Bull was a reluctant warrior, goaded by the unjust actions of the white man, into being a defender and protector of his people and his land.”

“Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love!” ~ Sitting Bull

The Artist

The two main artistic signs are Taurus and Libra, but the emphasis with Taurus is the form, and solidity, such as through pottery and sculpture, as well as of course painting.  For Air sign Libra the emphasis is on design, such as fashion and interior design.

Famous Examples: Potter Grayson Perry and Turner prize winner has his Ascendant at 3 degrees Taurus, so early in that sign that most of his 1^st House is expressed through that sign.

Salvador Dali, Sun in Taurus

The Musician

Venus ruled signs of Taurus and Libra are also musical – again the emphasis with Taurus is the form, and solidity, such as mastery of an instrument, and singing (there are outstanding voices for both signs).  For Air sign Libra the emphasis is on composition and the finer mental qualities required for musical talent.

Famous Examples: Barbra Streisand, Cher, Adele, Bing Crosby

The Gardener

The grounded sign of Taurus is also associated with plant husbandry, and the green fingers.  The connection with the Earth element makes this a natural affinity for horticulture.

Famous Example: Alan Titchmarsh (see below)

The Chef

From the garden to the table, many outstanding chefs are born under the sign of Taurus, or have a heightened Venus in their birth chart.  Taurus is the sign of sensuality, and has a heightened sense of smell and taste, both vital in the making of a good chef.

Famous Examples: Anthony Worrall Thompson, Phil Vickery

The Economist

The association with money in a birth chart is often shown by a strong Taurean showing, through Venus’ talent for finances and accumulation.  The opposite sign Scorpio, as mentioned above, is strongly involved with the finances of others, through its ruling planet Pluto.

Famous Example: Karl Marx (see below)

Other Archetypes: The Builder, The Boxer

Historical/more in-depth Examples

The Artist

J.M.W. Turner (23/4/1775 – 19/12/1851)

One of England’s best loved and most productive artists, he had Sun, Jupiter and Venus in Taurus.

In his biography of Turner, James Hamilton expresses the strong will and patience characteristic of the sign of Taurus, often a quality which results in their great productivity:

“…in his maturity he used assertion rather than aggression or swagger, how he worked through other, weaker personalities, using them as go- between a, and how he used pressure of time as a bargaining tool, fully knowing that if he insisted and refrained from giving his approval for long enough time would run out for the hanging committee and he would be bound to get his own way.”

The Musician

Ella Fitzgerald (25/4/1917 – 15/6/1996)

One of the most outstanding and purest vocalists in history, known as “First Lady of Song” and “Queen of Jazz”, like Turner she had Sun, Jupiter and Venus in Taurus, clustered around her Midheaven which was also in Taurus.  She was blessed with “absolute pitch” – Venus (responsible for voice) in Taurus exactly conjunct the Sun in Taurus surely had something to do with that.  A certain musical broadcaster I know has said he always plays Ella Fitzgerald at Christmas…

The Economist

Karl Marx (5/5/1818 – 14/3/1883)

Karl Marx was among other things a political theorist, an economist and revolutionary socialist.  He had the North Node (karmic mission), Moon/Sun (born on a New Moon), and Venus in Taurus.  He of course wrote “The Communist Manifesto” and “Das Kapital”, the latter explaining his theory of historic materialism, in an analysis of capitalism.  When out canvassing for the Labour Party, I have often been accused of being “a Marxist”, or “Commie” (could be my Taurus Ascendant)!  Uranus conjunct the Midheaven (Careerpoint) in his chart, combined with the New Moon, ensured that he would be bringing in something new and revolutionary.  That he was on the side of, and for, the people, is reflected in his Moon conjunct the North Node in Taurus.

More Modern Examples:

The Gardener

Alan Titchmarsh (b. 2/5/49)

Alan Titchmarsh, hardly ever off our screens, was born in Ilkley (with the accent to match), and I have a birth time of 21.00 Hrs for him.  He has Mars, and the Sun/Venus in the sign of Taurus, so is close to the Earth.  Venus is exactly opposite his Ascendant, which means that he strongly relates to all Venusian matters: he has, for instance, written romantic novels.  His garden path began when he moved to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew in 1969 to study for a Diploma in Horticulture.

He is an astrological twin (born the same day in the same year) as mandala Artist, Barry Stevens.  The plot thickens, however…

Chef

Ken Hom (b. 3/5/1949)

…The morning after Alan Titchmarsh was born in the same year, Chef Ken Hom was born, so he is also in effect an astrological twin.  Ken Hom was the earliest proponent of Chinese cuisine to appear on our television screens.  His “Chef Archetype” shows up in his Venus conjunct the Sun in Taurus. But also in Moon in Cancer (representing nourishment). His exact trine between Mercury and Jupiter took him across the world broadcasting.  He studied the History of Art in California.  His big breakthrough came in 1982, when after a 2-year global search, the BBC auditioned him for a Chinese cookery series.  He introduced us to “the Wok”!

He recently said in an interview, explaining why he doesn’t have a restaurant:

“You think it’s glamorous to have a restaurant?  When the dish washer doesn’t show up, guess who’s washing the dishes?  I have a stress-free life.  I play in other people’s restaurants.  I create concepts which allow me to be creative.  I train the chefs and then it’s their problem.”

You may notice that with your Taurean family, friends and acquaintances, some of them have more than one of these Archetypes (they’re a talented bunch!).  While the Sun is in Taurus (until 20^th May), you can connect with your own Taurean Archetypes, or Venusian qualities if you do not have any Taurean planets, and enable them to blossom.

Aspects

This afternoon, Pluto is Stationary, prior to turning Retrograde.  This may be tricky.  Put your psychological house in order, e.g. with a spot of re-aligning meditation, ready for the challenges of this retrograde period.  There may be practical inconveniences, or contentious subjects arising.  The challenges may be more wearying than acute, but you need to keep up your vitality and reserves.  Alternatively, if you find yourself in overwhelm, surrender is equally effective as a spiritual strategy towards a sense of peace and acceptance, and new insight to inform your next steps.

Tomorrow (Monday, 5^th) Mercury sextiles Jupiter.  Sextiles ensure more ease and harmony and this one encourages mental development and learning (if you are on a course of study, for instance), and is helpful to businesses in need of a lift.  If you are learning a new language, you may experience a shift and take off with it!  It will also be favourable for the teaching profession.  If you are travelling, remember St. Christopher is with you.

Another sextile, on Tuesday (6^th) brings a more introverted set of qualities, from Venus with Pluto: it’s an aspect which encourages soul-searching and arriving at deeper concepts and perceptions.  You can add extra artistry and harmony to your current projects.  You can also experience profound connections between people, and it’s a good time for evaluating what people mean to you. You may experience a volcanic eruption of creativity!  A good day for philosophical and psychological enquiries.

Later in the day we are offered a conjunction, between Mercury and Chiron, at 24 degrees Aries.  It is possible that soul-searching earlier in the day uncovered an old wound that needed to be looked at, and Mercury/Chiron may provide the mental problem-solving assistance to profitably address issues.  For example, paranoia may be looked in the face, soothed and healed.

At the end of the week, on Saturday (10^th), Mercury enters Taurus, and the quality of the mental energy may become steadier and calmer than the fieriness of the last two weeks or so when Mercury has been in Aries.  This placing is better for negotiation, which is something much needed at the moment in war zones.  Practical ideas will be the order of the day.  Mercury will pass rapidly through this sign, and only stays here until 26^th May, so make this a productive time mentally.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – navel-gazing
• Tomorrow – mental development and learning;
• Tuesday – soul-searching; problem-solving
• Saturday – calmer mental shores