Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus, named after the Roman goddess of beauty and love. Venus symbolizes the feminine aspect of nature: the power of attraction, union and togetherness with others. The qualities of Venus are represented by love goddesses in mythologies around the world. She is also referred to as the “Goddess of Generation” due to her procreative powers.
Venus is the second planet from the Sun. Its proximity to earth makes it the brightest celestial object in the sky after the Sun and the Moon. It appears as the Morning Star in the hours around dawn, or as the Evening Star at twilight. Valerie Vaughan states that a person with Venus in the Morning Star position in their astrological chart is generally more assertive in getting their social and sensory needs met than individuals having Venus in the Evening Star position.
In the astrological chart Venus represents our social urges, the first stages of social interaction via our senses. It defines what we are attracted to, what we find beautiful and gratifying. It reveals our natural talent for experiencing pleasure. Venus also represents our attitude towards the physical world: what we appreciate, love and value in life. She defines how we manifest our highest values in the world through our creative endeavors.
The glyph for Venus, sometimes called the “Mirror of Venus”, is the circle of spirit over the cross of matter. It represents the infusion of spirit into the material world through love. Spiritual Venus expresses her love and values by drawing to her the Prima Materia to bring Spirit into form.
The dream of my life
is to lay down by a slow river
and stare at the light in the trees–
To learn something by being nothing a little while
but the rich lens of attention.
-Mary Oliver