Mars in Taurus - May 15th to June 2, 2011

Taurus is a somewhat difficult placement for Mars, planet of action and impulse, because this sign tends to slow down and ground any planets transiting within its borders, with the need to solidify and make durable, while Mars is all about rapid response and action without delay. Positively the contemplative nature of Taurus could help to tame some of Mars’s restless and fiery nature. After a slow start much could be accomplished.

Taurus is a Sign of Venus, opposite and complementary to Scorpio, Sign of Mars. For this reason Mars in Taurus is said to be in detriment, meaning weak or in no position of expressing his energy freely and effectively.

Mars can indeed become very impatient in Taurus, because the pace of life and decision making is too slow, conservative and cautious for this lover of speed and risky ventures.

The built up of energy will have, soon or later, to find a valve of release. This position of Mars is often associated with emotional and physical outbursts, as well as an increase in earth tremors, volcanic eruptions and other extreme natural events, the potentially dangerous nature of the Bull of Heaven, when under martial pressure.

The willful nature of this Sign could find a powerful voice in Mars, acting out the will in aggressive ways.

Probably the most notorious individual born with Mars in Taurus was Adolf Hitler, hence much of the placement’s bad press. It doesn’t help to know now that Osama Bin Laden was also born with Mars in Taurus, on a particular difficult degree, aligned in longitude with the notorious star Algol, the severed head of Medusa, connected with murder, mayhem and violent death.

Too often, thinking of Mars as the God of War, we forget his role as Nature God of fertility, the spirit of adventure and exploration, the courage to fight and survive. In Taurus this martial energy could be successfully channeled in constructive and practical activities, building, landscaping, gardening, husbandry, wood-working, sculpting, cooking.

The challenge here could be summarized as the need of becoming conscious of deep eruptive energies within and finding ways to release them safely, lovingly and constructively.

Mars in Taurus has an immense creative power, transforming what was inert and dull into a lively and fertile ground. In this Sign the instinct (Mars) is to grow solid and permanent roots from which we can achieve a sense of security, and produce fruitfulness and abundance via right actions.