- Greco-Roman Zodiac: Taurus; Fixed; Earth; Ruler Exalted
- Western/Roman Zodiacal gem is Topaz; zodiacal stone is emerald or agate
- symbol is Bull; animal, Bull; gem, Topaz; color, Red-Orange; plant, Mallow
- Amerindian associations:
- mineral is Chrysocola; animal, Beaver; plant, Blue Camas; Blue
- Chinese animal associations: Dragon, Sheep or Ram, Pig or Boar
- Eck-Vidya associations - Ralot, Sapphire, May, Farank, Years of the Full Moon
4.5.4.1 Western Zodiac: Taurus (Walker 295)
- to the Greeks, Taurus the Bull; to the Persians, Tora the Bull
- in Sanskrit, Vrishna, the Bull; to Babylonians, Gudanna, the Bull
- Aldebarvan, alpha star of the constellation, known as "Heart of the Bull"
- traditionally ruled by Venus and the element of Earth
- qualities always bull-like
- slow-moving, a lover of routine and order, productive, dependable
- usually obedient to authority, but uncontrollable, violent when energized
- the influence of Venus was supposed to provide an amiable disposition
- sensual pleasures, broad friendships, and sometimes excessive materialism
- Taurus is said to be quietly supportive under normal conditions
- * the constellation also contains the Pleiades or "seven sisters"
- profound meaning in ancient religion of Venus-Aphrodite as Goddess of Wisdom
- * they tended her "pearly gates" and seven pillars represented them in her temple
4.5.4.2 Western Planet Associations: Venus (Walker 225-226)
- the "Mirror of Venus" is similar to Egyptian Ankh, sign of life, love, and sexuality
- connotations with Roma version of Greek Aphrodite
- her sign now botanical and zoological emblem of "femaleness"
- as well as planet Venus, the morning and evening star
- also denoted sacred day to her - dies ventris (Friday)
- pagan tradition of eating fish (thought to be aphrodisiac)
- in anticipation of sexual rites honoring the goddess
- practice copied by Christians (though meaning altered)
- "veneration" used to mean worship of Venus
- as Romans regarded her among most sacred of all deities
- Latin word for "grace" is venia - meant the goddess's favor
- Julius Caesar worshiped Venus Genetrix ("Venus the Ancestress")
- built a marble and gold-temple in her honor
- placed his own statue near hers in guise of her consort (Dumézil)
- symbol meant "copper" in alchemy
- copper sacred to her since her major shrine was located on Cyprus, Isle of Copper
- she was called Cyprian Aphrodite, or Cyprian Venus, the Goddess of Copper
- early in Middle Ages, she became reigning Fairy Queen of numerous holy mountains
- called Venusbergs, where some of her many ancient shrines were located
- Christians execrated theses sites (and others), condemned them as "schools of wickedness"
- 6th century writer insisted that women's sinful observation of "the day of Venus at weddings" would be punished by Hellfire (J.H. Smith)
- nevertheless, church forced to absorb her in some way, her worship proved ineradicable
- as a rule, she was converted into a mythical saint Venerina or Venere
- "towns and shrines dedicated to Venus were renamed in honor of St. Venus" (Fisher)
- at same time, traces of Venus-worship survived in magical charms, particularly those connected with sex
- her "mirror" symbol figured in procedures like this love charm
- the egg of a black hen must be buried at a crossroad after sunset and left 3 days
- then it must be dug up at night and sold
- the money must then buy a mirror, to be buried in the same spot, "in the name of Venus"
- after sleeping on the spot for three nights, the magician may dig up the mirror
- any woman who looked in it would fall in love with him (Trachtenberg)
- another curious remnant
- the feast day of the church renamed Holy Innocents Day
- perpetually recalling King Herod's slaughter of the innocents
- official sign of the day was a row of four Venus mirrors (Brewster)
- perhaps some pious monastic innocent assumed these could resemble small children
- the feast day of the church renamed Holy Innocents Day
4.5 Beaver - Frogs Return Moon
4.5.2 Comparisons of the Western Zodiac, the Medicine Wheel, and the Chinese Zodiac
4.4.4 Western Zodiac
4.5.4.3 Zodiac: Taurus, Psiris, Hathoor (Phenomenon 46-49)
- Taurus; direction is Fixed; Earth; Ruler Exalted
- Fixed, Feminine Earth Sign; Ruler is Venus; Exaltation is Moon
- symbol is Bull, animal is Bull; gem is Topaz, color is Red Orange
- Plant is mallow, perfume is Storax
- Hebrew, Arabic, Greek hieroglyphic associations
- Roman Castor and Pollux; Egyptian Osiris, Hathoor; Greek Hera, Aphrodite
- alchemical congelation; body part - throat, ears; meridian is Triple-Generator
- Tarot is Hierophant; Geomancy, Amisso; weapons, the Labour; Genii, Cisera
- Egyptian, Hathot, the Sky; Greek Hera, Goddess of Marriage and Birth
- Taurus is pure substance, undifferentiated matter, passive force, stewardship
- natural and physical beauty, wealth and luxury, the Earth Mother, agriculture
- pragmatism, property and possession
- farmers, artists, beauties, financiers, real estate agents, jewelers
