Since Rams and Bulls have tough horns, Aries determination and Taurus stubbornness may seem like identical traits. They are not, and many conflicts will occur between the two that will make the difference clear. For example, an Aries parent wants his or her Taurus child to eat, and he or she makes it known with a Martian command like this: “Swallow every last morsel of that cereal and pick up your spoon right now, do you hear me?” This is determination. The Taurus child sits still in his or her chair, not moving a muscle, stares back, and answers, “No.” This is stubbornness. An Aries boss wants a Taurus employee to work on his or her day off, and says forcefully, “I need you on Saturday, and you may have to stay all day, so cancel any other schedules you have.” This is determination. The Taurus employee calmly replies, “I’m busy on Saturday. Go find someone else.” This is stubbornness. After a few clashes, the difference between the two traits will become apparent. Determination initiates. Stubbornness reacts. The former is a positive action. The latter is a negative reaction. So when a clash occurs between Aries and Taurus, the Ram initiates it and the Bull ends it. It’s important to remember this. Taurus won’t forget it. Taurus doesn’t forget anything.
Although Aries are accused of going around burning bridges behind their backs and throwing sparks with reckless abandon, they do have their peaceful moments, too. Taurus is accused of always sulking and brooding like dull lumps of dirt, ready to smother Aries’ enthusiasm with their negative silence. But Bulls also have their imaginative outbursts, when it suits them, and beneath that pragmatic facade they possess a thoughtful wisdom and a wonderfully warm sense of humor. There are also essential differences between the two signs to be addressed. Since Rams and Bulls have tough horns, Aries’ determination and Taurus’ stubbornness may seem identical traits. They are not, and there will be many conflicts between the two that will make the difference clear.
Rams tend to be aggressive, impulsive, authoritarian, spendthrift, talkative, and optimistic. They seek excitement and quick results—and need a dash of magic to make life interesting. Bulls tend to be reserved, practical, generally laconic and arrogant, though a bit pessimistic. They seek stability, solitude, and certain things—and need plenty of rest and quiet to make life bearable. Clearly, these people are not twins. Their inner motivations, not to mention their ostensible actions, tend to run in different directions. But sometimes it pays to be at odds with someone who has the qualities you lack. Since this is a 2-12 Sun Sign Pattern, Taurus is more likely to be tolerant and understanding of the Ram, and Aries will try to imitate the Bull’s placid stability. After all, placid stability is almost synonymous with strength, and Aries will do anything—even if it goes against their nature—to accumulate more strength. Weakness is an obscene word for both the Ram and the Bull.
Although Bulls are equally fond of force, they are ruled by Venus, which softens the atmosphere a bit so that they are not as vehement as the Mars-ruled Aries in trying to prove or flaunt it. Taurus understands the compulsion behind Aries’ courage and flashy independence, because every Sun sign carries with it the seeds or karmic memory of the qualities of the sign immediately preceding it in the Zodiac, just as in every 2-12 pattern. But since the Bull has been there before, unconsciously, it also knows the risks that come with throwing caution to the winds. However, the Taurean goal of financial security can often be achieved by cooperating with the Martian’s tireless drive and energy, and Taurus instinctively knows this. This is one reason why they are so totally drawn to Aries.
As for the Ram, he secretly envies Taurus’s circumspection and reasonableness, and could derive immense benefit from contact with the Bull’s down-to-earth approach to life. Every Sun sign unconsciously senses that it can learn much from the sign immediately following or preceding it in the Zodiac, in a 2-12 vibration. Because of this, Aries is attracted to Taurus’s reliability, which it interprets as something tangible in which it can find support when Martian impetuosity brings an avalanche of problems upon its head. If a free flow of exchange could be generated between the Bull and the Ram, their idiosyncrasies could merge on terms that would enable them to achieve together, through their partnership, what would be difficult for them to achieve separately. The blending of the auras of Mars and Venus carries with it the danger that occasionally the Ram will exasperate the Bull and make him lose his colossal patience, to the point where after long deliberation the Taurus will finally change his very stubborn ideas and decide that it is not worth the effort to continue sacrificing himself. Conversely, there is always the possibility that the Bull will so often refuse to be infected by the Ram’s many inflamed ideas and sparks of ideals and dreams that the Aries will finally give up in despair, to save himself the depression – which no Mars-ruled man, woman or child can tolerate for long periods without seeking relief.
The Ram may be baffled and often frustrated by the Bull’s periodic bouts of melancholy and introversion, though he may be comforted by a host of amusements and giggles and may occasionally be drawn into parties and social activities, which, if not overdone, will help to offset Taurus’s instinctive “misanthropy” – a trait which should not be encouraged. Aries can use various devices to encourage Taurus to sink into a greater climate of placidity and peace – whether by encouraging the Bull of any sex or age to express his innate love of form and colour in music or art, or by suggesting means of retreating into the countryside, woods and mountains (all Bulls have a vehement, if covert, love for Nature). The worst mistake most Aries make with a Taurus friend, relative, partner, lover or consort is to urge him to make a decision. This will never work. Never. The Bull must proceed slowly. Demands, pressures and obstinacy (the typical Martian strategy when Aries’ desires hit a barrier) will only reinforce Taurus’s refusal to budge, and often plunge him into total isolation. If Taurus thinks a suggestion is valid and sensible, he will consider it, and eventually give his approval. Until then – and under different conditions – there will be no power on Earth capable of forcing the issue prematurely. That’s just the way things are, and no one, not even a fiery Ram, will be able to change them.
If the Bull can learn, as they say in the American West, to ride “loose in the saddle” with the Ram, and no longer expect Aries to be practical, the relationship will also be more peaceful. Rams should be allowed to express themselves within their own Martian configuration, which must contain a certain amount of violent ups and downs, for they will eventually learn that in most cases one ends up regretting having been impulsive and reckless. Certainly, Aries will benefit from the proximity of a more stable Taurus to whom they can turn for support when things go wrong – and he (or she) will accept the Bull’s advice with surprising docility, provided it is tempered with tenderness and is not formulated so frequently or dogmatically that the Ram feels “cornered.” Aries of all sizes, shapes, ages, and sexes should be allowed to run their course without undue restraint, or too much negative criticism. In fact, unspoken criticism is even more disturbing to the bright, optimistic spirit of Aries than explicit criticism. For some reason it seems more ominous and threatening—and just plain “alarming”—to the talkative Ram. Remember, Aries is the symbolic newborn, just as Taurus is the symbolic baby. If the Ram’s spontaneous enthusiasms are constantly buried under a ton of Taurus’ earthly prohibitions, he or she may become a frustrated sheep, a Ram whose ego has been cruelly mutilated in its time to blossom. The Aries needs to be urged from time to time not to get carried away by his or her overflowing enthusiasm, but it must be gently, very gently urged.
Aries discovers the new territory, whether it be a geographic one or a mental continent. Because Mars cuts right through to the core of any situation, the Ram takes the lead and becomes a pioneer of both the territory…and of innovative ideas. The Bull can then set out on his own to build, to transform the territory or ideas that Aries has discovered and promoted into a thriving community…or into a practical and useful concept. All human relationships—life itself—must, for Taurus, have a clear intention and a defined function. In the absence of a concrete, useful goal, and amidst scattered ideas and aimless activities, the Bull becomes confused and eventually withdraws. He (or she) learns only through the senses and experience, and this fixed Sun sign can only be true to himself or herself when he or she exercises a fixity of intention. For Taurus, everything and everyone has a proper place and should be there, serving their purpose, and never pretending to be what they are not. Aries behaves and dreams linearly and always moves forward, oblivious to the fact that both ends of that straight line are completely open to the winds of fate, while Taurus behaves and dreams in a circle, which will eventually give its approval. Until then – and under different conditions – there will be no power on Earth capable of forcing the situation prematurely. That’s how things are and no one, not even a fiery Ram, will be able to change them.
If the Bull can learn, as they say in the American West, to ride “loose in the saddle” with the Ram and no longer expect Aries to be practical, the relationship will also be more peaceful. Rams should be allowed to express themselves within their own Martian configuration, which must contain a certain amount of violent ups and downs, for they will eventually learn that in most cases one ends up regretting having been impulsive and reckless. Tons of prohibitions The Aries needs to be urged from time to time not to get carried away by their overflowing enthusiasm, but this should be gently, gently urged. Aries discovers the new territory, be it geographical or a mental continent. Because Mars penetrates directly to the core of any situation, the Ram takes the lead and becomes a pioneer of both territory – and innovative ideas. The Bull can then take up his own activity, which consists in building, in transforming into a prosperous community—or into a practical and useful concept—the territory or ideas that Aries has discovered and promoted. All human relationships—life itself—must, for Taurus, have a clear intention and a definite function. In the absence of a concrete useful goal, and in the midst of scattered ideas and aimless activities, the Bull feels confused and finally withdraws. He (or she) only learns through the senses and through experience, and this fixed Sun sign can only be true to himself or herself when he or she exercises a fixity of intention. For Taurus, all things, and all people, have a proper place and must be there, serving their purpose, and never pretending to be what they are not. Aries behaves and dreams in a linear fashion, always moving forward, oblivious to the fact that both ends of that straight line are wide open to the winds of fate, while Taurus behaves and dreams in a circle, encompassing lessons from the past and careful plans for the future, with no gaps for failures due to irresponsible action to slip through.
The Ram can help the Bull break that circle to let in the light of optimism and new ideas… and the Bull can help the Ram bend the straight Martian line of activity and feeling into at least a semi-circle, which will close off some of the inevitable disappointments scattered throughout the eventful, up-and-down Aries existence. It is strange and beautiful that music, in whatever form, almost always serves to bridge the gap between Aries and Taurus, and to heal some of the wounds caused by their respective personality differences, which can be enormous. Since the Sun is glorified in Aries, these people often think that victory has been won even before the battle. Every Ram identifies with birth, spring, and the ecstasy of Easter… resurrection. This is the reason for the soul, the miracle he (or she) possesses to offer innocently to other Sun Signs, which is how Aries serves humanity and its true inner self. Aries believes in the triumph of life over death, of faith over doubt. Yet behind its bravery lurks the peculiar emotional insecurity of the Ram (the seeds of karmic memory of Pisces, immediately behind Aries in the astrological circle), and the efforts of an Earth Sign to retain it (or her) in any way only increase this hidden vulnerability. So Aries will suddenly and violently break all ties to stifling Taurus—or submit and sink into a sad neurosis, totally anomalous to the life force of Mars.
Since the combination of Martian determination and Taurean obstinacy creates a raw force of immense magnitude, ancient astrologers warned that the fusion of Aries and Taurus qualities can lead to great cruelty if not carefully balanced. Adolf Hitler’s highly “badly aspected” Taurus Sun and Aries Ascendant (plus other negative aspects) are a classic example of what happens when this warning is ignored. The combination may occur in the individual’s birth chart, or manifest itself through the association of a Ram and a Bull, but it always depends on the planetary positions of both at the time of birth. It is of course possible to overcome this tendency through enlightenment, and many Rams and Bulls generate, when associated, an equally powerful alchemy of kindness and benevolence. But unfortunately there are, for example, some Aries and Taurus who channel these negative aspects into “sport hunters.” These people express the dark side of Aries’ courage and Taurus’ strength in a cruel way, and I wish they would understand that in doing so they become cowards of the worst kind. Killing a wild animal in cold blood and then transporting the silent corpse through the city as a macho trophy is a pathetic form of cowardice in its most vile form, and not a demonstration of “manliness” or “womanhood” as some believe.
If the Sun and Moon are inharmoniously aspected in the natal charts of the Ram and the Bull, then cruelty must be carefully guarded against in their luminary relationship to each other. However, when the Ram’s natal Sun is in favorable aspect to the Bull’s natal Moon (or vice versa), and if their mutual ascendants are also harmonious, Taurus can help Aries soar to the heights of bliss and spontaneity, supporting the emotional soarings of fantasy with warm, benevolent patience (and also supplying a comforting, soft patch of Earth to fall on when the rope is cut). And the Ram can guide Taurus to the highest slopes of the imagination, up there where the stormy panorama of the future is as colossal and grand as the Bull’s own stubborn dreams.
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