Hit the brakes...or prepare to. The Sun sllllllllllooooooowws down in Taurus. No sudden movements.

The Sun represents our vitality, our conscious will, and our untapped potential. In Aries, the Sun is bold, confident, direct, quick-thinking, quick-acting and quick-tempered. In Taurus, the Sun slows down, steps back, makes considerations, and assesses risk vs. gain especially if there's a timeframe to work with. There is no rushing Taurean energy. Taurus moves into action when Taurus is good and ready! Watch out, though, because a Taurean is ready to move, it will take out what's in its way :)

There's comfort in 'stuff' a Taurus-Sun. Acquisition. Shopping. Satisfying the senses. Pleasure. Beauty. Stability. Seek comfort in the familiar with the Sun in Taurus.

While the Sun gets situated in Taurus, Mercury, who has been retrograde since March 30th, spends his last days in retrograde motion and will become direct on April 23rd. On the plus side, whatever we may have been waiting on will now have a chance to move forward with; wherever we may have encountered blocks, those would begin to lift; where communications have been strained, more understanding/clarity await.

On the not so great side, the three days approaching and immediately after April 23rd may be extra challenging, as Mercury changes direction. Mixing it up with this Mercury energy is the Sun's sextile to Neptune between April 19 to 22, which gives a sense of weird/strangeness in the air or maybe wanting to 'check out'/escape. In its highest form, it is enlightenment and having strong intuitive ability. Anyway, please practice patience during this short period, be aware of what your reactions are to situations, and consciously choose how you want to experience your present moment.

After April 26/27, Mercury should be back to his usual speed. This begins a great period for using the Sun in Taurus energy by giving ideas form, developing what may have been started or taking a project into the next phase. It's also an ideal period for solidifying plans, reworking the budget/finances, assessing what is truly of value, or what you really want to invest your time/energy in.

The Sun enters Taurus on April 20 at 3:17 a.m. PDT / 6:17 a.m. EDT and will stay through May 21st. While in Taurus, the Sun will align with the following celestial bodies (all dates reflect North America Pacific time zone; allow +/-2 days for life span of influence):

• April 20 ~ Sun sextile Neptune. covered above. Also today, Venus enters Aries.
• April 24 ~ Sun sextile Chiron. A chance to heal/regain your footing or help another gain some grounding/direction.
• April 27 ~ Sun trine Pluto-rx. Getting into the nitty gritty. What you see may not be all there is. Focusing on what's important. Also today, Venus square Pluto-rx.
• May 2/3 ~ New Moon in Taurus. May 2 at 11:51 p.m. PDT / May 3 at 2:51 a.m. EDT
• May 17 ~ Full Moon in Scorpio at 4:09 a.m. PDT / 7:09 a.m. EDT

How might the Sun's transit in Taurus manifest in your world? Look to the Taurus-ruled house/s in your birth chart. Match the sign with the house cusp/s on your birth chart. Use the list of zodiac sign below to identify the Taurus zodiac sign on your birth chart then click here for an explanation of the Sun transiting those solar and/or natal houses.



Click image to see larger

For those without a birth chart, you may use your Sun sign or Rising/Ascendant sign, if you know it. Look for your Sun and/or Rising Sign below then click here for an explanation of the Sun transiting those solar and/or natal houses.

• Aries-Sun or Aries Rising ~ 2nd House
• Taurus-Sun or Taurus Rising ~ 1st House
• Gemini-Sun or Gemini-Rising ~ 12th House
• Cancer-Sun or Cancer-Rising ~ 11th House
• Leo-Sun or Leo-Rising ~ 10th House
• Virgo-Sun or Virgo-Rising ~ 9th House
• Libra-Sun or Libra-Rising ~ 8th House
• Scorpio-Sun or Scorpio-Rising ~ 7th House
• Sagittarius-Sun or Sagittarius-Rising ~ 6th House
• Capricorn-Sun or Capricorn-Rising ~ 5th House
• Aquarius-Sun or Aquarius-Rising ~ 4th House
• Pisces-Sun or Pisces-Rising ~ 3rd House

Alternatively, you may cast your own birth chart at alabe.com for use as reference -- birth date, time, and place required.

Are you celebrating a birthday? Schedule a session for a Solar Return (birthdays) or 3-Chart Package Reading (detailed natal & overall outlook for the next 12 months). Or give the gift of insight.

Have a question or need a quote for a more customized reading, ask me here.

What significance do planets, signs, and houses have in astrology? Planets have the function, the job to do. The style/manner they will use get that job done is defined by the zodiac sign they occupy. Where in our life the job gets done is determined by the house the planet occupies/transits. So, when Mars (aggression) is in Aries (bold), he is more assertive than when he is in Cancer (sensitive). When traveling through the 10th house (professional life), he may bring his confidence and motivation in matters relating to our career. While in the 11th house (friendships), we may be more inclined to having our social calendar packed with activities. Having the foresight for what may be coming up or receiving confirmation on what may be happening now are ways astrology can be beneficial ... as above, so below.

Related articles:

• Transiting Sun in Natal Houses
• Current Planetary Transits
• Solar Returns Explained ~ your personal year
• Venus in Aries ~ April 20/21 to May 15, 2011
• New Moon in Taurus ~ May 2/3, 2011
• Mars in Taurus ~ May 11 to June 20, 2011
• Venus in Taurus ~ May 15 to June 9, 2011

Wall Street Charging Bull Image credit and copyright to New York City Ettractions.