Taurus Monthly Horoscope

MONTHLY OVERVIEW
Two is the magic number, Taurus. As the energizing Sun blazes through Scorpio, your seventh house of relationships, the focus of this month—and really, the next couple of years—will be your closest relationships. Look over the give-and-take aspects of your closest ties, a.k.a. your peeps, whether at the office or in your personal life. Who do you rely upon for a good old-fashioned dose of morale-boosting after you’ve made a cringe-worthy gaffe in the boardroom? Who’s on your speed dial when you’ve had that unexpected dustup with your sweetheart, allegedly over something as trivial as the items in your grocery cart? Have you learned the art of a proper apology, i.e., “I’m sorry for my behavior,” as opposed to “I’m sorry your insensitivity triggered my bad behavior” (not that you’d ever say that!)? The first three weeks of November, compromise is the name of the game. The last week of the month, the Sun enters Sagittarius, your eighth house of joint ventures, so program your emotional GPS to locate all blocks against intimacy—and then taking a wrecking ball to them. Or, as the poet Rumi said, “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”

In addition to the Sun traveling through these two relationship-oriented houses, other cosmic factors emphasize tag-team energy. Last month, serious Saturn began a three-year visit to Scorpio, your committed relationship house. Not that you take such matters lightly, Taurus—but Saturn here adds even more gravitas to all your ties. Perhaps you’ve been taking a close friend, business colleague or love interest for granted. Between now and 2015, you might just find yourself being more considerate of all the collaborators (romantic and otherwise) in your life. Relationships are a two-way street, and under this influence, you’ll want to set aside any self-centered agendas and treat all the important people in your life with dignity and respect. If you’re careless in this area, taskmaster Saturn will send you a reminder notice (likely in the form of folks who don’t cooperate with a me-me-me agenda).

This month, take stock of who’s on Team Taurus. Does everyone bring an A game? Certain relationships are vehicles for all the good stuff: success, affection, healing and personal growth…whereas others, well, not so much. Or maybe they once were, but you’ve now reached the natural end of the road. Some may suddenly feel like an albatross you gotta ditch, stat. Midmonth, you’ll find your answers, when a November 13 Scorpio total solar eclipse ushers in a powerful new zing to your partnership zone. Eclipse developments can be black-and-white: are you in or are you out? You could also meet “the One” near this date, or in the coming six months. With a solar eclipse, new beginnings are emphasized—and they often arrive without notice!

This is the first of a three-year eclipse series that will fall on Taurus/Scorpio axis. These change-making eclipses will affect your closest relationships and your sense of self, perhaps with dramatic and powerful shifts. So buckle your seatbelt: every six months or so, a game-changing eclipse will come along and ultimately give you a deeper understanding of yourself, a partner and what you need to feel happy and balanced in your relationships.

Because this November 13 new moon is a total solar eclipse, its effect will be full-on and hard to miss. Expect an epiphany, a watershed moment or possibly even to meet that soul mate. (Ophira met her husband on a solar eclipse in her romance house. Believe it or not, those real-deal moments happen!) The last time eclipses fell on the Taurus/Scorpio spectrum was 2003-05. Dial back to developments (or upheavals) in your romantic and business life during this time. If you’re cringing right about now, know that you can be proactive, applying the lessons learned then to what’s unfolding in front of you now. Presto: disaster averted.

A note of caution: Don’t rush to any hasty conclusions. Communication planet Mercury will be retrograde (backward) from November 6-26, causing your thinking and self-expression to be murky at times. Mercury will travel through both Scorpio and Sagittarius during this retrograde—both rulers of your intimate and relationship-oriented chart sectors. Translation? You may find yourself reviewing the terms of an unspoken agreement you have with a loved one. Something that always seemed do-able (like, say, lurking exes or your sweetheart’s financial instability) might suddenly feel like a deal-breaker. Instead of spouting off a list of grievances or rashly calling things off, just observe what’s coming up and delay any high-stakes dialogues until after November 26, when you’ll have a clearer picture of the situation.

In fact, if you really need to have a heart-to-heart with your honey or a business partner, you may want to wait until the Gemini full moon on November 28, which happens to be a lunar eclipse. Yes, two eclipses in one month—whew!—but this one will be less potent, and a favorable time to express your firm truth. Gemini rules your second house of money, work and self-worth. If you haven’t been standing up for your own value, there’s no time like the present. This eclipse concludes a chapter launched by the May 20 Gemini solar eclipse. Events that have brewed since then, especially related to work, could reach their conclusion now.

LOVE & ROMANCE
Your love life is a hot zone this month indeed! It feels like every planet will ping the relationship sectors of your solar chart. (Get ready for a round of love pinball, at its most exciting and illuminating.) The Sun, Mercury, Venus, Saturn and a groundbreaking total solar eclipse will all visit Scorpio, Sagittarius or both signs in November. This will put extreme emphasis on everyone and everything that you’re committed to, Taurus.

So, prepare to dance the two-step, and not without a few stumbles. This month’s awkward sashays come courtesy of communicator Mercury, which will be retrograde (backward) from November 6- 26. This is a time to reevaluate your partnership. Does this love feed your soul, or is your default setting petty bickering over who changed the place where trash bags are stored? Speaking of garbage, now is high time to identify what does not belong in your closest relationship, e.g., name-calling, eye-rolling, and unyielding or domineering moves. While clever Mercury is retrograde (backward), don’t make any hasty or strategic moves. Instead, simply take an inventory. Perhaps detail-oriented Bulls would even like to make a two-column list: what’s working in this relationship versus what’s not exactly humming along. As easy as it might be to dwell on, say, the fact that your lover tends to be a flirt at parties, now is the time to look deeper into the situation, taking the whole relationship into account, to include strengths as well as weaknesses. If you just blurt out what’s on your mind, e.g., “Gawd, you should take some voice lessons!” in response to your honey singing along with the radio, you might just regret it. Trust that your inner knowing will alert you to the right moment to broach a tricky subject.

You got a taste of this already last month, when weighty Saturn moved into Scorpio for a three-year sojourn. Saturn is the ruler of maturity, tough life lessons and longevity. Like an inspector, Saturn’s come to check the foundation of your most intimate ties—and to do a no-bull inventory on your attitude toward relationships in general. If your love life has been a struggle, Saturn will dig deep and reveal the true culprit. Entitlement? Fear of change? Lack of self-worth? Leftover bitterness toward an ex? Whatever it is, stern Saturn is here to help you overcome that stumbling block by doing the hard but worthwhile work.

So while you’re busy dropping ten in Saturn’s boot camp, you’ll be learning another of life’s true-isms: the only thing constant is change. This month kicks off a two-year series of game-changing eclipses that will fall on the Taurus/Scorpio axis. Your love life—and your relationship with yourself—will undergo an extreme makeover if the stars deem it necessary. This could be a wonderful thing, believe it or not (we know how you quiver at the slightest whiff of change). As a result of embracing the odd curveball, wonderful new dimensions could be carved into your life. These surprises could come in the form of say, an unplanned (but miraculous) pregnancy, a stunning marriage proposal, a sudden job relocation, or meeting a soul mate when you least expect it. No, you didn’t map these out in your carefully crafted five-year plan. So what? The eclipse thumbs its nose at your agenda and reminds you that the universe has an even better offer. Snap up that sweet deal, Taurus.

And so…it begins. On November 13, a Scorpio total solar eclipse blasts into your relationship house, marking a bold beginning around a key relationship. For some Bulls (particularly the stagnant ones), this eclipse could lift you out of Kansas and drop you in an exciting but unfamiliar Oz. If you’re single and just a LITTLE too comfortable that way, prepare to have that hard earth loosened from around your heart. Still pining for that semi-ex who strings you along but never fully commits? This eclipse delivers the kind of tough love you’re famous for dishing out.

Only now it’s your turn to take it, Taurus. The combination of both Saturn and the solar eclipse in Scorpio could be humbling for the mighty Bull. If you’re playing the hardliner card, that might backfire now. Even for your stubborn sign, holding this stance can get exhausting. Is it time to forgive and offer someone a second chance? Or does forgiving mean compromising your core values, a no-no for Taurus? (Interestingly, this eclipse falls the day after the November 12 “Breaking Dawn 2” premiere. So the jury remains out on Taurus Robert Pattinson’s reconciliation, even if he walks the red carpet with two-timing Kristen Stewart on his arm.)

Whew! So much to think about here, isn’t there? Lucky for you, love planet Venus enters Scorpio on November 21, softening your stance. Venus will add a note of compassion, reminding you to bring a human touch to your negotiations. Even if you decide to part ways with someone, you can do it from a place of love and mutual respect—or at least, with gratitude for the valuable lessons learned. Still, you might want to take the month to really sift through the rubble. With Mercury retrograde until the 26th, not all of your decisions will be clear. You’re liable to be either too hardcore or too much of a softie. Grant yourself the time you need to get as clear as possible in your heart.

MONEY & CAREER
Time to team up? Sure looks like it, with serious Saturn moving through Scorpio, your seventh house of partnerships. Self-reliant Tauruses are ever so slowly learning the power of delegation. If you haven’t figured it out by now, you’ll soon learn that the key to collaboration is joining forces with a true equal, someone whose skills effectively complement yours. If you’re the visionary dreamer, your other half might be passionate about numbers and taking care of the bottom line. As you’re, ahem, well aware, you have a tendency to pile up your plate with too many responsibilities, perhaps stemming from a not-so-subtle desire to be in control. This Saturn cycle is calling for a reorganization of how you share power and work with others who are as diligent and exacting as you…though they might express it differently. If you can leave room for this kind of diversity within partnerships, your victories might just feel like magic (even though they’re actually a product of you learning to trust those on your side).

One entrepreneurial Taurus we know just decided to link up with a manufacturer for her creations rather than making them all herself. While she may lose a bit of her DIY edge, her growing business couldn’t meet the customer demand unless she outsourced. That’s just one example of the tough but necessary decisions you may have to make—realizing the limitations of flying solo and taking some wobbly steps toward relinquishing a bit of control…but you will need to really experiment carefully to find the right balance. We’re not advocating for blind trust or handing over the reigns completely. But you can—and should—keep a watchful eye on the whole process, as an overseer in charge of quality control (instead of a high-strung micromanager, demanding to know how much time, down to the minute, your partner has been spending on a project).

This theme shouldn’t come as a complete surprise; teamwork has been difficult for the past few months, ever since foggy Neptune went retrograde (backward) in Pisces, your eleventh house of groups and collaborations. A friend or colleague may have revealed a shady hand, or perhaps someone you counted on flaked out. Whether this was due to personal circumstances or lack of character, you may have been left holding the bag, much to your frustration (resulting in some cartoon-like steam emanating from your head, a la Yosemite Sam). On November 10, Neptune resumes direct (forward) motion; suddenly, the skies are clear, making it easier to figure out whom to trust.

Here’s a sampling of potential clarifications: some solid, true-blue contenders could rise to the fore now (much to the delight of your loyal heart)—while the squirrely, unreliable folk could be swept off with the changing tides (taking their broken appointments and half-baked ideas with them). This month kicks off a series of change-making eclipses on the Taurus/Scorpio axis. During this period, you’ll discover new skills, talents and facets of yourself. (Didn’t know you had a flair for public speaking? Well, whatever your calling, you’ll soon find that out.) On November 13, a total solar eclipse in Scorpio, your seventh house of partnerships, could present you with new, impressive partners, life-altering deals, scintillating offers and lucrative contracts. Perhaps you’ll decide it’s time to join forces or to accept an opportunity to represent someone, perhaps as an agent or broker (areas your tenacious sign will thrive in). With go-getter Mars in Capricorn for second half of November, your entrepreneurial and worldly ninth house, you might be fired up to start a business, girded in a high-minded philosophy. You might go back to school for a degree or certificate that will blow existing professional options out of the water; or travel for your work to destinations far-flung and culturally diverse. Take out your passport (metaphorical and otherwise) and kiss that status quo goodbye.

Since solar eclipses fall on new moons, they all offer the shiny promise of a fresh start or new chapter. In general, new moons take about six months to entirely play out, culminating at the corresponding full moon. So set your intentions now, show up and do the work (like only a Taurus can!)…and stay tuned for the April 25, 2013 Scorpio lunar (full moon) eclipse to see how this situation fully manifests. Let yourself be surprised by just how perfect the culmination is.

For hints as to what themes might be at play, look back to 2003-2005, which was the last time the eclipses fell on the Taurus/Scorpio poles. Perhaps you had some mega shake-ups then, like, say, the end of a long-term business partnership or a course-changing decision. Tough as these trials and tribulations might have felt, you definitely landed on your feet. From today’s distant perspective, review that period, taking a special look at what you learned about yourself. How did you become more self-reliant, but also shift the way you dealt with people? Perhaps you relinquished your territorial side, in favor of a broader, more high-minded approach to your work, money and life. Dig into those stores of wisdom and apply your hard-won truths. This time, you have serious Saturn here, too, so if you ignore the lessons, they will, no question, get a little tougher. Avert crises by being proactive. The point is not to repeat a difficult, unsettling time, but instead to acknowledge your own boundaries in your work—and that includes joint ventures. Build the proper structures into your life and only pair up with solid, reliable people on whom you’ve done a full background check. Once you’ve assembled a firmly rooted team…game on!

At the month’s end, the November 28 Gemini full moon in (which is also a lunar eclipse) lights up your second house of values—and that includes self-worth. A situation from the May 20 Gemini solar eclipse comes full circle. Perhaps you’ll get an exciting offer for a job or moneymaking opportunity, such as an invitation to join a dream team or the launch of a lucrative web site. Whatever the development, its origins can be traced back to the May eclipse. This culmination could surprise you with happy, unexpected news…not the least of which could be a new discovery of your own value. Use this supportive energy to make a vow: stop undercharging and underselling yourself. The more expressive you become on the job—by saying what you mean and meaning what you say—the more quality players will flock to your side. So leave the people pleasing in the past. Just be direct. You’ve got it in you.

HEALTH: MIND, BODY & SOUL
When it comes to getting in shape, do not—we repeat—do not go head off into the hinterlands of your gym alone. Admit it, Taurus…you like your calorie-laden lattes and multiple orders of onion rings—and you really, really like to enjoy them with a jovial party. So why not also engage some of that gregarious group energy to support one another in your respective health and wellness goals? With the Sun in your collaborative houses all month, success is more likely if you call upon a workout buddy or no-nonsense personal trainer. Being accountable to that other party will help drag your caboose out of bed the next time you stay up too late or have one too many glasses of red wine (which could easily be your “everyday” drink of choice…just sayin’).

Midmonth, energizer Mars marches into hardworking Capricorn, your ninth house of optimism and spirituality, where it will remain until next month. Calling all attitude-shifters! Yep, that’s you. With spirited Mars here, you have all the motivation you need to tweak unhealthy attitudes about your life and work. If you’ve been struggling to be positive and upbeat, use this time to raze your any pessimism that stands in the way of your true happiness. You don’t have to be an over-the-top Suzie Sunshine, whose every other word is a bright (and sometimes empty) “Amazing!” Rather, turn your default setting to the bright side of life. If your assistant bails at the last minute, tune into to that small interior voice saying, “You know, she wasn’t the best fit anyway…” Turn lemons into lemonade, and digest material that helps in this process. Instead of getting caught up in local gossip, keep rising above the fray. Trust that peace of mind will ensue. Your trusted officemate just may need a sec to regroup when you stop responding to her negative (if entertaining) stories about another coworker. To further boost this good mojo, you may get more involved in a spiritual practice or seek new horizons in other ways, perhaps even connecting with bright-eyed, open-hearted pals who were only on the periphery of your social circle before. If presented with the opportunity to sign up for a wellness class, keep an open mind. Being a jaded know-it-all hipster is such a waste.

If mounting pressure has you ducking for cover, consider taking an actual vacation. (And that means leaving the iPad and laptop at home!) Mercury retrogrades are famous for wreaking havoc on travel plans, so to avoid any delayed trains or rear-endings, consider waiting until Mercury goes direct (forward) on November 26 to skip town. However, Mercury retrogrades can be a great time to unplug, especially given all the communication mishaps that could transpire at work. If you’re feeling like a trip is urgent, go for it; just build in plenty of time to your schedule to account for the unknown, e.g., if it normally takes you an hour to get to the airport, give yourself two. That way, you’re in the terminal with plenty of time to decide on last-minute reading materials.

The last week of the month, the bold Sun slips into Sagittarius, your eighth house of mysticism, making this a reflective and internal time. Decadent nights on the party circuit will soon become a thing of the past, as you naturally crave more solitude. If you’ve had a nagging issue of any kind, now would be the moment to pull back from talking about it ad nauseam with pals. Besides, by now you already know what they’re going to say…in fact, you could say it for them. So use this time to query the wisest person you know: yourself!