Dan Liebman - Taurus

W elcome to 2013, and to a personal horoscope guide that will take you on an astrological journey through the year ahead.

Astrology, the study of interactions among the stars and the planets, has long fascinated humankind. (We like to think of ourselves as the second-oldest profession, said astrologer Richard Brown.) Its history can be traced back to the early Babylonians, who introduced the concept of the zodiac in the third millennium BC. Astrology predates not only psychology but also astronomy.

We look to our horoscopes to answer an array of questions and to aid us in understanding our strengths and weaknesses. Astrology provides us with a feeling of how events might unfold, gives direction as we approach our goals, and helps us to better comprehend relationships. It assists us in connecting with others and examining our feelings. If we are prone to secrecy, for example, an awareness of the traits associated with our sign can encourage us to open up. We can discover a lot about our personality as well as our potential.

Taurus: Personal Horoscopes 2013 begins with a brief introduction of the basics of astrology, explaining some of the tools used to create the zodiac profile and the weekly forecasts. Part I provides a snapshot of your zodiac signpersonality traits, information on health and career, and associations (including numbers, colours, and gemstones)followed by a list of famous (and some infamous) people born in your sign. Youll discover some fascinating trends when you see who shares your sign.

Part II is a complete compatibility guide, which offers ratings on and explanations about every possible pairing between you and your significant others (romantic and other partners, family members, and associates). Youll find it interesting to see not only how you get along (or dont) with others but why you do (and dont).

Part III is the heart of the bookweekly forecasts for your zodiac sign that will guide you through the entire year. As you navigate your journey, youll become aware of what lies ahead in the different areas of your life, including events taking place behind the scenes. Youll be able to watch for possible stumbling blocks and then see when the road looks clearer. Keywords for each month indicate your general approach, attitude, and mood. Key days are pinpointed so youll know when the time is right to make your move in the areas of romance, friends and family, career and status, and finance.

As a final note, this book is personal in another important way. In addition to providing information and guidance, it does so from a Canadian perspective. What that means is that, when you read about events that may happen during Thanksgiving, it will be Canadian Thanksgiving (in October, not the U.S. holiday in November). Youll find references to other Canadian holidays such as Boxing Day, Canada Day, and Victoria Day (a.k.a., May Two-Four), as well as to Canadian people, Canadian activities and events, and, yes Canadian seasons (both of them).

We hope youll find Taurus: Personal Horoscopes 2013 to be informative, enlightening, and even entertaining.

Astrology is a language, wrote the astrologer and author Dane Rudhyar. If you understand this language, the sky speaks to you.

Many excellent books and articles have been written to explain the language of astrology. Some of the vocabulary is, by necessity, complex and technical. Weve chosen to concentrate on the basic information used in creating the profile, compatibility guide, and forecasts in this book.

First, its important to remember that Taurus: Personal Horoscopes 2013 is based on your Sun sign, which is one of several factors involved in creating a comprehensive astrological profile. To provide other astrological influences, we would have to factor in the time, date, and place of your birth (something obviously impossible to do in a book of this scope). Many good resources are available to help you determine your rising sign, Moon sign, and other influences.

Over the years, the dates for each sign have shifted. The Sun doesnt move into a new sign at precisely the same moment each year, so the first and last dates of a Sun sign may vary by a day or so. If you are born at the cusp (the beginning or end of an astrological sign), check an astrological table (some are available online) for the dates for your sign in the year you were born. Cusp people, not surprisingly, often feel the influence of both signs, although one sign is always stronger. Note: If you were born prematurely and wonder whether astrological signs apply to when you were born or when you were expected to be born, the answer is the former. An astrological chart is based on the time of a newborns first breath.

The twelve signs of the zodiac are arranged in two columns to show that each sign has an opposite. What affects one sign also affects the opposite sign. In determining compatibilities, we see that opposite signs are attracted because of similarities as well as differences. When reading this book, also consider your neighbouring sign because its likely that you share planetary influences and have some common qualities.

The planets, including the Sun and the Moon (in astrology, these heavenly bodies are considered planets), are associated with the twelve zodiac signs. In understanding the different facets of our personality, it is helpful to know the nature and the role of the planets. Taurus, for example, is ruled by Venus, a planet that represents love and beauty.

A planetary transit is the passage of one of the planets through a zodiac sign. Some of these passages occur quickly while others are in effect over longer periods. For example, Saturn entered the sign of Scorpio in October 2012 and will occupy it until December 2014. Transits affect all the signs, so Saturns transit through Scorpio will have an impact not just on Scorpio.

A sign and its ruling planet share characteristics. The following brief descriptions of each planets attributes also apply to the corresponding sign or signs mentioned here.

The Sun is related to health, energy, willpower, achievement, and advancement toward goals. It rules flamboyant, egotistical, extravagant Leo.