TAURUS ASCENDENT/ VRISHIST
Taurus is an earth sign and ruled by Venus, the planet of pleasures. This makes the person interested in material gains and pursuits. Enjoyment of life to the fullest is a strong attribute of Taurus persons. They emit a strong sense of relationship and partnership. They are possessive, stable and fixed in their ways. They can be artists and poets and being earthy people will toil the earth or land and will also seek out divinity through spirituality. When Venus is strong in the Taurus chart, then this signifies good health as well as benefits in material pursuits and comforts.

When Venus is weak then diseases may arise from a weak immune system. Financial instability can occur as well as disputes with others, opposition that brings about losses. (Venus is a functional malefic for Taurus ascendant ruling the sixth house and although Venus will always promote its own signification, it will affect other planets and houses with malefic influence when it aspects them)

Saturn has Aquarius,its mooltrikona sign in the tenth house for the Taurus ascendant and is called a yogakaraka planet on account that it rules the ninth and tenth houses which in their own right are the most powerful houses in the chart being in a trine house (the ninth) and a kendra house(The tenth).Therefore the transit of Saturn is never inauspicious for the Taurus ascendant. Saturn can bring about happy events, good teachings and occupations and strength in the bones and joints. A weak Saturn leads to setbacks and obstructions with education, and working at menial jobs. It also can be responsible for weakness in joints and lower back pain.

A strong and unafflicted Moon will give rise to many initiatives as the person is always aspiring to work hard and achieve and will be a great force in communicating with people in their work or in general. Moon's moolatrikona sign Cancer sits in the third house for a Taurus ascendant and signifies the house of initiatives and communication. A weak Moon will make the person less courageous and lacking initiative as well as having difficulty in communicating with people. There could be some difficulty with younger siblings.

A strong Mars in the Taurus ascendant chart enhances vitality and energy. Because Mars acts as a functional malefic planet for the Taurus ascendant, ruling the 12th house, the house of loss. This is where Aries is, the mooltrikona sign of Mars. When it is well placed it may neutralize any potential losses, both marital and financial. A weak Mars for the Taurus ascendant can cause a troubled married life as well as financial losses.

Jupiter is another functional malefic planet for the Taurus ascendant and it is the most malefic planet as its moolatrikona sign sits in the eighth house in the sign of Sagittarius. If Jupiter is in a well placed house, then it will promote its own significations for education, ambition and success as well as teaching ability, yet because it is a malefic planet it will afflict other planets when aspecting them. It can bring about financial setbacks to the father and loss of inheritance. Jupiter, when aspecting other planets in the chart, or when in transit, is responsible for difficulties and obstacles in life, both mental and physical. This could result in a troubled or short span of marriage.

Mercury's main house or moolatrikona sign Virgo falls in the fifth house for Taurus ascendant, therefore a strong and unafflicted Mercury can produce good investments and good connection with children yet often Mercury is in close proximity to the sun and therefore rendered weak. As a result of this weakness, Mercury can become unstable, nervous and cause suffering with children, or could be responsible for the lack of progeny. Losses in investments and speculation can occur.

A strong, unafflicted and well placed Sun gives the person many good things in life such as affluent parents, good education, good assets, and comforts. The Sun rules Leo and Leo is the moolatrikona sign of the Sun, sitting in the fourth house. A well-placed Sun will promote the significations of the fourth house. A weak Sun will bring trouble to the parents and loss of assets, comforts and education.

Functional Malefics:	Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Ketu and Rahu
Ruler:	Venus
Exaltation:	Moon is exalted in Taurus
Debilitation:	No planet is debilitated in the sign of Taurus
Body Parts:	Taurus rules the : Neck, throat, and voice
To the Beginning	This article was written by John R. Fyfe