The Earth Signs

Traits of Taurus

Taurus, the second sign of the Zodiac, is the Bull. Focused on security and stability, the Taurus is the most faithful of all the signs.

Strong, silent, the most introverted of all the signs, Taurus is likely to be cautious and controlled.Those born under Taurus are very practical and determined, well grounded and in touch with nature. They take things as they come, without worrying or stressing. They have strong values, and tend to think long and hard about their decisions. Once they've made those decisions, it's easier to move mountains than to change the mind of a Taurus.

Nothing personifies Taurus more than the Greek myth of the Minotaur, or bull-headed man, when it comes to stubbornness. Once those hooves are dug in, Taurus is just not going to move. But the Taurus will probably deny that they're being stubborn; they prefer to call it "sensible," or "patient."

Normally calm and reliable, Taurus is content to be left alone, with a very long fuse - but if that fuse ever burns, watch out. Taurus has a temper. Push him to his limits, and the phrase "bull in a china shop" takes on a whole new meaning. Taurus very seldom gets mad, but when they do, they don't just get a little annoyed, they get furious. It may take weeks for the dust to clear after a Taurus tantrum.

Taurus likes to build his fortune, slowly and steadily; he loves money and material possessions, though he isn't stingy. He can be very generous, especially to friends and family.

Strong, dependable, and peaceful, Taurus is like a rock in the Zodiac, with his patience and calm. He can be the most stable and trustworthy of all the signs - just don't try to rush him into anything. Or ask him to change his mind.

Traits of Virgo

Shy, reserved, and sensitive, Virgo is complex, intellectual, and perfectionist. Virgos tend to be punctual, organized, and disciplined, and these, on top of the shyness, all lead people to believe that Virgo is also cool and uncaring. Nothing could be further from the truth, as Virgo is almost as sensitive as Cancer or Pisces.

Shyness tends to hurt the Virgo in relationships. Some people will confuse shyness with coldness, and assume Virgo wants to be left alone, and keep their distance. This isn't necessarily true. The Virgo wants company, but she's picky about just who that company will be. And even then, she will be more comfortable chatting about work or current events than anything personal.

Virgo is ruled by Mercury, which means Virgos are ruled by their head as opposed to their hearts. They tend towards skills in logic and analysis, making them quite capable scientists, writers, and editors. When they set out to do something, they set out to be the best.

Unfortunately, the perfectionist strength of Virgo is also her greatest weakness. Virgos tend to be their own worst critics, beating themselves silly until either they achieve their goal of being the best…or they quit in frustration. That same critical streak can interfere with relationships, as well, since many partners don't appreciate the perfectionist criticisms that can come from their Virgo partner. This means that the few people who manage to break through the Virgo's shyness and cool exterior are often presented with someone who expects perfection from them, just like they expect from themselves.

Virgos tend to keep a neat and clean house, and are the sign most likely to have an alphabetized CD collection.

Virgos tend to dress in ways that compliment both their shy attitude and their perfectionist outlook. They don't wear colors that will draw attention to them, and their clothes will match.  They tend to blend into the crowd.

Traits of Capricorn

Capricorn is the workhorse of the Zodiac, working his way up the ladder of success, slowly and steadily.

Goats have a strong sense of tradition and structure, and make excellent teachers. They respect history and believe in passing on an inheritance. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, which means that they take the long view on things. Like the tortoise racing against the hare, they know too well that "slow and steady wins the race."

Capricorns are probably the most far-thinking of all the signs. Where Sagittarius and Leo are partying for the moment, Capricorn is planning his schedule four years in the future. But this focus on the future comes with a price.

Capricorn can get so preoccupied with the future that he starts to focus on death, and then becomes easily and deeply depressed. It's very easy for a Capricorn to fall into a "woe is me" attitude, worrying about the never ending series of bad things that always seem to hit them at their most vulnerable. Thankfully, because of their long-term views, most Goats can overcome this handicap by just putting their head down and working even harder.

Capricorns understand the meaning of sacrifice, because each of those hurdles that force them into the long and slow path to success means sacrificing something to overcome them.

Capricorns tend towards black, which is perfectly suited to their depression. They also lean to the traditional in home and style and especially food. Goats tend to eat plain and straightforward meals rather than something exotic.

Capricorns tend to do well in large corporations, where their work ethic allows them to work their way up a long ladder. Capricorns are also uniquely suited to handling numbers and data.

Finally, because of their traditional outlook and innate teaching skills, Capricorns make excellent parents. Children give them an heir, someone to pass along the family legacy to, which is one of the core pieces of the Goat's makeup.