TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Have you heard of the book, *Toxic Sludge Is Good for You!: Lies, Damn Lies and the Public Relations Industry?* How about George Orwell’s science fiction novel, *1984,* in which the government trumpets the slogan, “War is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength”? If I could, I’d give you these books as holiday gifts, Taurus. I’d also present you with an altar made of fine wood. With these foundation materials, I’d ask you to begin building a Truth Shrine in your home. This source of power might help you stay alert for and immune to the elevated levels of BS you’ll be called on to fend off in 2005. Maybe it would also inspire you to be in service to us all as you earn the title of “Radical Truth-Teller.”

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): I almost always discourage you from feeding your anxieties. The worrisome specters that sometimes eat away at your imagination only rarely have much resemblance to what’s actually happening. But I’m going to make a departure from my usual practice this week. During the brief transition period ahead, your fears have the potential to make you stronger and wiser. You will find power in marshaling measured responses to any influence that seems to oppose you. Here’s the paradox: You’re not in any real danger, but it will be useful for you to act as if you are.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Your soul is the best friend you keep forgetting you have. It’s closer than your breath and older than death. It dreams like a mountain, laughs like a river, and communicates with you in the exuberantly mysterious style of animals and gods. You are alive because of your soul! It loves you with nonstop unconditional ingenuity. Isn’t it right, then, to devote at least one special day each year to honoring it and giving thanks for its blessings? From an astrological perspective, this is a perfect time to do just that. Schedule Soul Celebration Day for sometime this week.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “The basic difference between an ordinary person and a warrior,” wrote Carlos Castaneda, “is that a warrior takes everything as a challenge while an ordinary person takes everything either as a blessing or a curse.” Maybe you consider yourself an ordinary person, Taurus, and therefore think Castaneda’s definition of a warrior has no meaning for you. But I’m here to tell you that the astrological omens say you will *have* to be a warrior in the coming weeks, even if you’re usually not. So please act as if every experience will have the potential to be an interesting, invigorating challenge.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Italian poet Dante Alighieri finished his masterpiece, *The Divine Comedy,* before he died. But when his sons, Jacopo and Pietro, assembled the manuscript for publication, they realized that parts of it were missing. They searched the house for days, to no avail. Only after they had given up hope did help arrive. The spirit of Dante appeared in Jacopo’s dream and showed his son a hiding place in his old bedroom wall. Upon awakening, Jacopo went to the spot his father had pointed out and found the lost papers. I offer this story as a gift to you, Taurus. I believe that sometime in the next three weeks, you will have a comparable experience. What form might it take? Maybe the dead will assist you in locating a valuable. One of your dreams could provide a missing clue that will solve a mystery. It’s conceivable you’ll receive a legacy from a departed loved one. And maybe all of these possibilities will come to pass.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): My Taurus friend Allie just put a new bumper sticker on her car: “I can’t remember if I’m the good twin or the evil one.” It’s almost as if she intuitively guessed one of the key themes you Bulls will soon be wrestling with: how to tell the difference between your strong, beautiful, inspiring qualities and your unripe, unlovely, and debilitating ones. It won’t be as easy as you might imagine. There are sides of your personality that are a blend of both the good and the bad, for one thing. It’s also true that your virtues sometimes mutate into vices, and vice versa. Proceed on this exploratory mission with a tough but open mind.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): On a song from his multi-platinum album, *Get Rich or Die Trying,* hip-hop artist 50 Cent sings, “I’m into having sex, I ain’t into making love.” Your assignment, Taurus, is to do the opposite: Be into making love, not having sex. What? You say you already do that all the time? Well I’d like to suggest that like most of us, you still have a lot to learn about making love with your heart completely open and your mind full of innocent wonder. There’s more you could do to bestow blessings and invoke the divine presence while in your intimate embraces. Are you brave and humble enough to go to the next level? (P.S. If you don’t have a partner, work solo.)

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In his book *How’s Your AQ Today?,* ex-business executive Ed Rychkun says that our culture is so twisted that most bosses and leaders are jerks. In fact, it’s often necessary “to be an a**hole in order to succeed.” (The “AQ” in his title stands for “A**hole Quotient.”) I doubt that you’re an arrogant tyrant, insensitive egotist, or deceitful bully, Taurus, so I can’t imagine that you have a high AQ. That may also mean you’ve never been in a position to manipulate and exploit lots of people. According to my reading of the astrological omens, however, you need to *temporarily* experience what corrupt power is like. It will fill a gap in your education. That’s why I suggest you disguise yourself as a domineering, hyper-ambitious honcho this Halloween.