You will probably be more aware of overall life-direction and how it may be affected by long and short-term goals and ambitions. Maybe you'll be more aware of your reputation, and how well you present yourself this month. You'll want to make the right impression, in certain situations and to come across as competent, reliable and responsible in the eyes of others as you may also feel a bit scrutinized at times.

But it's a very forward-moving period when you can connect with others and do things which have been on the backburner of life for a while.

Professionally, it might mean you are dealing more with authority, bureaucracy or parents or you just care more about doing things by the book or making a good impression. Some of you will have more contact with guardians or bosses - potential or actual - or others who are important in a public or professional sense. This is also a time to show authority yourself as certain others may be relying upon you or looking to you for direction. You could get frustrated with the behaviour or restrictions imposed by red-tape or certain rules though.

Until the 8th is a good time for making friends or new associates or for teaming up with a group of others in person or over the wires. Venus, your ruling planet, is in a very sociable area which means you get more support from this area of flow where new contacts can be make or old connections are enabling you. Friendships and groups are interesting and facilitate positive experiences. Some of which may be lucrative for you or provide you with useful material resources.

From the 8th when Venus moves and enters a more background area, you could find yourself having to put personal preferences on one side or contribute in a more selfless kind of a way. In some situations you'll be more inclined to keep your feelings to yourself. Another way this can work is that a love relationship could be taking root in the background or you are getting to know others within some kind of circle or cloistered environment. This is definitely a time to look after yourself and be vigilant about protecting your boundaries when others seem to push your buttons or lean too heavily upon you. Time for self-pampering is advised whenever you get the chance.

Until midmonth, discussions, correspondence and ideas may be centred around your general life-direction, an enterprise, career or your image and presentation. You may feel your ideas are being questioned or confirmed by the powers that be. You'll care more about what others think of your public persona or you will simply be inclined to take your responsibilities more seriously and show authority, but also put mental effort into communicating in the best you can so as to get the result you desire.

From midmonth, Mercury enters a very sociable area which means you can access information and learn loads from your connections within an organization, club, forum in person or over the wires.

There's also likely to be a lot of mental energy dedicated to furthering your aims through other group collaborations. So again, it won't be what you know but who you know. If you are open enough, some of you will be inspired towards thinking along very new and unusual lines.
Mars is in a playful, spontaneous area giving you the urge to be more creative and perhaps take a bit of a risk.

Whatever is going on you'll have the chance to access more entertaining pastimes or relationships whether that is through more time spent with buddies, lovers, children or animals. Overall you have the chance to get active with things you enjoy or help you feel good. However, this month and until April Mars is retrograde so if you feel that you are treading water or blocked or unappreciated for your efforts, do not focus on that. Rather focus on what you need to do to make yourself feel good and in your creative power without looking to others for approval. From April you should begin to feel more positive. Overall with Mars here until July, whatever you are doing or whoever you are doing it with, you'll probably get the chance to throw yourself into it, and, if you are feeling spontaneous and not self-doubting, the more empowered you should feel. Hobbies or competitive activities and financial speculation are highlighted. You'll probably start to feel more adventurous in love relationships or bolder about taking a gamble in romance or with money but try to avoid flying by the seat of your pants or trusting to luck. More physical effort may be needed related to the affairs of lovers, young ones or animals and this area might be the cause of conflict at times.
From the 19th is a progressive phase when friendships networking and group efforts could be highlighted.

THE SLOWER MOVING PLANETS:

Jupiter, in your sign until June 2012, ushers in a cycle of expansion across the board, helping you to widen your scope, see the bigger picture and take a more philosophical view of things. 'Learning through doing' is a key feature of Jupiter, but also you are likely to travel more or have more interaction with foreign lands or those at a distance. You could also mingle with those with very different views or cultural backgrounds to your own. Overall its time to spread your wings Taurus, expand into new areas as getting the clear eagle-eye view will be easier and you should feel more adventurous about thinking outside of the box.

Saturn continues its transit of Libra until Autumn 2012 which means you are in a cycle of having to work harder at health and fitness - yours or because of another - and in some cases take more of an interest in the quality of foodstuffs, being more aware of what is good for you and what is not. Some may consider cleansing regimes or other therapeutic practices. You'll have to adopt a step-by-step attitude and make use of that famous Taurean determination to be successful. Maybe you are becoming more self-disciplined about self-nurture, diet and exercise but also upgrading the quality of your lines of supply. So some of you may take more interest in gardening, organic foods, saving water or creating power from renewable sources. And some of you just having to work harder to cover all the bases each day.

Very early Taureans or those born with a degree of Taurus rising will feel this energy the most.
For several years, Uranus will be working from behind the scenes helping you to tie up loose ends from the past and this would be a good time for some inner or spiritual work and squaring up to anything counterproductive in your emotional responses or general behaviour. Maybe you will be working innovatively or altruistically for those less fortunate or more needy. You may be connected to a group working selflessly for a common cause behind the scenes or in a kind of cloistered, private environment. It could also mean sudden flashes of insight into other dimensions too! Taureans born 20th-23rd April or with up to 4 degrees Taurus rising should feel this influence most this month.

Neptune has been in your career sector since 1998 sometimes bringing confusion or uncertainty about your role in the world and how others see you. There could be lack of clarity related to bosses, authorities or other important people in your life. This position works best for artistic, healing, spiritual or charitable work.

Neptune leaves this area after more than 15 years and restarts its transit of its home sign Pisces from 4th Feb. This may mean you may feel more of a pull to become involved with a group which serves a community, or you collaborate with others who have a special area of interest or expertise in common and your sense of duty is stimulated.

Taureans born on the 18th- 21st May or 20th/21st April with the first or last degree or first degree of Taurus rising will feel this influence most over this month.

For many years Pluto will subtly facilitate internal gear-shifts in deeper feelings and outer approach, helping you evolve your consciousness as old doors close and new ones open. Partly this could be related to those at a distance, travel, or a foreign culture. Taureans born the 25th -30th April or with 6-11 degrees Taurus rising will feel this influence most this month.