The more something changes, the more it stays the same? The economy and tradition get an overhaul as radical Uranus takes up residency in conventional Taurus from May 15, 2018–April 26, 2026.

On May 15, 2018, innovative Uranus, the planet of revolution, technology and rebellion, moved from firebrand Aries into conservative Taurus, entering the Bull’s pen for the first time since 1942. Unconventional Uranus pushes for radical evolution and progress, while nostalgic Taurus roots in to time-tested traditions, resisting change at every turn.

Uranus only visits each zodiac sign every 84 years, electrifying the airwaves for about eight years and disrupting the status quo. However, Uranus is in its “fall” in Taurus—a weakened position—since the energies are an awkward mismatch. Uranus focuses on the future while Taurus clings to the past.

Taurus’ astrological rulership includes money, work, material objects, security, farming, the food supply, the arts and music. All of these areas will be radically revamped as we grapple with this new cosmic conundrum.

Uranus transits often announce themselves with a major event. On March 11, 2011, the exact day that Uranus transited from watery Pisces (ruler of the seas) into fiery Aries, an earthquake triggered a tsunami that led to the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Uranium is used in nuclear power.

The day Uranus transited into terrestrial Taurus, an asteroid the size of a city block nearly clipped our planet when it passed between the Earth and the moon. Luckily, it missed us!

Uranus’s exit from Aries: An end to a pioneering 7-year cycle.

From March 2011 to May 2018, Uranus transited through individualistic Aries, igniting radical activism. During this stretch, we saw the Arab Spring, Occupy Wall Street, the Black Lives Matter movement—plus Marriage Equality and the Women’s March. In renegade Aries spirit, the people have raised their voices in the name of inclusion and human rights. On the hotheaded flipside, this cycle also stirred a few frightening fringe uprisings, including violent “alt-right” rallies, ISIS and a spike in post-election hate crimes.

Personal expression skyrocketed with tech-savvy Uranus in solo-star Aries. “Selfie culture” exploded, while anyone with a webcam or a Snapchat handle got a shot at fame. We got YouTube celebrities, viral videos (Chewbacca mom, anyone?) and auto- tuned pop (Rebecca Black’s “Friiiday, Friiiday” shall forever ring nasally in our ears). Uranus rules television, which is forever altered. Instead of gathering ‘round the family flatscreen for prime-time programs, we now binge-watch on personal devices, making our own TV schedules.

This Uranus cycle also brought some epic indie creations, from Beyonce’s “Lemonade” visual album to Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black. But in capricious Aries style, we forgot that our devices are also sensitive data storage units, putting our identities and personal passcodes at risk. Social media, while an amazing tool for launching independent campaigns and efforts, was used to manipulate the masses with fake news and full-on cyberhacking. Attention spans shortened, Aries style, thanks to our Uranian smartphones, and distracted driver laws had to be put in effect.

Uranus departed from Aries on May 15, 2018, and made one last return, from November 6, 2018 until March 7, 2019. It won’t visit Aries again until 2094!

Farming & the food supply: Major changes ahead.

Taurus is an earth sign that governs sustenance and self-sufficiency. Farming and the food supply could get a major overhaul with forward-thinking Uranus here. We may see scientific developments that improve soil quality, help growers and revolutionize the farming industry.

The saying ‘let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food’ doesn’t just apply to your $14 cold-pressed juice anymore.

Can we pioneer a solution to global hunger—one that doesn’t involve factory farms and genetically modified seeds? At this writing, scientists are developing 3D and 4D “printed” food that’s actually edible. Microloans and training programs in rural areas are helping small family farms succeed.

The saying “let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” doesn’t only apply to your $14 cold-pressed juice anymore. Scientists have successfully transformed a spinach leaf into a working human heart muscle. With Uranus in Taurus, we may look to the earth beneath our feet, rather than the latest chemical concoction, to fight diseases.

The end of money? The rise of cashless businesses.

Taurus rules money, and with technological Uranus here, dollars could go digital. Amazon is already testing a new “cashless” technology. Customers enter a brick-and-mortar store with a mobile app that adds items to a virtual cart as they shop. Interestingly, the last time Uranus visited Taurus brought the invention of the first ATM machine and the physical shopping cart!

Of course, this has an economic downside, as unskilled human labor will be replaced by robots and algorithms. A New Zealand company called Soul Machines is already marketing its Digital Humans—robots imbued with “emotional intelligence” that can replace living, breathing customer service assistants. And in 2018, Google announced a program that can pass as a human over the telephone—which begs the question, should it be required to inform the person on the receiving end that it’s actually a machine and not a human…? We can’t help but find all of it equally fascinating and freaky.

As A.I. replaces human labor, our relationship with money could also go through a massive shift. Out of necessity, people may adopt the barter system, or take up the “gift economy” that’s practiced at festivals like Burning Man. In this model, no cash changes hands, and goods or services are offered from a spirit of generosity. Wanna start a commune, anyone?

Economic makeovers afoot.

Taurus rules the economy, and the term “Bull Market” is about to get a Uranian makeover. Brexit could be a prelude to shakeups of Wall Street and banking. Interestingly, the Boston Tea Party took place during a previous Uranus in Taurus cycle, when demonstrators protested “taxation without representation.” And the U.S. spent the entire last Uranus in Taurus transit climbing out of the Great Depression, which ended in 1941, right as Uranus departed from Taurus. President Roosevelt also signed the U.S. Social Security act, providing unemployment compensation and pensions for the elderly. This go-round, Medicaid and affordable health care are up for Uranus-style reform—and not a moment too soon.

From selfies to self-sufficiency: Using technology for practical gain.

Death to the cubicle? With indie-spirited Uranus in hardworking Taurus, the gig economy will grow even bigger. More people will work remotely and in co-working spaces, and the full-time employment model will continue to go the way of the dinosaurs. Uranus in sensible, profit-driven Taurus can help us monetize our creations in interesting new ways.

Sensible Taurus could change the type of businesses that get funded. Rather than sink a load of venture capital into yet another social-sharing app, startup support may go to practical inventions that improve our daily lives. For better or worse, data mining will continue, as businesses are pushed to meet customer demands and habits.

The rise of populism and dictatorship.

The worst manifestations of Uranus in Taurus can be bigotry, stubbornness and warmongering. Adolf Hitler, a Taurus, seized power just as Uranus was ending its last transit of Aries, and retained his dictatorial grip through the 1930s, while Uranus was in Taurus. Mussolini also came into power during the last Uranus in Taurus transit, spreading fascism. As we enter the same cycle 84 years later, extreme right-wing candidates are once again on the rise, spinning propaganda through social media, slanted news outlets, populist rallies and cyber hacking. In the past few years, Uranus in Aries has provoked violent disruptors, many using technology to plot public acts of terrorism or to spread messages of hate. Hopefully, we will learn from history and not underestimate the “fringe” groups’ ability to organize and gain critical mass.

Uranus in sensory Taurus will alter the way we interact with the physical and digital worlds.

Living in a post-material world?

Taurus rules the physical world and material objects. With freedom-seeking Uranus in sensual Taurus, we’ll want to enjoy our possessions without being chained to them. But we’ll also want to own, rather than rent, as financially-savvy Taurus invests for the long haul.

The past Uranus in Aries cycle brought us opportunities to unshackle ourselves from the 9-to-5 lifestyle, with solo venture options such as Airbnb, Lyft, and co-op office spaces like WeWork gaining massive popularity. But there are also drawbacks, such as a lack of benefits and no return on investment. Now, people may trend more toward owning a “share” of these places, perhaps receiving stock options in a company where they are independent contractors, or building equity instead of just getting a check.

From virtual reality to mixed reality.

Think your virtual reality goggles are all that? Uranus in sensory Taurus will alter the way we interact with the physical and digital worlds. The VR world is developing ways to include smell, touch and taste from afar. Inventor Adrian David Cheok is spearheading the Mixed Reality Lab, which will engage all five senses in a simulated experience. Email us a cheeseburger, would ya, Dave?

This Uranus phase could also take the IoT (“internet of things”) beyond the “smart” house or driverless car. Perhaps we’ll trade swiping and scrolling for computerless computing, as our digital devices become one with everyday household objects.

Time for some protest anthems—and new ways to get #woke? With Uranus in Taurus, ruler of the voice and throat, folk songs could make a next-generation comeback.

Arts & music: A digital revolution.

Time for some protest anthems—and new ways to get #woke? With Uranus in Taurus, ruler of the voice and throat, folk songs could make a next-generation comeback. Fine art, literature and dance will meet community activism and digital media (Uranus’ domain), giving rise to stunning and stirring creations.

Prior to the airwaves and Internet being primary sources for breaking from tradition and questioning authority, Walt Whitman published his infamous and, at the time, shocking, “Leaves of Grass” in 1855 while Uranus was in Taurus. It was an ode to nature, earthly pleasure, and sensual love—going so far as to ponder life and death in novel ways.

The space race heats up.

Uranus rules space travel, and interestingly, the Mars One Project was founded just as Uranus entered Aries, which is ruled by Mars. With Uranus in Taurus, we may find our inner Matt Damon and start the first attempts to build and farm in space. Who knows? In 2026, Mars moves into Gemini, the ruler of neighborhoods and transportation. Maybe we’ll pave the way for Earth’s first interplanetary settlers. Earth to Taurus, do you copy?

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