Peggy Allison is the author of The Fundamentals of Astrology: A Comprehensive Guide for the Beginner. She is a professional astrologer who lives on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands and prepares personal astrological charts. Contact her at 340-774-2932, 340-513-3755, or through her e-mail.

ARIES (March 20-April 20)

With Mercury retrograde, expect delays. Do not overextend yourself by promising more than you can deliver. Put your words into action. Just talking about your ambitions is not enough right now. Share your knowledge with Sags, the travelers of the zodiac. Share a few travel adventures. Play it cool with the folks in the business world. Mercury retrograde is not a good time to sign contracts. Take a little time for yourself. Enjoy the holiday season. Look for bargains while Mercury is retrograde.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

On Friday, Mercury goes retrograde. Expect delays while Mercury is retrograde. Look for bargains. Do not forget to stamp the envelope. Don’t forget to fill in the amount of the check. Make sure you sign it. Expect miscommunication. Friday is an excellent day to share your knowledge. When Pluto and Mars, the planet of action and energy, get together in fellow earth sign Capricorn, the effect will be intense. You may decide to advance your career by teaching classes or going back to school.

GEMINI (May 20-June 20)

With Mars in Capricorn, you may feel you are dealing with intimate connections or joint resources. Balance your books. Mercury goes retrograde Friday. Expect delays and miscommunication with mail and transportation. On Saturday, financial matters could be on your mind. Become a little more flexible. This is the holiday season. Join the party. Your Sag friends are celebrating their birthday month. The sun casts a glow on your relationships, both business and personal.

CANCER (June 20-July 22)

Mercury, the messenger, goes retrograde Friday. This could complicate communication. The relationship department takes center stage, especially your partner and close friends. Make sure you explain yourself. Make love, not war this week. Mercury, Pluto and Mars will be in the spotlight. This can be a combative team. Be aware that it would be better to be a leader than a follower. Here is where you step up and take charge of a situation. On Monday, plan your moves before you speak out. Hang out with your Sagittarius friends. This is their birthday month. Add a little fun to your life. Join a party.

LEO (July 22-Aug. 22)

Play it cool the next few days. Mercury goes retrograde Friday. Now, this could unravel a few of your plans. While Mercury is retrograde, expect delays and much miscommunication. Time for you to call in Mr. Intelligence. This should increase your efficiency should you have an important meeting or event. It may be a good idea to leave a little early. Mercury also rules transportation. This is not the time to enter into a contract. Work on projects you have already begun.

VIRGO (Aug. 22-Sept. 22)

Mercury, your ruling planet, goes retrograde Friday. Mercury sends a wink to Venus today. Savor the money. Time for good communication. Expect a few delays and maybe a little misunderstanding. Mercury spends time in your fun, love and luck department. If you find people a little aggressive Monday, it may be a good idea to postpone the meeting. No need to deal with hypersensitive people. Expect everything to slow down while Mercury is retrograde. Should you decide to shop, go ahead.

LIBRA (Sept. 22-Oct. 22)

Mercury goes retrograde Friday. You will encounter delays. You may hear from someone out of the past. Old friends often show up or give a surprise call. I often hear from old clients. Expect disruptions in communication and transportation. Look for bargains. Don’t enter into any contracts. If a contract cannot wait, add a clause making it subject to change. Do not forget to seal the envelope. Remember to sign the check. Give yourself a little extra travel time. Wish your Sag friends a happy birthday. Enjoy a party. Walk away from arguments.

SCORPIO (Oct. 22-Nov. 21)

Mercury, the messenger, goes retrograde Friday. Communication and transportation will slow down. Look back and see what you have accomplished in recent months. Smile and give yourself the credit you deserve. Take the time to correct any mistakes you may have made. Perhaps it is time to apologize to someone. Life could get a little steamy. Mercury backs over Pluto and Mars. Mars’ action stirs up a spicy stew of creativity. Keep your words on the tender side. On Monday, you may find people a little negative. No need to react.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Mercury goes retrograde Friday. Mercury retrograde can ring in a little confusion. You may encounter delays in communication and transportation. Look for bargains. This is a good time to notice what you have accomplished these past few months. Correct any mistakes you may have made. Should you deal with any financial matters, chill out. Do not try to deal with everything at once. Consider your options before you take any action. Remain focused. You will find a solution.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 21-Jan. 20)

When Mercury goes retrograde Friday, you will find miscommunication and delays. With the sun and Mars in Sagittarius, go ahead and work behind the scenes. You can achieve more working on your own. Your energy heats up as your birthday draws closer. With Mars in your sign, you can plan new projects to launch when Mercury moves forward again. It will be something you want to do. Spend a little time behind the scenes. Take a look at what you have already accomplished.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

On Friday, Mercury goes retrograde. Delays are on your agenda in communication and transportation. You may experience misunderstandings. Work on your career behind the scenes. On Monday, you may want to sidestep a situation. Address the issue. Save a relationship if that is what is involved. Find a little peace. It can go a long way while Mercury is retrograde. Look back at what you have accomplished over the past three or so months. Correct whatever mistakes you may have made.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

Play it cool this week. Mercury, the messenger, goes retrograde Friday. You may encounter a little miscommunication. Mercury deals with communication and transportation. You may find delays when you try to mail Christmas packages. Remember to put enough postage on your Christmas cards. Do not forget to sign and date your checks. On Monday, you will not be ready to be nice. You are likely to be steaming angry. Mars, the planet of action and energy, may generate that steam. Swim around your little pond. Be precise with your own words. Maintain your leadership.