copyright Kramer Wetzel, Austin, Texas

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out brief candle!
LifeÍs but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

MacBeth in ShakespeareÍs MacBeth (V.v.17-28)

Mercury is retrograde from 9/3 to 9/19 this month. You heard it here first. This isnÍt definitely a bad time, just not a good time. Okay, for some of you, maybe it is a disastrous time. So be it. I still think the best advice I ever gave for a period like this was to "crawl under the bed with a book, and do not come out until NEXT month." But read on, lest you find yourself in the same predicament as MacBeth--

Aries [3/23-4/20]: This month is a bit of a low spot for you. The problem is that itÍs your half-birthday coming up, and that usually means a time of reckoning. Personally, I use a ñtime of reckoningî to say ñreckon IÍll go fishingî because I can then avoid any of the other problems. You not being one to shirk responsibility, though, take time to assess your direction and figure out what you want to do.

Taurus [4/21-5/22]: This is a good month to spend some quiet time not doing too much of anything at all. I always recommend contemplation and soul-searching at a time like this. Bet you could benefit from that idea.

Gemini [5/23-6/21]: Despite the usual ñretrograde klaxon alert,î you will find that this isn't particularly rough retrograde for you. In fact, everything will seem to flow smoothly DESPITE what the astrologers say.

Cancer [6/22-7/22]: Dear gentle sweet and demure Cancer„this month is going to start out really, really well, and end up okay, too, itÍs just that bit of time in between, youÍll wind up feeling a lot like MacBeth. Tortured and betrayed by Fates herself.

Leo [7/23-8/23]: That odd little harmony seems to strike a rather discordant note this month. Remember: the problems are arising from some other peoplesÍ inability to cope with the situations at hand. In other words, itÍs not your fault this month. Thank goodnessÍ sake for that bit of information! And, as always, party on!

Virgo [8/24-9/23]: Birthday month continues for Virgos, and true to form, with that small planet (Mercury) causing an uproar, you will discover that the birthday idea isnÍt all that itÍs supposed to be, and it never seems to approach perfection, not that perfection is really such a big deal to any particular (you know who you are) Virgos, either.

Libra [9/24-10/23]: This month starts out with startling good news. In fact, itÍs so good that you wonÍt believe that it is true. The problem is that you face a month-long delay, right in the midst of all the good news. Gives you something to think about. This is the beginning of the Libra Month, too.

Scorpio [10/24-11/23]: The month kicks, literally, off with the concept of romance being a big issue, but like all good love stories, this one fizzles rather rapidly, like BBQ grill that just wonÍt light. Or stay lit, either. I would concentrate on the work at hand and dodging stray bullets from the usual Mercury fallout.

Sagittarius [11/24-12/21]: With the start of the Fall Semester, you get the old, familiar urge to go back to school. Might be a good idea. Might not. But it would be a good time to consider embarking on a new course of study, AFTER this little Mercury RX thing gets done with, in the middle of the month.

Capricorn [12/22-1/20]: Time for some serious power fishing. In fact, I have a word for you for this month: powerbait. Like other ñpower wordsî (power-suit, power-tools, power-steering), this is more suggestive of a frame of mind rather than any actual bait, live or artificial. Find some powerbait and lure something good to ride around in that new car with you.

Aquarius [1/21-2/18]: What with all the commotion going on elsewhere, you will find that this is a most unsettling month. This little bit about Mercury Retrograde, as much as I would like to say that it passes you by„it doesnÍt look like it does.

Pisces [2/19-3/22]: What IÍll do this month is start out with Pisces, so you are assured of getting my full and complete attention, this most gracious of all signs. Sheesh, youÍd think the Pisces in the world are worried about always being last? After all the tips I didnÍt get last month, well, I guess I shouldnÍt tell that this is a good month for you. But it is.