Georgia Nicols horoscopes for Jan. 28

MOON ALERT: Avoid shopping or important decisions all day until 4:45 p.m. After that, the Moon moves from Taurus into Gemini.

IF January 28 IS YOUR BIRTHDAY: Singer Sarah McLachlan (1968) shares your birthday. You are strong-willed and driven. When you want something, you go after it! Many of you are vibrant well into your old age. It is your willpower that allows you to achieve great feats. You love to explore what is untried. This year is the beginning of a fresh, new nine-year cycle for you. Open any door! Start a new business activity.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): With Mercury retrograde, you are bound to run into old friends and people from your past, now and in the next few weeks. Quite likley, these friends will be younger and full of energy. Perhaps they will motivate you to modify goals? Keep an open mind.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): This is a time when many of you will encounter authority figures from your past — old bosses (or young bosses), parents, teachers and even the police. (“You again?”) This is also a good time to take a second look at plans for your future direction. You are someone who knows the value of a sober, second thought.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Delays and problems with travel plans or anything to do with higher education, medicine, the law, publishing and the media are classic for your sign in the next several weeks, because of Mercury retrograde. However, you can use this same energy to improve or fine-tune existing plans.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): There are distinct disadvantages to Mercury retrograde; however, there are also advantages. This particular Mercury retrograde will stall proceedings with shared property and inheritances; yet ironically, it can speed up finishing things in these same areas if they were already in motion.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Because Mercury retrograde is opposite your sign now, you will almost surely come in contact with old friends and ex-partners. Hopefully, this is an opportunity to catch up on old history or provide closure for some relationships.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Each Mercury retrograde occurs in a different sign. This particular Mercury retrograde will create havoc with your job and your daily tasks. Expect lost paperwork, delays, confused communications, missed appointments and silly, stupid mistakes.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Old flames will be back in your life again because of Mercury retrograde. However, you might also revisit and fine-tune issues related to the care and education of children, seeing your kids, working with sports, both professional and amateur, and anything to do with the arts.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): It’s easier to finish stuff during Mercury retrograde. That’s why this is the perfect time to tackle home repairs and renovations that might be stalled in the water. Family discussions can also be successful in wrapping up things.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): This particular Mercury retrograde will be maddening for you. Expect car problems, missed buses and delayed travel. Mixed-up messages, lost paperwork and cellphone problems will be classic as well. The mail will be late, and electronics will be stalled. Aaggh!

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Checks in the mail will be late, and payments to you could be stalled because of Mercury retrograde. However, the upside is that you can finish financial negotiations now. If you’re looking for work, return to old contacts that you had previously (versus new ones).

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Mercury will be retrograde in your sign until mid-February, which means you just have to grin and bear it. All kinds of silly, goofy mistakes and delays will dog your footsteps. Grrr. However, you might enjoy running into old friends and ex-partners (or not).

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Sometimes Mercury retrograde can be helpful to us, despite the annoyances of delays and goofy mistakes. This particular Mercury retrograde can help you do research and study history or delve into the past.