2 Things You Shouldn’t Do to Your Home During Mercury Retrograde—and 3 You Should
Mercury retrograde is an astrological phenomenon that happens a few times each year. Celebrity psychic and astrologer Inbaal Honigman says, "Three to four times a year, for three to four weeks at a time, the planet Mercury is said to be in ‘retrograde,’ or moving backwards in the sky.” While we know that the planets in our solar system orbit around the sun and can’t actually move backwards, Honigman notes that since we observe planets from Earth, Mercury appears to be moving backwards from our perspective.
Why does this matter, exactly? Well, when a planet goes retrograde, it essentially “reverses” its usual energy. During a retrograde period, many astrologers recommend that people slow down and reevaluate the things that the planet rules over. Since Mercury rules over communication, coordination, travel, career, and technologies like email and social media, a Mercury retrograde can cause these things to become…well, a little chaotic. When Mercury is in retrograde, you may experience travel delays, feel clumsier (hint: now’s a good time to put away your wedding china), or have major technology issues. Honigman also notes that “Mercury retrograde is considered an inauspicious time for communication.” She says that this miscommunication can cause issues if you’re in the process of buying a new home or doing major renovations.
Mercury retrograde starts today and runs until June 2, but thankfully it’s not all doom and gloom. Astrologer Lisa Stardust says, “Mercury retrograde deals with reflecting, reassessing, and recommitting.” So while you probably shouldn’t take on any major projects, it could be a good time to revisit some old ones. Here’s what else you should—or shouldn’t—do to your home during a Mercury retrograde, according to astrologers.
Do: Make Small Tweaks to Your Space
Stardust says, “Mercury retrograde isn’t necessarily a bad time to redecorate your home.” She warns, however, that you should probably stick to smaller changes like trying out new curtains, swapping out throw pillows, buying a table lamp, hanging some floating shelves, or changing up your bedding. Stardust says now’s a good time to “change the energy up a little by doing small things in your home.”
Honigman adds that if you live in an older home, or love finding vintage treasures, you may be in luck. “Since the retrograde is connected with the idea of going back, this could be a marvelous time to restore original features, or decorate with some antiques," she says.
Don’t: Buy a New Home (at Least Not Without Doing Your Due Diligence)
Haley Houseman, an astrologer at Sanctuary, says, “The major rule of Mercury retrograde is not to make big decisions on impulse, especially ones that are hard to walk back.” Buying a home is obviously a major, long-term investment (and one that you can’t always control the timing of), so if you are purchasing a home during Mercury retrograde, “make sure you review all your contracts and paperwork extra carefully, ask questions whenever you feel like you need more information, and try to avoid making assumptions whenever possible,” Houseman says.
Also worth noting: Now is not the time to forgo that home inspection or breeze through contracts—take your time reading (and re-reading) all paperwork to set yourself up for success.
Do: Entertain at Home
Since Mercury retrograde is considered a good time to reconnect, Stardust recommends inviting some of your pals over: “Reconnect with old friends and have a dinner party at home. It’d also be a really good time to host game night or happy hour on your porch.”
Might we suggest whipping up a batch of our elevated tequila, rum, gin, or prosecco cocktails, or a batch of creative mocktails? They’ll likely be appreciated by friends or family during this notoriously chaotic retrograde.
Don’t: Make Any Permanent Changes or Start Major Projects
While we’re all about bold colors and design choices at VERANDA, now may not be the best time to commit to that lacquered green wall color, take on a massive remodel, or spend all of your savings on a single piece of decor. Stardust says, “I don’t recommend investing a lot of time into things like changing the color of your walls, painting the outside of your house, or [doing projects] that are on a larger scale, because you could change your mind when retrograde is over. A lot of times when planets go direct, people change their minds again.”
Unless you’re 100% sure you’re going to love that lacquered green wall in another month or two, wait until retrograde is over before committing. Honigman says that if you are taking on a home project right now, it’s important to “finalize every detail beforehand” with your contractors and interior designers.
Honigman adds that you may also want to press pause on certain rooms until after Mercury retrograde is over: “Don't try to decorate rooms that are vital to communication—dining rooms and playrooms won't come together in a way that encourages conversation.”
Do: Clean Your Home and Finish Old Projects
Mercury retrograde is an ideal time for spring cleaning your home or tackling anything on your unfinished home project to-do list (think: deep cleaning your baseboards, decluttering that junk drawer, or taking a toothbrush to your grout).
Houseman says, “The satisfaction of finally changing those lightbulbs or hanging that shelf is sure to scratch your itch for something new. Just make sure to measure twice and take a picture of the bulb when you go to the store, just in case!”
And while most astrologers advise against major changes in the home, Houseman says, “Now is a great time to review, recycle, and reorganize your space. A great Mercury retrograde activity is rearranging your furniture to help freshen up a space with zero commitment or expense.”
The Bottom Line
Mercury retrograde sounds scary, but Stardust says to try not to stress too much. “Don’t fear the retrograde. We all have to live our lives and do things [like buy a house], but things can get really complicated during this period,” she says.
If you are buying a new place or taking on a major home project, make sure to read over contracts carefully, factor in a little extra time for delays and shipping snafus, and try not to make any large purchases or ultra-bold design decisions you may regret later.
Stardust says, “Mercury retrograde slows things down, but it can also make our lives better if you’re open to looking at new perspectives. You just sort of need to work with the energy.”
You Might Also Like
