How To Calculate Planetary Hours

Planetary hours offer a unique and ancient method of organizing your day or planning a powerful ritual according to the energies of the seven classical planets.

Recognized since the times of ancient Egypt and Greece, they’ve been employed by mystics, magicians, astrologers, and witches alike.

But how do you actually calculate planetary hours?

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A Glimpse Into The History Of Planetary Hours

In the old days, people weren’t just interested in what time it was; they were interested in the true energy of each hour.

This practice helped align activities with the corresponding planetary energy.

• Egyptian Origins: The concept of planetary hours is believed to have started in Egypt and was later adopted by the Greeks.
• Medieval Times: Renaissance astrologers fine-tuned the process, making it a cornerstone of astrological timings.

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The Basics Of Day & Night Hours

To start off, it’s important to note that when it comes to planetary hours, daytime and nighttime are slightly different:

1. Day Hours: The time specifically between actual sunrise and sunset.
2. Night Hours: Time specifically between actual sunset and the next sunrise.

This division is crucial because planetary hours are distributed differently during the day and night; each day does not always have 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night.

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The Sequence Of Planetary Hours: Chaldean Order

The next important thing to understand is that each day is ruled by a planet, and the sequence follows a particular order:

1. Saturn: Saturday’s first hour
2. Jupiter: Thursday’s first hour
3. Mars: Tuesday’s first hour
4. Sun: Sunday’s first hour
5. Venus: Friday’s first hour
6. Mercury: Wednesday’s first hour
7. Moon: Monday’s first hour

That sequence follows the ancient Chaldean order based on the speed of the planets.

When you start calculating the planetary hours, it’s important to start with that day’s first planet.

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Steps To Calculate Planetary Hours

Here’s the heart of the matter!

To calculate the planetary hours, follow these steps:

1. Determine Sunrise and Sunset: Check local times for these events using reliable sources or apps.
2. Calculate Day and Night Duration: Calculate how many minutes are between sunrise and sunset for day time. Calculate how many minutes are between sunset and sunrise for night time.
3. Divide Each by Twelve: Each period (day or night) is divided into 12 equal hours, but remember, these aren’t the standard 60-minute hours we’re used to! You should have two separate hour lengths, one for the length of day time’s hours and one for the length of night time’s hours.
4. Convert Minutes Back to Hours: Starting at sunrise, take the number of minutes from step 3 and add them to find out the next “hour” mark. Repeat until you get to sunset. Do this again for the night time period.
5. Assign Planetary Rulers: Based on the day, the first hour will be ruled by the planet governing that day. Then, label each following hour as the planet that comes next in the Chaldean sequence.

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Practical Uses of Planetary Hours

Why would one want to align their activities with planetary hours? Well, different hours come with different energies.

Sun Hours

Symbolism: Vitality, leadership.

Practical Uses:

• Launching new projects.
• Leadership activities.
• Public speaking.
• Self-care routines.

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Moon Hours

Symbolism: Emotions, intuition.

Practical Uses:

• Meditation or introspection.
• Family time.
• Creative writing.
• Emotional reflections.

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Mercury Hours

Symbolism: Communication, intellect.

Practical Uses:

• Writing or studying.
• Important conversations.
• Short trips.
• Skillful tasks.

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Venus Hours

Symbolism: Love, beauty.

Practical Uses:

• Romantic activities.
• Beauty routines.
• Artistic creation.
• Conflict resolution.

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Mars Hours

Symbolism: Energy, action.

Practical Uses:

• Physical exercise.
• Initiating tasks.
• Tackling challenges.
• Brave endeavors.

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Jupiter Hours

Symbolism: Growth, luck.

Practical Uses:

• Business ventures.
• Seeking wisdom.
• Spiritual practices.
• Charitable actions.

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Saturn Hours

Symbolism: Discipline, structure.

Practical Uses:

• Organizing tasks.
• Future planning.
• Disciplined reflection.
• Tackling responsibilities.

Aligning tasks with these energies can enhance productivity and harmony in one’s life.

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Digital Tools and Resources

While manual calculation is enriching, using digital resources can be time-saving. Our favoite tools include:

• Planetary Hours Calculator
• Mobile Apps: Several apps on both Android and iOS offer this feature.

Remember, these are tools to aid you, but the journey of understanding remains personal.

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Common Misconceptions

With any ancient practice, misconceptions abound. Let’s debunk a few:

1. Same as Standard Hours: Since the hours are calculated by the amount of time between sunrise/sunset, planetary hours vary in length based on the season.
2. Only for Astrologers: They can be used by anyone seeking harmony in their activities.

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FAQs

• How do planetary hours differ from regular hours? Planetary hours are based on the division of daylight and nighttime, so their length varies, unlike the fixed 60-minute regular hours.
• Why are planetary hours important in astrology? They allow individuals to align their activities with cosmic energies, potentially enhancing the outcome.
• Do I need to be an astrologer to use planetary hours? Not at all! Anyone can harness the power of planetary hours to structure their day.
• Can I use planetary hours to plan my whole week? Absolutely! Many people use them to plan out significant events or tasks throughout the week.
• Is the sequence of planets the same every day? No, the sequence changes daily, starting with the planet ruling that particular day.
• Where can I learn more about this practice? Numerous online resources, books, and courses delve deeper into this topic. Websites like Wikipedia provide a good starting point.

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The practice of calculating and following planetary hours is more than just an astrological endeavor.

It’s a holistic approach to align our daily activities with the universe’s rhythm.

Whether you’re a seasoned astrologer or a curious newbie, integrating this wisdom into your daily routine can introduce a new layer of harmony and understanding.