Many witches believe that timing can make spells more effective. One helpful way to time your magic is by using planetary hours. Planetary hours are especially useful when the moon’s phase or sign isn’t ideal, because they add another layer of energy to your work. Although calculating planetary hours might seem complicated at first, it becomes simple once you learn the steps. In this chapter, we’ll clearly explain what planetary magick is, how to calculate planetary hours, and how to use them to strengthen your spells, rituals, and daily magical practice.
To use planetary hours in your spellwork, you need to understand a few key things: what planetary influences are, how the planetary hour system works, how to calculate both daytime and nighttime planetary hours, what the Chaldean order is, and how to apply all of this to your magic. We’ll go through each part step by step, so you can confidently use planetary magick—whether you’re just starting out or want to deepen your practice.
The Chaldean order is an ancient sequence that arranges the planets by their distance and speed: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, and the Moon. Each hour of the day is ruled by one of these planets, and the sequence repeats over and over, day and night. Unlike regular 60-minute hours, planetary hours change in length depending on when the sun rises and sets. This means that the length of each planetary hour shifts with the seasons, making planetary magick closely tied to nature’s cycles and the changing year.
Here’s a simple guide to what each planet influences:
Saturn: Long-term goals, protection, boundaries, banishing negativity, grounding.
Jupiter: Wealth, luck, meditation, expansion, growth, abundance.
Mars: Courage, passion, defense, motivation, assertiveness, energy for action.
Sun: Success, healing, energy, vitality, confidence, personal power.
Venus: Love, beauty, relationships, harmony, attraction, creativity.
Mercury: Communication, wisdom, learning, travel, business, adaptability.
Moon: Emotions, intuition, family, psychic work, dreams, nurturing.
Each planet’s energy is best for certain magical intentions. For example, if you want to attract love, working during a Venus hour will make your spell stronger. If you need protection or want to set boundaries, Saturn’s hour is best. By matching your spellwork to the right planetary hour, you can use the unique qualities of that planet and give your magic extra power.
Let’s look at an example. Imagine you want to cast a spell for a career goal, but the moon isn’t in the best sign. You can use Saturn’s planetary hours instead. First, find out the exact times of sunrise and sunset where you live. For example, if sunrise is at 7:10 AM and sunset is at 6:20 PM, count the minutes between them (in this case, 668 minutes). This step is important because planetary hours are based on the real length of day and night, not on the clock.
Next, divide the total daylight minutes by 12 to find the length of each planetary hour. For 668 minutes, each hour is about 55 minutes long. Start at sunrise and keep adding this interval to map out all 12 daylight planetary hours. Write down the start and end times for each hour so you know exactly when each planetary influence begins and ends. You can do this by hand, or use online calculators and apps made for planetary magick.
The same method works for nighttime hours: count the minutes from sunset to the next sunrise, divide by 12, and map out the hours. Nighttime planetary hours are usually a different length than daytime ones, especially in summer and winter. This difference is part of what makes planetary magick so connected to the natural world and the cycles of light and darkness.
On the equinoxes, both day and night are exactly 12 hours, so planetary hours match regular 60-minute hours—this only happens twice a year. At these times, the calculation is easy. For the rest of the year, you’ll need to adjust your timing to fit the real length of day and night. Paying attention to these details can help your spellwork feel more in tune with the rhythms of the earth and sky.
Now, use the Chaldean order. The first planetary hour of each day is ruled by the planet linked to that day (for example, Sunday starts with the Sun, Monday with the Moon, and so on). If your chosen day is Thursday, the first planetary hour is ruled by Jupiter, then Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon, Saturn, and the sequence repeats for all 24 hours. This pattern continues every day, creating a unique energy for each day and night.
To make things easier, many witches create a planetary hour chart for their location and keep it in their grimoire or Book of Shadows. You can also find printable charts and digital tools online that do the calculations for you. Some people like to mark planetary hours on their phone or set reminders, so they know when a certain planetary influence is active.
By following these steps, you can find the best planetary hours for your spellwork, even if other astrological conditions aren’t perfect. It might seem confusing at first, but practicing the calculations a few times will make it much easier. Remember, every bit of magical timing can help your spells—so try using planetary hours and see how they improve your craft. With practice, working with planetary hours will become natural, and you may notice subtle changes in your results as you align your magic with the cosmic clock.
In summary, planetary magick is a valuable tool for any witch. By understanding planetary influences, learning to calculate planetary hours, and using the Chaldean order, you can add a new layer to your spellwork. Whether you’re casting spells, charging talismans, or planning your day, working with planetary hours helps you use the energies of the cosmos to bring your intentions to life. Take some time to experiment with planetary magick, and see how it transforms your practice.
