Thanks to Luna at Stars For Eyes for sharing this planetary hours calculator.

In my writings about spell crafting I've often mentioned how finding the optimal hour of the day can add extra power to your work. In order to be the most accurate one has to do complicated math, using the sunrise and sunset to determine the twelve "hours" of any given day. This handy online tool does the work for you. As Luna says, it only works for the current day so makes planning ahead difficult, but is still helpful.

From the site, here are a few notes about how to choose an appropriate hour for your planned activities:

Hour of the Sun This hour is good for success with anything, obtaining favors, prosperity, to approach an authority figure, to ask for a job or a raise, for social occasions, to attract business, to speculate, to improve your health

Hour of the Moon
This hour is best for doing things that are likely to change — for things not expected to be final, permanent or binding, good for domestic activities

Hour of Mercury
Choose this hour only when you are mentally clear, capable of being logical and rational (Mercury can be a trickster). That said, this hour is appropriate for communication activities and abstract thinking

Hour of Venus
This hour is good for social calls, parties, asking for favors, buying luxury items, improving appearance, forming partnerships, reconciling after quarrels, mediating disputes, initiating investments

Hour of Mars
good for action and energy, but can be confrontational. Choose this hour with caution unless your feelings are in check and other aspects are favorable

Hour of Jupiter
This is a good hour to choose for just about anything in business or otherwise. There is one caveat: caution is needed in regard to any tendencies to excess or overindulgence.

Hour of Saturn
This is not an easy hour, and it may be a time you notice lagging energy, but it can be very good for plowing through tedious work that needs to be done. Good for organizing, serious thinking or talks, meditation, prudent and practical moves and disciplined work or study.

My teacher Christopher Penczak also has a great discussion of using planetary hours to boost spell work in his book Outer Temple Of Witchcraft: Circles, Spells and Rituals. He also gives detailed instructions for accurately calculating hours yourself.

Here in Boston, at 6:45 pm, we've just entered the hour of Jupiter. I don't feel like doing much business unless you count finding the business end of a nice glass of wine. Perhaps Jupiter's expansive qualities will make it easier for a hearty Cabernet to open up!

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 6:31 PM