The planetary hours are an ancient system of
planetary rulerships of time, intricately connected with the planetary days
and dependant on the Chaldean Order of the planets. For an more detailed
explanation of their origin and nature see
the Planetary Hours and Days.
For examples of the use
of the planetary hours in horary and electional astrology see
The Planetary Hours in Renaissance Astrology.
For examples of their use in timing ritual magic see
Planetary Hours
Elections in the Key of Solomon and for their use in talismanic
magic see
Marsilio Ficino: Magic, Astrology & the Planetary Hours.
This page focuses on the use of the planetary hours for
electing or choosing astrological propitious times to take action. It consists of
Section IV of Book 2 of Henry Coley's Clavis Astrologiae Elimata or
A Key to the Whole Art of Astrology, published in London in 1676.
We can see that many of the elections are based on the
Natures of the Planets. For more detailed information
see the pages for each planet: Saturn,
Jupiter, Mars,
the Sun, Venus,
Mercury and the Moon which come
from William Lilly'sChristian Astrology published in
1642.
Here it will be necessary, briefly to shew the Signification of
each Planetary Hour, and what use may be made of them, &c.
In the hour of Saturn take no Voyage to Sea, neither take any
long Journey by
Land; for crosses will surely attend, and small success may be expected; take no
Physick: entertain no Servant, for they will prove idle, careless Persons: Not
good to put on a new Garment, or cut your Hair, but this hour is good to buy,
or take Leases of Houses or Lands; good to buy any kind of Grain, or dig in the
Earth or Plow; not good to borrow Money in this hour, or to fall sick in; for it
threatens long Disease and sometimes terminates in death.
In the hour of Jupiter tis good to apply to Ecclesiastical
Persons and all
great Men to obtain their favour; the same from all grave Senators, Judges,
Lawyers, &c. In this hour tis good to take a Journey; or to go out of the
House with success; good to sow all kind of Seeds or to Plant; not good to
be let blood; he that falls sick in this hour will soon recover; good also
to lend, or borrow Moneys; not good to enter a Ship; not good to buy Beasts:
to conclude this hour is good to Contract Matrimony in, &c.
In the hour of Mars begin no worthy Action,
or Enter-prize, for it is
very unfortunate hour in all things, and there-fore as much as may be to be
avoided, it is ill to take a Journey for you shall be in danger of Thieves;
very ill to take a Voyage to Sea, and generally in all things.
The hour of the Sun, is not to be chosen, as being generally
infortunate,
unless in makeing Application to great Persons, not good to begin a building,
or put on new Garments, not good to enter into a mans own house, for discontent
and brawling may then be expected to follow, this hour is good for a man to
receive preferment in, not good to Court the Female Sex or lay down moneys
upon any account, 'tis also very dangerous for any person to fall sick in.
In the hour of Venus 'tis good to court Women,
or to begin a Journey,
but not a Voyage, good to enter upon any Play, Sport or pastime; not good
to be let blood in, go House with success, but not so good to return again
in, good to take Physick in, but if a Man falls sick in that hour, the disease
proceeds from some Venereal distemper, this hour is generally good to undertake
any business relating to the Womens concerns, or any delightful Actions, not
good to begin a new Garment, but singular good for marriage, and contracting
in Matrimony, &c
The hour of Mercury is very good to Merchandize in, viz.
Buy or sell,
or to write Letters, or to good to send Messengers, to take Physick in, to send
Children to School, to begin a Journey, to lend or or to brrow Moneys in, to
put forth Apprentices, to begin any Building, but not good to Contract Marriage,
or to Buy Houses or Lands, or to Re-enter your House being abroad, lest discontent
or Brawling arise; nor good to take or hire a Servant, or to Redeem a Prisoner,
but good to Plant or Graff-in, and finally to make Suit to great Persons.
The hour of the Moon is not accounted good to
Buy Cattle in, especialy of
the smaller Sort, nor to take Physick in, or begin any Building, not good to lend
Money in, or to make new Cloaths;'tis good to Court the Female Sex in, or send
Children to School, and in some cases to take a Journey, or to pursue an Enemy,
and to conclude, you may make choice of this hour to leave your Native Country
in, (if designed to Travil) but choose another hour when you return, not
and are to re-enter your own Countrey again.
[These Significations of the Planetary Hours are very Ancient,
approved of by
the Arabians, Hand confirmed by Haly and later Authors, and may be of good use,
though they are not of that efficacy as well-grounded Elections, from an apt
positure of the Heavens, which doth sympathize with the Nativity (if it be known)
of which I shall treat in the next Section.]
