Planetary Hours
A rhythm-based system for attention, action, and balance
Planetary hours are a repeating, seven-part rhythm for attention. You can treat them as astrology or as a practical psychology tool: they break the day into smaller containers, give each container a "mode," and help you choose a next step without getting stuck in overwhelm.
A lot of modern stress comes from open-ended choice ("what should I do right now?") and the mental pile-up of unfinished thoughts. This system reduces decision fatigue. Instead of asking, "What should I do with my whole life right now?" you ask, "What's one small action that fits this hour's mode?"
The tiny rituals and prompts are there to do one thing: help you switch gears. They're quick cues to reset attention, settle the nervous system, and make starting easier.
Planetary Days
Each day of the week also has a planetary "ruler." You can think of the day ruler as the background tone—the overall theme the day is best suited for—while the planetary hours are the foreground shifts within that day.
Traditional day rulers:
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Sunday — Sunidentity, clarity, leadership, visibility
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Monday — Moonfeelings, care, home, rest, intuition
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Tuesday — Marsaction, courage, boundaries, effort
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Wednesday — Mercurycommunication, learning, logistics, planning
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Thursday — Jupitergrowth, meaning, opportunity, expansion
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Friday — Venusconnection, beauty, pleasure, harmony
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Saturday — Saturnstructure, responsibility, maintenance, finishing
A simple way to use this:
- Let the day choose the type of wins you prioritize
- Let the hour choose the style or method you use in the moment
Example: Thursday (Jupiter day) might be about growth and bigger-picture progress, while a Saturn hour inside Thursday is a great time to build the structure that makes that growth real (plans, systems, schedules).
The Seven Modes
These aren't "task lists." They're the core modes people naturally rotate through to handle life:
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Sun — Identity & directionchoose priorities, decide, lead, be seen
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Moon — Needs & recoveryregulate emotions, rest, nourish, restore home and body
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Mars — Action & boundariesstart, push, protect time/energy, do the hard thing
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Mercury — Thinking & coordinationplan, communicate, learn, schedule, handle logistics
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Jupiter — Growth & meaningzoom out, expand options, learn, strategize, take wise risks
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Venus — Connection & pleasurebond, savor, create beauty, repair harmony, enjoy
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Saturn — Structure & maintenancebuild systems, keep promises, finish, stabilize
Most real-life tasks are a blend of these. The point isn't "perfect alignment," it's balance over time: the cycle keeps bringing you back to modes you'd otherwise neglect.
How Planetary Hours Are Calculated
Planetary hours are based on your local sunrise and sunset, so they change by location and season.
1. Daytime hours (12)
- Take the time from sunrise → sunset
- Divide it into 12 equal segments
- Each segment is a "planetary hour" (day hour length varies with the season)
2. Nighttime hours (12)
- Take the time from sunset → next day's sunrise
- Divide it into 12 equal segments
- Those are the 12 night hours (night hour length also varies seasonally)
So "hours" here are not always 60 minutes. In summer the daytime hours are longer; in winter they're shorter.
3. Which planet rules each hour (the sequence)
The ruling planet cycles in the traditional Chaldean order:
4. The day ruler sets the first hour
The first hour after sunrise is ruled by the planetary day ruler. From there, the hours follow the Chaldean order in sequence, continuing through the night and into the next day.
How to Use the App
1) Set your location (or allow it)
Planetary hours depend on sunrise/sunset where you are. Once the app knows your location/timezone, it can calculate the schedule for today.
2) Notice the day ruler first
At the top of the page, you'll see the planetary day. This is your "background theme." If you're unsure what to focus on, let the day ruler guide your priorities.
3) Look for "Now"
The current planetary hour is highlighted. Think of it as your current mode.
4) Tap an hour to get the theme + prompts
Each hour gives you:
- a theme (the mode)
- a tiny ritual (a quick gear-shift)
- a few suggested actions (pick-one options)
The best way to use it is simple: pick one small action (5–15 minutes) and begin.
5) Use it like gentle timeboxing
A good pattern:
- Do the tiny ritual (30–90 seconds)
- Start the task
- Work for a short block (10–25 minutes)
- When the next hour changes, you can either:
- keep going (especially if you're in flow), or
- use the new hour as a natural "chapter break" and shift gears
6) When the day and hour match
Sometimes the hour ruler equals the day ruler (example: Venus hour on Friday). Those moments are treated like "power chords"—great for a deeper "day-alignment" ritual or for doing the most representative task of the day.
A few ground rules (so it stays helpful)
- This is a compass, not a boss. If the hour says "Venus" and you need to do "Saturn" paperwork, do the paperwork.
- Small counts. One tiny aligned step is enough to keep the rhythm.
- Missed hours don't matter. The cycle keeps turning. Start again at the next hour.