The ancient Egyptians most likely divided the duration of the day between Sunrise and Sunset into 12 equal parts, and then did the same for the duration of the night between Sunset and the following Sunrise. These first "astrologers" associated each of these parts with the 7 known celestial bodies and their movements. Through observation, they managed to organize a pattern based on the apparent speed of these bodies: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, and Moon. They repeated this sequence three times throughout the day, adding the next three planets to complete the 24-hour cycle. This distribution they called Planetary Hours.

The order of the planetary hours depends on the day and is based on the names of the days, which derive from the planets. In Latin: Monday is Dies Lunae (Day of the Moon), Tuesday is Dies Martis (Day of Mars), Wednesday is Dies Mercurii (Day of Mercury), Thursday is Dies Jovis (Day of Jupiter), Friday is Dies Veneris (Day of Venus), Saturday is Dies Saturni (Day of Saturn), and Sunday is Dies Solis (Day of the Sun). Each day begins at sunrise with the planetary hour that corresponds to the planet lending its name to that day.

These 24 segments vary in length from day to day and were called "Hours" even though they rarely last exactly 60 minutes. The basis for their use lies in the nature of each planet associated with the given hour.

☉ Hour of the Sun

The benevolent nature of the Sun makes this hour suitable for most activities. Start a social event — if some guests are late, they will arrive during the next hour, that of Venus, which is also very favorable. If you feel uncertain about someone's intentions, make the initial call during a Sun Hour — you have a greater chance of a positive response.

Suitable for: Self-promotion, meetings with authority figures (managers, presidents), business openings, purchasing jewelry and luxury goods, activities involving children, creative hobbies, sports, formalizing a relationship, buying goods for resale, cardiac medical examinations.
Not suitable for: Moving house, forming partnerships, signing legal documents.

☽ Hour of the Moon

Before using Moon Hours, check whether the Moon is Void of Course or receiving negative aspects. If neither applies, her positive qualities will bear fruit. Matters of home and family fall within the Moon's sphere of influence.

Suitable for: Contact with women or one's mother, domestic matters, family gatherings, beginning research and divinatory pursuits, spiritual work, gathering information, embarking on a sea voyage, gynecological or gastric examinations.

☿ Hour of Mercury

Mercury is the planet of communication. You can begin anything related to correspondence, writing, short journeys, teaching, and important phone calls. This changes if Mercury is retrograde or receiving negative aspects — during retrograde motion, such activities are considered risky.

Suitable for: Intellectual work, meetings with writers, journalists, and educators, negotiations, sending correspondence, delivering speeches, purchasing books, computers, mobile phones, and audiovisual equipment, learning foreign languages, public relations, ophthalmological examinations.
Not suitable for: Major decisions, construction, marriage and serious romantic matters.

♀ Hour of Venus

Venus is the planet of love, beauty, tranquility, and harmony. All things can go well during this hour, unless Venus is retrograde. Venus Hours are ideal for romantic encounters, requests for favors, leisure travel, and creative projects.

Suitable for: Romantic matters, flirting, partnership or marriage agreements, honeymoon travel, purchasing clothing and perfumes, artistic pursuits, aesthetics, exhibiting and purchasing works of art, decorating, gardening, celebrating anniversaries, social visits, examinations of the kidneys, thyroid, and skin conditions.
Not suitable for: Technical studies, construction, negotiations with adversaries.

♂ Hour of Mars

The nature of Mars — hasty, fiery, energetic — also describes its hour. Do not call people you might argue with, unless it serves your interests. Avoid beginning a journey during a Mars Hour — notice how much more aggressively everyone drives, or how many accidents occur at this time.

Suitable for: Contact with military personnel, technicians, and engineers, competitive sports, athletics, exercise, presenting new arguments, purchasing metal stocks, surprising adversaries, rock music, blood tests.
Not suitable for: Driving, cosmetic procedures, romantic matters, surgical operations, tooth extractions, dyeing hair, meetings with competitors, long-term loans, marriage.

♃ Hour of Jupiter

The nature of Jupiter is expansive, optimistic, and benevolent. Any work that begins during a Jupiter Hour continues within that same optimistic outlook. Make travel arrangements during a Jupiter Hour and you will find greater comfort and enjoyment. A good idea is to wake during a Jupiter Hour, so that you may enjoy the optimistic energy of this planet throughout the entire day.

Suitable for: Long-distance travel, seminars, enrolling in a school or course, teaching, writing, stock market investments, bank transactions, contact with legal professionals and charitable institutions, nourishing diet, purchasing gemstones, horse riding, obtaining a passport, attending sporting events.
Not suitable for: Starting a diet.

♄ Hour of Saturn

Saturn brings restrictions and delays. You would not begin a journey during a Saturn Hour — setbacks would be a given. If you begin construction at this hour, its completion seems endless. Yet the nature of this hour is curious: a setback may ultimately prove beneficial. For example, property contracts signed during a Saturn Hour tend to remain stable over time — Saturn's reliable nature guarantees endurance.

Suitable for: Solitude and inner balance, meditation, prayer, rest, matters you wish to have lasting effect, work with long-term results, collecting old debts, selling property and land, contact with elderly or experienced individuals, visiting monasteries and archaeological sites, ending troubled relationships.
Not suitable for: Initiating lawsuits, marriage, romantic matters, purchasing household appliances. Generally these are not bad hours, but they bring obstacles, delays, and blows of fate. Avoid anything important. Problematic for arthritis, skin allergies, and arterial conditions.

Written by Dimitra Togka, Astrologer