Of Planetary Hours and Day
Got a good couple questions from a student today and thought my answer would make a good post.
“First, I am confused about planetary days and hours. First you mention that you prefer the Abramelin to the Agrippan system, but then you make references to the Agrippan system when you talk about your Jupiter work. What’s the deal with that?”
For those that don’t know, Abraham the Jew recommends that rather than assigning days and hours according to days of the week and divisions of twelve for the day and night – the system that 99% of the occult world uses – that whenever the planet is above the horizon it is the day of that planet, and whenever it is overhead it is the hour of that planet.
For personal work I do prefer this system and it demonstrates the difference between what I call qualities and correspondence. The first is because it is Water being Cool and Wet and fluid, even the association with wisdom and emotion – these are the qualities of fire they are based on an inherent function of a thing be it a power, force, or object. These things will remain remarkably consistent the world over. Apotropaic features of iron. The ability of a Triangle to manifest or trap spirits, etc.
A correspondence is something that we humans have decided to apply, and which over time builds such momentum that when you stand in a certain magical current, you are subject to that correspondence whether you agree or not. Indeed experience has shown that you are subject to it whether you are even aware of it or not! It is something that we humans have decided but which is in no sense in your head. Water being in the west, colored blue, ruled by Gabriel, and such would be correspondences of water, not qualities.
So because I work with the Gentlemen for Jupiter, and we have more or less decided to work according to the Aggrippan system – I do so as well. It works. In other more personal planetary workings – and certainly in stellar workings, I get more involved in where the planet or star actually is.
“Second Question is what is more important the day or the hour? Are they equal? Is there a difference between doing a rite on the hour of Jupiter during the day or Mercury, or doing it on the hour of Mercury during the day of Jupiter?”
Obviously this question is applicable only to the Agrippan system. That said I have always been taught that the hour is FAR more important than the day. I have found this to be so as well.
Look at the hour as being a sort of prism that reflects the direct ray of that planets influence. The day is more like the atmosphere that the ray passes through. It colors the experience of that ray, but the ray is still the primary thing you are aorking with.
In the example you gave above, a rite on the hour of Jupiter but the day of Mercury would be excellent for something that is primarily Jupiterian, but which has Mercurial considerations, like launching a new product or business. Working with the hour of Mercury during the day of Jupiter on the other hand might be better for something primarily mercurial but colored by Jupiter such as a marketing campaign.
To use another example from a different student someone wanting to get better at time management and discipline might work during the hour of Saturn on the day of the Moon, whereas someone who simply wanted to have time work in their favor might do the opposite.
