On the Day and Hour of the Sun
Jan. 1st, 2023 02:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tunesmythA couple of people now have asked me what the heck I'm talking about when I invite people to join me in praying on the Day and Hour of the Sun, so this little post is meant to clear that up, and help you along in doing it too if the notion happens to attracts you. There will probably be nothing of interest here for people who already know, so if that's you, just carry on as you were!
The Planetary Days and Hours is a system of astrological timing that was passed down to the present from the ancient country of Chaldea near Babylon. This system of timing is independent of the particular locations of the planets in the sky; and from it (or at least, from the ancient Greek adaptation of it) we get our current system of the seven days of the week. As its name suggests, Sunday is indeed "ruled" by the Sun, Monday by the Moon, Tuesday by Mars, Wednesday by Mercury, Thursday by Jupiter, Friday by Venus, and Saturday by Saturn. And just as the days cycle through that order, so do the hours, although the order differs (it goes Sun-Venus-Mercury-Moon-Saturn-Jupiter-Mars).
Actions that relate strongly to the planet of current rulership tend to gain power if performed on the day and/or hour of rulership (strongest of all being day AND hour); it's a traditional method for timing magic spells, and also a traditional way to time devotions to deities connected with the seven planets to give the prayers extra force. The Sun is one of the astrological planets (though obviously the Sun is a "star" in modern terminology) traditionally connected with vitality and health, and in particular with the heart, the brain, the vital energies, and one eye (traditionally the right in men, the left in women; the other eye is ruled by the Moon).
Which day is Sunday is usually pretty obvious, but knowing the “Hour of the Sun” is less obvious. The length of a Planetary Hour is not exactly the same as our normal hour (well, except for on an equinox), because it's determined by the timing of sunrise and sunset, and dividing that period by 12. Thus right now, in the northern hemisphere, the twelve hours of daytime are each shorter than a regularly even-tempered hour, and the twelve hours of night time are each longer. Here is a website that quickly makes this calculation for you (make sure to properly set the location as well as the date): https://planetaryhours.net/
So there are actually four hours on any given Sunday ruled by the Sun. Times will vary by location; at my own current location today (which is a Sunday), I can do this ritual during any of the following time slots:
7:06-7:55
12:50-13:39
19:18-20:28
3:33-4:44*
*(which, though on very early Monday morning, is still considered "Planetary Sunday", as a Planetary Day doesn't turn over at midnight, but rather the next sunrise)
If there happens to be a solar-connected deity/angel/kamisama/etc that is connected with your religious practice, praying to them in more or less your normal fashion will probably do nicely. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, I understand that the Archangel Michael is traditionally associated with the Sun (one traditional prayer for solar invocations is in comments below this post), though I hear that some people consider Christ a solar deity as well. One of the people joining in this weekly prayer prays to Amaterasu no Ohkami, the Japanese deity of the sun. If there is a way that already seems natural to you, you should probably do that!
If you happen to wish to follow what I have been doing, you can also address the Sun directly in your prayers. I do it in a fairly common way, by lighting a yellow or white candle, sometimes lighting some incense (frankincense is common for this), and reading the Orphic Hymn to the Sun. Beforehand I do a simple cleansing ritual, and I set out a temporary altar (the top of my piano) with emblems of the sun (a Sun Tarot card and a lion game piece). I also put out an offering.
If you also choose to include an offering, you may wish to give something which is considered particularly solar according to astrological rulership. I offer honey, sometimes with six raisins (6 being the number associated with the Sun in Renaissance astrology). Other solar foods include grapes, oranges, chicken, deer, red fish, chamomile, rosemary, saffron, and cinnamon. Gold is also solar; I keep a jar of sake infused with gold flakes on my sun altar and, even though I quit drinking long ago, take a small sip every six weeks I do the ritual.
After reading the hymn, I settle down for a prayer, talking to the Sun, and wishing that the Sun bring healing, vitality, and wellbeing to each of the people on my prayer list. Once I feel that is finished, I have a "communion time", sharing the food and drink I've set out and celebrating the Sun for the life it brings us. At the end, I blow out my candle with the intention of it "making a wish" much like one does for candles on a birthday cake; but I imagine many people prefer to let it run down.
Basically, there is no one right way to pray except that it be the way that feels like the right way to you. Also it should be said that prayers, even prayers to the Sun, need not only be on the Day and Hour of the Sun! I suspect there is never actually a bad time to pray. That said, if you'd like to join me in the astrological timing aspect of these prayers— and I certainly invite you to do so— then that's the time to do it!
Oh, by the way, I should add that if you miss Sunday entirely for some reason, you can still get a a bit of an astrological boost from choosing to pray at the Hour of the Sun on a different day.
The Planetary Days and Hours is a system of astrological timing that was passed down to the present from the ancient country of Chaldea near Babylon. This system of timing is independent of the particular locations of the planets in the sky; and from it (or at least, from the ancient Greek adaptation of it) we get our current system of the seven days of the week. As its name suggests, Sunday is indeed "ruled" by the Sun, Monday by the Moon, Tuesday by Mars, Wednesday by Mercury, Thursday by Jupiter, Friday by Venus, and Saturday by Saturn. And just as the days cycle through that order, so do the hours, although the order differs (it goes Sun-Venus-Mercury-Moon-Saturn-Jupiter-Mars).
Actions that relate strongly to the planet of current rulership tend to gain power if performed on the day and/or hour of rulership (strongest of all being day AND hour); it's a traditional method for timing magic spells, and also a traditional way to time devotions to deities connected with the seven planets to give the prayers extra force. The Sun is one of the astrological planets (though obviously the Sun is a "star" in modern terminology) traditionally connected with vitality and health, and in particular with the heart, the brain, the vital energies, and one eye (traditionally the right in men, the left in women; the other eye is ruled by the Moon).
Which day is Sunday is usually pretty obvious, but knowing the “Hour of the Sun” is less obvious. The length of a Planetary Hour is not exactly the same as our normal hour (well, except for on an equinox), because it's determined by the timing of sunrise and sunset, and dividing that period by 12. Thus right now, in the northern hemisphere, the twelve hours of daytime are each shorter than a regularly even-tempered hour, and the twelve hours of night time are each longer. Here is a website that quickly makes this calculation for you (make sure to properly set the location as well as the date): https://planetaryhours.net/
So there are actually four hours on any given Sunday ruled by the Sun. Times will vary by location; at my own current location today (which is a Sunday), I can do this ritual during any of the following time slots:
7:06-7:55
12:50-13:39
19:18-20:28
3:33-4:44*
*(which, though on very early Monday morning, is still considered "Planetary Sunday", as a Planetary Day doesn't turn over at midnight, but rather the next sunrise)
If there happens to be a solar-connected deity/angel/kamisama/etc that is connected with your religious practice, praying to them in more or less your normal fashion will probably do nicely. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, I understand that the Archangel Michael is traditionally associated with the Sun (one traditional prayer for solar invocations is in comments below this post), though I hear that some people consider Christ a solar deity as well. One of the people joining in this weekly prayer prays to Amaterasu no Ohkami, the Japanese deity of the sun. If there is a way that already seems natural to you, you should probably do that!
If you happen to wish to follow what I have been doing, you can also address the Sun directly in your prayers. I do it in a fairly common way, by lighting a yellow or white candle, sometimes lighting some incense (frankincense is common for this), and reading the Orphic Hymn to the Sun. Beforehand I do a simple cleansing ritual, and I set out a temporary altar (the top of my piano) with emblems of the sun (a Sun Tarot card and a lion game piece). I also put out an offering.
If you also choose to include an offering, you may wish to give something which is considered particularly solar according to astrological rulership. I offer honey, sometimes with six raisins (6 being the number associated with the Sun in Renaissance astrology). Other solar foods include grapes, oranges, chicken, deer, red fish, chamomile, rosemary, saffron, and cinnamon. Gold is also solar; I keep a jar of sake infused with gold flakes on my sun altar and, even though I quit drinking long ago, take a small sip every six weeks I do the ritual.
After reading the hymn, I settle down for a prayer, talking to the Sun, and wishing that the Sun bring healing, vitality, and wellbeing to each of the people on my prayer list. Once I feel that is finished, I have a "communion time", sharing the food and drink I've set out and celebrating the Sun for the life it brings us. At the end, I blow out my candle with the intention of it "making a wish" much like one does for candles on a birthday cake; but I imagine many people prefer to let it run down.
Basically, there is no one right way to pray except that it be the way that feels like the right way to you. Also it should be said that prayers, even prayers to the Sun, need not only be on the Day and Hour of the Sun! I suspect there is never actually a bad time to pray. That said, if you'd like to join me in the astrological timing aspect of these prayers— and I certainly invite you to do so— then that's the time to do it!
Oh, by the way, I should add that if you miss Sunday entirely for some reason, you can still get a a bit of an astrological boost from choosing to pray at the Hour of the Sun on a different day.
Conjuration of the Sun
Date: 2023-01-02 01:56 pm (UTC)(English translation follows the original Latin; my understanding is that the Latin will probably pack more of a punch, but your mileage may vary)
Conjuro & confirmo super vos Angeli fortes Dei, & sancti, in nomine Adonay, Eye, Eye, Eya, qui est ille, qui fuit, est & erit, Eye, Abraye: & in nomine Saday, Cados, Cados, Cados, alte sendentis super Cherubin, & per nomen magnum ipsius Dei fortis & potentis, exaltatique super omnes coelos, Eye, Saraye, plasmatoris seculorum, qui creavit mundum, coelum, terram, mare, & omnia quæ in eis sunt in primo die, & sigillavit ea sancto nomine suo Phaa: & per nomina sanctorum Angelorum, qui dominantur in quarto exercitu, & serviunt coram potentissimo Salamia, Angelo magno & honorato: & per nomen stellæ, quæ est Sol, & per signum, & per immensum nomen Dei vivi, & per nomina omnia prædicta, conjuro te Michael angele magne, qui es præpositus Diei Dominicæ: & per nomen Adonay, Dei Israel, qui creavit mundum & quicquid in eo est, quod pro me labores, & ad moleas omnem meam petitionem, juxta meum velle & votum meum, in negotio & causa mea.
I Conjure and confirm upon you, ye strong and holy Angels of God, in the name Adonay, Eye, Eye, Eya, which is he who was, and is, and is to come, Eye, Abray; and in the name Saday, Cados, Cados, Cados, sitting on high upon the Cherubin; and by the great Name of God himself, strong and powerful, who is exalted above all Heavens; Eye Saray, maker of the World, who created the World, the Heaven, the Earth, the Sea, and all that in them is in the first day, and sealed them with his holy Name Phaa; and by the name of the holy Angels, who rule in the fourth Heaven, and serve before the most mighty Salamia, an Angel great and honourable; and by the name of his Star, which is Sol; and by his Sign; and by the immense name of the living God, and by all the names aforesaid, I conjure thee, Michael, O great Angel, who art chief Ruler of the Lords day; and by the name Adonay, the God of Israel, who hath created the world, and all that therein is, That thou labour for me, and fulfil all my petitions, according to my will and desire, in my cause and business.
Re: Conjuration of the Sun
Date: 2023-01-06 04:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-01-05 11:49 pm (UTC):)
Thank you for putting together these lists and Axé to all,
Fra' Lupo
no subject
Date: 2023-01-06 04:53 pm (UTC)I just looked up "Know thyself" to figure out what you were talking about there and I saw that it was one of the Delphic Maxims in the forecourt of the temple of Apollo-- is that what you meant?
Completely off topic but... my mind was a bit blown by the third maxim, which I'd never heard before. "Surety brings ruin". Normally used in the context of taking oaths and specifically acting as a guarantor for people taking a loan, but it seems to me that (as even in records from ancient times that reach us, people were arguing with each other over what its original meaning was), it may simply be saying "Certainty brings ruin". Never be too sure of anything, or it will be your downfall. This certainly was the cause of hubris half the time in the old tragedies, and it's the cause of so many problems today. People who commit to one idea with a death grip and don't adjust with the changing circumstances.
no subject
Date: 2023-01-06 09:43 pm (UTC)As for the third, I've seen it translated and interpretated various ways. For my part, I prefer "Certainty begets insanity," which, especially in light of some of the rigorist quarrels we see on every side in our society, always seems most appropriate to me.
Axé
no subject
Date: 2023-01-06 10:16 pm (UTC)Thankyou
Date: 2023-05-01 07:50 am (UTC)How did I not know this. This post is unbelievably helpful and maybe the missing link in by practice.
Cealin
Re: Thankyou
Date: 2023-05-01 02:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-05-01 07:56 am (UTC)Hail the day and the sons of day.
Hail night and her sisters.
With kind eyes look upon us here and grant us victory.
Give us wisdom and words and healing hand while we live.
Cealin
no subject
Date: 2023-05-01 02:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-05-01 07:58 am (UTC)Cealin
Thank you
Date: 2023-06-23 12:29 pm (UTC)May you receive many blessings,
MJ from MA
Re: Thank you
Date: 2023-06-24 05:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-10-30 12:09 am (UTC)I have wondered what you meant by praying with astrological timing. This was very helpful.
Rooby
no subject
Date: 2023-10-30 05:39 pm (UTC)