About Planetary Hours
I kept seeing this app mentioned in a few parenting blogs about mindfulness and routine, so I finally downloaded it on my iPhone 14. Honestly, I wasn’t sure who it was for—hardcore astrology fans or just people looking for a different way to structure their day. I’m definitely not an expert, I’m just a mom trying to make the after-school chaos less chaotic. The idea of tying different times of day to different energies, like a “Moon hour” for winding down, sounded like it might help our house feel a bit more grounded. I gave it a shot several months ago, mostly out of curiosity to see if there was anything to this old concept.
Core Features
The main screen is just a clean, simple circle that shows you what “planetary hour” it is right now. It says the name, like “Hour of the Sun,” and gives a couple of plain-English suggestions, such as “focus on personal goals.” I really like the day view, where you can scroll through all 24 hours. I check it at breakfast sometimes. If I see a “Mars hour” is coming up later, I know that’s supposed to be good for active stuff, so I might save the big playground trip or tidying up the playroom for then. You can also set little alerts. I have one that dings my phone five minutes before the “Venus hour” in the evening, which is about connection, as a reminder to put my own phone down and really focus on reading with my kids.
Real-World Use
It sounds silly, but it works for us in a low-key way. Last Thursday, the after-school witching hour was particularly brutal. My son was bouncing off the walls and my daughter was whining about homework. I glanced at the app and it was a “Mercury hour,” which is linked to communication and learning. Instead of fighting it, I pivoted. I sat them both down with a snack and we talked about their day for ten minutes, getting all the chatter out. Then, doing homework felt a little less like pulling teeth. It didn’t magically fix everything, but it gave me a different idea to try. I don’t live and die by it, but it’s a nice nudge to be more intentional about how we use our time together.
Pricing & Value
You can’t beat the price—it’s completely free. There are no ads popping up, no subscriptions, and no locked features. For a tool that’s this polished and thoughtful, that’s pretty amazing. I’ve downloaded so many family organizer apps that have a free version but then want you to pay to get any useful features. This one gives you everything upfront. As a free tool to experiment with a different kind of daily rhythm, it has more than paid for itself in just giving me a new perspective.
Updates & Support
The app itself runs smoothly and I haven’t had it crash. But I did have a question a while back about how the hours were calculated for my location. I emailed the support address listed in the App Store. The reply took over a week, and when it came, it was a very brief, almost copy-pasted paragraph from a FAQ that didn’t really address my specific question. It left me feeling like if I ever had a real problem, I’d be on my own. The app gets small updates now and then, which is good, but the support experience was disappointing.
Data & Privacy
This was a big one for me as a parent. I don’t want apps collecting data on my family. The app asks for your location to calculate the sunrise and sunset times accurately, which makes sense. I checked its App Store privacy page, and it says it doesn’t collect any data used to track you across other apps and websites. The privacy policy is clear and short, which I appreciate. It seems to just use your location on-device to do its job and that’s it. I feel comfortable having it on my phone.
How does the main screen of Planetary Hours work?
The main screen shows a clean, simple circle that tells you the current planetary hour, like 'Hour of the Sun,' along with a plain-English suggestion such as 'focus on personal goals.' You can also scroll through a day view to see all 24 hours and plan activities around the different energies.
Can I set reminders or alerts in Planetary Hours?
Yes, you can set custom alerts that notify you a few minutes before a specific planetary hour begins. For example, you can set an alert for the Venus hour in the evening to remind you to focus on connection, like putting your phone down and spending quality time with family.
The app's suggestions don't seem to match my schedule. What should I do?
The suggestions are general guidelines, not strict rules. Use them as flexible prompts—if a Mercury hour suggests communication but your kids need active play, just adjust your plans. The app is meant to inspire small shifts, not dictate your entire day.
Why isn't my Planetary Hours app updating the current hour correctly?
First, make sure your device's date and time are set to automatic in your iPhone settings. If the issue persists, try force-closing the app and reopening it, or restarting your phone. The app relies on accurate local time to calculate planetary hours based on sunrise and sunset.
How does Planetary Hours compare to other astrology or mindfulness apps like Time Nomad?
Planetary Hours is much simpler and more practical for everyday use—it focuses on the current hour's energy with plain-English tips, while Time Nomad offers deeper astrological data and transits. If you want a quick, low-commitment way to structure your day without diving into complex charts, Planetary Hours is the better choice.
