Days of the Week in Magic: Planets, Colours and Intentions
The ancient Romans named the days of the week after seven celestial bodies visible to the naked eye: the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. In English, four of those names were later replaced by Germanic and Norse gods who were seen as their counterparts: Tiw or Tyr for Mars, Woden or Odin for Mercury, Thor for Jupiter and Frigg for Venus.
Many witches use these links to choose a day for their work, so that the day’s planet and its traditional themes support the intention. The associations below are widely shared in modern witchcraft, though books and traditions differ in the details.
Timing is a tradition, not a rule. If something needs attention today, choose an intention that suits the day or simply begin. A clear intention matters more than the calendar.
| Name | Planet | Where the name comes from | Traditional focus | Colours often used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Sun | The Sun’s day (Latin dies Solis) | Success, confidence, vitality, recognition | Gold, yellow, orange |
| Monday | Moon | The Moon’s day (Latin dies Lunae) | Intuition, dreams, home, family, emotions | Silver, white |
| Tuesday | Mars | Tiw’s or Tyr’s day, a god of war, standing in for Mars | Courage, action, protection, overcoming obstacles | Red |
| Wednesday | Mercury | Woden’s or Odin’s day, standing in for Mercury | Communication, study, travel, business, contracts | Orange, yellow, purple |
| Thursday | Jupiter | Thor’s day, a thunder god like Jupiter | Abundance, growth, luck, career, generosity | Blue, purple, green |
| Friday | Venus | Frigg’s day, a goddess of love like Venus | Love, friendship, beauty, self-love, harmony | Pink, green |
| Saturday | Saturn | Saturn’s day (Latin dies Saturni) | Protection, boundaries, banishing, endings, discipline | Black, dark blue |
Sunday
The Sun’s day, traditionally used for success, confidence, vitality and recognition.
Monday
The Moon’s day, traditionally used for intuition, dreams, home and emotional care.
Tuesday
The day of Mars, traditionally used for courage, energy, protection and taking action.
Wednesday
The day of Mercury, traditionally used for communication, study, travel and business.
Thursday
The day of Jupiter, traditionally used for growth, abundance, luck and career.
Friday
The day of Venus, traditionally used for love, friendship, beauty and pleasure.
Saturday
The day of Saturn, traditionally used for protection, boundaries, banishing and endings.
Questions people also ask
What is the best day of the week for a love spell?
Friday is traditionally used for love because it is the day of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. Many witches still cast love work on other days when it is needed, because a clear intention matters more than the date.
What is the best day for a money spell?
Thursday, the day of Jupiter, is traditionally used for abundance and growth, and Sunday for success and recognition. Pair any money spell with one practical step, such as a budget or an application.
Why are the days of the week named after planets?
The ancient Romans named the days after the Sun, the Moon and the five planets visible to the naked eye. English kept the Sun, Moon and Saturn, and replaced the others with Germanic and Norse gods seen as their counterparts.
Do I have to cast a spell on the matching day?
No. Matching the day is a tradition many witches enjoy, not a requirement. If something needs attention now, choose an intention that suits the current day or simply begin.
Sources
- The names of the days of the week: origin and meaning, The Viking Ship Museum, Roskilde
- Origin of the Names of the Days of the Week, The Old Farmer’s Almanac