A Planetary Guide to Sheltering-in-Place: How I know what day of the week it is based on what I’m wearing, eating and doing
What day is it? Is it Monday, or maybe it’s Tuesday. No wait, it’s definitely Monday…I think.
Sheltering-in-place have you wondering what day of the week it is? Jyotish, or Vedic Astrology, can help you figure out what day of the week it is by what you’re wearing, eating, and doing.
Jyotish recognizes 9 planets, or grahas, that play significant roles in our life. For the sake of this article we will only be focusing on 7 out of the 9 planets. The remaining 2 grahas, Rahu/Ketu were not designated a specific day, thank goodness because they are very mischievous.
The 7 planets are the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn.
Graha translates as something that grasps, or seizes us. While many are dismissive of the roles the planets play, there’s no denying that when the moon is full, things get strange, its presence deeply impacts the tidal pools, our emotions, and women’s menstrual cycles. The ERs fill with pregnant women going into labor, lunacy abounds, and it may be hard to sleep.
Similarly, when the sun hides its face for weeks on end, it changes our perception. Bleak, cloudy days call for oodles of coffee to get that extra pep back in your step. However, the second the sun decides to shine its light on us, the masses emerge from their houses and soak up every moment with pure revelry.
Did you know the planets are also said to rule the different days of the week?
- Sunday is ruled by the Sun (no surprise there)
- Monday, the moon
- Tuesday is ruled by the fiery planet Mars
- Wednesday is lorded over by Mercury
- Thursday, sweet and benefic Jupiter
- Friday is reserved for lovers and Venus
- Saturday is Saturn-day
Now that you have this down, what does this all mean?! The planets like to be placated by us pandering to their preferences. If you honor their existence on their respective day, they just might bestow their blessings upon you, or at the very least, malefic planets will ease up on their wrath.
Not only does following the planets make it easier to figure out what to wear, eat, and do each day, it helps one keep track of what darn day of the week it is. When someone asks me if it’s Tuesday, I simply look at my outfit, spot the bright red and reply “indeed”.
Sun – Sunday
The sun is our soul, a great day to listen to Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday. You may find that you feel a greater sense of reverence on Sundays. It could be helpful to connect with something that you consider higher than yourself, whether that be nature, God, animals, etc.
The sun is also seen as the father, for some reason this inclines me to do things I ascribe as “man jobs”. Jobs that would make my father proud, like caulking the kitchen sink, washing my car, and tightening the screws on the cabinets.
Regarding the wardrobe, dark red and orange represent the Sun. Favor clothes that are thicker, I assume this includes comfy sweatpants.
Finally what to eat?! The Sun is connected with the bitter flavor, IPA anyone? Other foods include wheat, almonds, saffron, peppercorns, nutmeg, lavender, chamomile and wait for it…fine wines and rare liquors. Perhaps start your day off with a delicious almond croissant (almonds and wheat) accompanied by a cup of lavender & chamomile tea. No shame in sipping a cold one around the grill come Sunday afternoon.
Moon – Monday
The moon is seen as the mother, and she governs our senses and emotions. You may find yourself more sensitive all around on Mondays, that’s to be expected! Cue The Bangles’ song “Manic Monday”. Practice self-care on Mondays. This could include a self-oil massage, moon salutations, journaling, getting in the water, allowing yourself to feel all the feels.
Mondays are the day to get out your white clothes, preferably newer clothes.
Flavor wise, the moon is connected with the salty taste, is this because it causes us to retain water? That’s my best guess. The moon loves the following foods: rice, melons, coconut, common fruits and vegetables, cucumber, milk and dairy products, corn, water, beer, juice fruits, and stewed fruit. Don’t like coconuts? As Jimmy Stewart’s character retorts in It’s a Wonderful Life, “Say brainless, don’t you know where coconuts come from? Look-it here, from Tahiti, the Fiji Island, Coral Sea.” Coconut rice pudding, Thai curry, the world is your culinary oyster when using coconut.
Tuesday- Mars
Oooh, Tuesday, my favorite day of the week, connected with power and strength, and a little bit of war. Mars is a feisty planet, seen as malefic, but it can give us a boost when we are feeling stuck or stagnant. Tuesdays are a great day to do one thing you are scared of. I’m not talking about sky-diving, but writing a story, posting a video on Instagram of your latest dance moves. Let Mars give you the gumption and bravado you need to hit “publish”. May not be the best day of the week to go on a date, or get hitched, unless you like to debate.
Bright red is the color du jour for Tuesdays. Makes sense, right? Fire and glory.
Favor pungent flavors to honor mars. This is the day I like to make Buffalo Cauliflower, Frank’s RedHot sauce never fails to knock my socks off. Mars also gets a kick out of spicy peppers, mustard, garlic, heavy proteins and meats, basically anything that makes your taste buds sing. Lastly, Mars loves stimulants such as coffee and black tea. Can we say cold brew Tuesday?
Wednesday – Mercury
Mercury is seen as a prince, youthful and neither 100% benefic, nor 100% malefic, he can go either way depending on the company he keeps. Mercury is all about the rational mind and speech. Wednesdays are a boon for teachers and writers. I purposely schedule myself to teach, or do Ayurvedic consultations, on Wednesdays because I know Mercury has got my back and my teachings will be effectively communicated.
Wear green on Wednesday, just make sure your clothes are pressed, iron and immaculately clean.
Being the most vata of all the planets, Mercury does not prefer just one flavor, rather it likes all of them. Mercurial foods include mung beans, root vegetables, root beer (!), carrots, parsnips, fruits that are the result of grafting, like the tangelo or the pluot. My theory on this is that grafting takes a lot of ingenuity, which is brought to you by Mercury. Root Beer float day!
Thursday – Jupiter
Jupiter is the most benefic of all the planets, he oversees higher knowledge, wisdom and fortune. This is an auspicious day for most endeavours, especially pursuing esoteric knowledge, like studying Jyotish.
Jupiter is represented by the color yellow, and the clothes are often more average or ordinary, save your glamorous clothes for Friday. Dr. Robert Svoboda suggests that if one is trying to beg a favor, always wear yellow, as Jupiter has no enemies and the favor is likely to be granted. On the flip-side, do not wear red (Mars) when asking for help as it may cause more excitement and confrontation.
Got a sweet tooth? So does Jupiter. Thursday is the day for sweet and heavy foods, but of the utmost quality. Jupiter delights in the following foods: butter, ghee, cream, pumpkin, squash, berries, honey, dates, sugar cane, olive oil, spearmint, peppermint, and sweet wines. Why not eat a date or two on Thursday? They support iron levels, build ojas (immunity), and are delicious.
Friday- Venus
I’m sure it comes as no surprise that Venus is the planet related to desires and yearnings. The god of love, Fridays are perfect for date night. Can’t go out? No problem. Spotify has playlists to create the ambiance of your favorite Mexican, Italian, or Greek restaurant.
Creativity reigns on Fridays, comb your favorite food blogs and get cooking! Fridays are also ideal for breaking out the colored pencils, beads, watercolors and letting your inner child play.
Like the moon, Venus is also connected with white. Variegated colors printed on fine cottons and silk will also do the trick. Venus loves to be well decorated, so feel free to dress to the nines. It’s date night, so why not?
Venus loves the sour flavors as well as exotic fruits and vegetables, berries, pomegranates, white sugar, candy and confections, flour, and flowering trees. Basically, this is the weekly “have your cake and eat it too” day. Get fancy and top your cakes with edible flowers to get extra credit from beloved Venus.
Saturday- Saturn
Last and 100% not least, is our pal Saturn. Saturn has a lot of stigma around him, he is banished to the outskirts of the galaxy. Son of the Sun, he slowly makes his orbit, cold with downcast eyes. Saturn rules sorrow and misfortune. He’s all about rules, service and loss. I reserve Saturdays for my days of austerity, sadhana, and other spiritual practices. Saturn deeply appreciates the chanting of the Hanuman Chaleesa. Feeding crows (Saturn’s bird) black sesame seeds is a phenomenal way to show Saturn some love.
Being a stern and glum planet, Saturn prefers darker hues such as black, blue, indigo and violet, people of NYC rejoice! Being a representative of the mendicant, old, ragged or tattered clothes are par for the course. Blue jeans are the epitome of Saturn, once only reserved for coal miners and laborers.
Saturn is all about the astringent flavors, probably because they zap the moisture out of the mouth (Saturn is a drying planet). Foods to hit up on Saturdays include sesame seeds, beans, peas, alfalfa, peanuts, soy, rye, coarse foods, impure food, old food, junk food, bitter herbs, and roots, salt, fermented foods such as pickles, vinegars, foreign dishes and dry wines. Personally, I try and abstain from drinking on Saturdays as to not perturb Saturn, but I’ll never turn down a glass of kombucha, which is a fermented product.
There you have it, a planetary guide to what to wear, eat and do on each day of the week. Whether or not you believe in the power the planets possess, you may find this framework a helpful way to navigate your wardrobe or cupboard. In the very least, you’ll know what day of the week it is! You’ll be the office hero when you can assuredly confirm in your next Zoom team meeting that it is in fact Monday.
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