Javanese have a number of different ways to count the passage of time. Aside from the Western and Islamic calendars in modern use, there are also ancient 5-day pasaran weeks, 210-day cycles of thirty 7-day wuku, twelve mangsa yearly planting seasons of varying lengths, and four 8-year windu periods. (For a complete explanation of Javanese calendrical cycles, see the Javanese Calendar.)

However, the most common method by which Javanese determine the spritual or metaphysical significance of a given event is based on how the day the event takes place fits into a 35-day cycle formed by superimposing the traditional 5-day pasaran and Western 7-day weeks:

The conjunction of 5- and 7-day weeks on which a person's birthday falls is called his or her weton ("wetonan" when speaking of the system collectively). Since the wetonan cycle repeats itself every thirty-five days, one's Javanese birthday recurs every thirty-five days as well.

Until the last half of this century, a person's weton was traditionally much more important than his or her year and date of birth according to the Western calendar, or even according to the Javanese or Islamic calendars. Nearly any Javanese person, past and present, will know his or her weton. However, even in modern times it is still common enough to meet older people or people from distant villages who know with certainty only their Javanese birthday and have but a vague notion of the month and year in which they were born, let alone the date. Western-style birthdays in Java are primarily a product of the modern era with its emphasis on economic and educational development and a consequent need for accurate records of births, personal identity, age, and so on. (Birth certificates only became commonplace around the 1970s.) The wetonan cycle, on the other hand, is woven into the fabric of Javanese culture, tying in with numerological systems, mystical beliefs, and ritual meals that both appease a plethora of spirits as well provide a Javanese with a distinct sense of cultural identity and a framework for social relations.

Weton As Javanese Horoscope

Unlike in the West and India where horoscopes are based on astronomical relationships between the Sun, Moon, planets, and Earth, in Java horoscopes (and many other systems of prediction) are based on the inner meaning inherent in any given day in any given calendar cycle as well as how that cycle "coincides" with other shorter or longer cycles. (Suffice to mention here that this kind of temporal coincidence has far-reaching aesthetic and spiritual significance for the Javanese.)

By far the most common Javanese method of divining human character and fate is based on a person's weton (although these days it must be admitted that Western "sun-signs" have far outdistanced wetonan as the zodiac of choice among the younger generation). Interpretations are made either by (1) combining meanings of the intersecting days in the respective 5- and 7-day cycles, or (2) using a quasi-numerological system called petungan. The latter amounts to assigning a numerical value to each day in each cycle, then adding the numbers together and interpreting the sum.

In the first method, each day of the Javanese and Western/Islamic weeks imparts distinct characteristics to persons born on that day, as shown in these free translations from an older source:

Petungan

Sorry... I never got around to finishing this part. Maybe one of these days!

Sources for the Delineations

Being myself a practitioner of Western astrology, what is most striking about Javanese horoscopy (and about most systems of astrology found in Asia) is its fatalistic tone. Professional Western astrologers of the present day tend to describe a given horoscope factor in terms of the inner psychological drives they represent and the possible manifestations of those drives. (And here I am not referring to the "popular", easily-digested brand of astrology known to any newspaper or supermarket tabloid subscriber.) In contrast, Javanese horoscopy of the past and present, whether "popular" or "professional" focuses exclusively on a set of observable characteristics generalized to all persons born on a particular day. There is rarely any attempt to analyze the inner motivations, let alone the childhood history which might underlie those characteristics.

The fatalistic quality of Javanese horoscopy is readily apparent in four different interpretations for Selasa Pon (Pon Tuesday), which I have freely translated below:

1. Betaljemur Adammakna (1939), article 100:

Thoughtless, short-sighted, but doesn't like to exaggerrate problems. If a woman, the character will be better; she would make a fine wife or mistress for a man of station.

 

2. Horoskop Umum (1973), p.112:

Enjoys all manner of luxury. Extremely cautious in temperament. Can be quite devoted to those who suit him/her. The overly-cautious nature tends to breed jealousy. Can be quite charming in social situations. Unfortunately s/he is very stubborn.

 

3. Primbon Kelahiran & Nasib (1979), p.107:

If a man: Polite of character, but gives up hope easily; tends to be ambivalent towards wife and does not speak much to her; usually only thinks of himself. Tends to be careless towards his work without considering the consequences. However, he does not like to get involved in other people's business, is not a slave to his desires, and can be extremely focused on achieving his aims. He finds it easy to make a living, but has difficulty saving, as he enjoys extravagance. In terms of work, he is best suited to the merchant trades; even if he be a common laborer, he should at least try a bit of merchant trade on the side. He could be quite rich, as long as he does not give in to temptation. He will certainly be more noble of character after he has children. If a woman: Stubborn and hot-headed, she is brash towards her husband and never wants to give in during an argument. She is good at making a living, but is also a terrible spendthrift. She is best suited to being a merchant, and can do quite well if she finds the right mate.

 

4. Primbon Pria Wanita & Horoskop (197?), p.11:

Usually has a high character; actions are in accord with words; can perform all types of jobs; extremely perceptive, has the qualifications for a magician or traditional healer. However, also possesses less noble qualities: has difficulty compromising or reaching a mutually satisfying decision because s/he relies too much on own intelligence; adamant about own opinions. In order to avoid such a stubborn nature, parents should take care to educate him/her properly while still young, so that when mature s/he will become a person of good and noble character.

 

5. Primbon Sabdho Waskitho (199?), p.48:

A strong and inflexible character, quiet, clever, suspicions easily aroused, overly-materialistic in pursuing own aims and satisfaction.

You can see that some interpretations are quite succinct, while others are somewhat more detailed. And although there are certainly commonalities, at times there are also considerable differences in focus between the different versions.

In creating my own interpretations for the thirty-five weton, I have simply drawn on what I perceive as commonalities between the various interpretations. (And this was not always an easy task where common threads were not readily apparent!) I have maintained the fatalistic tone of the Javanese versions, while at the same time indulging in a lighter, more popular style with a hint of psychology now and then. Note that I consider this foremost an entertaining literary exercise, and lay no claim to true working knowledge of the subtleties of Javanese horoscope interpretation. Here, for example, is my interpretation for Selasa Pon:

Selasa Pon

These folks really love luxury. The scale of their "splurges" naturally depends on their overall financial solvency, but a strong appreciation for "the good life" is almost always there. Although they tend to be somewhat cautious with their feelings, they can be extremely loyal and generous to those who measure up to their private standards. But once they let you get close you practically belong to them, and since these people are always guarding against some trouble (real or imagined) it's no wonder that jealousy is often a problem in their relationships. Although persons born on Pon Tuesday are said to be reserved at heart, they can be friendly enough in social situations. At first meeting you probably wouldn't expect them to be as fixed in their ways as they really are.

My Delineations

Here are the complete wetonan, as I have interpreted them. Click a link to get your Javanese horoscope!