Spiritual Foundation for the Renewal of Agriculture
by Phyl Dwyer
Can we afford to dispense with the mystery and magic of the awesome enigma of living existence? What breathes the breath of life into the substances of this world? How does a plant rise above gravity and lift matter up from the earth? Can we work with these forces of levity? Can we grow food that will truly nourish the life forces of our bodies? Can we grow food that will fuel the fires of the human heart, mind and spirit?
Kona Biodynamic Farm believes asking these types of questions is a life-long evolutionary process; a process that grows richer and deeper with each iteration. Biodynamic agriculture is a practical application of this type of inquiry. Rudolf Steiner's Agriculture lectures lend wisdom and profound insights to the journey.
Synopsis of Steiner's Ag Lectures
as described in the table of contents of the 1993 English edition; edited by Malcolm Gardner and published by the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association in America, http://www.biodynamics.com/books.html.
Lecture 1
Words of gratitude and introduction. The need to consider the cosmic as well as the earthly environment. The emancipation of human beings from the rhythms of the cosmos, the non-emancipation of plants. The seven planets and the role of substances like silica and lime in mediating their influence. How the influence of different planets on plants is restrained or enhanced by water and warmth; the relation of planetary rhythms to the life span and qualitative growth of plants.
Lecture 2
The farm as an individuality "standing on its head;" the soil as a diaphragm and the planetary forces active in the "head" (below ground) and in the "belly" (above ground.) The interchange between below and above; the difference in the four elements below and above. Form and chaos in plant development; the morphology of the plant and the role of the planetary forces; how these forces are affected by different soils. The significance of having the right animals on the farm; the influence of the planets on animal form and development.
Lecture 3
How cosmic and earthly forces work through substances of the Earth; the spiritual nature of the elements of protein: sulfur, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen. The interaction of these substance with lime and silica. The significance of the legumes and their relation to nitrogen and lime. The contrasting nature of lime and silica, and the mediating role of nitrogen in plant growth and development.
Lecture 4
Substances and forces in human and plant nutrition. Humus and the task of enlivening the soil; the significance of smell and the need to develop a personal relationship to farming. Preparing compost to enliven the pastures and the pasturing of animals. The significance of the cow's horns and hoofs; how to use cow horns in collecting forces for the benefit of crop plants.
Lecture 5
Manuring as a replenishing of the soil's forces,, which plants need in order to absorb the soil's substances; the relation of the soil's living forces to homeopathic quantities of certain elements. How to introduce living forces into manure or compost piles using specific plant preparations.
Lecture 6
Weeds, pests, and plant diseases, and the influence of the planets. The relation between weeds and the Moon; how to treat the soil so that specific plants will be reluctant to grow there. The relation of animals to the zodiac; the relation of vertebrates to Venus and of invertebrates to the Sun; how to treat fields to repel pests. The relation of plant disease to the Moon and water.
Lecture 7
The need to recognize the subtle interactions in nature. The nature of trees and the significance of orchards and forests; the role of the winged animals in the atmosphere and of the worms and larvae in the ground; the right proportion of woodland on a farm. Specific relationships between birds and conifers, mammals and shrubs, bacteria an fungi. The essential relationship between animals and plants.
Lecture 8
Principles for feeding animals based on understanding the interaction of forces and substances in the animal body; the relation of the brain and the intestines; the difference between human and animal manure and the significance of the latter for plants. The ideal farm as a self-contained individuality. Guidelines for feeding young animals, dairy animals, work animals, and animals to be fattened; the nutritional and social significance of tomatoes and potatoes. Concluding words of caution and gratitude.
Anthroposophical Agriculture
Biodynamic agriculture is a practical application of the spiritual science known as anthroposophy, anthropo (human) + sophia (wisdom), founded by Rudolf Steiner. Anthroposophy is a vast and comprehensive study that has enriched many fields of human endeavor, such as social and cultural reform, the arts, education, medicine and agriculture. Seeking, understanding and nurturing the truly human lies at the heart of all anthroposophical pursuits.
It has frequently been emphasized that humanity's greatest riddle is itself. Both natural and spiritual science ultimately try to solve this riddle—the former by understanding the natural laws that govern our outer being, the latter by seeking the essence and purpose inherent in our existence.
—Rudolf Steiner
Breathing Life and Death
"Seeking the essence and purpose inherent in our existence" is a worthy undertaking. We could consider the work of being human a pilgrimage. This Earthly pilgrimage is bracketed on either end by birth and death . . . when we inhale our first breath and exhale our last. We call what lies between our first and last breaths life, and what lies after our last breath (and, by default, before our first) death. Between the extremes of these two primary Earthly breaths we live and move and breathe and have our being. It is during this sojourn on Earth, while performing our earthly tasks (growing a body and its functions, becoming an "I" and individuating, morally developing, socially integrating and contributing, etc), that we can take up questions of the intangible. It seems being human is at once as solid as the Earth and as ephemeral as a breath.
Folded Human Beings and Spirit-SnowThe question of what a human being is, is indeed a riddle that has been with us through the ages and will be with us through the ages to come. Anthroposophy honors this question deeply and has distilled some useful perspectives regarding the human being and the world of which it is a part.
We are two-fold beings in that we inherit and inhabit our body. When we take our first breath we declare our presence here on Earth. This declaration of presence is process too. The process of habitation of the body that we inherit. We will build up our body, over the years to come, from our inherited DNA and from our self.
We are also two-fold in that we meet ourselves, each other and the world inwardly and outwardly. We have an inner life of meditation, reflection, imagination and cogitation We also have an outer life of social intercourse, expression, growth and responsibility. We find our humanity consciously standing with heart and mindfulness in the middle of these two realms of being.
We are three-fold beings in that we are beings of body, soul and spirit. Our soul (sometimes referred to as psyche or self) builds up its body from inherited DNA. Both the body and soul are unique in all the world. When we let go of our last breath the soul lets go of the body, and vice-versa. That body will never be again. As the soul disincarnates it is resorbed by spirit. That unique individuation of spirit, the soul, will also never be again.
It's like spirit precipitated a spirit-snowflake that incarnated in a body on Earth. That unique spirit-snowflake (soul) became a snow-human. The snow-human (body) eventually thawed (died). The substance of the spirit-snowflake (soul) melted and evaporated and the soul-steam ascended back to spirit. The spirit-human resorbs the soul and evolves and eventually precipitates another spirit-snowflake. The spirit-snowflake (new unique soul manifestation) is imprinted with its previous pattern(s) of incarnation(s) and, in turn, imprints the DNA of the new snow-human (body). And the beat goes on . . . .
We are also three-fold beings in that we are beings of will, feeling and thought. Each of these three facets are of great import. To be a person of balance we must strengthen and integrate each sphere. For instance, our thinking needs to be guided by our heart; our heart must lead us forward with wisdom; and we must have the will to stay the course of self knowledge, growth and application. This is more than just figurative conceptualization. Our nervous, rhythmic and metabolic systems are indeed superbly developed and severely stretched and challenged in our modern times. Biodynamic agriculture strives to nourish all three facets of our being.
We are also four-fold beings. We have 1) a physical body composed of material substance. This we have in common with the mineral realm. Our physical body is imbued with 2) life forces (otherwise we'd be a corpse.) The life force we have in common with the plant realm. We also are 3) sentient beings and have this in common with the animal kingdom. The human being adds the 4) "I am I" to the mix.
There's an old farm saying: the most important fertilizer is the farmer's footsteps. In other words, the farmer is responsible for helping the farm with its "I am I."
Evolutionary Nutrition & Angel Food Cake
It is important we eat well, that we eat healthy food:
- Food that strengthens our four "bodies:" physical, life, sentient and I am I.
- Food that comes from agricultural practices that strengthen the Earth and her bodies.
- Food that fuels the fires of the human heart, mind and spirit.
The hope of Kona Biodynamic Farm and its food is to empower individuals for their Earthly tasks and spiritual striving. When we have the fortitude to embrace our ego struggles and karma it could be said we are composting soul stuff and creating “humus” (humor) for a spiritual garden cultivating compassion and freedom. We are contributing not only to our personal evolution, but to the evolutionary processes of all humanity as well. We are serving higher realms. We make ourselves into food for the Gods. We become angel food cake!
Practicality of Spirit
"Seek the truly practical material life, but seek it so that it does not numb you to the spirit which is active in it. Seek the spirit, but seek it not in passion for the supersensible, out of supersensible egoism, but seek it so that you wish to apply it selflessly in the practical life in the practical world. Turn to the ancient principle, matter is never without spirit and spirit is never without matter, in such a way that we say we will to do all material things in the light of the spirit and we will so to seek the light of the spirit, so that it evokes warmth for us in our practical activities."
—Rudolf Steiner