Esoteric Coffeehouse

I have decided that, from time to time, I should talk about the practical applications of esotericism, since, after all, the esoteric perspective combines theory and practice. What better way to start this than to talk about one of the most ‘practical’ of esotericists, Rudolf Steiner, whose teachings are still highly relevant today?   

Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), the founder of Anthroposophy, can be considered as one of the most brilliant minds of esotericism. His system was not necessarily the most original or insightful, but his genius rested in the ability to create not only a coherent philosophical system but a practical framework as well. By comparison with the mostly theoretical theosophy, whence it drew its roots, anthroposophy has spawned a great number of practical applications. Amongst Steiner’s contributions, the most successful ones have been the Waldorf schools of education, eurythmy (an art of dancing) and biodynamic agriculture. For the purpose of this article, I wish to briefly focus on Steiner’s biodynamic (BD) farming approach.

Steiner’s outspoken interest in agriculture came only late in his life; however, the roots must be sought in his childhood and youth. Steiner grew up in various village communities of the Austrian empire and developed a love of nature and agricultural pursuits. When Steiner was only 21, he met a medicinal herb gatherer, by the name of Felix Kogutski, who imparted to him a new, spiritual perspective of nature (1). Kogutski appeared to have a profound effect on Steiner and was the one to introduce him to his first ‘master’. Steiner’s continuing interest in plant life and dynamics attracted him to the study of Wolfgang Goethe, a revolutionary philosopher of nature. Goethe believed in the existence of an Urpflanze, an archetypal plant form which was an intermediate link between the spiritual realm and the objective reality. Steiner was influenced by Goethe’s views of plant morphology and dynamics in his own speculations (2).

In 1924, farmers belonging to the Anthroposophical movement approached Steiner to give them some instructions on how to do agriculture. Since 1810, when Albrecht von Thaer proclaimed that the sole purpose of farming was to bring gain, agriculture was simply considered as an industrial pursuit (3). At the beginning of the century, the introduction of chemical fertilizers and pesticides on large tracts of land made many traditional farmers wary and uncertain how to cultivate their land. In response, Steiner presented several lectures on his vision of agriculture. Today, most recognize that Steiner was a pioneer of organic farming principles, although biodynamic agriculture went further than simple organic concepts (4).

BD was rooted in Steiner’s esoteric views on the connections between macrocosm and microcosm, and on the existence of a spiritual side of matter. Steiner maintained that any understanding of plant-life resides on the realization that “everything on earth is only a reflection of what takes place in the cosmos” (5). He believed that life-giving energies originate from the universe, channeled by the planets into the earth and its beings. By comparison with the human beings and animals, Steiner taught that plants did not develop autonomy from the cosmos and were completely enveloped in the “Cosmic life of Nature” (6). They hence share life with the earth, which in Steiner’s views is a living, breathing being (7). In order to properly grow plants, one must be aware of the influence of the planets and the sun on the earth. For instance, says Steiner, sowing seeds is a much more profitable affair if it is done after a bout of rain and the occurrence of a full moon (8).

BD views the farm as a complete organism, a body that is self-sustaining and alive (9). Therefore, all the elements of a farm – including plants, enclosures, animals, buildings and human beings – are connected to each other. A problem in one part of the farm (i.e. a disease spreading through plants) would affect the farm organism as a whole. Solutions would address not the individual but the complex ‘being’ of the farm. In this context, the role of the farmer is to enhance and develop the “individuality” of the farm body (10).

Steiner firmly believed that the quality of agricultural products depends on an understanding of the complexity of natural phenomena (11). He underlined that nature does not behave as a simple mechanical device, and that good farming practices depend on either the instinctive (traditional) methods or on the knowledge of esoteric forces at work (12).

Here’s a summing up of the main ideas of biodynamic agriculture:
- plants are an expression of the earth, which is alive
- the life of the earth must be bred and enhanced through “preparations” of the soil, which includes the burying of animal remains, quartz (silica) and medicinal herbs.
- The earth and plants respond to cosmic influences, which must be taken into account by the farmer
- The farm is an individual organism that has to be taken care of in its entire complexity rather than a component at the time
- The chemically based agriculture must be avoided; instead, Steiner recommends organic composting, crop rotations, species-specific animal feeding and husbandry, integration of crops and livestock etc.

Biodynamic agriculture has not been thoroughly tested scientifically, as Steiner desired. A 1993 New Zealand study discovered that biodynamic farms have better quality soils and are just as financially viable as conventional farms (13). A California study on biodynamic wineries comparing organic and biodynamic wineries showed no significant differences between the two. A 21-year study in Switzerland observed, however, that BD farming presented a stronger soil aggregate stability compared to organic farming (14). The limited scientific investigations of BD agriculture may partially be due to pre-conceived dismissals such as those by Kirchmann, who dubbed Steiner’s principles as ‘occult’ and ‘dogmatic’ (15). Yet perhaps there is some truth to their assertions that BD cannot be proven: science has limited resources to test quality and preferences. A better test, then, may be that conducted by the US magazine Fortune, which in a blind taste test of biodynamic and conventional wines discovered that nine out of its ten winners were wines coming from biodynamic farms (16).

References

(1) Steiner, R. (1980). Autobiography, 2nd edition. New York: Steinerbooks.
(2) McDermott, R. (1984). The Essential Steiner. Harper Press.
(3) Anthroposophy Internet Portal. (2009). Agriculture. Online. Available at: http://www.anthromedia.com/articles/agriculture/beginning_developments/the_situation_of_agriculture_around_1924/. Accessed: 18 May 2009.
(4), (7), (9) Thornton Smith, R. (2003). Agriculture: An Introductory Reader. Rudolf Steiner Press.
(5), (6), (8), (11), (12) Steiner, R. (1924). Agriculture – Lecture One. Garuda Biodynamic Institute. Online. Available at: http://www.garudabd.org/sites/garudabd.org/files/pdf/Agriculture/Lec%201%20finish.pdf. Accessed: 19 May 2009.
(10) Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association. (2009). What is Biodynamics? Online. Available at: http://www.biodynamics.com/biodynamics.html. Accessed: 18 May 2009.
(13), (14) Wikipedia. (2009). Biodynamic Agriculture. Online. Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodynamic_agriculture#cite_note-25. Accessed: 18 May 2009.
(15) Kirchmann, H. (1994). Biological dynamic farming–an occult form of alternative agriculture? Journal of Agricultural  Environmental Ethics, 7(2), pp.173-187.
(16) O’Brien, P. (2008). The Methods behind Biodynamic Bounty. The Telegraph. Online. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthcomment/3346939/The-methods-behind-biodynamic-bounty.html . Accessed: 18 May 2009.

Tags: anthroposophy, biodynamic agriculture, biodynamic farming, biodynamics, rudolf steiner, theosophy