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).

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