Biodynamic Planting Calendar Primer

Planning, Guidance & Intentions

Gazing out at the vastness of space, my eyes can most likely find the Moon, a couple of constellations, a planet or two, and countless other unnamed cosmic objects.  Each day and night, these astral bodies share their energy with me, as each of these stars, planets and constellations infuse my body and world with pure vibrations of life and love (the Universal building blocks of everything).  

In my life here on Earth, the Moon also plays a particularly influential part in this dance and its relationship with the rest of the Universe is projected onto me, the Earth and all its inhabitants. Every ~2-3 days the Moon transitions into a new constellation and I can begin to understand the energetic changes this creates by examining the 4 elemental families the constellations are grouped into: Earth, Air, Water, & Fire.  

As I build my relationship with a garden, I observe and interact with these astral forces becoming attuned to how plants belong to these same elemental families.  Using a Biodynamic Calendar we can follow the Moon’s path and be guided along on this journey of life, setting meaningful intentions for each day as I connect to these daily rhythms on levels that are indescribable.

For the last decade I’ve used the Maria Thun Biodynamic Calendar in my practice and continue to recommend it as a practical way to incorporate Biodynamics into your life.  

Excerpt from the Maria Thun Calendar for July 2023 

Colors: 

Brown- Earth - Soil & Root plants (Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo) 

Yellow - Air - Flowers (Libra, Aquarius, Gemini)

Green / Blue - Water - Leaf plants (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) 

Red - Fire - Fruits (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) 

Colors are determined by the Moon’s position and begin to shed light onto the rhythm of Nature and our interactive flow using a Biodynamic Calendar.  

Earth days, Brown, present an opportunity to ground, center and take a step deeper into my relationships with myself and the environment that I am integrated into. I set intentions for peace, interconnectedness and collective wellness. A primordial feeling of security can be felt during these wet, dark Earth days, the healing powers of pure Yin energy.  The silence of snow blanketing the soil, the feeling of wet dirt between our hands and the intensity of a vertical summer downpour helps me to better connect and understand these Earth days.  

I tend to the soil, harvest, plant, and care for root vegetables (potatoes, carrots, beets, etc).  I cultivate the soil, weed, make and incorporate compost, care for coniferous trees and apply some BD preps in the late afternoon. I take time to explore my unique relationship with the land, plants and extended connections I am a part of. 

Air days, Yellow, invite me to take flight, to feel the warmth of love, to have courage to take risks. I set intentions today to allow for unrestricted flow and give thanks for nurturing warmth and the magic of fertility. In this, I experience illuminating light and the feeling of air freely flowing, hints of liberation.  Yellow days feel like the first warm day of Spring after a long Winter when I release my arms up to the Sky and enjoy the balance between the Sun’s warmth and the cool breeze that softly swirls around us.  Relax & let go into these supportive vortexes and send all flower plants the purest of intentions today. 

On Air days, I tend to a variety of flowers, the ones I eat like broccoli and cauliflower, blossoms that will later become fruits and those that are grown for the pollinators or simply for their absolute beauty. I harvest, plant and care for each of these beings as I bring the awareness of today’s astral energies into my field work.  

In most climates, air flow is a vital part of an ecosystem (a garden, farm, patio, home, etc.) and having a balanced flow helps to create environments that are less susceptible to molds, mildews, slugs and other imbalances in the plants relationship with the soil and the life within and on top of it.   

Air flow also serves as a gateway into observing and sensing other flows of energy, specifically Qi, the vital life force that is part of everything (living and nonliving).  This topic will be later discussed in more depth but it is important to note that tuning into physical air flow can then become a stepping stone as connections with other higher powers begin to form.

Water days, Green or Blue, remind me to let go, to trust in the Divine, to surrender and be free.  I set intentions today for emotional wellness, creativity and adaptability.  A felt sense of cool comfort and interconnectedness can be present on these days. Water represents my emotional relationships and the fluidity of life, and feels like the turbulent rapids of a river or the most serene lake with a glass like surface teaching me life lessons about balance, forgiveness and attachment.  In the garden, Water days remind me of this Universal ebb and flow, the moments when our attention is shocked by the almost overnight growth of a plant or the time spent after a season when I enjoy the harvest bounty, put beds to rest for Winter and call into recollection the Edenic space that I helped to create this year in my memory. 

On Water days, I tend to spinach, lettuce, herbs and other medicinal plants that I will collect leaves from.  I harvest, plant and care for each of these to recognize the fluidity of our lives and feel blessed to be able to experience all of these relationships. 

Fire days, Red, teach me the depth of love, to be patient for full fruition, and how to express my true Self. I set intentions today to maintain my devotion to life, to abundantly love and I pray for ultimate liberation. There is a felt sense of radiating warmth, dryness and brightness on Fire days - more intense than Air days since these embers have now become a raging bonfire.  This fiery Yang energy creates balance with the Water and Earth forces and can be felt as I work under the midsummer Sun, tasted as fruits become sweeter through the cycle of each day and heard as thunder accompanies lightning during a monsoon downpour.  

On Fire days, I tend to the fruits, the berries, apples, tomatoes, peas, grapes and many more delicious plants that I have the privilege to grow.  

Grey Days denote less than ideal days to tend to plants or cultivate the soil due to various astral conditions.  There can be a lot of complexity to these and this primer doesn’t dive deep into specific occurrences. 

In general, gray days provide me with time to rest, reflect and work on other farm/garden tasks that don't require intimate crop/soil work.  Take time to meditate and feel, tuning into the larger cosmic shifts occurring beyond.  

Foundational Calendar Details: 

Transplanting Time is noted on the calendar when the Moon is descending in the sky and happens monthly as the Moon enters into Gemini (Yellow/Air). The Moon serves as one of the central influences of Biodynamics and this period is the most favorable opportunity to maximize the potential of my intentions.  

In rhythm, the Moon rises and falls in relation to our Southern Horizon reaching high and low points every 2 weeks.   As the Moon descends, sap (water) and other life forces are drawn down into the Earth and then in reverse, as the Moon ascends these forces are drawn up and out through branches, leaves, flowers and fruits.  

Similar cycles happen each day and throughout our lives - I see and feel these yearly as seasons and daily as the rise and setting of the Sun.  These all are expressions of life just like our own bodies inhaling & exhaling. 

In the Spring, I coordinate transplantings (starts coming from greenhouses, etc) within this 2 week window in alignment with the day's constellation element.   As an example, in early May as the Moon descends, on a Green / Blue Leaf day (Moon in Scorpio) I would transplant cabbage plants or any type of herb since this aligns best for these plants.

Coordinating my transplanting efforts to be in alignment with the Moon and constellations helps to strengthen my connection to the plants I surround myself  with and brings me, as a whole, into rhythm with the Moon.  As I learn from this continued practice of devotion, I become more grounded and connected to the central ebb & flow of life.

Pg & Ag refer to the two points where the Moon is closest to the Earth. Perigee is when the Moon appears largest due to its closer proximity and Apogee means it is reaching its farthest point.  In the case of the Super Moon on July 4, I can understand this phenomenon better as this occurs when the Moon is closest to Earth, at Perigee, and therefore appears larger than usual (especially as it rises on the Eastern horizon).  

Moon Phases create their own special rhythm and in general are taken into some consideration in Biodynamics (though not in all cases since the lunar ascending/descending rhythm has a greater influence on my practice).  

Lunar Quarters 1 and 2 are great for seeding, cultivating, and lots of direct land connections.  Quarter 3, marked by the Full Moon, reminds me of the importance of celebration, the crescendo of dedication and the abundance of love in my life.  In Quarter 4 (waning into New Moon) I try to avoid a lot of crop/soil work and almost treat that period of days as gray days (see above for notes).  For more specific information on Moon Phases, I suggest checking out “Lunar Gardening” which is similar but very different from Biodynamics. 

In summary, the Maria Thun Planting Calendar serves as a helpful guide which sheds light onto the circulation of astral energies and their effects on Earth.  Using this information, clear daily intentions can be set, focus can be gained in our field work and a deeper connection to Self can be found. 

Further details related to understanding Calendar nuances will be shared in a follow up document.

Please reach out to me with any followup questions. Many blessings - Russell