Cosmic Journal #004

Summer Solstice Update

IN these long-drawn sunlit hours
Wisdom lends her voice to thee:
“cast thyself amongst the world’s lustre
to re-emerge with feeling’s pearl, now see:
the Human Soul may now herself surrender
to find herself within the World-Soul again.”

• From Rudolf Steiner’s The Calendar of the Soul, eleventh week [June 16 - June 22], trans. Max Leyf

Greetings fellow farmers, gardeners, land stewards, and caretakers of the cosmos!

The Summer Solstice is upon us! The following astrological observations offer suggestions that may be helpful for planning activities with the land during this time. While these suggestions can serve as general guidance, be sure to consider your own climate and weather patterns first and foremost, and adapt according to local conditions.

Image: In Virginia, digging up biodynami horn manure often waits until after Ascension to unearth properly transformed.

* Today is Tuesday, June 20, and it’s 9 o’clock in the morning.

* According to the sidereal zodiac, the Sun transits from Taurus into Gemini today, June 20, where it will remain until July 19.

* The Summer Solstice is tomorrow, June 21! This auspicious day marks, for the northern hemisphere, the transition from lengthening days to shortening days; from Earth’s outbreath to Earth’s inbreath; from the year’s rising Yang energy into the year’s withdrawing Yin energy. Observe the occasion with festivities and celebration! This is a great opportunity to apply a sunrise stir-and-spray of BD 501 Horn Silica across the land if you have not yet applied this preparation.   

* The Moon began descending in the northern hemisphere on Sunday, June 18, and will continue descending through July 1. The descending Moon, in general, helps plants take root after transplanting. If you are in the southern hemisphere where the Moon is ascending, it is generally a better time for sowing and harvesting. 

* The Moon enters Cancer around 4 PM this afternoon (June 20), where it will remain until around 8 AM Thursday morning (June 22). Plant and tend leafy crops during this time  – tend, transplant, or start new salad greens, spinach, kale, chard, cabbage, and leafy herbs like basil.

* The Moon will then apogee from around noon on Thursday (June 22) until around 6 AM on Friday morning (June 23). It is recommended to refrain from working the land during this time. Work with the compost pile, tend infrastructure, observe the land, or enjoy a well deserved rest.

* From about 6 AM on Friday (June 23) throughout all of Saturday (June 24), the Moon will then be in Leo. Plant and tend fruiting crops during this time – squash, melons, peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, berries, the summer bounty! These two fruit days also make for excellent opportunities to apply BD 501 Horn Silica to the land and garden. 

* The Moon then transitions into Virgo around 9 AM on Sunday morning (June 25) where it will remain until around 8 PM on Wednesday, June 28. Plant and tend root crops during this time – carrots, potatoes, beets, turnips, radishes. As the waxing moon crosses the halfway mark towards the Full Moon, these root days also offer good opportunities to apply BD 500 Horn Manure to the land during the evening hours.

* We will, however, experience the Moon’s descending node from around 6 AM until noon on Wednesday, June 28, during which time it is recommended to refrain from working the land.

* For the entirety of Thursday, June 29, the Moon will be in Libra. This air day offers a nice window to tend and pick flowering crops and herbs.

Image: transformed biodynamic horn manure after spending fall and winter in the ground.

Thank you for your care and effort as we work together to heal the Earth in conscious cooperation with the cosmos.  🥳