Cosmic Journal #016

spring arrives!

IN LIGHT, from on high streaming,
with the will itself into the soul to pour
shining, world riddles unveiling
o’er darkness, floods of colour prevailing 
and love in human minds inspiring
and love in human hearts enfiring

From Rudolf Steiner’s The Calendar of the Soul, 

Week Forty-Eight, translated by Max Leyf

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Greetings friends & fellow land stewards, 

Today is Tuesday, March 5th and it is 9am Eastern Standard Time here in the Northern Hemisphere.  It feels like February flew by way too quickly and the excitement for this year’s growing season has now shifted into action as we approach the Spring Equinox and brighter days of warmer weather. 

As discussed at the end of our last Cosmic Journal #015, the Moon reached its lowest point along the southern horizon last night, March 4th, signaling the end of the two-week Transplanting Time.  Over the next two weeks the Moon will now ascend in the sky relative to our place on Earth, carrying the sap within plants and the countless life forces of our world upwards towards the heavens.  

In contrast to the descending period which is optimal for root growth, soil cultivation, compost making and transplanting, the ascending moon blesses us with the opportunity to take fruit tree cuttings for grafting, sow seeds, and support the health of plant structures through the offering of BD 501 Horn Silica.  More details about all this is included in today’s journal as well as the many other articles we publish here at the Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics.  

Looking deeper at our Biodynamic calendars, which are carefully attuned to the current cosmic conditions, referred to as the Sidereal Zodiac, we can see that the Sun is still in the constellation of Aquarius (until Monday, March 11th) and the Moon has recently entered its waning gibbous phase, with a New Moon occurring soon on Sunday the 10th.  

Returning back to today, Tuesday, March 5th, the Moon shines in the Fire sign of Sagittarius encouraging us to bring our attention and intentions to fruit bearing plants.  Depending on your region, you might choose to direct seed peas in your fields or begin to sow tomatoes while we invite the ether of warmth, Love and harmonic abundance into our growing spaces.   

On Wednesday, March 6th, the Moon remains in Sagittarius until 5pm so we continue to work with fruiting plants that have an affinity to Fire.  In the evening, the Moon enters into the Earth sign of Capricorn and for the next two days, Thursday, March 7th and Friday, March 8th we shift our focus to root crops, and potentially soil cultivation. 

With the Moon in Capricorn, we might intentionally begin to work the soil on Thursday and Friday this week, recognizing that the ascending Moon will have an effect on the land we get to work with.  As with all of our choices, we as Biodynamic farmers have the opportunity to interact with the life forces that surround us, impacting the soil, plant and animal life.  Spend time today tuning into the needs of your farm, allowing yourself to remain open to its requests.

**As an important side note, we also invite you all to participate in the Agriculture Course Study Group happening at 1pm EST on Wednesday, March 6th hosted by our friends at Spikenard Honeybee Sanctuary in partnership with JPI.  More details about this special series celebrating 100 years of Biodynamic Agriculture can be found in our Announcement posted here on Substack on January 28th. 

As we continue to work with root crops in the morning and early afternoon on Friday, March 8th, the Moon will then transition into the Air sign of Aquarius at 3pm bringing forth the element of Air and ether of Light.  

During the morning on Saturday, March 9th, we spend time working with flowering plants, giving thanks to this magical Kingdom which blesses us daily with sweet fragrances and indescribable beauty. In the afternoon, we refrain from soil and plant work due to the Lunar Perigee occurring early tomorrow morning at 3am. 

On Sunday, March 10th the Moon moves into the Water sign of Pisces at 7am but due to the Moon’s close proximity to the Earth, referred to as Perigee, we continue to refrain from work today.  The Moon also reaches its darkest New Moon point at 5am encouraging us to look inwards at ourselves while surrendering to the feminine, emotionally abundant, Yin energy of Pisces that is fluid in each of our lives. 

More discussion about Lunar Phases and the Ascending / Descending Moon periods can be found in our article Biodynamics and Lunar Gardening: Finding Rhythm 

On Monday, March 11th this Yin energy is further enhanced as the Sun also moves into Pisces.  We can spend time this morning caring for our early Spring greens while feeling into the Tone of our farms, basking in the cosmic life forces that shine down upon our world as we work.  

In the evening at 9pm, the Moon crosses through the Sun’s path in the Sky (called the ecliptic) and we again refrain from major soil and plant work in the afternoon starting around 4pm.  

The Ascending Node continues to affect life on Earth on Tuesday, March 12th and it is recommended to rest or work on other non-field farm tasks today since the research of Maria Thun and others has shown that this crossing has negative impacts on plant growth and our farming efforts. At 8pm, the Moon then moves out of the constellation of Pisces and into the Fire sign of Aries.  

On Wednesday, March 13th, with the Moon in Aries, we again focus on fruiting plants spending time this morning taking cuttings for grafting, direct seeding field peas and planting tomato seeds indoors.  

Wednesday at 7:30 PM EST, we are also invited to gather virtually as a Biodynamic Community for the second session of the Spiritual Foundations for the Renewal of Agriculture: Life Based on Love. This is a free monthly offering (running through December 2024) celebrating the inspirational gifts of Rudolf Steiner and the devotional work of countless Biodynamic farmers worldwide over the last century.  More about this special series can be found on the JPI Substack and at Spikenardfarm.org.   

Throughout the morning of Thursday, March 14th we continue our work with fruiting crops and at 12pm the Moon transitions into the Earth sign of Taurus.  This afternoon we tend to our root crops and intentionally focus our efforts in bringing harmony and healing to our farms, gardens, communities and innerselves.  

Over the next two days, Friday, March 15th and Saturday, March 16th the Moon remains in Taurus, inviting us to bring our awareness to the life forces of the soil. 

We give thanks this weekend to the Mineral Kingdom which is the foundation for our Life here on Earth and in the afternoon on Saturday we gather to ceremonially stir and offer BD 500 Horn Manure, the Pfeiffer Field Spray or Barrel Compost to our farms, gardens and other spaces around us for which we are dependent on.  We ask for forgiveness as we stir, infusing our Love and Life energies into the water as our hands create a vortex in the crock.  Then as we spray, we give thanks to all the elementals, especially those that live within the soil and care-take our seeds, and we ask for continued support and guidance as we enter into the season ahead.   

At 5am on Sunday, March 17th, the Moon makes its way into the Air sign of Gemini and then at 11am it reaches its highest point in the sky.  This marks the beginning of the Transplanting Time and for the next two weeks as the Moon descends, it will be the ideal time to transplant seedlings since life forces are now being drawn back down into the Earth, supporting the growth and establishment of roots. 

In the early morning on Sunday, we gather again at dawn to stir and spray BD 501 Horn Silica in order to balance the impulses created by yesterday’s afternoon soil spray.  This is an intentional way for us to support plant health and cellular formation while inviting the ethers of Warmth and Light into the organism of our farms and gardens.  

BD 508 Equisetum tea can also be added to either spray this weekend to aid against mold and mildew as discussed in our last Cosmic Journal entry.  As we continue into Spring and begin to plant out our tender crops, we might also consider utilizing BD 507 Valerian to help protect crops against late, light frosts.  More information about both of these important preps can be found online at JPIBiodynamics.org.

As the descent of forces continues through the last half of March, we will celebrate the Spring Equinox on Tuesday, March 19th and each day will increasingly become busy with an almost endless list of farm tasks needing our attention.  Using a Biodynamic calendar we can organize and maximize our efforts while becoming more attuned to the greater Cosmic rhythms that influence each moment of our lives and those of the plants and animals around us.

Looking ahead at the last half of the month, the next best opportunity to prune our dormant fruit trees, vines and shrubs will be from March 21st - 23rd when the Moon is in Leo and, following this, from March 24th - 27th the Moon will be in Virgo making it a prime opportunity for Spring soil cultivation.  We will also observe Good Friday and Easter at the very end of the month as we actively participate in and surrender to the rebirth of Spring and ourselves this year.

Day by day astral details and further discussion on these Biodynamic and Spiritual topics will be included in our next Cosmic Journal entry and other articles here at JPI. 

To dive deeper into the Biodynamics and the Sidereal Zodiac, check out the unique calendar versions available on the JPI webstore – the Stella Natura Biodynamic Calendar and Maria Thun 2024 Biodynamic Almanac are both currently in stock.

Wishing you all the best this Spring - Russell