Cosmic Journal #039
Wintery Days, Candlemas & the Festival of Unbornness
IN wintry depths
the warmth of truth abides;
from outer semblance,
inner truth is spun
by the heart: a ceaseless weaver—
so as the cold of outer worlds waxes,
it kindles inwardly a fire
on the hearth of human souls
Liturgy of the Seasons, Week 43, translation by Max Leyf
Greetings friends and fellow land stewards,
It feels like this time of year is pulling us in many directions, as our farm work begins to ramp up while at the same time the forces of Winter want to keep us wrapped up inwards, continuing to foster what is needed for the Season ahead. Outside, the cold weather and wind continues to bring down Cosmic forces to Earth as the yellow Sun’s warmth blesses us a little more each day, highlighting the inward and outward polarity that exists in our lives.
As we begin our week on Monday, January 20th the Moon moves through the constellation of Virgo bringing our focus onto soil health and root crops. For the next few days, the Moon will continue to descend along the southern horizon, partnering with the Virgin to assist in the reawakening of the Mineral and Plant Kingdoms that soon begins as we enter into February.
In the afternoon on Monday, or on Tuesday, January 21st, we can offer BD 500 Horn Manure, the Pfeiffer Field Spray or Barrel Compound out to our farms and gardens in order to further amplify the nurturing and enliving effects of Virgo. Taking time to gather together, we can ask our farms what is needed this week, offering the traditional 1 unit per 1 acre into 3 gallons of water, mixed for 1 hour as the “shadows grow longer” across the land.
At 1am EST on Tuesday, the Moon will also reach its farthest point away from Earth, a point called Apogee. This in general does not affect our work as farmers although we can spend time today thinking about the relationship Earth has with the Moon and how the cycle of Perigee/Apogee might affect the plants and animals (and many other beings) around you.
In the morning on Wednesday, January 22nd the Moon moves into the Air sign of Libra at 8am bringing forth an increase in Spiritual Light. Before Sunrise, we again meet before our crock of water to offer Horn Silica BD 501 out to our farms and gardens, stirring for 1 hour, giving thanks to the Higher Beings which guide and protect our farms. As we walk through our gardens spraying out a fine mist of Silica, we are encouraged to also look inwards, connecting back to the many moments of enlightenment that may have come to us over the last month, through Advent, Christmas, the Holy Nights and Epiphany. As the day progresses, we bring our attention to flowering plants and the flow of Air around our farms.
Throughout the day on Thursday, January 23rd continue to work with flowering plants while the Moon remains in Libra. While for most of us in the Northern Hemisphere there might not be many plants in bloom, we can begin to plant flower seeds in our greenhouses and protected areas that will need more time to germinate this Spring.
At 8pm on Thursday the Moon moves into the Water sign of Scorpio where it will transition through on Friday, January 24th and Saturday, January 25th. As the influence of the Scorpion shines down upon Earth, our attention is called to our irrigation systems, the ether of Tone, our own inner feelings along with leafy plants. As discussed before, we as Humans often let our feelings and emotions rule over our daily choices. Scorpio invites us to explore ourselves even more deeply, checking in with our larger commitments with how we want to live life.
Work with leafy greens, harvesting and planting seeds as needed, beginning to enter into rhythm with the work that will continue into the rest of the year. On Saturday evening, the Moon reaches its lowest point in the sky, marking the end of the Biodynamic Transplanting Time. For the next two weeks, the Moon will be ascending, bringing water, sap and Life forces upwards into aerial plant parts.
As our day begins on Sunday, January 26th, the Moon transitions into the Fire sign of Sagittarius at 7am bringing forth an increased impulse of Warmth into our lives. The Archer encourages us to take action, embracing and celebrating the many changes that may occur in our lives this Winter.
We continue to celebrate our lives, both the successes and failures that present us with important lessons, through the day on Monday, January 27th and into the morning tomorrow under the guidance of Sagittarius, trying our best to find ways to foster Love in all of our relations.
At 1pm on Tuesday, January 28th the Moon moves back into the Earth sign of Capricorn, inviting us to once again offer BD 500 Horn Manure, the Pfeiffer Field Spray or Barrel Compound out to our gardens. In the afternoon today, as well as tomorrow, Wednesday, January 29th and in the morning on Thursday, we take time to connect deeply with the soil life of our farms, communicating our needs and intentions for the Season ahead. With the Moon in the Sea Goat, we might also check on our compost piles, making sure that they are covered with a layer of straw or even a tarp so the life forces of the pile are kept inwards. If called to do so, you might also offer the Biodynamic compost preps to your piles, after the initial heat up phase, bringing in the sensitive Cosmic forces which have oftentimes become depleted in our soils.
On Thursday, January 30th the Moon transitions into the Air sign of Aquarius at 1pm blessing us with Spiritual Light for the next day and a half. Today, an additional increase of Earthly influences might be experienced as the Sun (in Capricorn) comes into a trine relationship with Jupiter (in Taurus). Allow these forces of Light and Life to flow freely in your work as you tend to flowering crops, plant seeds and prepare your gardens for the many succession of plantings that lie ahead.
Entering into the early morning on Friday, January 31st we celebrate the influence of Aquarius with a ceremonial offering of Horn Silica BD 501 inviting in even more Light into our lives and gardens. Mixing a small amount of our 501 into warm water, we pour our own Love into the Water we stir, connecting to the marriage of Oxygen (Life) and Hydrogen (Spirit) that flows between our finger tips.
As we enter into Saturday, February 1st, the Moon moves into the Water sign of Pisces at 7am while it also continues to ascend along the Southern horizon. Looking closely at our calendars, we can also see that the Moon crosses through the Sun’s ecliptic later in the day today at 5pm along with it reaching its closest point to Earth at 10pm. Because of this Lunar ascending node and Perigee position, we might consciously choose to refrain from work today, allowing for these powerful influences to subside.
In observation of these conditions, we enter into Sunday, February 2nd continuing to refrain from work in the morning presenting us with an opportunity to fully immerse ourselves in the celebration of Candlemas today. This Crossquarter day is a point between Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, marking the enlivenment of the Mineral and Plant Kingdoms as well as the historical presentation of Jesus at the Temple after his birth (Luke 2:22-40).
As discussed by fellow Anthroposophists Mary Stewart Adams and Christine Burke, we can also recognize today as the Festival of Unbornness, a time to invite in the Souls that will soon join us here in Human form over the next year.
“The Festival of Unbornness is meant to be a complement to the All Souls Festival that occurs each autumn, during which we honor loved ones who have died. Celebrated in early February, this time of year marks the halfway point of winter and coincides with the traditional celebrations of Candlemas, Groundhog Day, and the Celtic festival of Imbolc. Rudolf Steiner described this time as the season when all the souls that will come to earth in the coming year are gathered together in the moon sphere. Together, All Souls Day and the Festival of Unbornness honor those going, and those entering, across the threshold.”
As we work in our fields and gather together with our family and friends on Sunday, the Great Fishes shine on us from above, holding space for the Souls and other Spirits that will enter into our Lives in the Seasons ahead. Feel into these many forces that are in play, placing faith in the Higher powers that influence each day here on Earth.
Continuing into the week ahead, bring attention to the increased life of the Mineral and Plant Kingdoms, the primary foundations that support our work as farmers and gardeners. If needed, the Stella Natura Biodynamic Calendar, the Celestial Planting Calendar and the Maria Thun Biodynamic Almanac are all currently in stock at JPIBiodynamics.org and can help serve as a guide into February.
May each day be filled with many Blessings
- Russell
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