Cosmic Journal

#020 Biodynamic Planting in Spring

LO! the light, that from the spirit’s vales
weaveth cosmic patterns in the pregnant skies,
the handiwork of e’er creating gods unveils:
may there the soul her likeness recognise
and let light bear her out upon a starry sea
and from selfhood’s anguished clutches set her free.

Liturgy of the Year, Week 5, translation by

Max Leyf

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Hello everyone! 

Another two weeks has quickly passed and most of us living in the Northern Hemisphere are now in full-time farm mode.  Warmer weather is bringing forth a sea of Spring flowers and the increased daylight hours has certainly helped us accomplish many of the daily tasks that go into running our home gardens, market farms and larger field and livestock operations.  

Opening up our Biodynamic calendars, we will be reviewing the upcoming celestial activities occurring over the next two weeks, late April into May.  Times are noted in Eastern Standard Time, celestial conditions are based on the Sidereal Zodiac and we encourage you to experiment, have fun and make adjustments as needed for your local climate. 

Yesterday, the Moon moved into the Fire sign of Sagittarius where it still remains today, Monday April 29th. The Moon also reached its lowest point in its cycle yesterday, marking the end of Transplanting Time, noted in Biodynamic calendars as the ideal period to cultivate the soil, transplant seedlings, and much more as discussed in our journal entries here at the Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics.     

Now, for the next two weeks, as the Moon ascends, life forces will be drawn upwards by this constant Lunar movement, shifting energy into plants' aerial growth and fruit maturity.  For some, the transplanting of seedlings for the next two weeks might be fully avoided since this upward pull isn't the most ideal for root establishment.  If you are unable to skip these weeks of transplanting, we as Biodynamic farmers can put our best intentions forward into our field work, communicating and paying respects to the natural Kingdoms that surround us, asking for forgiveness if our human needs come into conflict with the astral world.  

Growing plants! (Photo credit: Ben Nommay)

With the Moon still in Sagittarius today, it is a good day to focus on fruit trees and our overwintered berries. We might also seed tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, peas and beans since this upward pull of the Moon is beneficial for germination and these fruiting plants all have an affinity to Fire and Warmth. The Sun will also remain in Aries for the next few weeks, amplifying the effects of Warmth, Love and abundance in our lives.   

On Tuesday, April 30th the Moon moves into the Earth sign of Capricorn at 9am bringing our cycle of work back down to the soil.  There seems to be a never ending list of areas to prepare around the farm and for the next couple days we might shift attention onto bed cleanup, soil cultivation as well as the care for our root crops.  Continue to direct seed beets, carrots, turnips, radish and other root veggies today and Wednesday, May 1st while the Moon is in Capricorn.  

Wednesday is also celebrated as May Day and Beltane, marking the beginning of Spring since (for the most part) we are now clear of Winter weather.  We have reached the halfway point between Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice and we can take time today to offer BD 500 Horn Manure, the Pfeiffer Field Spray or Barrel Compost to our farms and gardens with the intention of enlivening the life forces of the soil/minerals, roots and Earthly beings.  In general we suggest applying Biodynamic soils sprays, like BD 500, to your farm or garden in the evening before turning over soil.  More discussion on when to spray specific preps can be found in JPI’s recent article as well as the resources available on our main website.  

At 9am on Thursday, May 2nd the Moon transitions into the Air sign of Aquarius and this morning is a good opportunity to stir and spray BD 501 Horn Silica to help bring balance to the Earthly impulses created by our BD soil spray.  Horn Silica supports healthy plant formation, the processes of photosynthesis, and plant maturity.  Taking time today to gift our gardens with the ethers of Light and Warmth will be much appreciated by our Plant Kingdom relatives as we move deeper into Spring.  

This week we might also consider incorporating BD 508 Equisetum tea to our stirs which can help aid against mold and mildew as well as BD 507 Valerian to help protect crops against light frosts. 

Spring at the JPI farm (Photo credit Ben Nommay)

Throughout the day on Thursday as well as Friday, May 3rd, tend to flowering plants, direct seed flowers, collect dandelions and bring awareness to the element of Air and the ether of Light, while the Moon is in Aquarius.  

At 3am on Saturday, May 4th the Moon moves into the constellation of  Pisces which is related to the element of Water and the ether of Tone.  In our gardens we can spend time feeling the Spring energy that is awakening more each day, while we give care to leafy greens and plants that are vegetal in their growth.  

On Sunday, May 5th the Moon remains in Pisces but there are two cosmic happenings that encourage us to refrain from plant and soil work today.  At 6pm, the Moon ascends through the Sun’s path (called an Ascending Node) while simultaneously the Moon also reaches Perigee, its closest point to the Earth in its cycle.  Due to the strong influence that the Moon has on plants, we can spend time today focusing on other farm tasks that don’t involve plant disruption. 

During the day on Monday, May 6th continue to work with leafy plants until 5pm when the Moon moves into the Fire sign of Aries. 

With the Moon in Aries, we shift our work onto fruiting crops on Tuesday, May 7th.  The Moon will also reach its New Moon position at 11pm, restarting this Lunar cycle.  More discussion about Biodynamics and Lunar gardening can be found in our 2023 JPI article found here. 

In the morning on Wednesday, May 8th the Moon transitions into the Earth sign of Taurus and for the next few days until Friday we focus our intentions and attention on soil cultivation and root crops.   We can offer BD 500 Horn Manure, the Pfeiffer Field Spray or Barrel Compost once again this week as we work with the Mineral and Plant Kingdoms to fully enliven the foundation of our farms and gardens.  

For those following Christian traditions, Thursday, May 9th marks the day of Ascension, 40 days after Easter, and is celebrated as the day that Jesus ascended into Heaven.  We can meditate and bring awareness to our own Will force and our relationship to plants today, as discussed by esoteric writer Hazel Archer Ginsberg in her piece Ascension:

“Ascension comes when the season of blossoming is reaching fullness. Trees & plants, stirring upwards in growth, have been touched by the warmth & light from above & show forth the blessing of the heavens in color & scent. The whole of nature reaches upwards towards the heights.

The longing of the human soul strives also, upward, in unison with nature, seeking the touch of world-warmth from the sun. This mood of ascension attunes all of life to the cosmic expanses.” 

We continue to bask in this warmth on Friday, May 10th as the Moon shines on us, backed by the Earth constellation of Taurus.  Continue to tend to root crops and soil cultivation through the daylight hours.  

On Saturday, May 11th, with the Moon now in Gemini, Transplanting Time begins as the Moon reaches its highest point in the sky at 4am.  For the next two weeks the Moon will descend in the sky and through half of the Zodiac, bringing forth good conditions for transplanting and soil cultivation.  Tuning into the influence of Gemini today and tomorrow, Sunday, May 12th, continue to work with flowering plants, bringing awareness to the element of Air and the ether of Light.  

As we continue through Spring, using a Biodynamic calendar to influence our work with plants helps us find the natural rhythm of the celestial world.  Through this process of attunement, we can create an intimate relationship with all that surrounds us, bringing harmony to the Mineral, Plant and Animal Kingdoms.  The Stella Natura Biodynamic Calendar and Maria Thun 2024 Biodynamic Almanac are both currently in stock at JPIBiodynamics.org and are wonderful resources that illustrate the information expressed here in our journals, providing us with simple and straightforward roadmaps to the celestial world.  

Many blessings and happy days of planting to you all - Russell