Cosmic Journal
#026 What to do in Summer?
THE cosmic Word pronounced,
I usher through the portals of my sense
to sow among the soul’s eternal core:
“lade your spirit’s depths and wards,” it says,
“and plenish them with my expanses
and there at once shalt thou behold
my cosmic being wax within thy soul.”
Liturgy of the Year, Week 17, translation by Max Leyf
Hello friends,
Today is Monday, July 22nd and we find ourselves a month into Summer as we gather to explore the next two weeks of cosmic conditions and their impacts on the Earth. The Sun currently shines on us backed by the constellation of Cancer and its warm yellow light can be felt reflected back to Earth by the Moon, which stands in Capricorn. As the Moon moves through each constellation of the Zodiac, the stars uniquely bless our fields with strength, guidance and protection day by day as Summer progresses while we begin to be reminded of the Fall season that sits ahead of us as each crop comes into maturity.
Visibly, a slightly dimmed Full Moon ascends in the sky along the Southern horizon as it enters into its waning gibbous phase, a process that will take us back to the New Moon over the next 2 weeks. As the Moon ascends, Life forces are brought up into the flowers, fruits and seeds of plants, giving us the opportunity to harvest each part of the plant at its point of fullest ripeness. While Biodynamics is primarily focused on the Moon’s ascending and descending movement in close relation to the constellations for our plant and soil care, we can also take guidance from the ever changing phases of the Moon, reflecting on the Life processes expressed by the New Moon > Full Moon > New Moon cycle. For more thoughts on the Moon phases and their impacts on gardening, please check out our JPI article Biodynamics and Lunar Gardening: Finding Rhythm.
As Biodynamic farmers and gardeners, we work in rhythm with the Moon, planets and stars, infusing the food we eat with more than just mere material substances, allowing the highest forms of Spiritual nourishment to pour in from the periphery of our cosmos. Using a Biodynamic calendar, we can tune into this rhythm using it to guide us in our daily farming responsibilities and work with our hands, becoming more conscious stewards of the land. This brings us not only closer to the Earth but into a deeper connection to our own evolutionary truth - that which is also embedded in the astral world.
With the Moon in Capricorn, we work with the soil Life of our fields and compost piles while tending to root crops as needed through the day. On Monday afternoon as the “shadows grow long” we can offer our Biodynamic soil sprays to our gardens, supporting the Mineral and Plant Kingdoms as they too intimately experience the Summer transitions. With clear intentions, stir and spray BD 500 Horn Manure, the Pfeiffer Field Spray or Barrel Compost, giving thanks to the material foundations of Life, the most condensed forms of Spirit.
On Tuesday, July 23rd the Moon transitions into the Air sign of Aqaurius at 4am EST shifting our attention to flowering plants. Take time this morning to ceremonially offer BD 501 Horn Silica to your gardens, bringing forth the impulses of Love, harmony and health. Collect and prepare valerian flowers to create BD 507 and harvest aerial plant parts to dry for future medicinal and culinary uses.
Looking at our Biodynamic calendars, we can see that the afternoon for Tuesday is grayed out although the planetary notes for Tuesday seem clear. Looking at tomorrow, it is noted that Lunar Perigee will occur at 2 am which has an effect on our work today, since the close distance between the Earth and Moon causes a strong, overall negative effect on plant growth.
As we move into Wednesday, July 24th the Moon remains in Aquarius and through the day the Moon’s Perigee effects continue to be felt. If possible, refrain from major soil cultivation and plant work letting these effects subside.
On Thursday, July 25th and Friday, July 26th the Moon moves through the constellation of Pisces which is connected to the element of Water and the ether of Tone. Tend to leafy plants throughout the garden, paying attention to how your garden feels and expresses itself to you.
The Moon completes its passing though Pisces in the morning on Saturday, July 27th, transitioning into the Fire sign of Aries at 1pm. In the afternoon and through the day on Sunday, July 28th, we celebrate the maturity of Summer, focusing our energy onto fruiting plants. Gather ripe blackberries, peaches and other fruits that are fully infused with Spirit while allowing our own abundance of Love to freely flow back into the plants and animals you tend to.
On Monday, July 29th the Moon moves into the constellation of Taurus at 6am, bringing us back into deep connection with the Earth. The great stars of the Bull reminds us of our deep relationship to the soil, as well as the creatures who have participated themselves directly in the creation of healthy soils and ecosystems since their own manifested materialization here on Earth.
Throughout the day on Monday, as well as Tuesday, July 30th and Wednesday, July 31st we cultivate the soil as needed for Fall successions while tending to our root crops. Before breaking soil, usually in the evening, we gather to offer BD 500 Horn Manure, the Pfeiffer Field Spray or Barrel Compost to our farm and gardens. Working in partnership with the elemental worlds, we intentionally set time aside in our modern lives to build these relationships through our Biodynamic and Anthroposophic work, knowing that these gifts are not only for the world around us but also serve as part of our own transformation as Human beings. This time in the garden is free of external stresses brought about by the Western world and is a sacred time for Self reflection, community building and is one direct way for us to show our devotion to the Earth and our Cosmos.
Following three days in Taurus, the Moon moves into Gemini on Thursday, August 1st. In rhythm, the Moon reaches its highest point in the sky here in the Twins and will begin to descend over the next two weeks. Guided by this natural cue, we will be shifting energy into transplanting as the Moon descends, giving our Fall succession plants and seeds the support needed for healthy root growth and establishment in the field.
As the Sun begins to illuminate the Eastern horizon on Thursday, we prepare to offer BD 501 Horn Silica in the early morning, giving gratitude for another day here on Earth. Sense the Earth as it begins to warm becoming brighter moment by moment with yellow light. Let the birds be your guide as your stir, infusing the water you kneel before with our own inner Warmth and Light that streams from your heart.
As the day progresses, and into tomorrow, Friday, August 2nd, care for flowering plants, bringing awareness to the element of Air and the ether of Light. Tend to perennial flowers while the Moon is in Gemini and begin to plant flower seeds with the intention that they will fill the garden with blooms next year.
On Saturday, August 3rd and Sunday, August 4th we spend the first weekend of the month in the Water sign of Cancer, bringing our attention to leafy plants. With inner presence, transplant, seed and harvest as needed taking into consideration your local growing conditions and farm needs. At 7am, the Moon reaches its New Moon point and we can spend today reflecting on the importance of birth, resurrection and rebirth. As we plant our seeds today, this Lunar influence is supported by the Crab, as we are reminded of the potential of Life that exists within the soil, within each seed and between our hands. Take time to set intentions, planting seeds for your own life and the month ahead.
As we move into August, we continue to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Biodynamics, an impulse brought into light by Rudolf Steiner which now lives within all of us.
To explore Steiner’s original teachings, we invite you to the next Spiritual Foundations for the Renewal of Agriculture webinar covering Lecture 5 which will be held on Wednesday August 14th. Past recordings and more resources are available at Spikenardfarm.org
To get hands on with the BD preps, we also invite you to our in-person JPI Fall Biodynamic Workshop which will be held at the farm in Floyd, Virginia on October 18-20. Many other events and gatherings will be happening this fall throughout North America (and around the World) and I hope to connect with you all at one of them!
The Maria Thun 2024 Biodynamic Almanac and the Stella Natura Biodynamic Calendar are both currently in stock at JPIBiodynamics.org and are the primary guides used here in our journal work. As always, we encourage you to experiment with the preps, taking notes on what works for you and your unique farm organism.
Thank you all for supporting our work here at the Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics. Many blessings - Russell
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