[.uk] What Is Biodynamics?: A Way to Heal and revitalize the ... (ISBN 0880105402)

Book Description:
Created from indications by Rudolf Steiner around 1924, and based on a deep understanding of the life forces at work in nature, farming and gardening with biodynamic methods are spiritual, artistic, and sophisticated forms of organic horticulture that nurture and enhance the earth. It emphasizes the interdependence and unity of all the elements of an ecosystem or landscape—including soil, plants, animals, and weather. Taking the soil as the foundation for the vitality and diversity of a farm or garden, biodynamic methods use special herbal "preparations" to increase the energetic quality of the soil, stimulating plant growth and health. Biodynamic methods go beyond organic practices to actually heal the earth herself. Typical of the biodynamic approach are companion planting, crop rotation, cover crops, green manures, liquid manures, compost, the integration of crops and livestock, and planting and harvesting in harmony with the lunar and planetary cycles. This introduction to biodynamic methods contains five lectures by Rudolf Steiner and an extensive introduction by Hugh Courtney of the Josephine Porter Institute, who unravels not only the practice of biodynamics, but also its spiritual and esoteric background.

Sparse Information:
This is the third Steiner book I have tried to read and I had the same experience as the first two books (Egyptian Myths and Mysteries and The Fourth Dimension). I have come to the conclusion that the information published from Stieners lectures has too much wandering around and not getting to the point to be very useful. Steiner was definately ahead of his time. He possessed great esoteric and astral vision. But, his problem seems to be that his audiences were very dense and his presentation style is just too sparse for the modern reader. When he is able to convey information it is based on ideas that he has perceived and is not adequately able to explain. For instance, in this book he goes into the etheric energies which come into a cow through it's horns which help it digest its food with supporting energy release through the hooves. Thus for his biodynamic preparations a cows horn needs to be used to let the core mixture sit within the horn underground for six months. Then you can only use a horn 4-6 times before the energy is used up. So you are left wondering first, where are you going to get a horn (not from a slaughter house he says)? What exactly about the horn gives it the magic? If it is the shape of the horn then why would it get used up? And he says if you have an airy barn you can store the horn in there because its better. Without some additional explanation, which he never really makes clear, none of this makes any sense. I think that most of the people I know of in metaphysical circles who can think will no longer accept information from anyone without it having some basis either in a related science or something directly experiential or both. We are moving away from accepting things based alone on faith. Even the sacred writings tell us we have to test what we hear. With most of Steiners writings, or I should say the books transcribed from his lectures, there is no way for you to trace Steiners path and come to the same observations yourself. Clearly in metaphysical traditions such as shamanism self experience, or gnosis, is essential. Without this ability to really get into Steiners words what he says remains woo-woo.