Could biodynamics help bridge the gap in developing farmer intuition?
Saskia G. von Diest
Abstract: Several scientific studies indicate that farmers do not often use formalised decision support tools as expected, and many prefer to rely on their intuition to make practical management decisions. While agricultural science and education acknowledge the different types of knowledge that farmers utilize, intuition continues to receive little attention in agricultural science, indicating a gap in farmer decision-making research.
The mechanism driving intuition remains under debate, but is described as a pervasive, involuntary, rapid way of knowing, offering access to tacit (internal, intangible) knowledge that complements analytic processes. Many studies agree that intuition can be trained to increase accu- racy and reliability. However, the comprehensive works on intuition by Rudolf Steiner hardly feature in modern science, and yet his writings and biodynamic agriculture approach offer farmers and non-farmers guidelines for systematic development of subtle abilities like intuition.
There may be value in collaborative, transdisciplinary exploration between agricultural research and biody- namic theory and practice, for supporting farmers to develop their intuitive knowing. Such an alliance could help increase the awareness and practice of biodynamics, expand the knowledge base and lexicon for the emerging research field of intuitive farming, and help reinvigorate agricultural research toward more efficient, customized and connected farming practices.
Keywords: Intuition; Tacit knowledge; Biodynamic agriculture; Experiential learning; Ecofluency
BD and intuition
Re: BD and intuition
A watchable 46.24 minutes of you tube here considering the link from Goethe to Steiner to Colquhoun to Maureen Robertson
This video is to help you gain confidence with Intuitive Plant Communication by following a simple yet hugely insightful method based on the little known scientific writings of Johann von Goethe (1749-1832) – Germany’s Bard, that guides you step by step to meeting a medicinal plant on a deep level and forming an understanding of the therapeutic indication in a fully conscious way. This is for folk who want to get to know plants but question themselves as to whether they are 'just making it up?"!
For full written introduction and illustrated details of the 7 steps visit https://www.theherbalpath.net/goethea...
Below is a summary of introduction and the 7 steps themselves. The whole process is akin to climbing a mountain and being a different person from the experience of the journey when you come down the other side.
Pre-stage FIRST IMPRESSIONS -begins even before meeting the plant on the basis that something has attracted us to meet this particular plant or person and is said to result from an openness of ‘soul’ on first meeting - an ‘intuitive precognition’.
Stage 1. EXACT SENSE PERCEPTION is familiar to conventional science as factual information gathering i.e. of keenly observing the physical attributes of the plant. We are working in the earth element, chipping away at the facts.
Stage 2. EXACT SENSORIAL IMAGINATION is analogous with synthesis, the putting together of facts to allow appreciation of the plant or patient as a living growing being. It involves following the growth process of a plant, for example, how it looked this time last year or will look this time next year or identifying a person’s core, inherent constitution and how or why the person has deviated from that in the present time. We are moving between the facts in a fluid manner analogous to the water element.
Stage 3. GLIMPSING THE BEING This can be seen as an “Aha!” experience as something about the plant ‘clicks’ within us and follows a meditative group rebuilding of the plant from memory whilst observing any inner movement within us related to qualities and emotions eg warmth travelling to stomach area and feelings of expansion and freedom. The inspirational glimpses are akin to the quick movement of the air element.
Stage 4. BEING THE BEING is that of attaining conscious intuition or ‘becoming one with’ or ‘co-resonating’. In other words ‘being at one’ with the ‘essence’ or ‘idea’ of the plant or person eg, this plant would be useful for tight cramping in the digestive system and could help a person become open to problems relating to their solar plexus and/or issues seeming at first overwhelming and difficult to digest. The clarity and passion that accompanies this stage is working in the fire element.
Stage 5. CATCHING THE ESSENSE is concerned with condensing or capturing the idea arrived at in stage 4. This requires a further synthesis of how to best express the intention of the plant: which part could be used (root, stem, leaf, flower or fruit or mixture) to best resonate with aiding a person to reset their healing intention. A rebuilding group meditation of the study experience so far is key at this point to ground the gesture of the plant. The vibrational movement here is associated with the air element again.
Stage 6. INCARNATING THE IDEA is growing the idea or remedy into matter involving an ‘alchemical’ distillation of stages 4 & 5.
When studying plants, once a consensus on the plants’ possible medicinal use has been achieved, the decision of how to produce certain extracts or preparations from the plant are made. These are often collected and prepared on site and with active participation of the person encouraged as part of this refinement process. The form of the medicine is experimented with (eg. it could be prepared as a tincture, infusion, massage oil, essential oil, foot and hand bath, herb pillow, talisman to wear, seed to sow and grow etc.) as well as dosage and frequency of administration determined. The fluidity of moving from one idea to the next brings us back to the water element.
Stage 7. PRODUCTION OF MEDICINE and is the production of the new medicinal product. The “spirit dying into matter” brings us full circle back to the earth element.
@copyright Maureen Robertson 2020
This video is to help you gain confidence with Intuitive Plant Communication by following a simple yet hugely insightful method based on the little known scientific writings of Johann von Goethe (1749-1832) – Germany’s Bard, that guides you step by step to meeting a medicinal plant on a deep level and forming an understanding of the therapeutic indication in a fully conscious way. This is for folk who want to get to know plants but question themselves as to whether they are 'just making it up?"!
For full written introduction and illustrated details of the 7 steps visit https://www.theherbalpath.net/goethea...
Below is a summary of introduction and the 7 steps themselves. The whole process is akin to climbing a mountain and being a different person from the experience of the journey when you come down the other side.
Pre-stage FIRST IMPRESSIONS -begins even before meeting the plant on the basis that something has attracted us to meet this particular plant or person and is said to result from an openness of ‘soul’ on first meeting - an ‘intuitive precognition’.
Stage 1. EXACT SENSE PERCEPTION is familiar to conventional science as factual information gathering i.e. of keenly observing the physical attributes of the plant. We are working in the earth element, chipping away at the facts.
Stage 2. EXACT SENSORIAL IMAGINATION is analogous with synthesis, the putting together of facts to allow appreciation of the plant or patient as a living growing being. It involves following the growth process of a plant, for example, how it looked this time last year or will look this time next year or identifying a person’s core, inherent constitution and how or why the person has deviated from that in the present time. We are moving between the facts in a fluid manner analogous to the water element.
Stage 3. GLIMPSING THE BEING This can be seen as an “Aha!” experience as something about the plant ‘clicks’ within us and follows a meditative group rebuilding of the plant from memory whilst observing any inner movement within us related to qualities and emotions eg warmth travelling to stomach area and feelings of expansion and freedom. The inspirational glimpses are akin to the quick movement of the air element.
Stage 4. BEING THE BEING is that of attaining conscious intuition or ‘becoming one with’ or ‘co-resonating’. In other words ‘being at one’ with the ‘essence’ or ‘idea’ of the plant or person eg, this plant would be useful for tight cramping in the digestive system and could help a person become open to problems relating to their solar plexus and/or issues seeming at first overwhelming and difficult to digest. The clarity and passion that accompanies this stage is working in the fire element.
Stage 5. CATCHING THE ESSENSE is concerned with condensing or capturing the idea arrived at in stage 4. This requires a further synthesis of how to best express the intention of the plant: which part could be used (root, stem, leaf, flower or fruit or mixture) to best resonate with aiding a person to reset their healing intention. A rebuilding group meditation of the study experience so far is key at this point to ground the gesture of the plant. The vibrational movement here is associated with the air element again.
Stage 6. INCARNATING THE IDEA is growing the idea or remedy into matter involving an ‘alchemical’ distillation of stages 4 & 5.
When studying plants, once a consensus on the plants’ possible medicinal use has been achieved, the decision of how to produce certain extracts or preparations from the plant are made. These are often collected and prepared on site and with active participation of the person encouraged as part of this refinement process. The form of the medicine is experimented with (eg. it could be prepared as a tincture, infusion, massage oil, essential oil, foot and hand bath, herb pillow, talisman to wear, seed to sow and grow etc.) as well as dosage and frequency of administration determined. The fluidity of moving from one idea to the next brings us back to the water element.
Stage 7. PRODUCTION OF MEDICINE and is the production of the new medicinal product. The “spirit dying into matter” brings us full circle back to the earth element.
@copyright Maureen Robertson 2020
Re: BD and intuition
More on Goethe
Rolf Sattler is emeritus professor of biology at McGill University in Montrael, Canada. He is author of Organogenesis of Flowers, Biophilosophy: Analytic and Holistic Perspectives, and Science and Beyond: Toward Greater Sanity Through Science, Philosophy, Art, and Spirituality.
Here he describes Johann Wolfgang von Goethe as the equivalent to German literature as Shakespeare is to English literature or Dante is to Italian literature – a towering figure. However, Goethe considered his scientific writings to be as important as his literary contributions. Sattler sees Goethe as one of the founders of the discipline of plant morphology. His book, The Metamorphosis of Plants was published in 1790. Sattler points out that Goethe incorporated many different worldviews into his analysis – including perspectivism, animism, mechanism, essentialism, holism, and mysticism.
New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in "parapsychology" ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980).
(Recorded on October 2, 2021)
Rolf Sattler is emeritus professor of biology at McGill University in Montrael, Canada. He is author of Organogenesis of Flowers, Biophilosophy: Analytic and Holistic Perspectives, and Science and Beyond: Toward Greater Sanity Through Science, Philosophy, Art, and Spirituality.
Here he describes Johann Wolfgang von Goethe as the equivalent to German literature as Shakespeare is to English literature or Dante is to Italian literature – a towering figure. However, Goethe considered his scientific writings to be as important as his literary contributions. Sattler sees Goethe as one of the founders of the discipline of plant morphology. His book, The Metamorphosis of Plants was published in 1790. Sattler points out that Goethe incorporated many different worldviews into his analysis – including perspectivism, animism, mechanism, essentialism, holism, and mysticism.
New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in "parapsychology" ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980).
(Recorded on October 2, 2021)