CORRECTION
Please allow me to make a slight correction to my last letter. In
paragraph 13, I said, "Think of it this way. Jesus said to his
disciples" without finishing the sentence. It is supposed to read,
"Think of it this way. Jesus said to his disciples 'This and
greater things you shall do also'." Jesus was referring to the
miracles he performed. What he meant by that statement to his
Disciples was that God has given access to all the power, knowledge
and wisdom that He Himself has - each of us being an Individualized
Expression of Spirit. Steiner said more or less the same thing to
us. If you don't learn the rules of the game and the Laws of
Physics that make it work, how can you expect to become good at it?
THE POWER OF MYTH
Simply put, biodynamics as it is defined by its leaders, is full of
holes. Swiss cheese. It is loaded with myth and mythology. True,
Steiner had access to the "inner world" of ideas and forces. He
could see what others can't see. He was gifted and worked hard to
develop his gifts. He focused his life on helping others and
imparting wisdom to those who followed him. He lived in a dangerous
world at a dangerous time. In the end, he was, he said, poisoned.
Much has been made of the man and his life. Much has been made of
his teachings and observations. Not much has been made of the manner
in which he was able to get these great and inspired insights.
There are so few people in the world who have developed these
abilities that it is only natural for most people to stand back in
awe at what Steiner accomplished.
Like any great teaching saint, Steiner knew his students were, for
the most part, incapable of understanding what he said on his level,
which did not stop him from going ahead anyway. Consider that
Goethe was and still is unintelligible to the average person.
Steiner edited a journal on Goethe for 20 years, explaining in
detail what most people could never understand on their own.
Steiner's insights into the human condition, the Earth, the history
of the Universe, the Mystery at Golgotha, medicine, children with
developmental problems and so on were, words fail here, ponderous
and weighty. He knew full well that most everybody would never
understand a word he said yet he pressed on in life.
Fast forward at this point to the modern farming practice called
"biodynamics". This so-called "system" of farming is not a system
at all, but a bunch of concepts cobbled together in such a way as to
give the impression of being a farming system. If anything, it is
traditional farming with a few new twists, that being his remedies
for healing the Earth.
Anthros and BDidiots like to say things like, "Steiner indicated"
this or that. What does "indicated" mean? It means that the reader
has no clue what Steiner said. If he did, he would have said,
"Steiner stated such and such and so and so." Saying Steiner
"indicated" is like saying Steiner "hinted" at this or that. It
shows an almost total lack of understanding on the part of the
recipient. A teacher can, for the most part, only guide students.
No one changes any more than they want to change. A teacher can
lead, he can't make a student drink. So the fall back position
becomes the language. Make it mystical and unintelligble. Even
better, make it vague. This is the great cop-out for BDidiots.
In his book, The Peter Principle by Dr. Lawrence Peter, he teaches
that the way to control the subject is to control the language.
Make it vague and use your own definitions. Then, when someone
questions your understanding of the subject, simply state that no
one can understand this - but we try. College professors making
$150,000 a year have created whole careers on this simple concept.
It pays to be ignorant, pays very well.
Pick a subject like, oh, I don't know, the teachings of Rudolf
Steiner, who no one understands and make a career out of duping and
conning everyone into believing you know what you're talking about.
The mind boggles at the possibilities.
Getting on, what we have in RS is a teacher who was several hundred
years ahead of his time, teaching students stuck in their present
time. Is it any wonder that they have no clue what he said and
meant? Einstein talking to ants. Not that many of his time were
not good of heart and sincere. That is not the issue, though today,
many Anthros and BDidiots are personally offended when they are
informed that they don't understand what they teach, and by
inference, insincere, bad people. The Emperor has no clothes? Kill
the messenger!
Now, in the 1920's, what happened is that those who, in the
beginning, sincerely made efforts to follow Steiner's instructions
for making Horn Manure, Horn Silica and the seven other remedies he
recommended, followed his ideas in good faith. They added THEM to
what they knew worked from a traditional farming point of view.
Many intuitively followed what Steiner referred to as "peasant
wisdom" on their farms, although Steiner observed that even in 1924,
"peasant wisdom" was hard to find. So what they were really doing
was employing traditional farming methods that worked, even though
they had, in many cases, forgotten WHY they worked. The "peasant
wisdom" of old was being replaced by modern agriculture, based on
the limited understanding of the 1920's modern or scientific
agriculture. Farmers knew intuitively and anecdotally that it
wasn't working and turned to Steiner to explain why and to give them
guidance on what they should and could do to counter the negative
forces of modern chemical agriculture.
So, in 1932, when someone coined the term "bio-dynamics", they had a
way to describe Steiner's ideas and give it the appearance of a
system. It wasn't and still isn't, of course, but it was, they
believed a step in the right direction. A system is a fully
integrated body of knowledge based on reason and science. Kind of
like the "unibody" in automobile design. Cars are no longer built
around a "frame and a chassis". Today, automobiles are fully
integrated designs using all the latest technology and materials to
create a whole that is considerably greater than the sum of the
parts. Synergy.
But what do we have in biodynamics? Swiss cheese. A supposed
monolith riddled with myths and mythology as each farmer, and each
self-appointed Anthro organization added its individual "bell and
whistle". So, we have these fundamentally workable remedies, with
some descriptions regarding what they do and how they work, in
relation to the Cosmos and the Earth, bound into methods of farming
that here and there have little or no validity.
One of the first true researchers of Steiner Agriculture were the
Koliskos who did enormous research into, among other things,
extending the remedies by using homeopathic treatments of dilution
and succussion to "potentize" the various remedies with the goal to
find the optimum level of potency to gain the maximum balanced
growth. The BDidiots of their day crucified the Koliskos. They
destroyed their own research and little remains today. It took Glen
Atkinson and Peter Bacchus in New Zealand to ressurect this
procedure and begin again the research. What Glen and Peter have
accomplished is astonishing. Their reward? Ouster by the BDANZ.
It takes one to know one. It takes a succesful man to know a
successful man.
The simple fact that all of Steiner's remedies are not made as
homeopathic remedies not only hinders the spread of Steiner's
concepts worldwide, it denies scientists a tool for research.
Consider this. When you spray a field with Horn Humus, the raw
form, it, observed Steiner, will make it possible for a plant to
pull in the nutrients it needs from up to a quarter of a mile away!
The other side of that coin is that this factor makes it impossible
to do side-by-side research comparisons. Homeopathically treated
remedies, Glen and Peter have proven, do not carry over into the
adjacent field, or, if carefully applied, much into the adjacent
PLANT. For the first time since the 1930's, we have a real tool to
work with. Thanks to Peter and Glen.
Demeter doesn't recognize homeopathic remedies. Enough said on that one.
Confusion surrounding the definitions of the words "ether" and
"astral" is another hole that needs resolution. It points up a
recurring problem of unclear definitions used in Anthroposophy and
biodynamics. I will go into this in more detail at some future
date. To me, it is as interesting as Steiner's obsession with "The
Mystery at Golgotha". There is an element of truth in Steiner's
description but what his followers have done with it is at best,
confusing.
More to the point, myths were and are still being created in
biodynamics. Myths that have no basis in science although I will
admit that some myths evolved from a basis in fact. Steiner was
very clear on his views of modern physical science. He stated
unequivocally that every one of his statements could and would be
proven by physical science at some future date.
Then we have the Agricultural Calendars as presented by Maria Thun
and Kimberton Hills. Taking a hint from Steiner that the placement
and movement of planets somehow effect the growth of plants, Maria
Thun proceeded to speculate and extrapolate her view of this concept
and put it into an agricultural calendar, much like the Farmer's
Almanac, as a means to assist farmers and gardeners in the planting,
cultivation and harvesting of their plants. Trouble is, nobody has
been able to duplicate her predictions. Yet the Kimberton Hills
bunch blindly pursues Thun's theories as if they were gospel. They
are not. They are myth.
In a 13 year study in Germany, finished several years ago, the
researchers, attempting to duplicate Thun's so-called research.
They failed to reproduce even one prediction - with the notable
exception of the influence of the Moon. Farmers have been planting
by the moon for thousands of years and know what works. Thun picked
up on these practices and wrapped them into her model. Yet in the
German study, the movement of the "inner and outer planets" of our
solar system, and the location of various heavenly bodies in various
constellations, either astrological or sidereal, had no measurable
impact on planting, cultivating and harvesting various crops they
researched.
This is not to say that Steiner's limited observations regarding the
relationship between plants and the heavenly bodies in the Cosmos
were not true. It rather points to failed extrapolation of limited
knowledge to create not a mere theory, but in her mind, a theorem.
This theorem, memorialized as fact in Thun's Agricultural Calendar
and the Kimberton Hills Agricultural Calendar, moved from myth to
fact - in one fell swoop. It is nonsense to believe their
recommendations. I, for one, for six years tried unsuccessfully to
duplicate the Kimberton Hills calendar, planting, for example,
onions in four contiguous beds, one at the recommended time and the
other three at the nonrecommended times. In every test, the results
came out the same regardless of the time of planting. That's just
my experience. The German study was much more comprehensive and
more than twice as long.
Also, I employed an internationally respected astronomer to check
the mathematical calculations in the six Kimberton Hills calendars
spanning my period of investigation and he found numerous
miscalculations and erroneous data in each. How can they direct you
to plant onions within a two hour period of time when they can't
even make the correct astronomical calculations? Yet today, the
agricultural calendars, of which these are only two examples, are
considered part and parcel to biodynamic agriculture. All because
Steiner mentioned a few times in his Agriculture Lectures that some
planets have some influence on some plants.
Frankly, neither Maria Thun, nor Sherie Wildfleur & Friends (forgive
me if I have spelled her name incorrectly) know what they are
talking about. The proof is in the test results. Failure. Once
again, there is no science supporting their postulations. A hint
became myth. The myth became fact. The blind leading the blind.
The definition of biodynamic agriculture is "the blind leading the
blind".
Other myths such as planting seeds two days before a full moon means
they'll germinate quicker, the notion that there is more water in
the soil at full moon, that you are not to plant during nodes or the
point in time at which the moon crosses the ecliptic of the Earth
and not planting on Good Friday (explain that to a Hindu) have all
failed to be proven scientifically. It is a very simple matter to
plant seeds day after day over a period of a month measure the
results. What about placing seeds in petre dishes to determine
which day is better to plant? This is not rocket science. Rising
moon, falling moon. Nothing. None of this is supported or proven
by science! Steiner was emphatic. Prove it or you will lose your
credibility. The BDidiots have learned nothing. Nothing.
The Kimberton Hills calendar is based on the notion that there are
only twelve constellations when, in fact, there are 13 in our skys.
Why is this overlooked? The calendar is constructed on the belief
that there are four parts to a plant when, in fact, there are six -
root, stem, leaf, flower, fruit and seed. They are not bunched
together. They are distinct. These two errors alone disqualify the
ag. calendars as accurate. Fundamental flaws abound. You're better
off following your instincts, if you still can get in touch with
them.
The agricultural calendars are interesting reading, but I wouldn't
bet the farm on following them. Of course, if you lived on a farm
subsidized in Kimberton, PA, supported by money from a
philanthropist in Liechtenstein, then you can get away with such Tom
Foolery. The ag. calendars are just one example of myth leading
science and it discredits not only biodynamics, but taints Steiner's
good name. They are false. They are fraudulent. And they should
say so.
Another hole in biodynamics is the lack of use of horn clay as the
mediator between the calcium and silica forces entered into in horn
humus and horn quartz. George Washington Carver considered clay one
of the great gifts of God. Steiner was murdered before he could
finish his lectures on agriculture and an expansion of his comments
on clay. He only mentioned clay a couple of times and stated he
would have more to say on it later. He died first.
Thus, in 1926, was begun a search for the secret of horn clay. Even
then, a few people recognized the need to fill this hole. Voegele
(1926), Lippert (1938), Remer (1980) and Courtney (circa 1985) all
failed to figure out the secret of how to make it and how to use it.
It was Willis (1999), recognized for his work in Walter Stappung's
booklet, "Die Dunger-Praparate" who figured it out and shared it
with the world at that time. So here we are, 77 years later, with a
rich history of searching for the secret of horn clay, by reputable
researchers, understanding both the need for and the action of
activated clay, and yet, to this day, the BDA, Demeter and JPI
refuse to recognize it or use it. Astonishing!
Clay acts as the mediator between silica and calcium. It makes them
both work the way they're supposed to work. It alone creates the
synergy necessary to bring these forces into balance.
My own belief is that because I am such a gadfly and so critical of
these organizations, they don't like me so they won't use it because
they'd have to recognize this accomplishment. That is apparently
too difficult for them to do. Perfect. Would you believe, they
even refuse to try it. Talk about sticking their heads in the sand!
Horn clay is made, and used, in New Zealand, Australia, India and
other parts of the world, but not here in the good old U.S. of A.
The powers that be refuse to try it. One BDidiot Ph.D. wrote me
that, despite the fact other, older, more respected BDers than he
recognized its benefits many years ago but were unable to perfect
it, it was not a "BD Preparation" until he had 20 years of field
trials and "he" said it was a BD Prep. This cavalier attitude
toward outsiders is killing them.
Yet despite the fact that Steiner said we should be using activated
clay, the myth persists that one need only apply, what they call
"horn manure" and "horn silica" to a field. Demeter says that
application once a year is enough to get certified. Horn clay isn't
even on their accepted roster of legal "preparations". This is
complete and total lunacy, stupidity, idiocy and ignorance. It is
politics, pure and simple. You lose, they stay in control. Knowing
now the necessity for horn clay, and the long quest by reputable
researchers to find it, even Hugh Courtney, if you follow them and
don't use it, frankly, you're a BDidiot too.
Then there is the myth that the only way to practice Steiner
Agriculture is THEIR way. Of course, if you practice it THEIR way,
you may get certified by Demeter as "biodynamic�" which they secured
as their registered trademark. (We need not go into that issue
here.) If you have a slavish devotion to the agricultural
calendars, spray 500 and 501 once a year, make some BD compost,
maybe even use 508, then are "organic" through and through, you're
"biodynamic". But you are not Steiner Agriculture.
So far, I've mentioned about 7 or 8 myths in biodynamics. There are
more and I may go into them too at a later date.
HOW TO CHANGE OTHER PEOPLE
Life is a constant, never ending search for Truth. How can one tell
the difference between truth and lies? It requires reason, feeling
and intuition. Reason is developed through academic study. Feeling
and emotion are developed through inner work. Men process ideas
through reason and thought. Women process ideas through feeling and
emotion. The goal of life is to achieve a balance between reason
and feeling. In a true spiritual marriage, the wife can teach the
husband perfect feeling and the husband can teach the wife perfect
reason, it they are both open to learning.
How do you develop your intuition? Through meditation. Twice
daily, deep meditation. "Father, reveal Thyself", that's all you
have to say. 20 minutes twice a day. It will happen. How did
Carver discover so many amazing uses for the peanut? "I talked with
God one morning and He led me to it." Develop a personal
relationship with the Divine Gardener, the Divine Farmer. It
develops and sharpens your intuition.
Someone once said something like this, "Man discovers through
intuition, and proves it with persperation." When you reach the
point in your meditations where you are overwhelmed with the
Thoughts of God, then you are ready to learn. I keep a poster in my
office. It is a quote from Albert Einstein that says, "I want to
know God's thoughts, the rest are details." You can't know the
truth if you don't have a direct personal, real, true relationship
with the Divine. It requires humility, not ego. Ego is a force for
bringing things into the material world, despite what you have
heard. It is when you become attached to your ego that you're in
real trouble.
Why is all this important? It is important because in the end, what
you believe and whether or not you believe what passes for Steiner
inspired agriculture as proposed, mandated and regulated by the BDA,
Demeter and JPI, is your responsibility and yours alone. There is
an old saying. "A man convinced against his will, is a man of the
same opinion still." People will only change as much as they are
willing to change.
How do you change biodynamics? Really, the question is "How do you
change other people?" Change yourself.
So, the next step in fixing Steiner Agriculture is for each person
who sincerely wants to practice Steiner's ideas to start really
working on changing themselves first.
Steiner came to this world to save agriculture, humanity and all
life from a fate worse than death. Ignorance. Misery. Disease.
Atom bombs. Concentration camps. Torture chambers. Sirin.
Botulism. PC thinking. The whole ball of wax. Where there is no
strength of will, there is no manifestation of thought, of ideas, of
peace in the world. Truth suffers, evil creeps in. The great
Cosmic battle for control of the Earth that Steiner described can be
defeated by the simple use of his remedies. You don't even have to
do all the rest. This may sound unbelievable but when you apply his
remedies to plants and soil, all Karma is released in the minerals
and plants giving you, my friend, a clean slate to start anew.
Think of the possibiities! Is it any wonder that I am hypercritical
of the Anthros and BDidiots? Think of all the people who have
suffered and died because they kept it to themselves. It boggles
the mind.
Steiner's remedies work. That's a fact. You don't have to take my
word for it. Try them, with horn clay, yourself. Chuck all the
myth and mythology, all the stupid political games, all the greed
and ignorance that defines the BDA, Demeter and JPI. Develop your
scientific knowledge. Learn to follow your Divinely Inspired
feelings. Not your emotions. Develop the faculty of discriminative
thinking. Critical thinking. Don't be a follower. Be a leader.
There is a man whom I know who follows biodynamics. He does not
follow my way of doing it. He does not use my remedies. He does
use clay, his own version. He is successful in applying Steiner's
ideas. WOW! What a concept. He's not "there" yet, but he will be.
Why? He uses his scientific knowledge, reason, feeling, intuition
and above all, the ability to innovate and be open to new ways of
constructing a farming method that works. He uses his ability to
discriminate between what is useful.
Some people say that you shouldn't be critical of others. That
there is no "right" way. That everything is relative. Nonsense!
How will they ever learn anything if they aren't critical of others?
Can't they tell the difference between right and wrong? There is a
difference, you know. They are so befuddled that they confuse the
phrase "discriminative thinking" with discrimination. It is on the
same order as confusing the time-honored word "niggardly" with the
"n" word.
You know, I heard Charles Barkley, the basketball player, on CNN
yesterday say "I don't care about history. I live here and now!"
Santyana said, "Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are
doomed to repeat them." The lesson history teaches us is that there
is a right way and a wrong way. Period.
Ignorance of this nature abounds in the Anthroposophy and Biodynamic
hierarchy. Moral relativism, as it has in Europe, prevails. Europe
has become so secular, in fact, that someone observed recently that
everything is in order for the entrance of the Anti-Christ. The
center of Anthroposophy resides in the center of Europe. Do you
think there's a connection from the secular European mindset to
Anthroposophy to biodynamics? I do. They have lost the ability to
discriminate between good and bad, what works and doesn't, myth and
science.
The way to fix and get into the world this incredible gift to
humanity from Rudolf Steiner is to honor him by doing as I describe
above so that you too can learn not just what he said, but how he
learned what he learned. How could he see into the ether?
Everyone can learn to do it.
The Knowledge of the Universe is the Knowledge of God. He comes to
you in silence. That's why Carver arose at 4:00 a.m. when it was
quiet and he could talk with God directly. The Heaveny Father,
Divine Mother expects you to work at this or he/she won't come to
you. You have to be quiet and listen. You'll get your answer in
some way. Our Creator never, never lets you down. God expects his
children to use His Wisdom and Beneficence in the service of all
Life. It's either that, or you get to come back again and again and
again in one incarnation after another. Our goal is to finish the
cycles of reincarnation, not repeat lives endlessly.
So, to begin the process of fixing biodynamics, one only needs to
start with ones self.
Greg Willis
Step #3 Next: What to do with the BDA, Demeter and JPI
An excellant biography of George Washington Carver entitled "The Man
Who Talks With The Flowers" can be purchased from the Macalester
Park Publishing Co. Call 1-800-257-4973.
