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A Dynamic Role for Water in Agriculture
THE DYNAMISATION OF WATER
Through studying the unfolding of life forms in the way proposed by Goethe, one can see particular species-specifc forming infuences and one can also see archetypal form gestures. These
both work in a coherent way within the constraints of each spatial and temporal situation, such
that we can recognise a specimen of a given species at all stages of its development. For instance,
a nettle seedling with only two leaves can be recognised as the same species as an older specimen in full fower. In its growth, each organism can be seen to strive towards its specifc, qualitatively recognisable form, but this is a fuid form which has a temporal dimension to it. There
is no fnal, fxed form (blueprint or template) imprinted onto the organism in a mechanical way.
Methods of achieving such an understanding of natural form are well described by Hoffman
(2007), and Colquhoun and Ewald (1996). The observation of the forms of the ‘movement organisms’ in fuid fow, as previously described, can help us to grasp this aspect of life. These forming
infuences belong to the whole, and they permeate all the parts. In biodynamic agriculture, they
are thought to originate in the peripheral entities of the moon, the planets and the stars (Daath,
2006; Thornton Smith, 2009). This is supported by a body of evidence for the effect of the moon
on living organisms (e.g. Barlow, 2012; Endres and Shad, 2002), as well as by extensive correlation of tree-bud shape changes with planetary alignments (Edwards, 2006: 213–248). Working
with these cosmic infuences has shown positive results for many farmers and gardeners (Thun,
2003). When seeking to develop healthier plant life, one works to strengthen the working of such
cosmic infuences. To do this, one can choose appropriate planting and sowing times according
to the positions of planets, and one can also apply biodynamic preparations which are carefully
prepared, natural materials that bring specifc benefts to the growing plants (von Wistingshausen
et al., 2000).
These are enhanced through the mediation of water. One can work with movements in the water
to both open the water to be sensitive and then to hold these infuences within the water. One way
to do this is through dynamisation, which can involve stirring up a container of water, by hand or
by another mechanism. Before applying the biodynamic preparations, they are mixed in water in
a barrel and stirred in a particular way, usually for an hour. A vortex is created and then broken,
and then created again. The vortex opens out the surface and draws the funnel form down into the
depth of the barrel which can be experienced as a contractive gesture. To break this form, one must
exert pressure against the fow; the resulting movements are more chaotic and expansive but can be
experienced as closing in the fow. The water is then stirred in the opposite direction to establish
a vortex again, and this is then broken again. This is repeated continuously. The rhythmic stirring
movement is not a simple repetition but a varying rhythm as it is in the heartbeat, in breathing and in
other rhythmic functions of living organisms. The human being is present, with his/her consciousness accompanying the stirring process.
This dynamisation of the biodynamic preparation may be seen to embody the rhythmic play
between the two movement gestures we have identifed already: a contractive, well-formed gesture
open to the surroundings (reaching out to the periphery) and an expansive, more chaotic gesture
closing up within itself. This qualitative exploration of the fow can help us begin to see why dynamisation was originally indicated by Rudolf Steiner as a life-supporting process (Steiner, 2004), and
why many farmers continue the practice (von Wistingshausen et al., 2000).
The biodynamic preparations are usually applied to the whole farm or garden rather than one
part, and this refects the holistic approach inherent in biodynamics (Osthaus, 2010). Such dynamised liquid stimulates particular processes in the soil and plant life, for instance the vegetative
growth, the fowering or the fruit ripening process (Thun, 2003). If we think of dynamisation as
the establishment of a movement organism in the water body, which has a spatial form and is also
formed in time, this may indicate why the dynamised liquid may be resonant with forces for only
a limited time period and needs to be applied soon after stirring has fnished. For preparations to
be used over large areas, dynamisation has been undertaken by machine, stirring with a motor and
A Dynamic Role for Water in Agriculture
THE DYNAMISATION OF WATER
Through studying the unfolding of life forms in the way proposed by Goethe, one can see particular species-specifc forming infuences and one can also see archetypal form gestures. These
both work in a coherent way within the constraints of each spatial and temporal situation, such
that we can recognise a specimen of a given species at all stages of its development. For instance,
a nettle seedling with only two leaves can be recognised as the same species as an older specimen in full fower. In its growth, each organism can be seen to strive towards its specifc, qualitatively recognisable form, but this is a fuid form which has a temporal dimension to it. There
is no fnal, fxed form (blueprint or template) imprinted onto the organism in a mechanical way.
Methods of achieving such an understanding of natural form are well described by Hoffman
(2007), and Colquhoun and Ewald (1996). The observation of the forms of the ‘movement organisms’ in fuid fow, as previously described, can help us to grasp this aspect of life. These forming
infuences belong to the whole, and they permeate all the parts. In biodynamic agriculture, they
are thought to originate in the peripheral entities of the moon, the planets and the stars (Daath,
2006; Thornton Smith, 2009). This is supported by a body of evidence for the effect of the moon
on living organisms (e.g. Barlow, 2012; Endres and Shad, 2002), as well as by extensive correlation of tree-bud shape changes with planetary alignments (Edwards, 2006: 213–248). Working
with these cosmic infuences has shown positive results for many farmers and gardeners (Thun,
2003). When seeking to develop healthier plant life, one works to strengthen the working of such
cosmic infuences. To do this, one can choose appropriate planting and sowing times according
to the positions of planets, and one can also apply biodynamic preparations which are carefully
prepared, natural materials that bring specifc benefts to the growing plants (von Wistingshausen
et al., 2000).
These are enhanced through the mediation of water. One can work with movements in the water
to both open the water to be sensitive and then to hold these infuences within the water. One way
to do this is through dynamisation, which can involve stirring up a container of water, by hand or
by another mechanism. Before applying the biodynamic preparations, they are mixed in water in
a barrel and stirred in a particular way, usually for an hour. A vortex is created and then broken,
and then created again. The vortex opens out the surface and draws the funnel form down into the
depth of the barrel which can be experienced as a contractive gesture. To break this form, one must
exert pressure against the fow; the resulting movements are more chaotic and expansive but can be
experienced as closing in the fow. The water is then stirred in the opposite direction to establish
a vortex again, and this is then broken again. This is repeated continuously. The rhythmic stirring
movement is not a simple repetition but a varying rhythm as it is in the heartbeat, in breathing and in
other rhythmic functions of living organisms. The human being is present, with his/her consciousness accompanying the stirring process.
This dynamisation of the biodynamic preparation may be seen to embody the rhythmic play
between the two movement gestures we have identifed already: a contractive, well-formed gesture
open to the surroundings (reaching out to the periphery) and an expansive, more chaotic gesture
closing up within itself. This qualitative exploration of the fow can help us begin to see why dynamisation was originally indicated by Rudolf Steiner as a life-supporting process (Steiner, 2004), and
why many farmers continue the practice (von Wistingshausen et al., 2000).
The biodynamic preparations are usually applied to the whole farm or garden rather than one
part, and this refects the holistic approach inherent in biodynamics (Osthaus, 2010). Such dynamised liquid stimulates particular processes in the soil and plant life, for instance the vegetative
growth, the fowering or the fruit ripening process (Thun, 2003). If we think of dynamisation as
the establishment of a movement organism in the water body, which has a spatial form and is also
formed in time, this may indicate why the dynamised liquid may be resonant with forces for only
a limited time period and needs to be applied soon after stirring has fnished. For preparations to
be used over large areas, dynamisation has been undertaken by machine, stirring with a motor and