January – June, 2012 (Recommendations for U.S.A. – E.S.T. until 2 a.m March 11, then E.D.T.)
Hugh J. Courtney
The times indicated are those thought to be the first choice periods for working the soil, applying the biodynamic preparations, sowing seed, or working with plants in general. Since not everyone will have an opportunity to take advantage of these periods, or will need to be working in the garden at other times, for daily indications please refer to Stella Natura 2012 or to The North American Biodynamic Sowing
and Planting Calendar 2012. The sequential spray technique is
described in Applied Biodynamics, Issues #6 and #25 (available from JPI for $7.50 per issue). For greater details on the ashing technique, consult Gardening for Life by Maria Thun (available from JPI at $30.00 plus postage and handling) or Issues #27 and #28 of Applied Biodynamics (available from JPI at $7.50 per issue). We now have on hand calendars for 2012, including Stella Natura 2012 at $14.95, and The North American Biodynamic Sowing and Planting Calendar 2012 by Maria and Matthias Thun at $13.95. All calendar/book orders should include $7.00 postage and handling (per order, not per title).
Eclipse/occultation events* for the period:
–April 12 – Moon occults Pluto @ 5:30 am
–May 9 – Moon occults Pluto @ 1:33 pm
–May 20 – Solar Eclipse @ 7:47 pm
–June 4 – Lunar Eclipse @ 7:12 am
–June 5 – Venus Transit of Sun** @ 9:10 pm
–June 5 – Moon occults Pluto @ 10:54 pm
–June 17 – Moon occults Jupiter @ 3:58 am
*The year 2012 is far and away a record breaker as far as occultation
and eclipse events (29 total) are concerned. Although the
planet Pluto (10 occultations by the moon for the year with additional
events in 2013) has been discounted by astronomers as a
genuine planet, it nevertheless may still impact the etheric (life)
realm of being (that is, the plant kingdom in particular). An initial
reading of the occultation effect (Jupiter 8 events, Mercury
4, Mars 1, Venus 1 plus transit in June) suggests that the world
wide drought situation may be enormously exacerbated during
the year, especially after April. On the other hand, both February
and April may provide more precipitation that would be wished.
The months of October and November might also provide relief
from drought in certain areas, but one would hope that that relief
does not come in the form of hurricanes. All indications also
point to much lower crop yields than expected. Buckle up! The
year may be a very rough ride for reasons that have nothing to do
with all the drama being focused on Mayan calendar predictions.
Those calendar interpretations may fall far short of the reality
that we will actually experience a full year from now (December
20, 2012).
**The June 5 Venus transit of the Sun is the second and last in
this series following the transit eight years ago in June of 2004. It
will be 105½ years before another pair of transits occur. In 2004,
harvesting of yarrow was particularly difficult, as its flowering
seemed to be inhibited. While this may have applied to other
flowering plants, especially compositae, it was certainly noticeable
for the yarrow, since the month of June is our usual harvest time.
As a result of this observation, we have made sure to harvest an
abundance of yarrow this past year in anticipation that the 2004
observation was accurate and that the same phenomenon may
hold in 2012.
Best FRUIT Periods
–Wednesday January 11 @ 8 am through Friday January 13 @ 8 pm
–Tuesday February 7 @ 4 pm through Friday February 10 @ 3 am
–Tuesday March 6 @ 2 am through Thursday March 8 @ 12 pm
–Tuesday March 13 @ 8 pm through Saturday March 17 @ 8 am
(An especially fortuitous fruit period.)
–Sunday April 29 @ 10 pm through Wednesday May 2 @ 10 am
–Sunday May 27 @ 5 am through Tuesday May 29 @ 6 pm
–Saturday June 23 @ 10 am through Tuesday June 26 @ 12 am
Best SEED Periods
–Same as Fruit above (except March 13–17)
Best ROOT Periods
–Friday January 13 @ 9 pm through Tuesday January 17 @ 2 am
–Friday February 10 @ 4 am through Monday February 13 @
8 am (Avoid 2 hours before and after Moon at Perigee @ 2 pm
February 11)
–Thursday March 8 @ 1 pm through Sunday March 11 @ 4 pm
(Avoid 2 hours before and after Moon at Perigee @ 5 pm March 10)
–Sunday April 23 @ 11 pm through Wednesday April 25 @ 11 pm
–Wednesday May 2 @ 11 am through Saturday May 5 @ 11 am
–Tuesday May 29 @ 7 pm through Friday June 1 @ 11 pm
–Tuesday June 26 @ 1 am through Thursday June 28 @ 10 pm
Best FLOWER Periods
–Saturday January 7 @ 3 pm through Monday January 9 @ 6 pm
(Avoid 12 hours before and after Mercury’s lower nodal point at
4 pm January 7.)
–Saturday February 4 @ 12 am through Monday February 6 @ 3 am
–Friday March 2 @ 9 am through Sunday March 4 @ 1 pm
–Thursday April 26 @ 12 am through Saturday April 28 @ 6 am
–Wednesday May 23 @ 6 am through Friday May 25 @ 12 pm
(Avoid 12 hours before and after Mercury’s upper nodal point at
9 am May 24.)
–Tuesday June 19 @ 12 pm through Thursday June 21 @ 6 pm
Best LEAF Periods
–Monday January 9 @ 7 pm through Wednesday January 11 @ 7 am
–Monday February 6 @ 4 am through Tuesday February 7 @ 3 pm
–Sunday March 4 @ 1 pm through Tuesday March 6 @ 1 am
–Sunday April 1 @ 12 am through Monday April 2 @ 1 pm
–Friday May 25 @ 5 am through Sunday May 27 @ 4 am
–Thursday June 21 @ 7 pm through Saturday June 23 @ 9 am
Moon/Saturn oppositions occur on January 2 at 2:01 pm, on
January 30 at 0:21 am, on February 26 at 7:52 am, on March 24
at 1:17 pm, on April 20 at 3:35 pm, on May 17 at 5:44 pm, and
on June 13 at 9:55 pm, during periods when the Moon is in the
constellation of Pisces(Fishes) and Saturn is in the constellation Virgo(Virgin). Biodynamic practitioners in New Zealand regard
the Moon/Saturn opposition as one of the most favorable aspects
for seed germination and application of the biodynamic sprays.
Since the Moon/Saturn oppositions occur during Ascending
Moon periods, the Northern Hemisphere grower may be well
advised to take notice also of Moon/Jupiter oppositions which
are now taking place during Descending Moon periods, which
are specified as Northern Transplanting Time by Maria Thun.
Accordingly, the Moon/Jupiter oppositions are listed as follows:
on January 16 at 1:34 pm; on February 13 at 0:12 am; on March 11
at 4:13 pm; on April 8 at 11:08 am; on May 6 at 8:14 am; and on
June 3 at 5:29 am.
Best SEQUENTIAL SPRAY Periods
if moisture lacking
–Wednesday January 18 @ 10 am through Friday January 20 @ 2 pm
–Thursday January 26 @ 8 pm through Sunday January 29 @ 11 pm
–Thursday February 23 @ 5 pm through Saturday February 25 @ 8 am
–Wednesday March 21 @ 1 pm through Saturday March 24 @ 3 pm
–Tuesday April 17 @ 7 pm through Friday April 20 @ 10 pm
–Tuesday May 15 @ 1 am through Friday May 18 @ 4 am
–Monday June 11 @ 7 am through Thursday June 14 @ 10 am
–Thursday June 21 @ 7 pm through Saturday Friday June 23 @ 9 am
–Thursday June 14 @ 11 am through Saturday June 16 @ 11 am
Please note: Other times may require an “abbreviated sequence.”
An abbreviated sequence involves a spray combining bc plus bd
#500, stirred together for one hour, and applied near sunset on day
one. On day two, bd #501 and #508 are stirred together for one hour
and sprayed near sunrise. All sprays must be applied during a time
when the Moon is in a Leaf/Water constellation in order to achieve
an influence on moisture conditions. (Instead of bd #500 and #501,
#(x)500 and #501(5x) may be used in the appropriate combination
with bc and bd #508 respectively with a resultant stirring time for
each combination spray of only 20 minutes.)
if moisture excessive
See also possible periods listed above under Fruit
–Friday January 20 @ 3 pm through Sunday January 22 @ 6 pm
–Thursday February 16 @ 9 pm through Sunday February 19 @
1 am
–Saturday March 24 @ 4 pm through Monday March 26 @ 4 pm
Although the same preparations are used in cases where there
is either too much or too little moisture, bd #501 and bd #508 exchange
places in the sequence according to whether one is trying
to stimulate or decrease moisture. In the case of lack of moisture,
bd #501 is second in the sequence and one finishes with bd #508
giving a final impulse with the preparation in the sequence that
appears to relate most strongly to the watery forces. For maximum
encouragement of moisture, all sprays should be applied when the
Moon is in a Water (Leaf) constellation. When moisture is excessive,
bd #508 takes the second place in the sequence and the last
spray is bd #501, thus using a preparation that relates very strongly
to a drying impulse as the final signal in the sequence. For maximum
drying effect, all sprays need to be applied during a period when
the Moon is in a Fire (Fruit) constellation.
For those attempting to employ sequential spraying in an effort
to encourage or abate moisture conditions, please contact
JPI for a copy of our report form for collecting data on sequential
spraying so that we may include it in our continuing research on
the effectiveness of this technique. If one must use the sequential
spray technique during a root period, the likelihood is that a
drying tendency would be enhanced, whereas in a flower period
a tendency towards encouraging moisture is more probable, although
experience and data in this area is quite limited.
One should note further that this technique should not be
approached from the viewpoint of “manipulating” the weather, but
rather as a means to restore conditions of harmony and balance when
conditions would clearly suggest that such harmony is lacking. Given
the conditions of obvious disharmony or lack of balance being
experienced throughout the world, one could make a very strong
case for application of the biodynamic preparations on a far more
frequent schedule than most practitioners manage to accomplish. If
we truly understood the spiritual necessity for applying the biodynamic
preparations, and then acted according to that understanding,
one might see a most amazing improvement in the harmony and
balance within the earth.
For ASHING OF INSECT PESTS
shieldbugs, slugs and snails
Please note: See Thun’sThe North American Biodynamic Sowing
and Planting Calendar 2011, pp. 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, and
p. 41 for additional choices for controlling pests.
moths
–Friday April 20 @ 11 pm through Sunday April 22 @ 11 pm
–Thursday June 7 @ 12 pm through Tuesday June 26 @ 10 am
(Avoid various blackout periods, occultation times, etc. during
the period).
cabbage butterflies, flies, white fly, mosquitoes, etc.
–Tuesday June 19 @ 12 pm through Thursday June 21 @ 7 pm
colorado potato beetle, cabbage root fly, varroa mites,
chitinous insects (i.e., grasshoppers, etc.)
–Sunday May 20 @ 5 am through Wednesday May 23 @ 5 am
–Saturday June 16 @ 12 pm through Tuesday June 19 @ 11 am
cutworms and mole crickets
–Sunday May 3 @ 4 am through Tuesday June 5 @ 5 am
shieldbugs, slugs and snails
–Sunday March 4 @ 1 pm through Tuesday March 6 @ 1 am
–Sunday April 1 @ 12 am through Monday April 2 @ 2 pm
–Saturday April 28 @ 7 am through Sunday April 29 @ 10 pm
–Friday May 25 @ 1 pm through Sunday May 27 @ 5 am
–Thursday June 21 @ 7 pm through Saturday June 23 @ 10 am
aphids
–Friday March 2 @ 9 am through Sunday March 4 @ 12 am
–Thursday March 29 @ 6 pm through Saturday March 31 @ 11 pm
–Thursday April 26 @ 12 am through Saturday April 28 @ 6 am
–Wednesday May 23 @ 6 am through Friday May 25 @ 12 pm
–Tuesday June 19 @ 12 pm through Thursday June 21 @ 6 am
weevils
–See above for aphids
ASHING OF WEED SEEDS
This is a complicated issue, since it appears each particular weed
has a relationship to a particular constellation, and can best be
countered or ashed when the Moon is in that constellation. Maria
Thun in her research has repeatedly observed that germination
of all weeds is greatest when the Moon is in the constellation
Leo/Lion and the least germination takes place when the Moon
is in Capricorn/Goat. Therefore in soil preparation, one would
be well served to cultivate when the Moon is in Leo/Lion, to
stimulate the greatest weed germination, and follow with a final
seed bed cultivation when the Moon is in Capricorn/Goat. If
able to consistently follow this pattern, weed problems would be
greatly diminished.
Until one can identify the particular constellation associated
with the weed to be controlled, the following approach is suggested.
Gather seeds of the weed in question, and ash them at
the beginning of the Moon’s passage through a FIRE/FRUIT
constellation (with Leo/Lion being first choice), preferably just
before a New Moon or just before a Full Moon. The most propitious
time for ashing of weed seeds (as well as application of
the resultant ash) is likely when both Sun and Moon are in Leo/
Lion, which in 2012 occurs August 17 at 12 am through August 19
at 1 pm, and again on September 13 at 9 am through September 15
at 10 pm. Thereafter, scatter the ashes over the area in which you
wish to reduce or eliminate the weed in question. Ideally, the ash
should be applied in the form of a D-8 potency (see Gardening
for Life by Maria Thun or Issue #28 of Applied Biodynamics for
details on the potentizing process).
Application of the products of the ashing process, whether seed or
pest, should probably be done just before New or Full Moon as well.
For most effective results the application should be done three or four
consecutive times in a row, and for even greater effectiveness, this
three or four consecutive times application could be repeated within
two to four weeks. One is well advised to keep careful records of one’s
experiments including both ashing and applications.
mites, non-chitinous insects
–Tuesday February 21 @ 6 am through Thursday February 23 @
4 pm
–Monday March 19 @ 1 pm through Wednesday March 21 @ 12
pm
–Sunday April 15 @ 6 pm through Tuesday April 17 @ 7 pm
–Sunday May 13 @ 1 am through Tuesday May 15 @ 12 am
–Saturday June 9 @ 9 am through Monday June 11 @ 6 am
If you are experiencing serious pest problems when conditions
are not the most favorable for ashing, it is suggested that
you continue to collect the desired fifty to sixty (more when possible)
specimens and preserve them in alcohol (i.e., vodka) until
a favorable time occurs. In any case, the grower should harvest
a maximum of troublesome pests whenever the chance exists so
as to be prepared at a future time to complete the ashing. As a
last resort, ashing of insect pests can be attempted under certain
other aspects than a “most favorable” one, but anyone attempting
to do so should be advised that a wrong choice in this regard can
actually stimulate an increase in the pest concerned rather than
the desired decrease or elimination.
For ASHING OF ANIMAL PESTS
With respect to vertebrate animals, Steiner specified that the skin
of the animal (omitting flesh and bone) must be burned when the
planet Venus is “in the Scorpion.” The resultant pepper is then scattered
over the area to be protected from the particular animal. In the
case of deer, mice, voles, gophers, groundhogs (woodchucks), coyotes
and the like, one should use as much of the skin/hide as possible, but
probably should omit from the ashing process the feet or other parts
containing flesh or bone. For crows, pigeons, or other bird pests, skin
as well as feathers are probably desired, again omitting flesh and bone
from the ashing process. Given the fact that there are times when
Venus is in Scorpio/Scorpion when some animals would be in hibernation
and thus not as readily “harvestable,” one can probably gather
the skin of the “pest” at other times during the year rather than only
when “Venus is in the Scorpion.” There is a great deal of research
to be carried out on the question of “pest peppers.” We would like
to encourage as many people as possible to conduct ashing experiments
and especially encourage them to share their results – good,
bad, or indifferent – with us, so that we may further share it through
the JPI newsletter Applied Biodynamics. The next period for a transit
of Venus through Scorpio/Scorpion occurs beginning December
17 at 3:00 AM to approximately January 13/14, 2013. According to
Maria Thun’s indication, the preferred dates and times for the burning
of the animal skins would be Tuesday December 25 at 10 :00 pm
through Wednesday December 26 at 4:00 am during a period when
the Moon is in the constellation Taurus. This is an extremely narrow
window due to Mercury at its upper nodal point and an occultation
of Jupiter. It should be noted, however, that this period fails to meet
Rudolf Steiner’s other criteria which specifies that Venus should be
at the “high conjunction” of Scorpio. By our calculation, this “high
conjunction” point would take place in late December and our best
dates for ashing would be December 29 and 30. As additional data
becomes available we will give more exact timing recommendations
for this alternate date.
