Women of Anthroposophy
An Introduction.
Why are you reading this? Why am I writing this?
I am not an expert on Anthroposophy (“anthro” meaning “man” including all sexes, genders and human beings, and “Sophia” meaning wisdom or knowledge). I am not a member of the Anthroposophical Society, but I have read many of Rudolph Steiner’s books and transcribed lectures over the last 20 years – doubting every word until I thought through them and gained a fuller understanding, in an effort to gain perspective and implement -with “heart felt striving”- meaningful biodynamic practices on this farm.
In honor of “Women’s Month” I offer the following about women in biodynamics and anthroposophy.
Women in Bio-dynamics - and Anthroposophy, Medicine, Eurythmy, Waldorf Education
This could well be written by a woman; were KK here she would – I, by her spirit and grace, am.
Let us start with Lilly Kolisko who in 1924 was entrusted by Rudolph Steiner with the task of making all the necessary scientific investigations in connection with the Agricultural Course. She studied all of his suggestions for regenerating Agriculture. Although the Agriculture Course was not fully published in 1939, Rudolph Steiner meant his suggestions for the whole world, not a small group of privileged farmers. She stated in her forward to “Agriculture for Tomorrow” (by E. and L. Kolisko) “Only a real understanding of the wonderful organism “Agriculture” will make it possible to grow healthy food.”
Dr. Ita Wegman was with Rudolph Steiner the co-founder of Anthroposophical Medicine and started the Ita Wegman Clinic featuring therapeutic treatments including a cancer treatment using mistletoe following Rudolph Steiner’s indications. She co-founded Weleda which makes medicinal and health care products. She was asked to join the Executive Council of the Anthroposophical Society where she directed the Medical Section of the research center. Together with RS they wrote (his last book) “Extending Practical Medicine” and founded a new medical journal Natura.
Maria Thun was introduced to a number of biodynamic farmers by her future husband Walter in the 1940’s. She dedicated her life to the research and application of RS’s Anthroposophical philosophy. After RS pointed out the connection between cosmic forces and the growth of plants she started studying astronomy. She divided the passage of the moon through the zodiac into four distinctions -root days, leaf days, flower days and fruit days leading to her publication of the “Biodynamic Sowing and Planting Calendar”. Her famous planting of radishes were trials to verify her findings and published her “Results from the Biodynamic Sowing and Planting Calendar”. Her ‘Gardening for Life” is a wonderful and accessible book. For wine drinkers she wrote “When Wine Tastes Best”. Her children Matthias and Christina carry on her work with the calendar.
Josephine Porter was honored as one of the “elders” of the biodynamic community by Hugh Courtney, when, after being mentored by Josephine Porter for 8 years, in his naming of the Josephine Porter Institute after her death in 1984. She was a board member of what was to become the Biodynamic Association of America. His personal commitment to her to find a permanent home for the biodynamic preparations resulted in the Josephine Porter Institute, a not for profit 501-3c organization.
Let us not forget Marie Steiner-von Sivers RS’s second wife was one of RS’s closest colleagues and made a great contribution to the development of anthroposophy -particularly on the renewal of the performing arts (eurythmy, speech, drama) and the editing and publishing of RS’s literary estate.
I also want to honor and recognize the women of this community - past, present and future in the world and America, whose “heartfelt striving” to care for the land, heal the earth and are aware of and know that behind the sense perceptible stands a soul-spiritual nature. For not only in the thinking and feeling but in the doing as RS said -the “practical deed” also - do women work. Let us support the women and men who work alongside and help these women doing not only the thinking but also the tasks of daily life in the fields, with plants and animals and in the greenhouses, conferences and when by themselves.
To mention a few -Vivian Hauk, Cynthia Hoven, Sherry Wildfeuer, Abby Porter, Laura Riccardi Lyvers, Deb Soule, Megan Durney and Kim Pace at the Pfeiffer Center Spring Valley, Thea Maria Carlson, Daphne Amory, Leigh Merinoff, the women of Soul Fire Farm, Natalie at Perennial Roots Farm, Teresa O’Shaughnessy, Flo Rewinski, Sonomi Obinata and all those working on farms or communities.
With respect,
Ira Haspel
Ira + KK’s Farm Sanctuary