Viticulture in Astrological Cycles ~ a.k.a. Biodynamic

Years ago, a friend, who was studying astrology, sat with his ephemeris and told me not only what I knew about myself within my astrology chart, but he also told me things that I hadn’t wanted to admit to myself. I knew those facts about myself to be true, but I hadn’t yet faced them. (Who wants to admit that “tact” needs to be developed, for instance.)

That set me onto a “How did he do that?” path of studying astrology in depth for about seven years. I looked at it from two perspectives:

1. Astronomy standpoint: what are the planetary configurations, in relation to their alignment with earth
2. Astrology standpoint: what gravitational pulls do those alignments exert on us as humans (and plants)

I soon learned as an organic gardener that if I worked within these cycles, my garden would bear better results. Understanding the seasons is the crux of biodynamics, the unified approach to agriculture that relates the ecology of the earth-organism to that of the entire cosmos.

Many viticulturists, who are planting and growing grape vines for winemaking, have also found these cycles to be beneficial.

The preservation and cultivation of vineyards is a big concern to those are more connected with the earth plantings in a more natural, versus artificial, way. In 1924 Dr. Rudolf Steiner established and is now credited for his theory of biodynamic agriculture. Before this was established, however, one only needs to study Native American culture. Dr. Steiner wasn’t new to the scene of having respect for the land as a way of life. Before our forefathers landed on American soil, this was a gentle way of life for many Native American tribes. A great resource for getting really close to the earth and understanding how Native Americans revered the land is one of my favorite books of all time, “Seven Arrows,” by Hyemeyohsts Storm.

Responsibility for nature, land, people, and animals, biodynamic viticulture/agriculture represents the most respectful of methodologies. Using elemental substances to protect the plants will generate the most healthy grape vines, which – in turn – produces the best possible fruit.

Strengthening vines with compost preparations, which should be produced right on your property, is very easy to do. Rows of vines should be covered with nitrogen rich greens, and tilled back into the soil. Surplus shoots, grass and herbs growing beneath the vines should be cut with sickles. In autumn, the grapes should by harvested by hand, which guarantees the highest quality must.

Here’s how the seasons work, beginning with Spring, and within the astrological and astronomical cycles of the four seasons.

Understanding these basics, helps in the growing and reaping process.

Spring:

• Aries ~ Begins (it’s a CARDINAL season) – FIRE sign (March 21 – April 19)
• Taurus ~ Middle (it’s a FIXED season) – EARTH sign (April 20 – May 20)
• Gemini~ End (it’s a MUTABLE season) – AIR sign(May 21 – June 21)

Summer:

• Cancer ~ Begins (it’s a CARDINAL season) – WATER sign (June 22 – July 22)
• Leo ~ Middle (it’s a FIXED season) – FIRE sign (July 23 – August 22)
• Virgo ~ End (it’s a MUTABLE season) – EARTH sign (August 23 – September 22)

Autumn:

• Libra ~ Begins (it’s a CARDINAL season) AIR sign (September 23 – October 22)
• Scorpio ~ Middle (it’s a FIXED season) – WATER sign (October 23 – November 21)
• Sagittarius ~ End (it’s a MUTABLE season) FIRE sign (November 22 – December 21)

Winter:

• Capricorn ~ Begins (it’s a CARDINAL season) – EARTH sign (December 22 – January 22)
• Aquarius ~ Middle (it’s a FIXED season) AIR sign (January 19 – February 18)
• Pisces ~ End (it’s a MUTABLE season) – WATER sign (February 19 – March 20)

Signs and what they lean toward in one quick word:

• FIRE sign ~ Enthusiasm
• EARTH sign – Stability
• AIR sign – Intellectuality
• WATER sign – Empathy

Times to plant and work a vineyard or garden geared toward growth ~ During the earth and water signs (Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces).

Times to clean up the vineyard or garden geared toward composting~ During the fire and air signs (Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, Aquarius).

If you think that these cycles don’t affect living beings, just ask any police officer, ambulance driver, veterinarian, or hospital attendant what happens during a full moon cycle, when tides run high. I’ve observed too many astrological happenings to know that there is a cause and effect of what we experience from gravitational pulls… The seasons are your guide for how it all works, being ruled by the Sun. Need more evidence? Read Planets in Transit by Robert Hand.

This page is just a quick snapshot of the basics… If you’re not yet practicing biodynamics, you’ve got your whole life ahead of you… Simply get going, the rest will happen.