Light and warmth forces in people and nature
- Lisa Winchester
- Jan 4
- 3 min read
As a gardener I love to stand in the garden and soak up the light and warmth of the sun. But, while I love to bathe in the 'sunny' garden, I also love to ask, how does the light and warmth of the sun actually work in people and nature in the Biodynamic Garden?
This small book, which offers a translation of a lecture given by contemporary spiritual teacher Heinz Grill to an audience at Andreashof Biodynamic farm (Southern Germany), begins to answer this question.
Bavarian born spiritual teacher, Heinz Grill, was invited to Andreashof to speak about ether or life-force because his philosophical outlook shows not only a clear connection to the work of Rudolf Steiner, but the ongoing development of many extraordinary ideas given by Steiner.
Most notable is Grill’s ongoing work to develop and realise the idea of a new yoga will (see the lecture ‘The ancient yoga culture and the new yoga will ', Steiner, 1919) in an endeavour to support holistic human development in this contemporary time.
Grill's philosophical outlook is perhaps less known in the English speaking world, and this book offers an introduction to him, and a description of a key thought that Grill continues to share in different ways, that is, the human being has the ability to generate ether forces through their way of relating in everyday life.
So, its confession time; I actually put this book together. I'm an educational biodynamic gardener and movement practitioner who has studied with Heinz Grill for over 20 years.
The lecture begins with Grill's impression of the Andreashof Biodynamic farm, how it offers a beautifully light atmosphere and is welcoming to all people. He compliments the effective use of the Biodynamic preparations, and then begins to describe a way of studying ether forces. Here we first meet the term 'spiritual seeing'. To some, this term may set off inner alarm bells; or to others - particularly if you're familiar to Goethean science - an interest. To Grill, spiritual seeing is an under-developed ability in the human being; it's not a mystical immersion in a separated reality of spirit, but more of a kind of mind gymnastics where a person considers a spiritual insight or picture alongside an earthly picture, and then orientates and expands their thinking, feeling and will between both pictures.
The following picture from the book is an example of this. An artist has painted an impression of the light ether as it works within a plant.
In this lecture, Grill also states that knowledge of ether is useful if you want to understand how ether forces work in people and nature. He then offers knowledge or insightful pictures of the light and warmth ether, which can be used to not only perceive but even generate ether.
You might say 'What a load of rubbish', or 'This is just not true'. Is this because you perceive the author sharing a belief and asking you to take up a new belief? Or could it be that the author is simply sharing an insight or picture they have seen, experienced and placed into words so that others can also see this more hidden, secret reality? My experience of Grill is the latter. In no way is he offering a belief system, but rather, just like the educational philosophies of John Dewey, Elliot Eisner and Rudolf Steiner, Grill is offering and placing value on an artistic way of getting to know the subtle, more aesthetic forces which work in people and nature.
In a cultural time where many people seem to be seeking ways of enlivening rather than destroying natural life, this lecture offers a way of researching and relating that supports a self-sustaining, and self-generating aesthetic in and for all of life.
Sellers: Cultural insight books, Bookshop.org
Lisa Winchester
Educational Gardener & Movement practitioner
BA, PGCE, MA
