Here + Now
Winter 2021, Issue #102
RESEARCH PROJECTS IN BIODYNAMIC AGRICULTURE BETWEEN UNIVERSITIES AND FIELD PRODUCTION
By Josué Sotoj Castro & Heberto Rodas-Gaitán, PhD
There is no easy beginning and even less ease at a research project establishment, when individuality, respect, and love are considered priorities.
This short report is about the first collaboration between Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, and El Equimite (a certified biodynamic coffee farm). The three institutions accepted the development of a bachelor thesis focused on Biodynamic Agriculture (BA) and our journey began.
PROYECTOS DE INVESTIGACIÓN EN AGRICULTURA BIODINÁMICA ENTRE UNIVERSIDADES Y PRODUCCIÓN EN CAMPO
Josué Sotoj Castro y Heberto Rodas-Gaitán, PhD
Ningún inicio es fácil y mucho menos al desear establecer un proyecto de investigación, considerando como prioridad la unidad, respeto y amor.
Esta pequeña descripción trata de la primera colaboración entre la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala y El Equimite (empresa certificada de café biodinámico). Las tres instituciones aceptan el desarrollo de una investigación con enfoque en Agricultura Biodinámica (AB) de un estudiante de licenciatura y así empezó nuestro viaje……
GENDER AND EQUALITY IN THE LIGHT OF ANTHROPOSOPHY
Sarah Hearn interviews Lisa Romero
To begin, Lisa, could you share from your understanding how the themes of gender, gender identity, and equality are related and relevant to the theme of inner development in anthroposophy?
Because of the lack of love and satisfaction experienced in our relationship to others or to ourselves, commonly people turn towards inner development work to improve these connections. Gender inequality expressed in the world effects one’s sense of inner harmony and self-worth.
Rudolf Steiner was a real advocate of equality in various contexts. We see this specifically with regards to the non-discriminative support he gave to the spiritual life of all people engaging in this work (regardless of gender), which was not always the case in his time nor is it the case in some instances in our present day. This orientation was very evident in how he spoke, in how he tried to undo some old forms, but also in how he initiated new forms. Steiner was very clear; for example in the Waldorf schools, a teacher should never be chosen based on their gender but based on their capacities, and boys and girls should always taught together in all classes. This was quite original in his time; it also reflected the deepest esoteric nature of the work he gave. We can also recognize this aspect of his work as he united with various female individualities who pioneered aspects of the initiatives carried out in anthroposophy. He carried the intention and the will to plant many seeds of initiative, the fruits of which would show themselves in the surrounding world for years to come (even revealed many years after he had passed away).
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR- WINTER 2021
Dear Readers,
I hope you can all make some space in your lives for deep thinking, contemplation, gardening, visits to a farm, for community, for family, for good meals with those in your household, or if you are still quarantining alone, with your pet, or with a friend on Zoom.
Make time for that which nourishes you and helps build up your bank of goodness and your capacity to be in a place of reverence, awe, kindness, compassion, and generosity.
Engaging in holistic, grounding activities provides us with a sense of inner warmth, rhythm, and consistency — a necessity during times of social and environmental destabilization. Cultivating this inner currency also puts us in a position where we have the capacity to do our own inner work, face hard truths of our own privilege and complicity, be open to learning, and be effective advocates, determined activists, and wise teachers and healers
LILIPOH Features
What are people saying about LILIPOH?
