Table 1 Six key areas of divergence between modern regenerative and indigenous worldviews as identified in Whitewashed Hope, and evidence of synergies with Steiner’s worldview that underpins biodynamic farming

Where is Nature?

Nature is viewed as separate, outside, ideal, perfect. Human beings must practice ‘biomimicry’, because we exist outside of the life of Nature

We are Nature. As cells and organs of Earth, we strive to fulfil our roles as her caregivers and caretakers. We often describe ourselves as ‘weavers’, strengthening the bonds between all beings

Steiner proposes that we are an integral part of the evolving natural world from which we arise. This world surrounds us, and we can rediscover ourselves within it, just as we can find all of nature transformed within us [37]

In their overview of biodynamic farming, Leiber et al. [38], describe it as trying to actively shape the unique interaction between crops, livestock and farmer

Death doesn’t mean dead

Maintain the ‘dead’ worldview of Western science: of rocks, mountains, soil, water, wind, and light. Believe that life only happens when these elements are brought together in some specific and special way

View the Earth as a communion of beings and not objects. All matter and energy is alive and conscious. Mountains, stones, water and air are relatives and ancestors. Earth is a living being whose body we are all a part of. No ‘thing’ is ever dead; life forms and transforms

Steiner spoke about the existence of non-material beings. “When speaking about the four elements of earth, water, air and fire…. it must be stressed that everything of a solid, earthen nature has as its foundation an elemental spirituality. …when knowledge is no longer obtained by means of combining abstract, logical thoughts, but by uniting ourselves through our thinking with the world rhythm, then we shall rediscover the elemental beings contained in everything of a solid earthy nature.” [39]

“Truly, the farm is a living organism.” [40], p. 7)

From judgemental to relational

Maintain overly simplistic binaries through subscribing to good and bad. We must do only the ‘good’ things to reach the idealized, 99.9% biomimicked farm/garden, though we will never be as pure or good ‘as Nature’, because we are separate from her

Often share the view that there is no good, bad, or ideal—it is not our role to judge. No one is tainted by our touch, and we have the ability to heal as much as any other lifeform

Steiner proposes a conscious equilibrium with nature whereby we are not entitled simply to exploit the Earth, but neither should we view ourselves as devastating irritants on the Earth’s surface [37]

The Agricultural Course was given as an approach of healing or spiritual renewal in response to farmers’ questions about the depletion of soils and a general deterioration of crops and livestock [41]

Our words shape us

Use English as their preferred language no matter the geography or culture. The English language judges and objectifies. English also utilizes language like ‘things’ and ‘its’

Every language emerges from and is, therefore, intricately tied to place. To know a place, you must speak her language. There is no one-size-fits-all, and no words for non-living beings, because all life has equal value

Steiner wrote about what he called ‘The Genius of Language’ (48). He felt that German was more useful to put across esoteric meaning than English. He wrote about the relation of a people’s language to its soul life, and of differentiations of language according to geographical conditions

People are Land. Holistic includes history

Claim to be holistic in approach, however, tends to exclude history

People belong to land rather than land belonging to people. Healing of land must include healing of people and vice versa. Recognizing and processing the emotional traumas held in our bodies as descendants of assaulted, enslaved, and displaced Peoples is necessary to the healing of land. Returning our rights to care for, harvest from, and relate to the land that birthed us is part of this recognition

In the Agricultural Course of 1924, Steiner emphasised that agriculture touched on every aspect of human life [42]. He proposed three ideals expressed through three social spheres of equality, freedom and cooperation. Biodynamics emerged in the context of this threefold vision of social justice that included the decommodification of land. Steiner also wrote and lectured extensively on human health and healing, e.g., [43, 44], and m any biodynamic farms also include social elements around therapy and therapeutic education [16]

Composting

Often share the environmentalist message that the world is dying and we must ‘save’ it. Towards this mission, we must put Nature first and sacrifice ourselves for ‘the cause’

See Earth as going through cycles of continuous transition. We currently find ourselves in a cycle of great decomposition. As in any process of composting there is discomfort and a knowing that death always brings us into rebirth. Recognizing and healing all of our own traumas is healing Earth's traumas, because we are one

In The Cycle of the Year as a Breathing Process of the Earth [45] Steiner writes of the Earth's cycle of inbreathing and outbreathing. In Dying Earth and Living Cosmos—The Need for New Forms of Consciousness [46] he reflects on the Earth’s transition and speaks of extending and deepening our connection with the world and the cosmos as conscious and fully human co-creators. Steiner also wrote extensively about human reincarnation and soul evolution, e.g., [47]