Cultivating Perception and Flexible Thinking

February 14 2010 06:00 PM to February 19 2010 12:30 PM

Can we learn to perceive and understand nature in more vital and truly ecological ways? A weeklong course with Craig Holdrege and Henrike Holdrege at The Nature Institute.

For farm apprentices, farmers, gardeners and others seeking a working connection to the land.

Can we learn to perceive and understand nature in more vital and truly ecological ways? When we enliven our perceptions and enhance our ability to form more dynamic and holistic pictures of nature’s creatures and processes, the life of nature can become ever more embodied in what we perceive, think, and do. To stimulate this transformation of our capacities, we will carry out exercises in flexible thinking and careful observation. We engage in phenomenological explorations of the qualities of the plant, which lies at the heart of all agricultural endeavors. Each day will consist of the following activities:

Morning Seminars:

• Projective geometry—Exercises in flexible thinking
• The plant—Metamorphosis; plant growth forms in different environmental conditions and in relation to climate and seasons

Afternoon Seminar:

• Observation exercises related to the plant study

Evening Seminar:

• Astronomy—Finding orientation in the night sky

As part of 2010 Biodynamic Winter Intensive: Plants, Earth and Cosmos, this course is followed by a weeklong course (February 21 to 26) on The Theory and Practice of Biodynamic Farming at Hawthorne Valley Farm Learning Center. (If you attend both courses, fee for both weeks is on sliding scale. For a brochure, more information or to register, contact Hawthorne Valley Farm Learning Center at 518-672-7500 x 105 or email.)