Rational-Intuitive Knowing

Starting from the question What is the Hawthorn, the first workshop had ended with the question Who is the Hawthorn? Through the rational approach of drawing the hawthorn in detail, we had arrived at a consensus of qualities – nobles, graceful, dainty – about the character of the tree.

 

Our first exercise is one from Margaret Colquhoun’s book New Eyes for Plants, where we follow the transformation in leaf forms through the life cycle of a plant.

Jon Rae fills us in on the progress of life on earth with an overview of 3.5 billion years told through the story of one element with the message Love Carbon!.

We then focus in on the specific example – the hawthorn tree

Its inner quality greets, surprises, enchants, explores, encourages us…

Hawthorn chutney recipe

 Pick 2 lbs ( 900gms) ( 8 cups) of haw berries,

snip them from their stalks…

 

 

 

wash them and put them in a large saucepan with 1 pint ( 1/2 litres) of cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt.Bring to the boil and simmer for one hour.

Take a good sieve, and rub the boiled haws and vinegar through it into another saucepan

To this pulpy mixture add 3/4 lb ( 350 gms) (11/2 cups) brown sugar (A good alternative is APPLE JUICE CONCENTRATE ) and the following ground spices: 1 teaspoon ginger and 1 of nutmeg, 1/4 spoon each of all spice and cloves, and plenty of fresh black pepper. ( an optional additive is 1/4 lb ( 115 gms) ( 1 cup) of dried fruit)

Bring this to the boil, stirring all the time, and then heat slowly until the mixture thickens. Pour into jars and seal.

Delicious!

Workshop 1 What is the hawthorn?

Entering the hawthorn workshop at the Steiner School

Introduction: the Goethean way of seeing

First encounter with the hawthorn

Exact sensorial perception - how growth happens

Getting to know the hawthorn

Whole perception of hawthorn

Arriving at consensus - noble, graceful, feminine