A few months back I watched a most amazing and inspiring  documentary titled Fantastic Fungi. 

The bulk of the organism is growing underground in a large network of threads called mycelium. It has more networks than our brain has neural pathways and works similarly, with electrical impulses! The mycelium connect trees to each other and allow them to communicate, swap nutrients for food and support each other in healing! 

The fungi are the digestive tract of the forest. These fungi break down plant and animal life and make it usable for new plant and animal life, becoming an oasis of life. With molds and yeasts from fungi we now have penicillin, beer, wine, cheese, and much more. 

Mushrooms are the fruiting body of the fungi, much like an apple. The diversity of the mushroom is incredible: beautiful colors and shapes. Some mushrooms are even phosphorescent! And they are intelligent: they seek out food, defend themselves and solve problems. Some mushrooms alter consciousness, some empower the immune system.

The diversity of the mushroom brings to mind ourselves—the diversity of shape, color, design  and intention to contribute in our own specifically unique purposeful way to our own life and the lives of all those with which we come into contact.

The vast mycelium network is a living metaphor—the macro to the micro of our neural pathways that communicate intelligence that we can use to digest, understand and bring about evolutionary transformation in the individual and in the community. We are connected in this vast net of intelligence, and nourish each other to grow, care for ourselves and each other, and turn problems into opportunities of discovery, making way for new ways of being.

How can we use this knowledge of the Fantastic Fungi to advance our ability to make a difference on the world? Share your thoughts.