If you knew that every breath you took could save hundreds of lives in the future, had you walked down this path of knowledge, wouldn’t you run down that path of knowledge as fast as you could?
Paul Stamets is an unabashed fan of fungi, and with his expert knowledge is actively involved in research into the medicinal and bioregenerative properties of these alien-like organisms. In the above video, excerpted from a documentary feature on Stamets’ work by Louie Schwartzberg, a wonderful monologue by Stamets (full transcript below) is accompanied by some fantastic time-lapse footage of various fungi species emerging from the forest floor.
Mushroom mycelium represents rebirth, rejuvenation, regeneration. Fungi generate soil that gives life.
The task that we face today is to understand the language of nature. My mission is to discover the language of nature, of the fungal networks that communicate with the ecosystem. And I in particular believe that nature is intelligent. The fact that we lack the language skills to communicate with nature does not impugn the concept that nature is intelligent; it speaks to the inadequacy of our skillset for communication.
We have now learned that there are these languages that are occurring, and communication between each organism. If we don’t get our act together, and come into commonality and understanding with the organisms that sustain us today, not only will we destroy those organisms but we will destroy ourselves.
We need to have a paradigm shift in our consciousness. What will it take to achieve that?
If I die trying, but I’m inadequate to the task, to make a course change in the evolution of life on the planet…okay, I tried. But the fact is: I tried. How many people are not trying?
If you knew that every breath you took could save hundreds of lives in the future, had you walked down this path of knowledge, wouldn’t you run down that path of knowledge as fast as you could?
I believe nature is a force of good. Good is not only a concept, it is a spirit – and so, hopefully, the spirit of goodness will survive.
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