Book 5 - A Year of Magical Learning

Reflection Title - We are the Composers!

Book - Entangled Life: How Fungi make our worlds, change our minds, & shape our future by Merlin Sheldrake

Book Description - The book looks at fungi from a number of angles, including decomposition, fermentation, nutrient distribution, psilocybin production, the evolutionary role fungi play in plants, and the ways in which humans relate to the fungal kingdom. It uses music and philosophy to illustrate its thesis, and introduces readers to a number of central strands of research on mycology. It is also a personal account of Sheldrake's experiences with fungi.

Reflection: The microbiome has become a bit of an obsession for myself over the past 10-15 years of my life. It started when I was diagnosed as a Celiac in my early 20's. My personal Microbiome was jacked. I was putting all the wrong things in my body and it was creating havoc in my life. That sent me down a path to learn all I could, experiment with new foods to eat, and try to reign all this back in and get my personal microbiome back in order. My fascination went to new extreme's when my infant daughter was diagnosed with NEC (necrotizing enterocolitis), a disease that attacks your intestines and ultimately was the result of her passing. I had to understand everything I could about this tiny microscopic world that makes up this universe which can be so fascinating, delicate, and foundational to our existence.

That is what ultimately led me to this book called the Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake. As I followed along as Sheldrake walked you through everything you could ever want to imagine about how foundational and critical Fungi are to pretty much everything, I couldn't help but to take this all back to what it seems like this universe is all about...Balance. Everyone has a role to play in this world. Whether you are microscopic fungi or the largest animals in this world. We all have a critical role to play at a macro level to keep this world in harmony. I remember Sheldrake talking about how fungi's are the decomposers of this world. They can break down anything and everything and return them to their natural state....and I mean anything. Whatever animals and plants in this world create, they are no match for a fungi. That notion that fungi are the ultimately decomposers got me thinking, what is our role in the universe's balance equation?

I think humans are the ultimate composers of this world. We are the creators. We can take any raw materials, chemicals, minerals, plants, etc and turn them into magic to help better this world in our own little way. What we create gets used, and then the fungi break it down as if to say, "That was cute...let's see what else you got!" This magical world needs composers and decomposers to maintain balance and harmony. I'm all in for playing my part and creating whatever I can.

Question: What is your greatest composition?

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Links:

What is The Year of Magical Learning? - An Introduction

YOML Podcast Discussion - Entangled Life

YOML Bookstore - Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake