On Mushrooms and Tender Strength

“Love will creep where it cannot go, will accomplish that by imperceptible methods,- being its own lever, fulcrum, and power, – which force could never achieve. Have you not seen the woods, in a late autumn morning, a poor fungus or mushroom, – a plant without any solidity, nay, that seemed nothing but a soft mush or jelly,-by its constant, total, and inconceivably gentle pushing, manage to break its way up through the frosty ground and to actually lift a hard crust on its head? It is the symbol of power of kindness."
                                                   --Ralph Waldo Emerson

                                                    

Indeed, the mighty mushroom

first sign of life in darkness and dankness

complicated and resilient 

.

Wild fungi remind me well that one doesn't have to build a fortress around the heart to thrive. All that needs be done is to endure and shine.

to try

and then try again

over and over,

the sum of effort yielding a life worth loving.

In this world of big and shiny city life all it takes is a retreat to the redwoods near the coast to see Emerson's words in fruitbody flesh

and be reminded of how strong softness can be.

It's ok to be full of love

it's wonderful to forgive

.

I don't always do it well, do you?

Sometimes I cling to my hurts and nurse them, building the stories up to be the stuff of legend until I laughingly remember how little that serves

and once again take up the path of remembering gratitude and breath.

I used to indulge long and often in these little tantrums

but now it's sometimes as brief as a walk before I come around

or remembering in my hot anger the grace that comes

in a dear friend telling me about bird calls over a simple lunch by the ocean...

the beautiful things in life that serve as a raft in the swift and deadly current of, "He did what?"

And thus reminded it is not long

before my heart bursts through the loam in beautiful color

peach as my baby's cheek

or deep orange like a yolk...

little kindness fungi everywhere we look friends: pay attention

to the dark places.

*

I celebrate the mighty mushroom with two adornments.

They are watercolor paintings of wild and tiny fungus

on enameled copper.

The earrings are post closure with tiny ferns roll-printed on the reverse side where they hug your ear

crafted of fine silver bezel and sterling.

The lariat necklace is a marriage of two types of fungi

tethered by a graceful and strong sterling chain and copper accents on the smaller piece.

The reverse side is counter-enameled a rich and earthy tan.

Both pieces are available 

HERE

.

I encourage you to enter the giveaway

if you've not already done so

and I hope that you remember the power of tender things this fine day.

xoxo,

Sunny