On the surface, mushrooms appear to be individuals. They come out of the ground, they serve a function, and then they die. They may have neighbors near them, but that might appear to be the only interaction they have with each other.

But if we look closer, we'll find that mushrooms and their existences are much more nuanced. Mushrooms are part of a much larger organism. Two several feet from each other can potentially be the fruiting bodies of the exact same organism. They maintain their connection to each other through a root-like structure called mycelium. This mycelium connects these fruiting bodies by deriving nutrients from the soil and passing them back and forth, both within its own system as well as with other organisms. In this way, they are deeply community-based, even despite their individualized appearance.

In this way, we, too, are mycelium.

Humans can also appear individualistic on the surface. We are often thrust into situations that keep us from connecting on a deeper level. We rely on financial status to determine worth and value. We don't share with each other. We gatekeep and look out for ourselves first.

But, deep down, humans are deeply communal. Our roots and our history show that we care about each other. Our existence has always been built upon reliance on each other. We rely on each other for companionship, for fulfilling needs, for enjoyment, for love.

Despite the fact that our society poses challenges to this interconnectedness, we still have access to each other. We can still depend on each other for support and care, even when it seems impossible.

My aim with this site is to offer ways that we can return to a mentality of community and compassion, like mycelium.