I looked out my window Friday morning and there it was. Grown by the light of this week's full moon.
I've only seen one once before, years ago now and this one was huge. Freaky huge. Like some alien life form had landed and taken residence.
Compelled, I walked up to it slowly and just stared at it for a while. Inching closer, assessing.
What is it? Why here? Why now?
It just stayed still allowing me to find the answers for myself in the silence.
It is the Calvatia Gigantea or aptly named puffball as it easily grows to the size of a soccer ball or even bigger. They can't be cultivated and are only found growing wild. It is a gift. Shamans of old believed not only did these magnificent mushrooms provide a message of hope from the earth but that they also brought within them a blessing of longevity.
I like that.
Now I am a farmer, not a shaman, but as a person of faith, something rooted very deep inside told me as I stared in awe at this spectacular spore that this was a well timed gift of encouragement. That after a couple of challenging weeks Mother Earth thought, like the many of you who wrote us this week thought, it was the right time for a little reassurance. That she is here with us, not against. That she is here to both nourish and sustain.
So hence came forth the mushroom. Spawned in lunar light to bring forth by day's dawn a message of inspiration to carry on.
Nice.
And so, with heartened step, carry on we will. All the signs are that we are on the right path and that we are here to stay :-)
~Michael
