Our arbor elders, trees, are ancient experts at communication beneath the surface. Their system, mycelial networking, has been operating for "Ma's" ('megaannum' - million years). The oldest "tree" is thought to have appeared during the Devonian Period, between 350-420 million years ago. Hominins are young by comparison, appearing a short 6 million years ago in the Miocene. So, what can we toddlers learn from the elders about communication?
Noted forest ecologist, Suzanne Simard (Finding the Mother Tree; https://suzannesimard.com/about/), has made Peter Wohlleben's (The Hidden Life of Trees) term, the "Wood-Wide Web," a common concept for those who study biomimicry (imitating nature for practical solutions to human design challenges). Simard has been researching the intricate sub-terranean fungal communication patterns of trees for three decades, and has much to contribute to our understanding of ancient bio-networks.
How does a mycelial network - work?
Mycelia are tiny "threads" that, when bundled together, form vast and intricate "mycorrhizal networks." These networks connect individual plant species together to convey water, nitrogen, carbon, and other minerals, providing nutrients and sustenance for growth and resilience. They also serve as conduits for warning information that help guard against infestation through chemical, hormonal and allelopathic signals. Allelopathy is a technique whereby the mycorrhizal network allows advanced notice to be sent to neighboring trees so they can warn their neighbors about an invasive predator, or to inhibit growth of species that threaten them.
The information conduits are vast, complex, and form the basis for the symbiotic relationships of plants and fungi. The fungi colonize the root system of a host plant to increase water and nutrient absorption, while the host plant provides the fungi with carbohydrates from photosynthesis. A perfect buddy system - like swapping PB & J sandwich for the turkey and swiss with our school mate!
So, what can we learn from this ancient, expert communication and networking system?
Keep reaching out, always wider, deeper, and with intention. We learn from each other constantly by fostering resilient communication networks - talking/sending messages/communicating more broadly, with greater nuance and inflection. This makes the hermeneutical (interpretive) dance that much more effective and grounding. We notice. We are curious. We don't rush to conclusion or to speak over each other. We keep asking, "Is this what you mean? What do I need to know to understand...? How can I assist?" Active listening and responding is key, not assuming and reacting, or hurrying to make our point so that we don't forget, or it gets lost in the flow of conversation. Trust. If it's important, it will surface.
What information/nourishment/warnings are we conveying? What information/nourishment/warnings are we receiving? Unless we are able to perceive accurately, wait for a response, and adapt as needed when our communication partners give us feedback, we fail to utilize the feedback loop for its fullest efficacy. Our communication is unilateral, like shouting louder just to be heard over the din, and no one's listening anyway.
Act with the wider "We." We are always connected, not isolated, and are not meant to function as a lone entity. If our world-view is that we are all part of one macrocosm, our thriving selves and our faltering selves are participating in a vast network where we have support, nourishment, and mutual protection. It's only if we are cut off - feeling alone - that we languish.
Let's be gentle with our conversation and networking today, paying attention to the myriad connections that keep us resilient and thriving!
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