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Portia Gough's avatar

I love weaving the mechanistic and mystical aspects of life, and you do it so well. This got me thinking about what makes seeds germinate...I'd imagine it varies depending on the plant, and mechanistically there's probably some factors in the soil that contribute, maybe molecular signaling from the roots of their kin or signaling from mycelial networks. On an energetic/metaphysical level, I can also imagine the mycelia cradling the seed and gently whispering to it, stirring it to activity.

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Mary Porter Kerns's avatar

Thank you for calling in the mycelium that I didn’t call in by name. I agree with you, and love thinking of them whispering to the seeds!

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Michelle Marie McGrath✨🌿's avatar

What a gorgeous post Mary. Lovely!

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Mary Porter Kerns's avatar

Thank you, and thanks for reading!

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Alicia Enciso Litschi's avatar

I love this. The incredible alchemy of timing that is all about connection. Wow!

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Mary Porter Kerns's avatar

And, how we are both writing about seeds. ❤️

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Brenda's avatar

The timing of this profound message could not have been better for me! Thank you!💜

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Mary Porter Kerns's avatar

I love that! Thank you for sharing❤️

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Lydia McDowell's avatar

“The visitations—the connections to all life around us—become critical to finding our way forward.”

This was such a potent message of trust. Even when there’s pain and immense disruption, like the times we’re facing, I’m taking comfort that we are nestled within vast cycles of creation that are ultimately life answering the call to continue. Thank you Mary.

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Mary Porter Kerns's avatar

This is my comfort too Lydia. Only the long story of our planet has any sanity. ❤️

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Kimberly Warner's avatar

Thank you for this beautiful reflection. It is quite special on this planet of duality where life and death are continuously in cycles, that seeds hold that balance in sacred waiting.

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Mary Porter Kerns's avatar

Sacred waiting, yes! The seeds do it so well. Thank you.

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Laura Pendell's avatar

Mary another beautiful post. You know enough about my "life story" to understand which parts of the mystery you describe I can resonate with. Thank you for your vision.

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Mary Porter Kerns's avatar

Thanks Laura- and yes I do! 😘

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Sarah Star Poet's avatar

This is such a beautiful post. Love the artwork, too.

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Mary Porter Kerns's avatar

Thank you Sarah! 🌱

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Markael Luterra's avatar

I appreciate the metaphysical perspective, the mystery. It is far too easy to conflate experimental results with an explanation or understanding. Science can describe, can reveal layers of depth, can help us to see how truly wondrous our world is from the scale of atoms to galaxies, but it cannot truly grasp the why, the animating force.

This essay reminds me of one of mine, exploring germination and awakening albeit a bit later in the cycle: https://dendroica.substack.com/p/the-upswing

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Mary Porter Kerns's avatar

Thanks for reading, and for sharing your essay Markael- you capture this same essence, of moving between worlds through the long story of our planet, in and out of form.

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Maria Nilad's avatar

Thank you for this. The lingering image is the act of being born over and over again, in parallel to Earth's many deaths. Patience, and staying close to loved ones, is necessary.

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