By Maureen Fellinger

As a mushroom enthusiast, I occasionally receive photos of fungi or mushroom memes from friends and family. It's a small gesture, but it always makes me smile that folks think of me when they see anything related to mushrooms. When a friend who I hadn’t spoken to in a few years recently sent me a photo of an adorable pair of mushrooms earrings made of polymer clay, I thought to myself, “My main love language is physical touch, but I’m starting to realize that receiving mushroom photos from friends is coming in at a close second.”

If you are not familiar with love languages, the concept was developed by Gary Chapman, Ph.D.; he introduced five different ways to communicate, express, and receive love. People can often relate to all categories, but are generally drawn to one in particular. Understanding your primary love language, as well as your partner’s, can help you draw a better understanding of the needs of yourself and others. Today, I present to you, Love Languages: Mushroom Edition.

Let’s start off with Gifts. I mentioned this concept earlier- if you know a mushroom enthusiast, send them photos of mushrooms that you want to learn to identify. Send them clear photos; you get bonus points if you send multiple photos from different angles (a photo underneath the spore bearing surface, a photo of the cap, a photo of the mushroom undisturbed in its natural habitat, etc.) While I can’t speak for every myco-enthusiast, I think most are similar to me in that they truly enjoy sharing their knowledge and fascination with mushrooms with others, so receiving a photo of fungi is like a little love note. 

The next love language is Acts of Service. The thoughtful mushroom observer or forager will leave no trace of their presence in the woods. Always be mindful of where you are walking and what native species are around you if you are walking off the trail. Fungi have so many different mycorrhizal relationships with plants, so even if you don’t see a mushroom while you are hiking, respecting all of the plant life in the forest means you are also respecting all of the fungi. There are also so many ways that you can give back to nature even when you aren't in the woods– from composting to recycling, the smallest gestures add up to make a large impact.

Words of Affirmation is another love language. This category deals with using words of affirmation or appreciation to acknowledge affection. Meditation in nature is a wonderful way to invigorate your practice as well as your senses. Honor the earth and the life on it by spending time outdoors with a focus of mindfulness. The next time you are out in the woods, I challenge you to find a nearby mushroom cluster and listen to a guided meditation. Here is one of my favorite meditations by Ram Dass that I enjoy listening to when I want to feel more connected to the land:

Trees

Grasses

Water

Sun

Stars

Moon

Clouds

Rain

All are our friends

Are us

Nature embraces us

And we embrace nature

We are nature

We are the trees and the clouds and the waters

When you hug a tree you're hugging yourself

We are human beings

Human beings are part of nature

When you're seeing the ocean

Or the lake or the river you're seeing yourself

Nature is a manifestation of God

And that manifestation is love all the way

Quality Time is the fourth love language. This is probably the easiest and most simple concept if we are trying to connect the idea to how we relate to the land and the life on it. Disconnect from technology and get away from the chaos of the world by simply being present in nature. Be curious about the things you see in the forest. Take the time to closely observe life you are not familiar with in the woods. What’s that bright yellow mushroom growing on that log? What does it smell like? Does it have pores or gills? What kind of tree is it growing on? Slow down, ask questions, and be curious. Just because you are an adult, does not mean you should stop exploring. By slowing down, you are spending quality time in nature, which in turn will give you a better quality of life. There are so many studies that indicate that spending time in nature has cognitive and mental health benefits, as well as improvements in mood and emotional well-being.

The last love language is Physical Touch, and when it comes to mushrooms, this may be a somewhat controversial topic. Many people think that you should not touch a mushroom that is toxic because it could lead to a fatal reaction. This is a big misconception; while mycotoxins can be absorbed through the skin, you would have to handle an extremely large amount of toxic mushrooms for it to be fatal. (When I say extremely large, I mean hundreds of pounds in a day.) There are a few rare cases where people are allergic to mushrooms, but overall, it is safe to touch toxic and nontoxic mushrooms. I have handled one of the most deadly mushrooms, the Destroying Angel (Amanita phalloides), and I experienced no negative effects from simply touching it. Next time you come across a mushroom, feel free to give it a little pat-pat on the cap!

*The writer is Agraria’s Education Administrator.