I am Usnea.

I am here - in the protected and clean air of the forest.

I breathe here.

I contain within me both fungi and plant.

I am between worlds, and I contain worlds.

I am multiple realities at once.

I anchor myself to the steady pulse of the trees.

I reach out towards the sun, nourishment, in gratitude.

My body is shaped by gratitude and grief.

You see me now, when all the vivacious greenery of deciduous leaves have dropped to the earth.

But I am always here with you.

My growth is low and steady and nonlinear.

In winter storms, parts of me are carried away in the wind.

May my grieved tendrils be found - by a new home tree, by a sacred ceremony, by the earth’s embrace.

Deeply anchored to my home, I grow with diligence and beauty.

Subtle shape shifting in complexity and spongey seafood green radiance.

I am them, they are me.

I am ancient.

I am lichen.

My family covers the earth with: healing medicine, beauty mysteries, hidden truths, right relationship, a template of symbiosis.

As Usnea, I center myself while in sacred relationship to earthly binaries.

AS Usnea, my purpose is inner balance, steady growth, HOLY TRUST.

As Usnea, I am interconnection and resilience guided by Earth’s seasons.

As Usnea, I am gratitude and grief

simultaneously

in surrender

in process

eternally.

Mantra: I TRUST