Large Fierce Mammal

A bounteous bloom of monotropa uniflora (AKA “Indian Pipe”) in the early July woods of the LFM back 40. (LFM Photo)

The pale monotropa uniflora, “Indian pipe” in the vulgar tongue, has been a point of study here since July of 2019, and I first harvested and tinctured it in the same month of 2020. This is the second year of its gathering, this year including all three LFM Sons, but most particularly #1 Son Viktor, who is nearly 8, has a voracious interest in the plants around him, and wants to learn them all at once. White though it is against the forest loam, it can be surprisingly hard to spot unless you know where it is likely to appear and look there. Viktor learned this quickly and afterward seemed unable NOT to see it!

My studies of Plant Medicine have been characterized by an annually renewed focus on learning everything there is to know about one or, at most two, plant species living within the wild places we Large Fierce Mammals frequent. Building atop what was learned in the previous annual cycle, over time this has permitted a steady and incremental growth of understanding that works for me. It’s not fast, and that’s as it should be, in keeping with the quite appropriate adage attributed to Lao Tzu (whoever he was):

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”

There is also, of course, my own long held and deep seated distaste of haste for haste’s sake, clearly shared and best described by Groucho Marx:

“I intend to live forever, or die trying.”

To that end I will remind you, Goode Reader, that there is no surer path to immortality than to infuse the best of yourself into the fruits of your loins, and then let them seek their own from there.

Apprentice Weihnachtsjäger take their ease atop their favourite perch — the substantial glacier dropping that marks the center of their current forest range. Monotropa uniflora looks on in approval from the foreground. (LFM Photo)

On the subject of immortality then, I will reprise my poem of the same name, first published here on 30 October 2020.

Immortality

By LFM

Life is not for living in the future nor the past,
For they are but parentheses containing all thou hast.
However far apart they lie will matter not a jot —
That tiny moment in between called “NOW” is all you’ve got.

Don’t build your life from might have beens nor forecasts dark and bleak,
The past is not for hiding from, the future not the meek,
The NOW is all you have and only YOU can set the bar,
So last your Life’s light shines upon’s the best of all you are.

I intend to live forever lads, or die in the attempt,
And saying that I make no claim my Life is Death exempt.
The NOW’s to seize to bursting with all reasons to rejoice
In Sons who read these words of mine and hear them in my voice.

And as to monotropa uniflora, our special guest of the evening, and what it brings to the party, settle back Goode Reader, and soak up what Adam Haritan has to say in this episode from his highly recommended and LFM approved Learn Your Land YouTube channel.