Midterms, Movements, and Mushrooms

 *This post was originally written in November of 2022*

Mushrooms exist in a liminal space, we find them in relation to other things; on a forest floor, under a fallen tree trunk, inside the body of a dead animal. In nature they function as recycling agents. They break down dead matter into raw nutrients for new life. According to mycologists, if it weren’t for fungi, the ground would be so overrun with dead matter there would be no room for growth .

The mushroom isn’t what causes things to die, but it takes the dead thing and transforms it. The fallen log has already ceased to be a tree, the mushroom just accelerates its journey back to being what it was: mostly carbon, some other elements, the prima materia of plant matter.

I’ve been thinking about this cycle in relation to a death that occurred relatively recently: The death of Roe v. Wade. I know, it happened almost six months ago, but it’s taken this long and the very recent midterm election results for me to see the relevance of this symbol.

In a lot of ways, Roe v. Wade was like that dead log on the forest floor. Americans had a nominal right to reproductive autonomy, but the reality was that in many places it was practically impossible to get an abortion, especially if you lacked access to funds and transportation. The specifics of how this worked are complex and you can read more about it here.

Please understand, I was devastated (but not surprised, was anyone?) at the Supreme Court’s ruling. Even more horrifying was the rapidity with which some states got to work banning abortions outright. I have no doubt that this decision caused unnecessary pain and suffering and even death for many. It should not have happened.

But, in the months that followed, there was hope, and there was growth. Community organization that had existed long before became stronger and tighter. Planned Parenthood broke fundraising records in the last half of June. And in this week’s elections, Vermont became the first state to codify the right to abortion into its constitution.

In the fight for reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy, we’re in the breaking down stage, unmistakably. But what we’re seeing are the raw materials that we have to create a new thing.