Porosty. Ziemskie alfabety wzajemności

Lichens do not belong to plants or animals; they are long-lived and stable, capable of surviving in the harsh conditions of concrete urbanization in modern cities. Their strength comes from the hybrid combination of a fungus, a green alga, or a cyanobacterium, along with the millions of supporting cells from other organisms. This alliance of fungi and algae, which we observe today in the form of lichens, once played a crucial role in shaping life on Earth. Lichens testify that during times of scarcity, mutual assistance becomes key to survival. Their symbiotic history, presented in this article, is a lesson we urgently need today about reciprocity and the formation of new, diverse communities. Lichens are an excellent example of how to create a culture of mutuality and community, while offering an alternative to a life of alienation, individual functioning, and the pursuit of maximizing profit. They provide us with an alternative model of life on Earth, in contrast to individualistic, selfish, and individual-centered ways. The properties of lichens and their practices of forming alliances can serve as guidelines for functioning during the climate and environmental crisis, when resources are shrinking, and global temperatures are reaching record highs. The methodology we apply can be called “symbiotic humanities”. Its task is to uncover various forms of life on Earth and convey a more-than-human perspective of the world, one that emphasizes interweaving, relationships, connections, kinships, and the fact that every species exists only through others. This text is enriched with images of lichens to visually demonstrate to the reader the different forms of embodiment of these fascinating organisms. The article serves as an invitation to observe them, to decipher the irregular calligraphy of their thalli. We present the Lichen Manifesto and literary texts that may inspire new, unconventional ways of perceiving the world, encouraging exploration of symbiosis, complexity, and the polyphony of lichen nature, as well as the study of geolinguistics.