8.31.2011

zao an tai chi

tingle starts in hands and bottom of feet
activated by breath, as music crescendoes
we lift arms to cradle everything coming together perfectly
eyes half shut for these suns they shine so brightly

8.14.2011

Four forest days

... this year during my wilderness fast, I slept in a hammock under a
mosquito net under a tarp. it rained most of the time, thus the
hammock (lets the rain run under). I hung all my stuff up along my
hammock rope. First 2 days sabae sabae (relaxation) and good sleep,
and then final two days... hooooo, spine pain! Now, I still love
hammocks... but am super grateful to lie flat against Mama Earth's
body and sleep with a straight spine again. Thai tarps are not so
good. This forest smells and feels and everything amazing... but
aren't all forests amazing? :) I love the forest. My family name means
forest. Am honored to be part of all this in all ways, always. More
stories on this... but in person, or phone, skype. See you soon. Love
you!

Joy is Edible



photo from the final day of this year's Jiling-Wilderness-Fast (duan shi, bi guan) 2011
love and so much gratitude to all my friends, family, and people, animals, plants, minerals, and universe in my life!

8.10.2011

back from the forest

internet is super slow right now and i have more stories coming for
you, my family (via email) but right now just upload onto this blog...
i am back for the forest. and i am well. more then well!!! radiant and
so happy to be here on this planet! and i will write more when the
internet is faster. :) love y'all!
jiling

8.02.2011

tacomepai permaculture design course

here's my classmates with one of our teachers, sandot (next to me).
not pictured but making the photo is damien, my brother monkey and
sandot's co-teacher of this permaculture course. wooo! :)
here, we are in the rice paddy field, right before planting. THIS is
the most important thing in the world... our food! where does it come
from? the EARTH!
human+nature= paradise
yes!

7.30.2011

wild passionflower

permaculture course ended today
i can't wait to make a home on a nice piece of land close to national forest/ wildlands and put all these great ideas into practice... grow food, herbs, edible forest garden, store water, build an eco efficient home...
am super inspired... and also, craving a more permanent home
passionflower... i have dreamed of this flower many times, and it is everywhere here with delicious wild fruits. it is love that grows on a vine
and then these people? the vibrant lady next to me is sandot's mother, and sandot's the man with the huge smile in the center of the photo (the genius behind my current farm). damien is my big brother monkey, on the far right. shen is another vegan, right above him.
this is home for now, but one day...
difficult to stay "present" when i can't help but wonder where, when, how i will make Home!

7.26.2011

rainbow

hot all day
temperate to arid climate with a nice sun spread over a blue sky and clouds drifting in and out
face up close into pungent bucket after bucket of effective microorganisms for the compost
compost tea, compost buckets, worm farms, fruit trees galore
all this is old stuff that i never quite understood from my dad and here it comes again
permaculture
rising from the bucket to drop my shoes off and sprint to a new pond to test the waters depth
and stop running, awestruck at the sky
rainbow stretching from where rice paddies lie with freshly planted rice babies
all the way over to the other side of the farm where dam after dam holds rich waters rich soils
all clothes off, all pretense aside, the pond is dark and muddy and deliciously warm and cold in parts
fish nibbling my limbs, sometimes with sharp teeth
drums and singing over by the kitchen with fire and delicious thai food
bananas and coconut milk
this rainbow
i saw this same rainbow over orchard hill farm almost a year ago
almost a year already since i left america
i can say
i don't miss you but i love you and i know that you know the difference
but the truth of the matter is
well, i miss you
i miss you with your smiles, laughter, unconditional love, and understanding
i miss you with all the plants, people, and friends that i know so well
i miss you with all the comfort and sweetness that is present every single place
and in every single person and plant
all the comfort and sweetness present in every rainbow molecule dreambeat drumbeat of my spirit being whole present now flesh breath blood bone fat movement patience strength grace
when you enter the forest
you enter the belly of the mother
re-enter
this shared breath gift love presence
i acknowledge this pain
i breathe into this darkness
i embrace this light
and dance with shadow
finding the myriad rainbows amongst the patiently flowing pond waters curves
amongst the dancing flames transforming green bananas into dinner