Inhabitant on the Mother Land

Welcome to Sunshine’s Journal.

I am visiting permaculture farms, eco-villages, communities and tribes around the world to explore and contribute to sustainable  & permanent living practices.

I am a 23 years old gap year student currently studying Architecture, researching in affordable buildings, community design and vernacular & indigenous architecture, at the University of Tokyo, having grown up in China. 

About ‘Permanant Inhabitation’

Let me unfold the tale of my odyssey into an alternative way of living.

From the tender years of my youth, I harbored a profound skepticism towards modernity, sensing its inherent emptiness. This feeling crescendoed during the pandemic, as I found myself confined to a tiny Tokyo apartment for over two years. In that crucible of isolation, my wanderlust ignited, urging me to burst the bubbles of convention that had long constrained me. I yearned for distant horizons, for the farthest reaches I could find.

My first journey in 2022 took me to a village called Ourika, near the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, where I worked as an ecological earthen construction intern at a yoga retreat center. There, I experienced the power of ecological cultivation.

On my second journey in 2023, I served as a yoga teacher and photographer at a permaculture lodge in the Batukaru mountain range in central Bali. It was there that I discovered the resilience of permaculture design system and solidified my desire to delve deeper into learning and practicing them.

My quest for knowledge then took me to China's Jiangsu Province, where I volunteered at Yuansu Permaculture farm. A month of hands-on learning culminated in my Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC). The subsequent six months saw me traversing China, exploring various permaculture farms and nascent ecovillages, each a testament to sustainable living.

April 2024 marked a pivotal moment as I set foot in Victoria, Australia - the cradle of permaculture. Here, in the land where sustainable practices took root, I sought to deepen my understanding and hone my skills. Over the past three months (until June 28th), I've immersed myself in five distinct tribes and permaculture communities. Each place, with its unique focus and philosophy, has been a wellspring of inspiration, broadening my perspectives immeasurably.

The journey ahead promises even more adventures. I plan to spend the next year as a nomad, first returning to Morocco, then venturing into the vibrant tapestry of West Africa. From there, I'll traverse the Americas, starting with Cuba and maybe Mexico, before exploring the depths of Latin America. My odyssey will culminate in the lush abundance of Southern Asia, with Thailand as my final destination.

In the 'Permanent Inhabitation' section of this blog, I'll be sharing my experiences, observations, and a plethora of images from all the places I explore. Join me on this journey of discovery - subscribe and share your thoughts!

About ‘Inner World’

After that heartwarming introduction, let me be candid: I'm not particularly skilled with words. Abstract concepts and generalizations don't come naturally to me.

As a child who has always thought in visuals and images, communicating through words feels like a double translation process - from image to word, then back to image. It's mentally exhausting. My ability to write even moderately well is largely due to the rigorous demands within education system and academic world.

I'm tired.

I no longer wish to conform to reductionist knowledge or literal, logical, and dualistic thinking.

I don't want to pressure myself into finding immediate solutions or trying to standardize everything systematically.

I'm weary of living in a modernity that separates mind, body, and environment.

Yet
     I still yearn to communicate
                          to share my life experiences and beliefs
                          to amplify individual voices so more people can hear them.

So, as a reluctant participant in the modern world, I'll continue using words for now - the most sincere and simple words I can find. But gradually, I'll reduce the verbal content, making more room for visual and poetry - spaces for imagination.

Also , as a RYT500 yogi, lifelong meditator, Chinese Medicine Practitioner, improvisational dancer, and nature singer, I'll use this section to share the authentic revelations of my inner world as I learn from indigenous wisdom.

I'll explore topics like why words have left scars on my heart, and how to connect deeply with body and mind.

Let's embrace the ambiguity, paradoxes, 
and complexities of our world
    Value intuition and instinct
        Honor death as part of impermanence
            Celebrate cycles and rhythms. 

Take time to savor nuances and uncertainties
      Respond life with heart to diverse, layered contexts

Share vulnerability in the face of the unknown
      Rebuild kinship with living consciousness
            Find peace and equilibrium as life unfolds.

This journey is about rediscovering a more holistic, interconnected way of being. It's about moving beyond the limitations of words and linear thinking, and opening ourselves to the rich, multifaceted experience of Relationship.

I invite you to join me on this path of exploration and growth together.

Sunshine
June 28th, 2024