Issue 38: Birth and Rebirth with Jin 신지 Moon
A poet, a birth worker, and many more to love and to be loved
Hi KP!
In Issue 27, I shared my admiration for the zine Herbs of the Korean Diaspora which I discovered a few years ago, and its co-creator, ShinYeon Moon. Today, I am excited to introduce the zine’s other co-creator, Jin Shinji Moon. Jin's love, trust, and commitment to exploring their roots and history are truly inspiring. Their passion and dedication to creating loving, strong communities are powerful. Reading their responses was both healing and empowering, and I feel that even by simply sharing this interview, I am contributing to making the world a little better. If you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself reflecting on their answers long after you finish reading. I can’t wait for you to meet Jin! So, without further ado, please join me in welcoming Jin Shinji Moon.
Flavor of the Week: KP Q&A with Jin 신지 Moon
Jin 신지 Moon (they/them) is a writer, birthworker, and community herbalist based on Coast Salish lands in Tacoma, WA. They received their undergraduate education first at NYU and then at Evergreen State College, where they studied Postcolonial Studies and Writing. They have worked as a youth educator, domestic violence and sexual assault advocate, and in recent years have entered into their full-time career as as birthworker, supporting community members & families in navigating their birth & postpartum journeys, with a gentle hand and yummy Korean food. In 2013, they published The Anatomy of Being, a book of poetry. In recent years, they collaborated with their sister ShinYeon Moon on a zine called Herbs of the Korean Diaspora. They have a queer Korean diaspora project called Hansoom that focuses on Korean folk information and diasporic story telling, through which every year they release a 24-month Korean Jeolgi farming calendar. You can follow Jin on IG here or here for their work.
Introduce yourself more personally in 2-3 sentences.
Heart-centered and food motivated, living within a crumbling empire and building towards a future where all the people I love feel safe and possible. Tired, pissed off, but full of love for the people I care about, and for the families I care for.
Where are you from?
On Coast Salish lands in the Pacific Northwest, also known as Tacoma, WA
No, where are you REALLY from? (Haha!)
On my omma’s side our family is from northern Korea, namely Pyongyang and Anju. On my Appa’s side, we are from the south of Korea, around Seoul I think.
What’s your sign?
Virgo Sun, Virgo Moon, Libra Rising. In my Saju chart I am a Yang Wood Dog
How would you describe yourself in five words?
Silly, noodly, playful, intense, and emotional
What do you love about being Komerican?
I love being able to share big laughter with my Korean friends. Our joys of food, knowing that we all come from lineages of coinciding han and jeong, the joys and griefs of being Korean make way for big joy and big sorrow that I resonate with on a deep level. Learning about Korean history has been incredibly grounding, and I am proud to come from such lineages of perseverance and love. Also, Koreans are weirdos. I’ve never met a Korean that isn’t a lil bit of a freak, and I’m into it.
And of course, what are your favorite Korean foods?
Gamjatang, kimchi jjigae, clam kalguksu, hotteok, tuna kimbap, mu-guk. maeuntang. Really, all of it! If I don’t eat Korean food every few days I start disintegrating.
What was your childhood like and what has it taught you?
I don’t feel like going into my childhood, but I learned from a very young age how important chosen family is, and how it is a community affair to raise children with their spirits, safety, and wellness intact.
Can you share something exciting that you’re working on now?
I’m working on a writing project that follows my lineage from birth throughout my life, and the lineage of a durumi (a red crowned crane), a spirit companion that I have been connected with since I was born. It’s a sweet life project that I’ve been moving through for a few years now. I’m also working on a small chapbook called Altar of my Blue Dreams, which is just a cute little personal project I’m excited about.
What do people underestimate about you?
I work in a very soft field and have a pretty gentle approach to life, but I am not above fucking someone up if they mess with me or the people I love.
Share your proudest moment in the past year.
This year has been full of beautiful births. I don’t have an exact moment that I am the proudest of, but it feels so beautiful to be able to build into my career as a birth worker, to learn to trust myself and my hands more and more in this calling. It is an honor to move with families on their journeys towards parenthood, and to be someone who is able to navigate that horizon space between worlds. I am proud of how large my capacity has grown to hold the grief of loss, and the joy of new life, simultaneously.
What was your hardest moment in the past year?
There is a lot of grief wrapped around my relationship to writing that I haven’t had the space to confront till recently. There are many knots of fear that I live tied up within around sharing my writing, and putting myself out there again feels like a daunting task. I went to a publishing event a few weeks ago, and felt myself feeling small like I was when I was 19 publishing my first book, and it startled me. There are so few places in my life where I feel that small still. But I feel that I am finally sturdy enough now to hold that smaller me through this process of confronting, letting go, and integrating the hurt we experienced around our writing.
We’ve all been hurt in some form or fashion. What are you healing from?
I don’t want to open up my rolodex of hurt, but I am learning how to accept that I am loved in a big, deep way by the people in my life, that my presence is important to others, and acknowledging that feels like a big part of this healing journey.
How do you love yourself?
I let myself rest, and cook Korean food for myself. I go for walks with my loved ones, and spend evenings watching the sun go down at the sound, washing my hands and feet and spirit clean in the saltwater. I make sure I have enough of my medication, and that I’m stretching and strength-training. I journal every day, and spend time with my plant community, and allow them to tend to me. Loving myself is also allowing other people to love me, which is an art form that I am always studying.
How do you love others?
Through bearing witness to their stories, and letting them know that they are welcome to show up to our relationship with all that they are. Making them herbal teas and offering body care based on what’s going on in their lives & hearts. Laying on the floor laughing and sharing heart, and going around town being silly little freaks together.
What five things can you not live without?
Rice, coffee, eggs, soy sauce, Lao Gan Ma chili crisps. Literally just what I had for breakfast. When the world ends this combo will be what I miss the most of my daily comforts.
What’s your favorite dance song? (If you don’t dance, that’s okay too.)
drive ME crazy! by Lil Yachty. I mean it’s not exactly a dance song but it’s what’s here right now
What’s your favorite kind of pie?
Hehe. I don’t like sweet things very much actually! Can I count hotteok as a pie?
This Q&A was filled out online and edited for length and clarity.
H Mart Happiness: What’s your favorite product and why?
“The fact that I can buy this frozen gimari, seaweed roll, from Hmart makes me happy. It’s so convenient, too - you can just cook them in an air fryer or toaster oven, and it’s delicious. Gimari is a perfect companion for tteobokki.” - Bo L.
What’s your favorite H Mart product? Share the love and leave a comment!
Crispy Crust: A Touch of Jeong - Uplifting illustrations that delight
It’s that time of the year for the warm, soft pair of socks! I have many of them in my drawer. How do you get ready for the colder weather?
Love, Aram
Korean School: 미역국 Miyeok-guk, Birthday Soup
Fun facts, idioms, translations and history
For much longer than birthday cake has existed, Koreans have celebrated birthdays with birthday soup. 미역국 miyeok-guk, made from miyeok (seaweed) cooked in beef broth or seafood-based broth like clams or anchovies, is not only delicious but also rich in nutrients like calcium, iron, and iodine. Originally food for pregnant women or women after giving birth to regain energy and recover, it became a tradition to eat a bowl of miyeok-guk on one’s birthday. Maangchi has a recipe with beef and mussels.
Sweet & Salty: A Tasty Treat Satisfying all the Senses
I am excited to see that more and more picture books that were originally published in Korea are now being translated and published in the U.S. Lee Gee Eun is a hugely popular picture book creator in Korea, and her books have a laugh-out-loud sense of humor in such warm and cozy way. Although I love her books, I wasn’t sure if the distinct humor in her books would be translated into English well to deliver their jokes and nuances. I’m happy that I was proven wrong! One of her books, The Legend of Tiger and Tail-Flower (can you guess what tail-flower is?) was published this past summer, translated by Aerin Park. Turned out humor is universal, of course! Not only the story is fun and clever, but I also love the beautiful illustrations and comic-inspired layouts used in creative ways. Grab a copy and check it out!