Traveling To The Middle East With Face Tattoos - Our Frankincense Trail

Our Frankincense Trail

We were denied visas. Friends, family and acquaintances left seeds of doubt and fear to germinate in our heads as we sat indecisive of whether or not to travel to the Middle East on a mission for frankincense resin.
The resistance and struggle against us coincidently pushed us forward, upstream into the unknown. Curiosity and a promise of adventure fueled us, we had to know... could we, tattooed and modified, cross these conservative Islamic boundaries, and if not.... why exactly? We had to know.
We left on my birthday, Groundhogs Day, a bizarre holiday whose symbolic figure, a rodent named Punxsutawney Phil, predicts the future arrival of spring depending upon the perspective he takes when he emerges from his underground layer. There is a symbolic alignment here.
On this day we would challenge an entire country to state their perspective, just like the rodent Phil, would they emerge into a brighter world and recognize their shadows or would they remain in the dark and protect their countries people from the influences of the world... we were pulled aside moments before passing through immigration to find out.
There was controversy, there were mixed feelings, there was scrutiny. They told us they were not sure if it was safe for us, because of our appearance, to enter their country. They told us they would buy us plane tickets anywhere in the world we wanted to go.... we told them.... "We want to come to Oman."
The Head of Immigration, airport security, a couple police officers and military officials were called in, we passed around offerings of wild buffalo jerky and listened to the heated Arabic dialogue. They asked us about our tattoos, our modifications, our religious beliefs. They asked us what kind of God we believed in, but before I could began a long explanation of our beliefs, Eric interjected "we believe in Love." The immigration officer replied with a smile "God bless you."
Soon after this, with a handshake, a salute, or a hand on the heart, we heard the verdict... "welcome to our beautiful country, welcome to Oman."
Still unsure who they were trying to protect or if there was indeed danger, we rented an off-road SUV and remembered the mission, to find, buy and bring home 300 kg of sacred tree resin.
After a nine hour drive through the Arabian desert and some terribly windy nights in tents, we arrived in the southern town of Salalah. The ancient souk (market) of the port town greeted us with lively nights and the sweet smell of our treasure. Here we found our guides who sent us out into the Dhofar Mountain Range along the Yemen border, here we experienced the environment where the Luban (the Arabic word for frankincense meaning "milk") was harvested. Here was our reward.
This tree, whose blood cures us, whose tears cleanse our homes, grows out of rock on cliffs so steep the mountain goats struggle. This tree, who has been giving of its life force to the royalty throughout humanities history, lives in one of the harshest environments possible. Precipitous cliffs, hard dry soil, this tree is willingly crying for us to ascend, bleeding for us to evolve, an offering of awakening, a selfless struggle.

.ResinEssence.
Blessed Blood Blessing Breathe.
This resin speaks to our essence- resonating resins of ascension- essential resin of ancient remembrance.
Tears Of Awakening.
We are the Smoke Stewards, the Resin Ambassadors, the modern gypsy merchants of Gaia's sacraments. We are here to help you remember the rituals of life, the ritual of morning fire, evening smoke, moon ceremonies, family offerings. This is a tool, an ancient tool of intention, a tool of manifestation, a tear from the Earth Mother to commune with the Spirit Father. A way for us to remember our true nature, the gateway to the hidden realm of patterns, this is a tool to connect with our ancestors, a way for us to speak to our other selves. This smoke can deliver our prayers, it can carry us into dreams, it can cleanse a space and unite a community. All it requires is our presence, and that is its gift.
This is an excuse to take a moment, have a moment, and remember that moments are all we have.

Thank You For Your Time

With Love,

@awakentotheone