I'm off to the Middle East...

A little note before I leave to go back home.

As some of you know, I’ve mentioned that I’d be traveling this summer.

What you didn’t know is I was planning to visit the United Arab Emirates and my home country of Lebanon—and it wasn’t until this moment that I decided to continue with my plans.

Clearly, there’s a lot of political conflict currently happening with the Middle East, which understandably created worry about traveling to the area. I remained patient as I continuously checked my airline’s advisories to see if my flights were canceled, and kept asking my guides about whether or not this trip was still happening.

Crickets.

At one point, I considered postponing my trip, entertaining the thought that perhaps a little time would make things settle a bit. But just as I was about to confirm the new dates with the airline, my stomach dropped.

Just go now.

Maybe you’ve been there, too. Suddenly, all the guidance that you would receive so clearly is nowhere to be found, as if you’ve been abandoned by the Universe. But that’s not the case.

The validation that you would usually seek externally is now embodied, so it’s coming from within.

A part of me always knew I wasn’t going to get a clear answer. I just needed to make a decision, and I hated every minute of it (lol). This was part of my soul growth.

As someone who usually hates when people tell me what to do, I kept waiting on someone to tell me what to do. Should I go? Should I not? Everyone had their opinions, but I knew that at the end of the day, I had to trust myself—and what I kept feeling was that I can’t let fear win.

Here’s the unfortunate truth that I’ve learned over the course of my life—there is never a time where it isn’t a risk to travel to the Middle East.

When I first booked this flight, I knew it was going to be divine.

This will be the first time I’ll visit Lebanon since 2019, before I even started Return to Self. It just so happens to also be at a time that both of my parents are there, too. Not to mention my fourth house of home, family, ancestry and roots is being magnified right now by these Aries transits.

I miss my land. I miss the food. I miss my Dad. I miss seeing people who look like me and speak my native tongue. I miss Lebanon.

Something that perhaps only immigrants will truly understand is the soul tie to your home country. I understand it may be dangerous, and I understand why some may think it’s ridiculous to go during a time like this…

But this is my home.

Some of you get to spend time with your family every weekend. I haven’t seen mine in 6 years.

There will always be fear and risk when it comes to traveling to the Middle East, but I can’t let that continue to stop me from seeing the people and country I love so much.

Plus, we all know that if it isn’t meant to happen, it won’t. And that was part of my continuous lesson—if you really believe you’re protected and divinely guided, then trust in that.

I’ve spent so many years chipping away at the deep embedded fear within my bones, some that was inherited and some that was learned. At some point, after all of the magick I’ve experienced within my life alone, it becomes disrespectful to continue doubting what I’ve been privileged enough to witness.

So, I surrender to the journey.

Anyway, I’m writing this to remind you that I will be overseas, and therefore unavailable. The newsletters will not be at the same consistency as normal, and obviously services will be paused.

In the meantime, I’ll share what I can from my travels, so you can get a sneak peek of what’s happening on my end.

As this country continues to attempt looping back to the same narratives we’ve seen time and time again, I hope that you remember your Middle Eastern friend Bruna, who taught you to challenge the assumptions that you’ve been fed about our people and our part of the world.

We’re not “terrorists” and “extremists.” We are regular people who love where we come from, love our family and show love to whoever crosses our path.

Maybe the labels that are constantly placed on us, are actually a little closer to home.

Xo