Travel the Tattoo: What We Need to Know to Spark the Abundance Mindset

(a fun and beautiful docu-series which provides legitimate solutions to create a cosmic shift towards peace, love, joy, and prosperity on Earth)

After surviving an abusive relationship, I, Monique, sought healing by searching for solutions to the violence which exists in our world. Malcolm Gladwell’s book, “The Tipping Point,” inspired me to look for answers, not at the center of the problem, but around the edges of the issue. As a result, I came to the conclusion, at its root, violence is not about anger or dominance, but actually a result of the scarcity mindset in which people believe/feel there is a shortage of love for them in the world.

 I started wondering what kind of world culture could effectively change people’s perception of lack and therefore; eradicate this issue and spark the abundance mindset. I brainstormed a list of 10 key components needed in today’s society for our world to advance to the point of community members feeling secure/safe/loved, thus ending the violence which results when the scarcity mindset exists. After compiling the list, I researched which countries excelled in these areas. 

In order to have a visual daily reminder that the idea of a peaceful, happy world is a realistic possibility, I tattooed symbols of each component on my back; hence the name of our docu-series “Travel the Tattoo: What We Need to Spark the Abundance Mindset.”

During our “Travel the Tattoo” docu-series, my boyfriend, Jean Modeste, and myself will travel to each country, visiting cultural pillars such as schools, art scenes, sports teams, media centers, etc, to learn what tangible actions these countries implement which allow their prominent characteristic to flourish. As Jean Modeste and I “Travel the Tattoo” we will share the ideas we gain in the form of activities which others can use in classrooms or in life because Jean Modeste and I believe that if humanity has access to knowledge about and inspiration for a peaceful, happy, prosperous society, the global community can work together to make it a reality.

The following is the list of the 10 key components, in an order which builds upon itself, and several countries which are leaders, either currently or historically, in these areas:

Travel the Tattoo: What We Need to Spark the Abundance Mindset opens in the Temple of Pythons in Benin, West Africa where I was a teacher in a small village and where Jeannot grew up. This is represented by the pestle and mortar with the African symbol of unity on my lower right back.

The first component out of the pestle and mortar and the first component necessary to spark the abundance mindset is love.  Jeannot and I know the importance of having love for one’s self, and when doing research, Colombia, Rwanda, and Philippines had strong love in their cultures; so in addition to Jeannot’s and my own ideas on how to cultivate self-love, we will include aspects of culture from Colombia, Rwanda, and the Philippines. 

The second component necessary to spark the abundance mindset is Caring about Peaceful Government and the Earth which is represented by the Iroquois Nation of the USA because the original constitution of the USA was based on the Iroquois Nation and its focus on peace and unity. (npr.com)

The third component necessary to spark the abundance mindset is focusing on Female Empowerment which is represented by New Zealand, the first country to allow women to vote! This is represented by the female Haka symbol on my left shoulder (which unfortunately is not visible in the picture). 

 The fourth component out of the pestle and mortar and necessary for sparking the abundance mindset is Cultivating Mind/Body Connection found in the practices of the Shaolin Temple in China, represented by the dragon.  

The fifth component necessary for sparking the abundance mindset is Prioritizing Peace represented by the Puffin of Iceland, the world’s most peaceful country for 13 years. Iceland is so peaceful, parents leave their babies outside, sleeping in strollers, unattended for hours! (icelandtravel.is)

 After peace, the sixth component for sparking the abundance mindset is Prosperity. Prosperity is represented by the Nisser (gnome) of Norway, the world’s most prosperous country! Mothers/Fathers in Norway get 11 months paid maternity leave! (Bloomberg. Irish Times.)

The seventh component for sparking the abundance mindset is Joy! Joy is represented by the Whooping Swan of Finland, the world’s happiest country for 4 years in a row.  The Finnish happily used 98 million euros on their library in Helsinki which they call “the living room of Finland” because it provides a safe and welcoming space for community members to learn and bond. (oodihelsinki.finland)

The eighth component for sparking the abundance mindset is Gaining Wisdom from Nature  represented in my tattoo by the stars, symbolizing the South American culture of the Incas. The Incas used the stars to lead a nation of 12 million people. (Scientific American)

The ninth component for sparking the abundance mindset is Generosity symbolized by the Cornucopia from Greece.  One way Greece demonstrated generosity was saving Jews during the Holocaust. (greekreporter.com)

 The tenth component necessary for sparking the abundance mindset is modeling uniqueness in Arts/Athletics/Amusement/Leadership represented by the Aboriginal Flag from the Aboriginal Culture of Australia, the oldest culture on Earth.

Here is our tentative schedule: 

Greece–Generosity: June (Zakynthos, Rethymno, Crete, Ideon Cave, East side of Mt. Ida)

Australia —Arts/Athletcis/Amusement/Leadership:  June (Kate Owen Gallery, Rozelle, New South Wales, Walkabout Cultural Adventures, Queensland, Nitmiluktours, Northern Territory)

Finland–Joy: July (Tuska Open Air Heavy Metal Festival, Oodi Helsinki Library, Hietalahti Fleamarket, Nuuksio’s North Gate, Mobile Sauna Festival, Wife Carrying Race)

Iceland–Peace: August (Gay Pride Parade, Ljosafoss Powerplant, Asatru Temple)

China–Mind/Body Connection: August (Shaolin Temple)

Norway–Prosperity: September (Arctic Circle, Naturbarnehege, Vardgroup AS Shipbuilding)

Philippines–Love:  September (Habitat for Humanity)

USA–Original Democracy: October (Iroquois Nation)

New Zealand–Female Empowerment: October (Whangarei, Tu Tika Tours, Black Ferns Rugby match, Nicky Hyslop’s sheep, beef, and arable irrigated property, Clarke Gayford’s fishing boat, Rock climbing South Island)

Benin–Introduction: November  (Temple of Pythons, Ouidah)

Rwanda–Love: November (Mosques in Kigali)

Columbia–Love, Peru–Wisdom from Nature: December (Comuna 13 in Medellin and Cusco Planetarium, Machu Picchu)

Here is how you can be part of creating a happier world:

You can contribute financially in the following ways:

Airline tickets: We need airline tickets for 12 countries– $31,200.

Lodging: We need hotels for the 7 months of travel–$45,000. 

Writer/director/film crew salaries: Jeannot and I are working with Beverly Boy Productions, an international production company.  We are all dedicating ourselves for 7 months to discovering and sharing with the world how to Spark the Abundance Mindset 🙂  — Salaries for writer/director are $85,000 each.  We estimate production costs for the 12 countries to be $480,000.

Miscellaneous (visas, phone, in-country chauffeurs, translators, entrance fees, etc): $32,200.

Take a peek at the introduction to “Travel the Tattoo: What We Need to Know to Spark the Abundance Mindset”

General Introduction for all Episodes 

2022, Benin, West Africa. 

Ouidah, Temple of Pythons. Early Evening. 

Anglique Kidjo’s “Choose Love” plays. 

Inside a shadowy concrete, circular Temple on yellow layered concrete slabs, numerous pythons rest. Some slither. Some lie still. A friendly yet mysteriously powerful atmosphere. 

Outside the Temple of Pythons, two young Beninese girls, dressed in colorful pagne, rhythmically beat ignams with their two pestles, sharing one mortar. Zemijahns whizz by. 

Davido’s “Get to You” plays. 

A small bon-fire. The beach at Grand Popo, another small village in Benin. 

JEANNOT (43), a sexy, spiritual, and fashionable Black man born in West Africa, and his girlfriend, MONIQUE (46), a beautiful, spiritual, and funny White American. Arms wrapped around each other’s waist. A slight breeze ripples Jeannot’s white linen trousers. Shirtless and barefoot, Jeannot adoringly smiles at Monique, gives her a gentle kiss on her lips. With comforting arms, Jeannot smoothly turns Monique to face him. Places his left hand lovingly on the lower right side of her back, caresses part of her tattoo– a mortar similar to ones used in animism, engraved with the African symbol for unity and holding two pestles, topped with King and Queen crowns. 

“Ma cherie, tu est prete?” (English subtitles: My dear, are you ready?) “On va voyager le tatouage!” (English subtitles: We are going to Travel the Tattoo!) 

Leaning back slightly, tipping head to feel breeze, Monique, “Oui!” (Yes) Let’s explore the globe and discover secrets for Love (camera zooms in on “heart” image of Monique’s Tattoo), Good Leadership (camera zooms in on “Iroquois Flag image on Monique’s Tattoo), Female Empowerment (camera zooms in on Feminized “Haka” image on Monique’s Tattoo) Mind/Body Connection (camera zooms in on “Chinese Dragon” image on Monique’s Tattoo), Peace (camera zooms in on “Puffin” image on Monique’s Tattoo), Prosperity (camera zooms in on “Nisse” image on Monique’s tattoo), Joy (camera zooms in on “Whooping Swan” image on Monique’s Tattoo), Wisdom from Nature (camera zooms in on “Constellation” image on Monique’s Tattoo) Generosity (camera zooms in on “Cornucopia” image on Monique’s Tattoo), Arts, Athletics, Amusement (camera zooms in on “Australian Aboriginal flag” image on Monique’s Tattoo). 

Jeannot breaks into dance. Monique laughs. They kiss. “Let’s make the world happy!”