I chose to do an X on Samarqand, an ancient city on the Silk Road. I kind of kept it in the vein of White Raven's Machu Pichu (locations), just because I wasn't that sure about venturing into 'non-person' X territory.
But next I'm going to try one on an emotion, such as fear; which should be really hard. SAMARQAND
Ancient {
Ruins [
crumbling (
<the ancient ruins of the Incans>
<a cookie held in the hands of a four year old>
<a hillside during a torrential rain>
<an army's line of defense about to give way>
)
rebuilding (
<The Registan building ornate with turquoise tiles>
<a steady, yet small creek>
<a nine year old building with LEGO bricks>
<a house being reconstructed after Hurricane Katrina>
)
]
}
Glory {
Past [
fading (
<a train that has run out of coal>
<a man with dentures – at the end of his life>
<the Qing empire>
<the glory that was Greece, Rome>
)
Silk Road (
<like a hypnotic moving chain>
<slim line of traders and buyers scattered across a world>
<a bubbling brook moving across continents and deserts>
)
precarious (
<it's like a balloon at a porcupine party>
<a rock at the very edge of a cliff>
<a thin line of silk>
)
]
}
Trade^Commerce {
Free Market [
government (
<a person holding a cage over an animal>
<”a never-ending dynasty”>
<Adolf Hitler>
)
]
Bazaars [ #Bazaars are the open-air markets of Uzbekistan#
bustling (
<a crowd of army ants>
<rumble of thunder>
<hot pavement on a summer day>
)
large (
<a spreading horde of insects>
<millions of colors across your eyes>
<the aroma of fruit wafting>
<thousands of bags stockpiled in a warehouse>
)
]
}
Religion {
Islam [
bondage (
<belief in a God who does not care about them>
#This is that illustration that Alex and Brett used in “Do Hard Things”#
<elephant with string around it's knee>
<an iron weight on your head>
<like an explorer surrounded by wild beasts>
)
tradition (
<like a rigid train on a track>
<a soldier going into battle knowing he will lose>
<a doctor performing a hopeless surgery>
<a depressed man living alone>
)
“close-minded” (
<shut like a door / |a locked and vaulted bank safe - a lost key|>
<a sailor who won't let go of a slat of wood - rescue is at hand>
<foolish man building his house upon the sand>
)
]
}
Let me know what you think...I really enjoyed this essence, it felt like I was actually at the city.
eruheran
Just kidding, I was never your teacher 
