Embodying Tradition

Set against the softened backdrop of sand and sky, this Maasai warrior’s deep brown skin tones and gloriously colorful array of beaded adornments gain gravitas. In revisiting the image, my mind turns to the richness of culture in Kenya, the rituals of “the hunt,” the integrity of his tribe, the ways in which he and I are connected. We are bound not just by having shared this moment, but in our reverence for life.

I bow to his elegance, fortitude, grace, and power. He bows to the land for its bounty, beauty, grace, and power. We are softened by love and honor something outside of ourselves. On this day, we are each other’s best teachers and students.

Marvelously, although we exist as human threads within one living fabric, the warrior and I are not one being. We are individuals, uniquely formed by our genetics, ancestral history, current philosophies and habits—and, if one accepts faith as real, our spiritual practices and beliefs. Seek color, close your eyes, rest your forehead upon a symbol, decorate every day with comfort.