Today, my thoughts are on the fast approaching Season of Giving- also known as “the holidays” in Western culture. For many, the season of giving is preceded with a season of healing. In the Maasai culture, healers are known as the Laibon. The Laibon apply their healing practices through herbal remedies and sacred rituals. Meanwhile, thousands of Westerners across the globe are participating in numerous healing rituals of their own to raise awareness and fight one of the top killers of women- Breast Cancer.

Some alarming facts I found about Breast Cancer from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Not counting some kinds of skin cancer, breast cancer in the United States is the most common cancer in women, no matter your race or ethnicity; the most common cause of death from cancer among Hispanic women and the second most common cause of death from cancer among white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women. In 2004 (the most recent year numbers are available): 186,772 women and 1,815 men developed breast cancer.40,954 women and 362 men died from breast cancer.

We are determined to do our part and contribute to this season of healing as well by battling this awful disease. This fall, we are participating in our second annual campaign in the fight against breast cancer. The Leakey Collection is again donating 10% of all sales from our pink Kuponya (means ‘to heal’) necklaces, bracelets and earrings. The donation will be divided between our women’s health initiative in rural parts of the Maasai Mara and with a donation to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. This annual ritual we participate in maintains the global connectivity of women helping women. Perhaps the readers will find a healing ritual of their own to share to keep this connection alive and well.