IZAYA GANESH SHANTI

Happy Birthday, Izaya!


click the photo to see more Izaya pics

This past year has been such a beauty-full one with Izaya!  
He is such a joy every day!  
Time passes quickly with him learning and growing at an amazing rate.  
He is two years old now and keeping us on our toes!  
His eyes are still a startling blue
and his  bright blonde hair has grown quite long.  
He is such a pretty little boy that he is regularly mistaken for a girl!  
He loves to laugh and sing and play (especially with balls).  
He loves to read books and paint.  
He can count to 10 and knows all of his colors.  
He loves to take boat rides or go swimming.  
Izaya likes to take walks in the woods and run through the grass.
Izaya is a little showman.  
He certainly knows how to make everyone smile!  
He is intelligent and adorable and, at two,
is a formidable opponent when wills are concerned!
He is inquisitive about everything and doesn't miss a thing!
He has the most contagious smile I have ever seen!  
His laughter flows so easily and is sweet medicine
to a world that desperately needs it.  
His unconditional LOVE  for everyone he meets
(people and creatures alike) is a true inspiration.  
He gives the biggest and BEST hugs ever!!!!

Izaya makes the world a better place!

We are thrilled, honored, and overjoyed that he chose us for his parents 
and are doing our best to raise him in a way that we feel 
will give him a great foundation to do his life's work with.

        

             Miracles cannot be planned.  On July 5th, 2005, we gave over full control to the Holy Spirit, and were graciously rewarded with a beautiful healthy son.

              I (Rae) was about eight months along in my pregnancy - give or take a couple of weeks.  With the approval of our midwife and insistance of  Spirit, we left our summer nesting grounds in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to once more 'Hit the Rainbow Trail". 

              A lovely spot in the Monongahela National Forest had been chosen for the site of the Gathering of the Tribes.  It was a relatively short ride for us through the beautiful hills of West Virginia and we were "Home".  

              We had a wonderful time with our Family there.  We played and visited and shared stories.  We ate amazing food made with love and prayed together.  We made crafts and traded them.  We learned new songs to sing and shared gifts and took hikes through the meadow. We relaxed and (Sunshine) worked really hard, and I spent the duration feeling very pregnant.

               On the morning of the fourth, we woke up silent - as is Rainbow tradition (silence is held by all until high noon as we pray for peace).  I tried to communicate to Sunshine through pantomime that my water may have broken overnight!  I've never been very good at charades and finally we ended up breaking the silence and laughing a lot.

               This being my first child, I didn't know what to expect.  The average first-time mom is in labor for "fourteen hours".  To pass the time we continued with the festivities of the day, making our way to the Main Meadow to join our brothers and sisters in prayer around the "Peace - Pole". 

              "Great Mother-Father, Infinite Spirit, That Which Is In All Things," I prayed silently, walking in a circle,"Please heal this planet - restore her to her original highest self.  Please undo the damage that mankind has caused her - please heal her waters, that they may run fresh and clean again; please restore her forests, that they may give shelter and purify the air once more; that we may breathe in the pure essence of LOVE unadulterated." I finished my first ring around the Pole. 

                I took note of the others, deep in their own communion with Spirit - all silent.  I looked into the eyes of my brothers and sisters, tears streaming down my face.  "Please, oh please sweet LOVE heal my Family.  Please heal the hearts of those who have been hurt.  Please comfort those that suffer, Lord, may they feel your LOVE for them, and may this give them PEACE. Dear All Encompassing Creator I pray that You would turn the hearts of those that would harm your children - may they feel Your LOVE for them and, in turn, LOVE ALL others."  

               As I prayed, I felt the Holy Spirit welling up inside of me, the Great Comforter at my side.  " Lord, I ask one last thing of You.  Holy LOVE, Sweet LOVE, Endless LOVE, Please bless the Children.  Please bless those that are now coming into this world - polluted and warring.  I ask a special blessing of protection on these precious new lives; that they will grow and prosper in Your LOVE.  Lord, I pray that they will live to see a peaceful planet, where men and women live in harmony with one another and the Earth.  In my heart of hearts, LOVE I know that they deserve this. . .I know that they will lead the way." 

                As my prayers intensified, so did the "rushes" of energy from the baby inside of me. By the time I had completed three circles around the Peace Pole, it was evident that I was indeed in labor.

               I had a strong urge to get my body into water.  Sol and I walked down through the woods, moving against the flow of pilgrims heading for the Meadow.  We carefully made our way down to a cool creek, rushing along at the bottom of the hill.  As I lowered my body into the water, I was overcome with Gratitude.  The chill and wetness felt so good .  The water was clear and little fishes darted out from beneath big rocks to say hello.  Above us, we heard the breaking of the silence.  A long unified "OHM" , followed by peals of laughter and song.  We listened to the beat of drums and the notes of a saxaphone echoing though the forest.

                    We stayed by the water until it was time to go, and then made the trek up the hill to our van.  Sol went to inquire about a midwife and came back with a watermelon.  I layed in the van and tried to rest myself for the work that was ahead of me.  Dogs started coming by, sniffing and barking - more aware than their "owners". My contractions were ten minutes apart.  I took a cold shower.

                    A beautiful woman appeared in the van.  Her face was that of an angel - full of light, radiating assurance and deep compassion.  Her name was Eartha and she wanted to help deliver my baby.  She brought me ice and fruit and retrieved a birthing kit.  She checked in every once in awhile to check on my progress.

                Things were moving right along. The contractions got closer and closer.  Now they were at five minute intervals.  Sol held me and breathed with me.  He and Eartha sang me a song.  I started to get a little scared and confused.  They talked me out of it.  I rode out the "rushes" on my hands and knees.  Sol applied ice to my lower back. 

               The sun had set long ago - I didn't notice. Outside, in the Meadow, people were still celebrating - praying, singing, dancing, and drumming.  I didn't hear them.  Throughout the night, our brothers and sisters prayed for us too - prayed for our baby, right outside the van.  I didn't even know they were there.  Shamans circled round us with bells and rattles.  A wolf with one blue and one brown eye came to the door.

              I started falling asleep between the "rushes", my head resting on Sol's shoulder.  I was so tired.  Eartha finally convinced me  to go outside and walk around.  Out in the cool night air, with the assistance of gravity, the sensations intensified. I felt the Earth beneath me - solid, reassuring.  I called out to the Mother.  Less than ten minutes had passed and I found myself clutching Sol's broad shoulders, the weight of our baby pressing hard against me, eager to come into the World. Three pushes and he was out.  I don't think my feet were even on the ground.  The feelings that came at that moment, holding his tiny new life in my arms, can only be desribed as miraculous.  I'm still in a state of awe! 

       We climbed back into the van together, drunk on the experience. He was so beautiful and perfect.  He didn't even cry.  We stroked his back and his breathing was strong. He opened his eyes and looked at us all.  Sol held him while I birthed the placenta.  Eartha checked all his reflexes and Sol tied and cut the umbilical cord.  We rubbed the vernix into his skin and wrapped him up. What a pretty package!  I cleaned myself up and we hugged everybody and said goodnight.  We lay there awhile just staring at each other and rising in LOVE until we fell asleep.