Adria and I have lived in the mountains of the Mexican state of Oaxaca since January 2015. In a simple rented farmhouse surrounded by clouds, pine forests and mushrooms we have created a beautiful little nest. With many friends we are looking to buy a piece of land to create a community and a permanent home for ourselves.
Just before midnight on June 21st, the darkest moment of the lightest day (and even on the Mexican father’s day, how about that!), Adria gave birth to a beautiful, healthy boy. We wanted to give birth at home but as our midwife had two births in the same night we quickly relocated to her place, so that she could attend us both. The midwife gave us a small round house in the forest. We kept our heads cool for about 41 hours after the water broke (which is not to say that Adria was in hard labour for 41 hours!). Adria was pushed to, and even beyond, her limit but with only a bit of emotional support and a few songs from me, the lioness emerged victorious, shaken but not stirred… in candlelight in front of the fireplace, free from medication and only assisted by the midwife for the last hour of labour. Our boy sure has an amazing mother. We planted the placenta under an avocado tree just outside the round house.
40 days after his birth we created a beautiful ceremony in the river where we live, a ceremony in the form of a circle in the river, many moving words and songs, the naming of Fabi as our son’s ‘godfather’ and the naming of our son, with a splash of freezing cold water on his head, as Sylvan Kanó.
Sylvan in English means ‘from / of the forest’ and can easily be pronounced in a number of languages. He was born in the forest and has lived his whole life in the forest, and loves going on walks in it, every single day. He also has a slightly elf-like ear.
Kanó, his warrior name that he can choose to use if he likes, is a word from the Yawanawa tribe in the Amazon and means something like ‘bridge between worlds’. We sing a song by the same name. As the tradition goes in Mexico, this name was given by his godfather. Both Adria and I have lived with nearby tribes to the Yawanawa and had life-changing experiences there. We name our son in their honour and in support of their fight for their existence, their way of life, their lands and their forest.
We continue our search for a permanent home for ourselves and our friends up here in the clouds.
Enjoy the photos of the birth and the ‘baptism’.
Martin
House of birth
Place of birth
New family
1st family selfie
Placenta planted under avocado tree
High 4
Happy mum
A few days old
View from our house
On the way to the baptism
Place of baptism
Just after baptism: Godfather Fabi, Adria and Sylvan Kanó, and I
Our little Buddha
Your family is very beautiful Martin, I hope you could find your land soon, and hope to see you again sometime. Best wishes!! Lenora
Thank you Lenora! The next time you’re in Oaxaca you have to come and visit us! Muita amor a toda a familia.
Ja, velkommen til verden vesle Sylvan! 💕 Takk for fine bilder!
<3
Congratulations to both of you! So beautiful of a journey you are all on! Blessings, blessings, blessings!!!
Thank you Townley!! Yeah, just keeps getting better… By the way, I just arrived in Cali! :-)
You are always in my heart martin and adria, can’t wait to meet silvan, may be next year, still looking for land too, may peace and love always protect ya, i love ya ♡
merci paul, welcome to oaxaca, hope to see you here soon!
Adria querida, emocionado hasta las lagrimas por el relato de Martin, orgulloso de vos y de tus elecciones, maravillado por la belleza de Sylvian a quien en mi proximo viaje iré a conocer, construire un boomerang justo para ese niño de las montañas, para que con él aprenda el cantar del viento y sean uno.
Besos querida mia, siempre en mi corazón.
Si! un boomerang tienes que enseñarle a Sylvan tu maestria
Un gran abrazo y bienvenido siempre a las montañas!
con mucho cariño Sylvan & Adria
Dear Adria, Im soo happy to hear such amazing news!!! You are such a strong powerfull woman, now you planted a seed for a wonderful new generation! Wish you and your family all the best!!! Love&light&peace
Marian (we made a wonderful connection on Hungarian Rainbow)
Que bello prima!
Sylvan Kano es un nombre hermoso y el bebé se ve lleno de luz y amor, como ustedes.
Espero poder visitarles pronto.
Muchos abrazos y saludos!
Felicidades hermanos! La familia sigue creciendo!
bienbendito hermoso Sylvian, que tengas mucha paz, que seas muy feliz hermanito pequeño, unidos por la cordillera palpitamos juntos, avanzando en esta gran misión!
Eres un sanador! un yogui un budha! espero pronto reconocernos …
Adri y Martin los abraso desde mi alma estoy feliz que ver su relato y sus fotografÃas! gracias por compartir esta gran experiencia! Nos amo profundamente.
Gracias hermanita, mucho amor a ti, espero que nuestros caminos cruzen pronto! Martin