"This story reminds us that this spirit of possibility is always there..."
Meher Mount
Your Friday photo is about a magazine article featuring the film Tree of Fire: A Story of Love and Resilience…
One of the storytellers in the film is Perry Van Houten who is also a reporter for the Ojai Valley News. Perry recently sat down with Margaret Magnus, producer and co-director of the film, and with Sam Ervin, Meher Mount board president and one of the film’s storytellers, to talk about the movie.
His article, “Baba’s Tree of Fire,” was published in Ojai Magazine Spring 2026 issue.
“This story reminds us that this spirit of possibility, of hope, of restoration, of beauty, is always there, and we can participate and contribute to it.”
“We live in a time of great change all over the world,” said Margaret Magnus.
“And it feels like the movie has come out at a time when we need something to feel good about, to feel hopeful, to look beyond our day-to-day ups and downs.”
Continuing on that theme, Sam Ervin noted, “Sometimes it’s easy to despair over the state of the world, or issues that seem intractable and impossible overcome.
“Yet this story reminds us that this spirit of possibility, of hope, of restoration, of beauty, is always there, and we can participate and contribute to it.”
Tree of Fire: A Story of Love and Resilience
This award-winning documentary about Baba’s Tree at Meher Mount is a story of heartfelt story of loss, survival, and spiritual connection. After a devastating fire, a once-thriving massive oak – blessed by Avatar Meher Baba – rises from the ashes to offer love and solace.
Against all odds, volunteers worked together to nurture the tree back to health.
The survival of Baba’s Tree becomes a living symbol of resilience and Divine love. Through personal testimonies and breathtaking imagery, the film invites you to rediscover your own capacity for healing, transformation, and spiritual awakening.
Click here to see the trailer for Tree of Fire: A Story of Love and Resilience.