An Oasis in the Time of a Pandemic
Margaret Magnus
By Margaret Magnus
On Sunday, May 24, 2020, my husband Sam Ervin and I visited Meher Mount for the first time since the California stay-at-home order on March 19, 2020. It had been more than nine weeks since we had ventured out of our house, and we had not visited Meher Mount since Baba’s Birthday on February 25, 2020.
For weeks we had debated whether and when to make the two-hour drive (each way) to Meher Mount. Then on Saturday, we both felt that the next day, Sunday, May 24, was the day.
THE HEART STONE under Baba’s Tree at Meher Mount marks Avatar Meher Baba’s visit in 1956. These flowers were lovingly placed at the stone on May 24, 2020, by former Manager/Caretakers Buzz and Ginger Glasky on the anniversary of Meher Baba’s automobile accident near Prague, OK, in 1952. (Photo: Margaret Magnus)
May 24 – The Anniversary of Meher Baba’s Accident in America
As it so happened, that day was the 68th anniversary of Avatar Meher Baba’s automobile accident near Prague, OK. Once we realized the ‘coincidence,’ the visit moved from a tentative plan to conviction.
In 1952, on May 24, Meher Baba was traveling from the Meher Spiritual Center in Myrtle Beach, SC, to Meher Mount in Ojai, CA, for a planned nine-day stay. His prediction of spilling His blood on American soil was fulfilled on that day when the automobile He was traveling in was involved in a head-on collision.
Prior to the accident, Meher Baba had sent five of his men mandali (close disciples) to Meher Mount in advance to help Agnes Baron prepare for His stay. They were Adi K. Irani, Dr. William Donkin, Dr. Nilu (Vinayak Nilkanth Godse), Meherjee Karkaria and Gustadji (Gustadji Nusserwanji Hansotia).
Having arrived at Meher Mount on May 23, 1952, the men were having tea the following morning when they got word of the accident. Four of the mandali immediately drove back to Oklahoma while Dr. Donkin flew there to help attend to Meher Baba and the others who were injured.
Meher Baba’s trip to Meher Mount thus would be postponed until August 2, 1956.
HOW MEHER MOUNT looked on May 23, 1952, when the five men mandali arrived to await Meher Baba’s arrival. Meher Baba was traveling by automobile from Meher Spiritual Center in Myrtle Beach, SC, for a planned nine-day stay at Meher Mount in Ojai, CA. He never reached Meher Mount that year due to the automobile accident on May 24, 1952, near Prague, OK. Pictured is the guesthouse where Avatar Meher Baba gave darshan (His blessing) to His followers when He did arrive on August 2, 1956. (Photo: Meher Mount Archives)
As Sam and I drove to Meher Mount on May 24, 2020, we were thinking of Meher Baba and that day in Prague, OK, and of Agnes Baron and the mandali waiting for Meher Baba to arrive at Meher Mount.
On the drive, there was still a tinge of green on the surrounding mountains. Soon, the summer sun would dry the grasses, many native plants would go dormant, and the mountainsides would become a golden brown.
When we arrived – with face masks and observing social distancing protocols — Caretaker Eric Carlson asked us to review the mowing and weed whacking he and Ellen Kwiatkowski had completed to meet the Ventura County Fire Department protocols and upcoming inspection on June 1.
Of course, as soon as we drove through the Meher Mount gate, we could see the place was lovingly tended and weed abatement was in good shape.
The Constantly Changing Landscape
THE MEHER MOUNT hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean are covered with bright yellow Deerweed (Acmispon glaber), a native California plant that blooms from March to August. It is most often seen in burned areas, along the coast, and in inland foothills, valleys and mountains. It is an excellent habitat for butterflies and moths. (Photo: Margaret Magnus, May 2020)
Ostensibly to inspect for fire abatement, Sam and I walked the property and marveled at how the landscape is constantly changing. We often compare the continuing new growth in the ravines and meadows to the moonscape following the December 2017 Thomas Fire.
CHAPARRAL CLARKIA (Clarkia affinis) are sprinkled throughout the meadow and along the path to Baba’s Tree at Meher Mount. It is endemic to California and mainly grows in the chaparral slopes and woodlands of the Coast Range. It provides habitat for butterflies, bees and moths. (Photo: Margaret Magnus, May 2020)
We remember the quick return of vegetation in March and April of 2018 along with the abundance of wildflowers in the rainy Spring of 2019.
Now in early summer/late spring of 2020, the hillsides were awash in the bright yellow Deerweed (Acmispon glaber) with a few other wildflowers sprinkled in, including the Chaparral Clarkia (Clarkia affinis).
Much of the vegetation remains the same, including the charred trunks of the Coast Live Oaks (Quercus agrifolia) which have new growth on the branches.
But there was a new profusion of Deerweed choking out the non-native purple thistle that rose in abundance following the fire.
There seemed to be even more California Black Walnut (Juglans californica) trees lining the dirt road to the well – but that may have been be our imagination.
There is always the feeling of both constancy and constant change. It is the best ‘streaming visual’ we know.
Baba’s Tree Continues to Inspire
Baba’s Tree continues to inspire. It is a symbol of Meher Baba’s visit, of hope, of regeneration and renewal, of love, and of all the effort so many volunteers give to Meher Mount.
A SAPLING OR SEEDLING from Baba’s Tree that is part of Baba’s Tree Grove. (Photo: Margaret Magnus, May 2020)
Baba’s Tree continues to be healthy with new life. The harvested acorns from Baba’s Tree – now small trees — were planted to complete Baba’s Tree Grove and are doing fine.
The volunteer trees – the seedlings and saplings that emerged spontaneously under the former canopy of Baba’s Tree – are also doing well.
Baby Baba’s Tree and the New Life Tree are thriving under the sunlight.
Even though it was burned, shattered, and charred, Baba’s Tree has spawned a grove that hopefully will continue to welcome visitors and pilgrims for generations to come.
Baba’s Tree Tells a Story
Baba’s Tree tells the story of the cycle of life – birth, death and regeneration – while changing form.
There is healthy growth coming off the very damaged tree trunk. That, in itself, is a minor miracle. There was extraordinarily little cambium to support that new growth, but it was enough. The cambium is a growth layer of the tree making new cells during the growing season what makes the trunk, branches and roots grow thicker.
BABA’S TREE with all the growth since the December 2017 Thomas Fire. The limbs covered in white (for sunburn protection) extending on either side were severely burned. And although some of these limbs initially sprouted new growth, they died back and have not recovered. They show how far the tree extended. The semi-circle of wood in the foreground was part of the trunk of Baba’s Tree that shattered and fell in the high winds of the Thomas Fire. The heart rock to the right, adorned with flowers, marks the spot where Avatar Meher Baba sat in August 1956. The gold rope is a reminder that Baba’s Tree is still recovering and to be gentle and thoughtful around the tree. (Photo: Margaret Magnus, May 2020)
In front of Baba’s Tree, there’s a large piece of the former trunk laying on the ground — a reminder of the extensive damage from the Thomas Fire, almost a mini memorial to Baba’s Tree’s effort of survival.
Extending from the trunk on three sides are the burned branches and large limbs of Baba’s Tree. They, too, are part of the story. They visually demonstrate the extent of and former size of Baba’s Tree and its canopy.
They also depict the magnitude of the fire damage. Some of these limbs did not regenerate, but they still provide habitat for the birds, the insects, and the reptiles.
The seclusion fence that protected Baba’s Tree during the intensive regeneration process has been removed. There is a small, golden rope around parts of the tree to remind visitors that Baba’s Tree is still in the process of recovering.
The heart stone area, marking where the Avatar of the Age sat, is open to visitors. The badly burned branch that arches across that stone is propped up to protect both the tree and visitors.
On Sunday, May 24, former Caretakers Buzz and Ginger Glasky brought flowers to place under the tree in memory of Meher Baba’s accident. Another team of former Caretakers Leslie and Samantha Bridger and their daughter Rebecca also made the pilgrimage to Meher Mount on this special day.
An Oasis in the Time of a Pandemic
THE PATH that Avatar Meher Baba took when He visited Meher Mount on August 2, 1956. Visitors can follow in His footsteps. (Photo: Margaret Magnus, May 2020)
Meher Mount’s outdoors and Baba’s Tree along with other touchstones – Baba’s Path, Baba’s Walkway, and the Darshan Courtyard – have remained accessible to visitors (during regular open hours) as an oasis during this time of COVID-19.
The opportunity to be in the wide-open space of Meher Mount, to be in nature, to see the views, and to spend time on this land visited by Meher Baba is more essential than ever. Thank you to all who have made and continue to make this possible.
TOUCHLESS SIGN-IN. Meher Mount is still asking visitors to sign-in, but they can scan a QR code or go to the website. (Photo: Margaret Magnus, May 2020)
Sam and I appreciate the wonderful opportunity and the privilege of being able to spend time at Meher Mount, and to work at and for Meher Mount.
During His visit, Meher Baba said He loved Meher Mount very much and felt happy here.
In this time of sheltering, when so many places are understandably closed to visitors, Meher Mount being open feels like a huge blessing, affording an intimacy in this time of seclusion.
It continues to radiate His Love and His Call from the top of Sulphur Mountain.
The Visitor Center is closed for everyone’s protection. And, Meher Mount is taking advantage of this semi-closed time to do building maintenance and painting of the outside.
Oh, and about that ‘inspection’ for fire abatement. Of course, Ellen and Eric and their son Simon passed with flying colors. We know the Ventura County Fire Department will agree.