Meher Baba Manifesting

Meher Mount Memories 1949
The Month of Silence July
by Marguerite Poley

According to Baba's orders, July 1949 was to be a month kept in complete silence by His lovers and devotees residing at Meher Mount, Upper Ojai, California. As it turned out, we were ten, as follows:
A young couple, both school teachers, from Palm Desert, Calif. (the husband was the only male person in the group). Two ladies from Palm Springs area, also California; these first four were Jean Adriel's friends. l might add that to her delight one of these ladies was allowed to bring her dog for the stay.

Agnes Baron knew the rest, namely Ruth Chace, a Quaker from Los Gatos, California, and Mary Beasley. Mary B. was a Sufi, had met Inayat Khan and respected Meher Baba. She was to be our spokesperson when accompanying Agnes into town for supplies. She was not committed to silence. And finally, Agnes, her dear friend Margaret Craske, Jean Adriel and myself.

By evening, June 30, 1949, we were assembled. After being shown individual sleeping quarters there was a briefing: Never go outside in darkness without a lit flashlight due to rattlesnakes (these creatures hunt at night). Plus, if any snake is seen in daylight warn others by sign, i.e. point hand toward ground, follow with zig~zag hand motions. 
Carrying pencil could be useful for intercommunications.

Meals: We were to have two a day. Breakfast: (from 7:30 am) Tea, coffee, fruits, cereals, breads. Dinner: No red meat: Vege-meat, vegetables. Fish 2-3 times a week, beverages, dessert (we never worried what to do with leftovers. There weren't any). Ample water was always available. Meher Mount water is sulphuric, therefore not potable. A period of silence in Baba's Name was held after the briefing. Amid smiles we bid one another good night, went our separate ways. One could feel an undercurrent of trepidation regarding this swiftly upcoming month! How does one suddenly switch from a 'talking world' into absolute silence? Good question! But rest assured, by the third day we finally were s-i-1-e-n- t. No more hands flying towards one's mouth in dismay at having spoken, and dear Baba forgave us, too! Activities: Plenty! There's never a time at Meher Mount with nothing to do. Agnes found assignments for all; there was always brush to be cleared. In 1949 there were several apricot trees ready to be picked. The fruits had to be sorted, cleaned, halved and laid out on long-stretched out gunny sack racks, placed in the sun and each apricot half had to be turned over daily. Agnes sold these 'cots' to health food suppliers. There was also watering to be done and let us not forget K.P.

Rest and Recreation: Rest during the day's hottest hours. Swimming pool available. Ball playing. A piano to use. Reading. As regards Baba literature we had a variety of articles, mostly printed in India, Discourses, and Jean Adriel's recently published Avatar. I would also like to mention that two of us were allowed to paint. Ruth Chace had movement difficulty and I was not 100%. Agnes was solicitous, allowed us a glass of milk or buttermilk noontimes.
Anyway, paint and paint and paint we did ... I'm now taking the liberty to describe Ruth's unique works: She would start dead center of her canvas and from there outwards in all directions, using geometricals only: triangles, rectangles, squares, circles, polygons, etc. These all became larger the further from center. With her knowledge of color, the end result was stunning. I was fascinated. Mandalas, indeed!

I worked seven canvases. The young couple from Palm Desert took one home and I forget who got 'Golden Hour,' this one depicting a sunset seen through the oak trees- from a black-and-white Kodak prim taken during the month of silence in 1949 at Meher Mount (Proceeds- not a great deal- for Meher Mount).

Now to the wonderful daily highlight! Around seven PM we gathered in the veranda of the main house. There we sat on the floor or chairs for an hour or a bit more. It was a special, precious time, with Baba's Loving Presence so powerfully felt! Jean had a record player nearby. Our departure signal was when "A Song of India" played. Slowly, we did so, and I may say, reluctantly!

On July 29th, there was a chill in the air. Agnes had a fire going in the living room of the main house where that evening's gathering was held. It was so powerful! Now that I think back the closest comparison I can come up with is when Baba was with us in the Barn at Myrtle Beach, SC, in 1958. We simply lost sense of time. I've no idea how long we stayed in that room. And besides all that I'm reasonably sure we were aware that very soon we would part to individual destinations ... after an unforgettable month spent together in silence. Apropos that particular evening: Jean told me as I drove her to Hollywood August 1, that she saw Baba slowly walking in the living room. He touched everyone, placing His hand on a shoulder, or arm, or top of the head as He glided among us!