The Bees Are Calling
Ray Johnston
Former Meher Mount Caretaker (2002-2010), Ray Johnston shared this story of the beekeeper as part of the documentary film on Baba’s Tree.
RAY JOHNSTON on a foggy day in April 2022 being filmed at Baba's Tree by cameraperson Ben Hoffman. (Photo: Margaret Magnus)
By Ray Johnston
I would like to share one story that speaks to the enormous purpose or connectivity, not only of Meher Mount, but also of Baba’s Tree.
During my tenure as caretaker (2002-2010), I had to travel to Santa Fe, NM, as part of my work. On my travels there, I liked to go to the Santa Fe flea market. When I was at the market, I noticed a gentleman that was selling honey and bee pollen.
The bee pollen was extraordinary. It was almost psychedelic in color. It was so colorful. It felt alive. I was really drawn to this guy, his honey, and his bee pollen.
So, each time I would travel through Santa Fe, I would purchase some of the honey and pollen and bring it back to Meher Mount.
And after a few years, as I was passing through, picking up the pollen and honey, and the gentleman whose name was Gary explained to me that this was going to be his last year in Santa Fe. He was moving to Australia to be a beekeeper. It shocked me.
“Where am I going to get such quality honey and bee pollen?” I asked. It was really special.
“Where do you live?”
“Well, maybe I can help you find it somewhere else. Where do you live in California?” he asked.
“Well, it's a little small town, you probably don't know. It's called Ojai, in Southern California,” I replied.
“Oh, I know Ojai. Where in Ojai?” he asked.
I said, “You may or may not know, but there's a mountain, a little mountain range called Sulphur Mountain. So, it's up on Sulphur Mountain where I live.”
“I'm kind of familiar with Sulphur Mountain. Where on Sulphur Mountain?” he said.
“I'm sure you wouldn't know, but it is part of the property there of Agnes Baron and Meher Mount,” I replied.
“Oh, I know the Agnes Baron property,” he said.
“Amazing,” I replied. “How?”
The Beekeeper’s Story
And so, he told me the story. In the early 1970s, he was at a crossroads in his life, trying to decide what he was going to do for his profession.
He made a pilgrimage to Meher Mount, in much the same way as a lot of people do. He was drawn and guided to sit under Baba’s Tree and to reflect on what decisions he needed to make for his future.
THE HOLLOWS in Baba's Tree are from the 1985 New Life Fire and cavities where bees had moved in. (Photo: Simin Mohajerani, 2014)
And while he was sitting under the tree, he looked up and noticed that there was a bees’ nest inside one of the branches of the tree. He had the inspiration or heard the voice that he was supposed to be a master beekeeper.
It’s so amazing that this man got his inspiration under Baba’s Tree at Meher Mount, where I was the caretaker when he told me this story. He had moved to Santa Fe and created this extraordinary product from his inspiration.
The Bees Return
He never did make it to Australia. He passed away.
I hadn't seen a hive in Baba’s Tree for the entire period that I was talking about. But, on his passing, there was the beginning of a new beehive in the hole in the limb that had traditionally held bees.
That was one of the more fascinating stories of how Meher Mount, and Baba’s Tree specifically, is like a magnet for many people finding their purpose, as well as expressing their purpose.
It was a touching moment when he said that his inspiration was from Baba’s Tree.
A BEEKEEPER CHOOSES this profession after getting the inspiration under Baba's Tree. Bees at Meher Mount (Photo: Juan Mendez, 2019)