MEHER MOUNT

9902 Sulphur Mountain Road
Ojai, CA 93023-9375

Phone: 805-640-0000
Email: info@mehermount.org

HOURS

Wednesday-Sunday: Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Monday & Tuesday: Closed

MANAGER/CARETAKERS

Buzz & Ginger Glasky

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sam Ervin, Preident
Ron Holsey, Vice President
Ursula Reinhart, Treasurer
Jim Whitson, Director
Richard Mannis, Director

OFFICERS

Margaret Magnus, Secretary

9902 Sulphur Mountain Rd
Ojai, CA, 93023
United States

(805) 640-0000

Story Blog

Anecdotes, activities and stories about Meher Mount - past, present and future.

The Awakener: A Journal Devoted to Meher Baba

Wayne Myers

In honor of "Get Caught Reading" month in May, Meher Mount asked for reading recommendations related to Avatar Meher Baba. Wayne Myers chose The Awakener Magazine: A Journal Devoted to Meher Baba.

THE FIRST ISSUE of The Awakener: A Journal Devoted to Meher Baba. The editor and founder was Phyllis (Filis) Frederick. The magazine was published by Warren C. Healy, and the initial editorial advisors were: Elizabeth C. Patterson, Margaret Craske, Will Backett, Kitty Davy, Malcolm Schloss, Darwin Shaw, Ivy O. Duce, Norina Matchabelli, Mildred Kyle. John Bass was in charge of circulation, and Fred Winterfeldt was the treasurer.

THE FIRST ISSUE of The Awakener: A Journal Devoted to Meher Baba. The editor and founder was Phyllis (Filis) Frederick. The magazine was published by Warren C. Healy, and the initial editorial advisors were: Elizabeth C. Patterson, Margaret Craske, Will Backett, Kitty Davy, Malcolm Schloss, Darwin Shaw, Ivy O. Duce, Norina Matchabelli, Mildred Kyle. John Bass was in charge of circulation, and Fred Winterfeldt was the treasurer.

A Recommendation by Wayne Myers

Although long out-of-print, every issue of The Awakener Magazine: A Journal Devoted to Meher Baba is available online in its original format. 

Published from 1953 to 1986, The Awakener is a treasure source of Meher Baba’s direct messages and aspects of His work during the last two decades of His physical lifetime.

It offers numerous personal accounts from disciples and those in Meher Baba’s contact plus spiritual essays, poetry, art, photos, and book reviews. 

Online, you can access the table of contents of every issue and link directly to each article.

You can also view all the original covers which always had a photo or drawing of Meher Baba. 

A search engine on the website homepage enables specific inquiries.

Filis Frederick Writes About the Genesis of The Awakener magazine

The Awakener was a 33-year labor of love by Editor Filis Frederick in dedicated service to Meher Baba.

It was supported over the years by many staff assistants and contributors. Permission was given to Jeanne Kassof in 2003 to scan and make a website online for all of the The Awakener Magazine issues.

FILIS FREDERICK - founder and editor of The Awakener - pictured in July 1985. See this tribute to Filis published along with the magazine archives.

FILIS FREDERICK - founder and editor of The Awakener - pictured in July 1985. See this tribute to Filis published along with the magazine archives.

To celebrate The Awakener's 30th birthday in 1983, Filis penned a few comments excerpted below:

“It was in 1953, the year after I met 'God in human form' — Meher Baba — that He gave me permission to publish a magazine for Him in the West, with full authority to print His discourses and messages.

"In fact, He sent us special material and photos, from time to time. We published some impressive 'firsts' — the Prayers, the Highest of the High, the 12 Birthday Messages, and so on; the 'best of Baba' we republished in a book, The Path of Love.

“From Satara, 1954, came this message: 'Baba wishes to tell you that He thinks The Awakener is coming on wonderfully, and knows the love that is put into it and is very happy about it. He sends His love and blessings to you and all who help to make it such a message of Love. We all enjoy it very much.'"

"Baba's Pearls" ARE AN ONGOING FEATURE

“Baba Pearls” was a regular feature of short quotes compiled from Meher Baba’s messages. A "pearl" from Volume 1, Number 2, 1954:

If you have rock-like faith and flame-like love for God, nothing in this world will affect you. Misery will not trouble you. Flattery will not touch you. Happiness will not humor you. Such faith and love will help you to rise above the imaginary phenomenon and make you understand that God alone is real.
— Avatar Meher Baba

Selections - Memoirs, Essays & Articles

Below are direct links to a sample collection of more than 30 years of highlights published in the The Awakener.

THE 30th ANNIVERSARY ISSUE of The Awakener. "
 

 

 
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THE 30th ANNIVERSARY ISSUE of The Awakener. "All little magazines in America have a fragile life, due to postal and printing costs. We too have almost foundered many times. In 1956, in San Francisco, Baba called a staff meeting. He told us to carry on... As He wished, we stay focused 100% on Him and hope to continue," wrote Editor Filis Frederick in that issue.

These testify to the publication’s breadth in chronicling Meher Baba’s life and the experiences of those in Meher Baba’s service and contact.

Most of these selected highlights remain unique to The Awakener, although a few were published elsewhere in later years.  

  • "Memories of '52" by Filis Frederick. The beautifully expressed story of Meher Baba's 1952 first visit to the Meher Center in Myrtle Beach and of Filis' personal journey and finally meeting Meher Baba for the first time in 1952 (Vol.14, Number 2, p.4, 1972).

“Journey of the Heart: Recollections of Meher Baba’s American Visit, July 20-August 7, 1956" by Filis Frederick is in four parts. Much of Filis’ 1956 account was incorporated into Lord Meher: The Biography of the Avatar of the Age Meher Baba by Bhau Kalchuri.  

There were four special issues devoted to significant events and gatherings especially called by Meher Baba:

  • "The East-West Gathering" introduction by Filis Frederick. This is a special issue on the East-West gathering called by Meher Baba for November 1962 in Poona (Pune), India. This was the last time that most of the Westerners able to attend saw Meher Baba in physical form. (Vol. 9, Number 1-2, 1963).

  • "The Last Darshan."  This is a special issue with accounts of The Last Darshan, also known as the Great Darshan that was held in Poona, India between April-June 1969. The Darshan had been called and planned by Meher Baba prior to His physical passing on January 31, 1969. (Vol. 13, Number 1 and 2).

  • "The American Sahavas with Meher Baba" by Charles Purdom. This is a special issue on Meher Baba's 1958 visit to America and includes numerous messages by Meher Baba. (Vol 5, Number 3, 1958).

In 1971, there was a special issue that included a number of photographs of Avatar Meher Baba throughout the years.

MEHER BABA as a young boy in 1910 on the St. Vincent's school cricket team in Pune, India. From The Awakener's special photo issue, 1971.

MEHER BABA as a young boy in 1910 on the St. Vincent's school cricket team in Pune, India. From The Awakener's special photo issue, 1971.


Source

Excerpts and photos from The Awakener Magazine online are used by permission. All quotes by Meher Baba, Mani Irani, Mehera Irani, Eruch Jessawala, and Adi K. Irani in The Awakener Magazine are copyrighted by the Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust. Used by permission.