Rano and the 10 Circles of Meher Baba

Avatar Meher Baba’s artist-in-residence, Rano Gayley was born in New York City in 1902 and began her formal art training at the age of 22. She studied at the New York School for Applied Design where she began working in watercolor, perspective, still life and design. She and her mother, Nonny first met Meher Baba in London, England in 1933, and in 1937 they were called by Baba to join his ashram in India. Rano became a permanent member of Meher Baba’s mandali and the only westerner to live in his close proximity until he dropped his body in January of 1969. Meher Baba was the subject of Rano’s numerous sketches and paintings, and he directed her to create his most important diagrams and charts, including the Four Journeys Chart; the painting on Evolution and Involution to be used in Baba’s ’God Speaks,’ and the enigmatic 10 Circles Chart which is the subject of this short documentary.