Meher Baba's Life & Travels
Mabel Ryan "Firozeh"
Born : South Africa
Died : February 3, 1938 - England
Courtesy of Lord Meher, Vol 5
Mabel was born in South Africa. She went overseas to study ballet and danced with the Pavlova Company.
Later, Mabel and Margaret Craske became business partners in a ballet studio at 26 West Street, off Cambridge Circus,London, where they taught the Cecchetti dance method. It's through Margaret that Mabel first heard of Meher Baba.
Mabel Ryan first met Meher Baba on the 19th September 1931 at the Devonshire retreat East Challacombe near Combe Martin,England. She and Margaret gave a dance performance for Baba.
On the 28th Sept., Baba visited their dance studio in London.
Mabel died of cancer in Feb.1938.
Lord Meher - page 2260
Photos courtesy of Lord Meher : Bhau Kalchuri
Courtesy of The Awakener-Vol111, No3-p31
They were met at Dover on April 7th 1932 by Kitty Davy, her brother Ernest, and Quentin Tod. Baba suddenly changed his itinerary of continuing to London by train. The Paramount Film Company had arranged to film him at the Victoria station, but to elude them, Baba proceeded by car from Dover to London where he stayed at the Davys' house.
During the drive, Baba told Tod, "You have much work to do for me in the future." Tod immediately asked if he really meant it and how soon. Baba's reply reassured him, "Very soon."
Taking a break, they stopped at a tea shop along the way. Tod took the opportunity to explain to Baba that friction had arisen between Meredith Starr and others over his staying in London rather than the East Challacombe retreat exclusively. Baba was definite. He would stay at "32" for seven days and at Kim Tolhurst's for two days before going to the Devonshire retreat in East Challacombe on the 17th. They reached London at seven that night and went straight to Russell Road.
Kitty Davy, Zillah Cluse, Margaret Craske, Delia DeLeon and Kim Tolhurst stayed at the house, while others like Minta Toledano, Mabel Ryan, Kenneth Ross, Charles Purdom, Tom Sharpley and Quentin Tod were daily visitors.
Lord Meher ; Bhau Kalchuri - Vol.5 Pages 1552-3
Awakener ; Vol.20,No.2 - Portofino 1933 - Mabel standing in front of Baba
After eleven days at sea, the Kaiser-i-Hind arrived in Marseilles on July 29th 1932. Baba was met by Kitty Davy and her brother Herbert, who had come from China via Russia. The next day, much to Quentin Tod's surprise, Baba arrived earlier than scheduled by train in Santa Margherita, located along the Italian Riviera coast. Between the towns of Santa Margherita and Paraggi, Tod had rented a separate villa for Baba and the mandali named Fiorenza, which Baba liked very much.
Prior to Baba's arrival, Margaret Craske, Mabel Ryan and Audrey Williams had arrived on July 25th; Delia DeLeon, Minta Toledano, Stephanie Haggard and Kim Tolhurst arrived July 28th. Audrey Williams was a talented eighteen-year-old dance pupil of Margaret Craske's whom Baba had specifically cabled to come and be with him in Italy. Margaret had previously mentioned Audrey to Baba during the train journey from London to Southampton as he was leaving for America the previous May. At that time, Baba told Margaret about Audrey, "Yes, she is the one you ought to have brought to me! She is the one I must see." Another reason for her presence was that Baba wished the total number of those with him at Santa Margherita to equal twelve.
Lord Meher ; Bhau Kalchuri - Vol.5 Pages 1682
On Sunday, October 17th. 1936, Baba sent Donkin back to London with Jose Luis, Margaret, Mabel and Tom Sharpley. A point later observed was that after Jose Luis was sent away, the political situation in Spain calmed down and eventually most of the refugee children were returned home.
Mabel Ryan was very ill with cancer and spent most of her time in bed while in Cannes being nursed by Mary Backett. Baba would come to see her daily, knowing this was their last meeting. Donkin and Sharpley were instructed to return to London with Margaret to help take Mabel back. She expired five months later.
Lord Meher ; Bhau Kalchuri - Vol.6 Pages 2230
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Baba returned to Meherabad the following day. Margaret Craske's cable arrived saying that Mabel Ryan had died in England. Baba held the cable in his hand after it was read out Febuary 3rd, 1938
and commented, "She has come to me. She is still here; where else can she go? Only you do not see her, for being without her coat and hat on, you do not recognize her." Baba used to call Mabel his "counselor," for he would often consult her while in Europe about his plans. He later wrote to the English group: |
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Be happy in the thought that Mabel is happy. She sees me all the time. She is near me and, in a very short time, she will be physically near me too. This has to be, for she is of my circle. None can realize how much I need those whom I have chosen for future work. You may feel you are struggling through Maya alone, but is this really so? Are you ever separated from me? Love knows no separation. I am nearer to you in the spot to which I have sent you than I would be if you were here and I had not asked you to be here. But struggle is good. Without it, how would Maya and illusion be defeated?
Lord Meher ; Bhau Kalchuri - Vol.7 Pages 2260 |
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