Madeleine E. "Merano" Gayley

Rano Gayley. Image rendition by Anthony Zois.
Rano Gayley. Image rendition by Anthony Zois.

Born : 6th July 1902

Died : 5th Dec.1986 - Meherazad, India

Buried : Upper Meherazad, India

Father : Henry Bell Gayley  ( b. 1862  Maryland,USA  d. Dec. 1920 Maryland, USA )

Mother : Estelle "Nonny" Gayley ( b. 28-3-1875 Canada  d. 14-10-1939 Bangalore, India )

Brother : Henry Clifford Gayley b. 1901 NY

 

AMERICAN

 

Rano was a trustee of the Avatar Meher Baba Trust.

Image rendtion by Anthony Zois.
Image rendtion by Anthony Zois.

 

Click here : Nonny Gayley

 

Click here for Rano's Art page on this web site : Rano Gayley

1940s - Courtesy of the Jessawala Collection, AMB Archives, Meherabad, India.
1940s - Courtesy of the Jessawala Collection, AMB Archives, Meherabad, India.

EARLY FAMILY YEARS

MSI Collection
MSI Collection
Meher Baba, painted by Rano Gayley.
Meher Baba, painted by Rano Gayley.
Young Rano - Courtesy of MN Collection
Young Rano - Courtesy of MN Collection
19th October 1934
19th October 1934
MSI Collection
MSI Collection
Courtesy of Meher Baba's New Life ; Bhau Kalchuri
Courtesy of Meher Baba's New Life ; Bhau Kalchuri
Courtesy of Avatar Meher Baba Trust - Archives
Courtesy of Avatar Meher Baba Trust - Archives
Rano sitting with Bal Natu and Kristine Nordeen . Photo taken by BOBBY  BUGGIA.
Rano sitting with Bal Natu and Kristine Nordeen . Photo taken by BOBBY BUGGIA.
10th March 1935
10th March 1935
MSI Collection
MSI Collection
10th July 1935
10th July 1935
MSI Collection ; India - Jean Adriel watches as Rano is pulling on Canute
MSI Collection ; India - Jean Adriel watches as Rano is pulling on Canute
MSI Collection
MSI Collection
28th March 1936
28th March 1936
Rano with Canute
Rano with Canute
Courtesy of LSLP ; July 2002
Courtesy of LSLP ; July 2002
Courtesy of LSLP ; July 2002
Courtesy of LSLP ; July 2002
c.1974 ;  Courtesy of LSLP 1998
c.1974 ; Courtesy of LSLP 1998

"Memiore" covering Rano's art under the direction of Meher Baba. The intriguing and enigmatic Ten Circles Chart is the focal point of this memior by one of Meher Baba's early Western disciples. Fully illustrated in color and black and white.

1930s - Courtesy of the Jessawala Collection- AMB Archives, Meherabad, India
1930s - Courtesy of the Jessawala Collection- AMB Archives, Meherabad, India
MSI Collection ; 1937 - , India
MSI Collection ; 1937 - , India
5th July 1936
5th July 1936
Photo taken by Anthony Zois ; Dhuni at Meherabad, January 1975 - Rano is seated front-centre right wearing glasses
Photo taken by Anthony Zois ; Dhuni at Meherabad, January 1975 - Rano is seated front-centre right wearing glasses
1975 - pencil drawing. Private Collection - with permission.
1975 - pencil drawing. Private Collection - with permission.
1955 ; Rano in Satara, India with Peter.
1955 ; Rano in Satara, India with Peter.
RANO IN THE MID-1970S ; Photo courtesy of Anne Giles
RANO IN THE MID-1970S ; Photo courtesy of Anne Giles

BABA IS DOING ALL THIS FOR US

Rano Gayley

 
One day near Ajmer, Baba decided to go up a hill called Taragadh were there was a shrine. Instead of just taking the men mandali, he said he wanted to take all the women too, entailing quite a lot of trouble. Baba kept emphasizing the fact that there was a great deal to do in preparing for the excursion. He would have to arrange for coolies to carry up our bedding. Food arrangements would have to be made. Lift chairs were needed for Elizabeth and Nonny who could not walk that distance uphill. Over and over, Baba kept telling us what a lot of trouble it was and what expense he was going to.

We thought, "Oh, dear, Baba is doing all this for us." So Kitty and I put our heads together and decided really it was all right if Baba didn't take us up. Indeed, why should Baba go to all this expense and trouble for us?

We went to Baba's room: "Baba, we appreciate so much all the trouble you're going through to take us up the hill to the shrine and for us to stay there but Baba, don't do it on our account. If we don't go, it's all right."

Baba gave us one look and said, "If you think I'm doing this for you, you're mistaken. My work comes first; you are only secondary."

We walked out of the room with our heads down. Baba had made it very clear that his work did come first, and it was something that we had to experience.

 

BECAUSE OF LOVE, p. 39
Copyright 1983 Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust

I WANTED TO KEEP IT TO MYSELF

Rano Gayley

 
It was at Nasik that I first realized that Baba was more than just the flesh and blood being that I could see. One night it must have been toward morning — I was awakened by a blinding light, and in the light was Baba's face.

My heart was beating very fast and everything was twirling, radiating pinwheels of light. With the light and the vision, there was such a feeling of ecstasy that I was no longer myself, but was just absorbed into Baba. Then the light and vision went and slowly, slowly, my heartbeat went back to normal. I tried to recapture the moment, but it was gone.

The next day I was alone with Baba and he turned to me, "What were you dreaming last night?"

I tried to hedge, to make out I didn't know what Baba was talking about because I didn't want to verbalize what I'd seen and felt. But Baba gradually brought it out of me.

I said, "Yes, Baba, it's something I'll never forget." Baba tried to get me to tell the others, but I just mumbled about it, and they didn't really understand. I wanted to keep it to myself.

 

BECAUSE OF LOVE,pp. 14-15
1986 © Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust
 
1974-76 : Rano with Vesta Clinton (left) & Heather Nadel (right). Photo taken by Ralph Jackson
1974-76 : Rano with Vesta Clinton (left) & Heather Nadel (right). Photo taken by Ralph Jackson

BOOK


Memior covering Rano's art under the direction of Meher Baba. The intriguing and enigmatic Ten Circles Chart is the focal point of this memior by one of Meher Baba's early Western disciples. Fully illustrated in color and black and white.

Meher Baba's Ten Circle Chart

Meher Baba's Ten Circles Chart
Meher Baba's Ten Circles Chart

FIRST CHART

Courtesy of MSI Collection ; India
Courtesy of MSI Collection ; India
Courtesy of MSI Collection ; India
Courtesy of MSI Collection ; India
Courtesy of MSI Collection ; India - close up view
Courtesy of MSI Collection ; India - close up view
Early painting - pre India
Early painting - pre India

SHIPS RANO TRAVELLED

SS Majestic

Departed England  on the 5th December 1934 and arrived New York  12th Decamber 1934.

Rano travelled with her mother Nonny & Ruano.

 

 

Courtesy of Paul Edwards
Courtesy of Paul Edwards

Departed  29th October 1936 from Plymouth, England and arrived in New York on 4th November 1936.

She was travelling with 6 other American who hadd also been to India.

 


 

Departed 25th November 1936 in Europe and arrived in Bombay, India 8th December 1936

The other Westerners she sailed with were ; Norina, Elizabeth, Malcolm & Jean Schloss &  Nonny.

 


Departed 31st July 1937 from Bombay and arrived at Marseilles, France 13th August 1937.

The other Westerners she sailed with were ; Margaret Craske, Elizabeth, Audrey Williams, Norina Matchabelli, Nonny  Gayley, Malcolm & Jean Schloss and Tom Sharpley.

 

 

Departed 3rd November 1937 from Maiselles, France  and arrived in Bombay 20th November 1937 along with Norina, Kitty and Elizabeth.