08/28/2026
"No matter how dark the days are, there's always light." -Iryna Voinarovska, Artist and Meher Mount Visitor
“Where the Light Remains” by artist Iryna Voinarovska was created during a personal time of healing, release, and gratitude. It’s the view at sunset from Avatar's Point.
She gave the painting to Meher Mount on the 2026 Summer Solstice in appreciation of the love and support she felt during her visits.
Iryna Voinarovska tells her story:
"In 2013, I emigrated from Ukraine straight to Ojai, California. On Christmas Day that year, I went to Meher Mount. As soon as I stepped out of the car onto the parking lot, I had a strange feeling that I had come home — even though I had never been here before.
Meher Mount became my sacred place, my church. I come to pray and to bring my troubles and worries. This is this place where I ask questions, ask for help, and somehow I always receive what I need.
Several years ago, I went through a major health crisis. I was feeling the life force leaving me. I came to Baba’s Tree and prayed to be shown the true path to my healing. I had to go through surgery and lose some parts of myself. And I asked Meher Baba, 'Please, if you take this from me, open up my true talent instead.'
During my recovery, a message came to me that I needed to paint. I had never painted before in my life. I thought, 'I’ll try, and if something looks like a painting, I’ll do it.' My first painting of a hummingbird came out pretty good. I realized there was something in me that knew how to paint. That was a year and a half ago.
In April 2025, I found myself at a crossroads in my personal life and came to Baba’s Tree asking to be shown the right path forward. I followed that guidance, letting go of the life I had known, and stepping into a new chapter.
I wanted to honor the life I was leaving behind, the new chapter unfolding ahead of me, and Meher Mount — the place that had given me so much love and support. I felt called to create something that could hold my gratitude and reflect the deeper meaning of this transition in my life. This is how 'Where the Light Remains' was born.
To give something back to the place that had given me so much, I offered 'Where the Light Remains' to Meher Mount. For me, this painting represents healing, letting go with gratitude, and trusting the path ahead.
The painting carries a simple message: 'No matter how dark the days are, there’s always light.' And Meher Mount is exactly the place where, no matter what we are going through, love and light always remain."
