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It took a couple of seconds to register in my mind, but I had seen a gate, behind which something had sparkled. This warranted a second look. I turned heel and headed back a few paces to the formidable black steel gate. Through the bars of the gate lay a kind of alleyway formed by two buildings. Hung by pegs and anchors onto the stucco walls of the buildings was an assortment of symbolic curios; mirrors adorned with colorful frames, bells, birdcages, and trinkets. Below them were brightly painted clay statues similar to Hindu deities, topless sirens reminiscent of mermaids, and one resembling Kuan Yin the Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion. (Ironically, I was later to find her description plaque intact but the statue itself missing). Before trying the doorknob on the gate I glanced to my left to see an article framed behind glass and hanging from one of the walls of the entryway. Apparently I wasn't the first to discover this curiosity, Los Angeles Times writer David A. Keeps found it first back in 2006. I skimmed the article to learn that Pilates instructor Mary-Ascension Saulnier wrote a love story at some point and founded this place in 2002 as a physical manifestation of it. Also Mr. Keeps pointed out that this "breezeway" is officially known as the Meditation Water Garden, (although I found that it's popularly known as "The Garden Of Believing"), and it contains "39 hand-painted wishing well fountains paired with 72 affirmations" from Kaballa scholar Rabbi Yehuda Berg's Kaballa interpretation "The 72 names of God". After glancing at the garden's posted hours, I determined that the gate must be unlocked: with hesitant hope and anticipatory excitement I reached for the knob. It turned a full 180 degrees and with an easy pull, the door opened. I stepped through the archway and into a sort of mystical place. However, on closer inspection it was clear that the place was in a state of disrepair. The water fountains were all dry save one located in the back that gave off a soft burbling sound. Playing in the base of the fountain's pool were two clay children, one holding a wire mesh purse filled with marbles and another chatting in her ear. A small blond sprite clad in a toga and playing a pan flute hides behind a plant next to them. Neglected extension cords splay out over a couple of statues like snakes in the garden of Eden and hang in knots from the wire skeleton of a Christmas tree. A couple of phone books occupy the seat of one of the meditational chairs, and the place feels a bit cramped because of the clutter. However there is still much beauty to be found here. I found Osirus, a statue representing Intuition. He sits on a pedestal cross legged gazing down into an empty bowl. His green eyelids are mostly closed while he ponders his inner reflection. A plant grows near his feet, and red Christmas ornament balls dangle randomly over his shoulder. Earth Prana, our vital life energy, makes an appearance in a wood carving of womans head; her sun colored hair flows in the wind, and a sullen expression covers her face as she casts a glance down toward terra firma. Colorful birdcages made of cast iron jut out from the walls in the back, and hummingbird feeders hang from trees framed by a mission tiled roof. Yes, there is still much beauty to be found here, and I'm sure that once the goddess of compassion returns to the garden, things will undergo a substantial improvement. **Please see pics and take a tour of the garden** PS another yelp review of this place can be found under the unofficial name at http://www.yelp.com/biz/garden-of-believing-eagle-rock read more
