J.R.R. Tolkien's history of the world
This is a reprise of the Jan. 3, 2017 edition of PWFM about The Silmarillion, the earliest work of fantasy master J.R.R. Tolkien.
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Today is the 131st birth anniversary of J.R.R. Tolkien CBE (1892-1973). He was a South African-born British author and professor known best for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
In our times, we are faced with ongoing tragedy that — for our society and many we know of — stretches over long decades and indeed most of the past century since World War I. It is easy to become despondent about this state of affairs, and to think that we are experiencing something entirely unique to our lifetimes.
Beneath the form and content of what we witness today (techno, pharma, media corruption and all their effects) are the human capacities for cruelty, greed and ignorance; and the valor of a few who are strong enough to meet the challenge of living with integrity. There exist forces much greater than any of us that drive affairs of the world forward, though most are oblivious to them.
Tolkien’s Earliest Work
The Silmarillion is J.R.R. Tolkien’s earliest work, a collection of myths and legends interwoven with tales from many cultures (including Germanic and Nordic) though designed to be unique to England.
He began it before he had the children who became the first audience for his stories of hobbits, which in turn morphed into The Lord of the Rings. He continued to refine these legends until late in life. The published draft was edited by his son Christopher Tolkien (1924-2020) and published in 1977, four years after his father’s death.
I have always thought The Silmarillion was difficult to read, with every third word seeming to be in one of the many variants of Elvish languages that served as the linguistic foundation for all of Tolkien’s stories.
In 1998, an audio edition was published, read by British actor Martin Shaw, which presents the work as it should be experienced: as stories read out loud. Suddenly they come to life, more vividly than any movie. Hearing the Elvish words pronounced correctly makes them much easier to accommodate.
The Downfall of Numenor
The last 75 minutes of the 13-CD set tell Tolkien’s version of the story of Atlantis (Akallabeth: The Downfall of Numenor), which makes it fairly easy to see what is happening in our times. He discusses only the spiritual issues, and does not treat it as the product of technological hubris — but rather the lust for immortality.
Of course, we have that problem too. It’s precisely what was driving the “desire” for the “vaccine” on the grassroots level.
For several years, between 1999 and when I lived the U.K. and Europe through the first decade of the century, listening to The Silmarillion and Akallabeth over and over gave me some understanding of the grief and crisis that is faced by humanity, ongoing — how far back it goes, how deep, and what flaws in the human psyche have created our situation. I have drawn strength, compassion and inspiration from these stories for many years.
He begins his history with to the creation of the world, to the birth of the proto-gods and goddesses who take up stewardship of Middle Earth, which is where we live.
You may have noticed this little decoration on many of our email pages.
Elen síla lúmenn’ omentielvo is a Quenya (Elvish) greeting used by Frodo in the first meeting with the elf-horseman Gildor Inglorion (early in The Lord of the Rings, after the hobbits have left the Shire with the One Ring headed for Rivendell). It translates as, "A star shines on the hour of our meeting." Without the vocal assimilation it would be Elen síla lúmenna omentielvo, which Tolkien also translates as "A star shines upon the hour of the meeting of our ways."
For those curious, I offer this presentation — here is the link to the P=program. The notes say that the relevant part starts about 30 minutes in, after the contemporaneous astrology bit.
THIS/YOU ARE MAGNIFICENT.
I'm into it.
Dearest Eric Francis,
I realize Your Piece is 'bouts JRR T.
And it IS FANTASTIC !!
But since You, Have A Long Noble History, fightin' the Good Fight, along The Lines, Vectors, ByWays, of Lands, Soils, & WaterWays, within The Toxification Field, of Our Emerald-ed Earth...
I thought it Appropriate
As A Share.
From A Fellow Paisano.
Bejeweled Be You !
& ALL WORKERS.
Sew...
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FOOTBALL JERSEYS
& THE TOXICITY
OF THE INDUSTRIAL-iZed
ENVIRONMENT
DRUGS TO PLAY
IN OUR WASTED
WATERWAYS
ALPHA-NUMERICS
OF FACTS & FIGURES
ZED WEARS/BARES # 1
https://open.substack.com/pub/mickeyz/p/yet-another-reason-to-despise-big?r=11r0co&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email