CHAT WITH A VALA

THE TOLKIEN EFFECT

The Inspiration

Inspired by J.R.R.Tolkien, I lay down and desired sweet sleep to carry me off to a land filled with dreams. A chat with a Vala is what I wanted. Which one? Well, now let’s see -who else, but the Master of Dreams, himself. With that thought in mind, I fell fast asleep and wouldn’t you know the Master sent me a dream!

In Lórien are his gardens in the land of the Valar, and they are the fairest of all places in the world, filled with many spirits. Estë the gentle, healer of hurts and of weariness, is his spouse. Grey is her raiment; and rest is her gift. She walks not by day, but sleeps upon an island in the tree-shadowed lake of Lórellin. From the fountains of Irmo and Estë all those who dwell in Valinor draw refreshment; and often the Valar come themselves to Lórien and there find repose and easing of the burden of Arda. (From the Valaquenta, - The Silmarillion)

 

A Presence Approaches

 “…the Valar took to themselves shape and hue;…..the Valar may walk, if they will, unclad,….when they desire to clothe themselves the Valar take upon them  forms of some of male and some of female;. .. the shapes of the Great Ones array themselves are not at all times like the shapes of kings or queens; for at times they may clothe themselves in their own thought, made visible in forms of majesty and dread.”(From the Ainulindalë)

In the world of dreams things perceived are shaped by one’s own mind and this place I perceived was as beautiful as the imagery of that Tolkien, the Creator, could conceive.

A presence approached and a friendly voice whispered. “Someone from the modern world called to me. I am sure it was you? Are you from the world I once knew –from the world of Arda?  You must know it. Why else would you call?”

I knew now where I’d gone in dreamtime. Irmo, Master of Visions and Dreams, was speaking to me!

 

His voice brought me feelings of security.  I felt as if all was well with the world.  A disembodied smile hung in the air; then, two bright eyes appeared. Slowly, Irmo became visible to me.  I laughed. He looked to me like the neighborhood gardener I knew from the world I left behind!

 

“A Vala can read thoughts.” said Irmo’s cheery voice. “Why wonder that the master of Lórien looks like a gardener! I can look any way you want for I am the Master of Desire. I sensed your desire and drew you to me. I look the way your mind desires me to look.”

 

 

Dreams, Gardens, and Family

 

 “The Valar come from regions far off, ages far beyond any thoughts you hold.  We have many names. Tolkien Creator once thought to call me Olofantur.* My true name now is Irmo. Irmo means Master of Desire.  I am also a Master of Dreams and bring all sorts of dreams both good and bad.  It is up to the dreamer.  With you there is only light and cheer. No nightmares for you!

 

“Long ago, most called me Lórien after the beautiful gardens around you. Ah! Lórien!  There is such great beauty here! My lovely companion, Estë, helps me with the work of maintaining this place.  It is her love and care the keeps its fountains and pools so beautiful. My gardens are the fairest of all places in the world!

 

There is a rumor that the Noldor Queen Galadriel named her kingdom in Middle Earth after our Gardens here. Perhaps she needed a memory of the peace and beauty of the Gardens of Lórien in Middle Earth. **. It is only a rumour.  She dwells in this world now and visits here from time to time. Perhaps I’ll ask her sometime.

 

Lórien is filled with spirits that come here to rest. I have an older brother called Nàmo. He works with spirits too. I work with the living and he with the dead. Together we are known as the Fëanturi (Masters of Spirits.)  We have a sister too. Her name is Nienna.  She is a sensitive being who mourns every hurt done to the world since the very beginning of time.”

She is acquainted with grief and spends much time in the Halls of Mandos bringing strength to those who wait there.

 

Some Tales to Tell-

 

The spirits who come to Lórien to find solace and rest bring with them many tales. Some are worth remembrance.

 

Miriël

 

We tend the gardens in the land of the Valar in Lórien; and they are the fairest of all places in the world, filled with many spirits. From the fountains of Irmo and Estë all those who dwell in Valinor draw refreshment; and often the Valar come themselves to Lórien and there find repose and easing of the burden of Arda. (From Chapter Six of the Quenta Silmarillion

 

Long ago, when the world was still young and beautiful, my sweet companion, Estë, took care of a lovely Elf Queen called Míriel.  Her story started with great happiness. In life, she was the first wife of King Finwë of the Noldor.

 

“The love of Finwë and Míriel was great and glad, for it began in the Bless Realm and Days of Bliss.”

 

Unfortunately, her story ends in sadness.

 

“But in bearing of her son, Míriel was consumed in spirit and body; and after his birth she yearned for release from the labor of living.”

 

Míriel had also been known for her unsurpassed skill in weaving and needlework. Feänor, her son, inherited her skill in craft. With his gift, he captured the light of the Two Trees that lit the world in those days and fashioned three jewels he called the Silmarils.

 

Feänor was trouble, though. That tale is too long to tell now, but needless to say the portents were there from the start. He sucked the life out of poor Míriel.  She never recovered from his birth. On highest recommendation Finwë sent her to us for healing. But, alas, it was no use. Her spirit dwells with Nàmo now.

 

She went to the gardens of Lórien and lay down to sleep; but though she seemed to sleep, her spirit indeed departed from her body and passed in silence to the halls of Mandos. The maidens of Estë tended the body of Míriel, and it remained unwithered; but she did not return.

 

The Song of the Sun and the Moon

 

Estë and I concerned ourselves often with the well-being of the inhabitants of Arda... A terrible thing happened in Aman long ago. The two great trees that illuminated the world - Telperion and Laurelin were attacked and destroyed by two dreadful beings – one who was once a Valar, and the other so horrible that I will say no more except to say it literally sucked the light out of the world.

 

After the attack on the Trees, a Darkness beyond dark which none could penetrate descended on us all.  The Valar knew this Darkness would allow evil to flourish and resolved to return light to the world. That is how the Sun and Moon came about. Wonderful vessels were devised to carry the light that was left in the last flower of Telperion and the last fruit of Laurelin. Tilion, the hunter drove Isil, the vessel of the Moon, that carried the last silver flower of Telperion.  The maiden Arien, a spirit of fire steered the vessel of the Sun, Anar, that carried the last golden fruit of Laurelin.

 

The rising of the Sun on the first day was glorious. But, the Moon was wayward in its crossing and caused sleep and rest to be banished from the Earth. For our part, Estë and I appealed to the highest power to direct the crossings to ensure that adequate sleep and rest would be had by all. And, it was a time was allowed where the world could still have shadow and half-light so that sleep and rest would return to the world. This story and our part in it were recorded in the “Narsilion – The Song of the Sun and the Moon.” From Chapter 11 of the Quenta Silmarillion

 

People to Meet in Lórien

 

I felt a tug or so it seemed.  “I knew my time in Lórien was coming to an end. As morning neared in the world I left behind, my mind and body would draw me back.

 

Irmo knew it was time for me to go. He said, “When you come again, you must take time to stroll through the Gardens and find Melian who tends the flowering trees. To meet her is a delight. There is beautiful music, whenever she is near. Nightingales follow wherever she goes. She dwells with us now to find peace from the sorrows of the world she left behind.

There is another you must meet as well. You’ll have much to discuss. I’ve taught him much about dreams. Like many of us, he is known by several names. We knew him as Olórin before he went off to Middle-Earth in Arda. But, Gandolf is the name you would know best. He still dwells here, though he spends much time with my sister. His adventures in the ancient world are a wonder to hear. He loves to tell them. Be sure to ask.”

 

The pull was strong now.  I started to awake. As I came back to this consciousness, I heard Irmo’s sweet voice trailing off in the distance.  He told me I would always be welcome in Lórien. He said if my desire was strong enough, I would find my way back again soon.

 

All in all, I had a marvelous adventure. Reading Tolkien can do that to you.

 

*(“The Istari” - Unfinished Tales.) **(Notes “The History of Galadriel and Celeborn” – Unfinished Tales)”