For the Shire: Coming Home Through Tolkien, Tarot and Jung

“He halted amazed, thinking that he had strayed into a dream, or else that he had received the gift of the Elf-minstrels, who can make the things of which they sing appear before the eyes of those that listen.”What happens to love after it dies? For the elves, it never can. It is carried over to the Underlying Lands, where it will ring forever green. But for mortals… for mortals, we don’t know where love goes when it dies. Does it follow life into the mystery, does it slink down into the soil with the decaying leaves of Lorien, does it disappear forever? If you could choose, which type of love would you pick? The in-conquerable, immortal, evergreen love of the elves? Or, the doomed, fated, grief laden love of the mortals?Arwen chooses the latter. Though the sting of this choice was a bitter one. In this episode, we bring Arwen back to life through song and in doing so, the Lay of Luthien is sung once more in the glades of Arda. And a little bit more of the magic is breathed back into the world.In the soft twilight between myth and memory, Arwen reminds us that love’s truest power lies not in its endurance, but in its willingness to end. In her choice, we find the pulse of all mortal things; the beauty that breaks because it is alive.This is an episode for those who have loved knowing it would hurt, who have chosen the fleeting over the flawless, who understand that every goodbye is also a kind of grace.Join us, as we follow the Evenstar into the dusk and see what light remains.Love the pod? Please buy us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/fortheshireIf you'd love to geek out with us, reach out to ⁠fortheshire.pod@gmail.com⁠ or follow us on @fortheshire.pod on Instagram. Co-hosted by Molly Davis and Libby Rose Waite.(FYI - We didn't manage to work out video... but this will be uploaded to YouTube soon!)Music by Steve Ernenwein, host and composter for The Dreams that Shape Us Podcast: ⁠https://linktr.ee/dreamsthatshapeus⁠ / ⁠https://linktr.ee/aqthedreamwalker

Mae govannen, dear listeners, and welcome to Season 2 of For the Shire.We begin, as all great tales do, in shadow, by turning our gaze to the One Ring:That which devours.That which disembodies.That which destroys.“What have I got in my pocket?”A riddle, a chance, a doom.The Ring holds many powers, but perhaps its greatest gift was not to Bilbo, nor to Gollum, nor even to Sauron. But to Tolkien himself. It gave him something solid, something glinting in the dark, to seize amidst the vast, swirling depths of the mythic world he was weaving. Down in the endless blackness of the Misty Mountains, the Ring gleamed, metallic, crisp, and cold, and Bilbo’s fingers closed around it. So too did Tolkien’s imagination close around this talisman, forging from it the legend that would shape his life’s work.And so we, in turn, hold fast to the Ring. We follow where it leads:Into the underworld,To the fiery chasm from whence it came,To the hidden realms beneath the seen world where ancient forces stir and archetypes rise.On this journey we pass through the lands of animism, of mass consumption, of charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and The Tower. Each step draws us deeper into the heart of the story and the heart of ourselves.And so we ask you, listener:What is it that you have in your pocket?Love the pod? Please buy us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/fortheshireIf you'd love to geek out with us, reach out to ⁠fortheshire.pod@gmail.com⁠ or follow us on @fortheshire.pod on Instagram. Co-hosted by Molly Davis and Libby Rose Waite.Music by Steve Ernenwein, host and composter for The Dreams that Shape Us Podcast:⁠https://linktr.ee/dreamsthatshapeus⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/aqthedreamwalker

"... modest, fair-minded and scrupulously just, and very merciful"... I am sure I did not invent him. I did not even want him, though I like him". Tolkien on Faramir Faramir emerges suddenly from the shadows of Ithilien towards the latter part of The Two Towers. We've never before heard of him by name, have had no warning of his presence running up to this moment and in some ways... he serves little narrative purpose. Or does he? In this episode, we explore Faramir as an expression of unconscious energy itself. A bridge between worlds. The steward of an ancestry that encompasses the promised strength of the world of men. And though it is Aragorn who returns to the throne of that world, it is Faramir who steps aside to place him there. Perhaps stepping aside for what is good and just is the strongest thing any of us can do. "For myself, I would see the White Tree in flower again in the courts of the kings, and the Silver Crown return, and Minas Tirith in peace." If you'd love to geek out with us, reach out to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fortheshire.pod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or follow us on @fortheshire.pod on Instagram. Co-hosted by Molly Davis and Libby Rose Waite. Music by Steve Ernenwein, host and composter for The Dreams that Shape Us Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/dreamsthatshapeus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/aqthedreamwalker

"End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path. One that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass... then you see it!" Being together and seeing Return of the King live in the Royal Albert Hall, undoubtedly added layers of depth to the experience. In this episode, we explore themes that resonate not only within the world of Middle-earth but also within our own lives and the broader context of the world. We discuss endings and life cycles, from the perspective of both the macrocosm of the trilogy but also the individuation journeys of our beloved characters. As Gandalf eloquently puts it, the journey doesn't truly end with death. He speaks to the cyclical nature of existence, where endings often mark the beginning of something new. In the macrocosm of the trilogy, we witness the culmination of the struggle against darkness and the ushering in of a new era of peace. However, this victory is not without sacrifice, emphasising the bittersweet reality of endings. On an individual level, the characters' journeys mirror the process of individuation and personal growth. Each character undergoes trials and transformations, ultimately finding their place in the world and within themselves. From Frodo's burden of carrying the One Ring to Aragorn's acceptance of his destiny as the rightful king, these arcs reflect the complexities of the human experience and the paths we must navigate to find fulfilment and purpose. The lighting of the Beacons of Gondor symbolises a beacon of hope amidst despair, a rallying call to unite against overwhelming odds. In the context of our discussion on contemporary issues such as the ongoing conflict in Palestine and our own activism, these moments resonate deeply. They serve as reminders of the power of hope in the face of adversity and the importance of collective action in striving for a better future. If you'd love to geek out with us, reach out to ⁠⁠⁠fortheshire.pod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠ or follow us on @fortheshire.pod on Instagram. Co-hosted by Molly Davis and Libby Rose Waite. Music by Steve Ernenwein, host and composter for The Dreams that Shape Us Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/dreamsthatshapeus⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/aqthedreamwalker

Welcome to this dream incubation Nidra. If you are new to Dreamwork, setting the intention to dream is important. In Yoga Nidra, this intention is called a Sankalpa. Asking for a dream is an invitation to your unconscious to guide you deeper and deeper in. Do whatever you love to do to make yourself comfortable, ready for sleep. Have a notebook by your bed so you can pour your dream language into it when you awake. I prefer to voice record my dreams, so have my phone nearby as well. This Nidra invites a Middle Earthern dream but you may end up elsewhere. Trust that your unconscious will guide you to whatever it longs to show you. Music by Steve Ernenwein, host and composter for The Dreams that Shape Us Podcast:

"His house was perfect, whether you liked food or sleep, or work, or storytelling, or singing, or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all… all of them, the ponies as well, grew refreshed and strong in a few days there. Their clothes were mended as well as their bruises, their tempers and their hopes. Their bags were filled with food and provisions, light to carry, but strong to bring them over the mountain passes." - JRR Tolkien, The Hobbit If you are feeling despair, if you are wearied, if you are afraid… meet us in the house of Elrond Half Elven. Where we still linger, after landing here three chapters ago. But why would we leave, when we are surrounded by healing, hearth and hope. In this episode, we explore the bridge between past and future, myth and reality, mortality and immortality. This chapter is dedicated to Elrond. A complex character and we move between worlds, books and the major arcana as we attempt to do justice to this essential Tolkien archetype. Co-hosted by Molly Davis and Libby Rose Waite. Music by Steve Ernenwein, host and composter for The Dreams that Shape Us Podcast: https://linktr.ee/dreamsthatshapeus https://linktr.ee/aqthedreamwalker

"So you have chosen death." In this episode we pick up right where we left off - on the banks of the River Bruinen. The Nazgûl have been washed away and we are left with pledges, poetry and sacred pathways. The second half of the Fellowship begins with many meetings, strangers from distant lands, friends of old... gathered together to discuss the fate of the one ring. The characters we know and love declare their allegiance to Frodo and his dharma. And off they set, on a journey to Mount Doom that is doomed from the first footsteps. Sometimes, the road to dharma is fraught and tangled. We also step back in time for some respite in the house of Tom Bombadil, the original Fool. Finally, we honour the sweet sacrifices we make to one another, when it is our dharma to follow those we love on the path of darkness, despair and Death. May Lórien always be the place that holds us and the pains which are too great to carry alone. “I made a promise, Mr. Frodo. A promise. Don't you leave him, Samwise Gamgee. And I don't mean to, I don't mean to." Please let us know what you think, follow us and find us on instagram @fortheshire.pod

In this chapter of For the Shire we shine a light on a much beloved character, Eowyn. She is the Shieldmaiden of Rohan who rides to war with a broken heart, slays the Lord of the Nazgûl and is plunged into the realm of the unconscious. On awakening, she faces two choices: to follow her despair to The Black Gate of Mordor, or allow her decades of grief to transmute into softness. Eowyn is a complex, complicated and rather contemporary expression of the female experience. We loved celebrating her journey from prophecy to reality, and hope you will too.