Of Winter

[artanaro]

This is an essay dealing with winter and its arising according to the lore of the Eldar. There will be several parts to this and I would like input on this matter, any thoughts or criticisms:
I will begin by presenting the arising of winter in the Ainulindale :

"And Iluvatar spoke to Ulmo and said, ' Seest thou not how here in this little realm in the Deeps of Time Melkor hath made war upon thy province? He hath bethought him of bitter cold immoderate and yet hath not destroyed the beauty of thy fountains, nor or thy clear pools. Behold the snow and the cunning work of the frost! Melkor hath devised heats and fire without restraint, and hath not dried up thy desire nor utterly quelled the music of the sea. Behold rather the height and glory of the clouds and the everchanging mists; and listen to the fall of rain upon the Earth! and in these clouds thou art drawn near to Manwe, thy friend, whom thou lovest '
Then Ulmo answered : 'Truly , Water is become now fairer than my heart imagined, neither had my secret thought conceived the snowflake, nor in all my music was contained the falling of the rain. I will seek Manwe, that he and I may make melodies to thy delight!' And Manwe and Ulmo have from the beginning been allied, and in all things have served most faithfully the purpose of Iluvatar"

This is an interesting passage. Here we see that the dynamic tension Melkor, Manwe , and Ulmo 's themes gave rise to winter. Melkor tried in vain to ruin the works of Ulmo in particular in this text.
Melkor's malice became a catalyst for transformation. Melkor exemplifies ignorance which then gives rise to suffering leading to malice and violence towards others. I think it shows that this suffering can lead to the arising of things of great beauty that were not conceived of before. This is the "alchemy" of existence. Winter in all its beauty and splendor is the product of this "alchemy".

Agree or Disagree? Any thoughts or different perspectives?

Hantale
Artanaro

[Melfaroth]

I do agree, but not so much is coming to me right at the moment, I will have to get back to this after thinking it over.

Namarie,
Melfaroth

[Brethil Duramel]

I say I agree. “…suffering can lead to the arising of things of great beauty” You say. On this matter I have had some experience and also agree. Though in most cases we tend to lose heart or hope before we recognize our rewards. In the above passage for example, Ulmo says to Iluvatar, “'Truly , Water is become now fairer than my heart imagined, neither had my secret thought conceived the snowflake, nor in all my music was contained the falling of the rain.” If this is truly what happened then I think we can assume that Ulmo nearly thought that his power and passion could be undone by his brother. But I see like my self in the end he was granted to see the will of Iluvatar triumph. In short your thought and posting of this passage have reminded me, and I hope others, that all things turn out well with Him That Is.

Of Alchemy: In this passage I find your theory and the use of this term and practice very appropriate. Though you know a bit more about alchemy then myself. So on this matter I say, “I agree.”

I thank you from my heart and hope as you requested of me I have given you some objective criticism. Also your words came out clearly as I can see it. I am not confused or lost. So Nain Tar please may this help you feel more confident in such matters. You do fine.

[artanaro]

Hantale nildo!
Your input is greatly appreciated and much needed before I unveil the rest of my essay....I will post it in a few days perhaps after some more contemplation and meditation....I have been busy these past few days.

Namarie
Artanaro

[Indis]

i highly agree. In My Terms when things look dark and dreary, May it also arise and look cheery! o wow thats a good one hmm I like it. It fits to. Anyway hehe thats my 2 cents.

[artanaro]

when things look dark and dreary, May it also arise and look cheery!
[ That is a good one Indis ! ;D]

There is a saying in Tibetan,
"Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength."
No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is,
if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster.

-His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

This is a saying Ive come across in my Buddhist studies, that sums it up quite well, I think ....
I highly agree with this statement , and this saying may end up leading me into the rest of my essay...

Namarie
Artanaro

[Melfaroth]

Well, getting back to this, I have read the post once again to think over my true answer so here it goes. And I liked your little rhyme there as well Indis. Ha ha, I believe rhyme helps lift the spirits, especially with a light heart. Music is, after all, an expression of your soul, as I believe.

I believe, since Melkor lost his head, that he has been a little short-sighted since that time. There is this account where he deliberately tried to discourage the others of the Ainur, and there are other accounts that have happened in likeness of this image. Take the Eldar for example. Well, Morgoth was ever bitter and hateful towards the Elves, from whom great jealousy was stemmed. His reaction to this jealousy and hatred was to make their lives a living terror and destroy them. Hence, 'If you want the annoyance gone, swat it with a fly swatter.' I guess that would do the job right? Wrong. Iluvatar's plans were for us to survive along with the ages of Arda. Either Melkor forgot this, or he was ever obsessed with torturing our souls. I wouldn't put either past him.
Every time we enter another life, ever more we gain, so we become stronger with time like we would have in the first place (some even stronger). I, for one, who has observed the reactions and habits of people in general, find that once you have gone through a hardship, you gain knowledge of it, and thus arm yourself against that evil in the future with that experiance. Hence the quote, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger". Of course, if you let fear take hold of you after this, then you will crawl into a shadowy corner unless you decide to rise above that fear, but this is one of the greatest weapons of the enemy. Controling the mind, I despise those who use this to their advantage.
Another good example, concerning what makes some souls even stronger, Glorfindel was pulled down beneath the Cristhorn into the deep abyss with the Balrog and thus, it was his doom. But there is the great speculation about his return in the second age, which would not only bring a great ally and friend into the midst of Endor once again, but would prove a formidable foe against enemies of the sons and daughters of Iluvatar. Thus, another part of Iluvatar's design is once again seen and more proof of this "alchemy" of which you speak is repeated once again.
And, Indis, if I may:

"When things look dark and dreary, May it also arise and look cheery!" ^_^

Great point mellon, very good!

Namarie Mellyn,
Melfaroth

[artanaro]

Now for the second part of my essay....all this now leads to the Valier known as Nienna :

"Mightier than Este is Nienna, sister of the Feanturi; she dwells alone. She is acquainted with grief, and mourns for every wound that Arda has suffered in the marring of Melkor. So great was her sorrow, as the Music unfolded, that her song turned to lamentation long before its end, and the sound of mourning was woven into the themes of the World ere it began.....she brings strength to the spirit and turns sorrow to wisdom."

So Nienna's theme would naturally be present during Melkor's marring of Ulmo's works. And it is her theme that helps bring Melkor's works of malice to naught.

So I propose that amongst other things, Nienna is also the Valier of Snow and Winter. For I hear her song in the cold and in the snowfall and it is a very powerful song, one that I wish all could hear.
So perhaps on the Winter Solstice along with Turuhalme, it would be appropriate to remember this story of Ulmo and the creation of winter, and to sit for a moment and listen to the song of Nienna.

I think I might write a meditation/visualization if anyone is interested in doing that...Or you can write a poem dealing with winter.....But in any event I think this is a story to be remembered.

Namarie
Artanaro

[Indis]

I like that alot. Me I hate shoveling snow though. But who likes it? But I do agree wholly on what you have put *smiles*