The Hall of Fire

Voronwë, that is so beautiful, and pierces straight to the heart of what I've been trying to express.

Hi Folca, and hi again Mithluin! Watching "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" really brought home to me the great gift of the spiritual within Tolkien's mythology. Lewis was SO hammer-you-over-the-head with his parallels to his own faith. As a non-Christian, it makes you wince. It beco...

Me, too! No spoilers, but that last episode, the end? I was just sitting there in open mouthed horror. *gnaws fist* Eeeeeeek!

In some frames of mind I wish Sam had not gotten to follow Frodo. Not because I want him to suffer, but because that's more like life. Me, too, Prim! I think it's because Frodo tried to give him the gift of a life, a love, children, grandchildren... It seems ungrateful, somehow, for him to turn awa...

Yes, I know! I was just talking longingly of LOTR discussions I used to enjoy...and you were so kind to oblige and create one.

I will do my best! (As in -- whenever RL is NOT pulverizing me I will be there.)

Or perhaps we could tackle it by examining a theme at a time or a character at a time. That way the discussion can move up and down the narrative freely. That was a suggestion only, I am not tied to any approach. I wouldn't mind chapter by chapter discussions, but I really like ToshoftheWuffingas i...

I love solicitr's word, too: "macromicrocosm." It kind of captures how that world resonates with us in this one. Pearly Di, I was struck by your comment that Frodo did what he did because it was the right thing with no thought of reward. Because Tolkien didn't discuss so much as an afterli...

Thank you for the uncluttered version of the song, Alatar. I thought I was going Cylon-nuts when I couldn't HEAR enough to GET it all last night during that last episode.

Wow, I just saw the conclusion of Battlestar Season 3 myself -- ee gods.

Trust, betrayal, love, and faith... yes, Primula! And justice.

I'm kind of glad I only have to wait one night to see some more.

I think "Firefly" is one of the best shows ever made, I truly do. As for Battlestar Galactica, I came to it late and have never even seen it on "regular TV." Once in a while they come up with an episode that's a bit off, but most of the time, it's incredible. Refering back to the...

OK, I admit to an absolute LOVE for "Firefly", a growing enjoyment of "Angel"...and a recent addiction to "Battlestar Galactica." In fact, with regard to the latter, I've been gobbling down the 3rd season as fast as I can on DVD because the fourth season premieres...TOM...

Oh, I am! I'm watching it on HBO! The smallpox scene was absolutely chilling... what a decision to have to make, and how brutal a reality to deal with. I was really moved by the poor donor of the "vaccine", lying with a cross clutched to him(her?) self in the back of the wagon. I was also ...

Voronwë, I'll look forward to your post!

Primula, yes, you're right. It's the long, hard road --not the glorious battle -- that Frodo helps one endure.

Yes, Primula, that's exactly it! That's what I meant about it coming without the baggage. :) It's there to access, for anyone. I have a friend who is Catholic, and who loved LOTR with a passion from a young age. She used to get in trouble for writing "WWFD" instead of "WWJD" on h...

There are just some elements of Tolkien's mythology that are so beautiful... I love the metaphor of "singing" the world into existence.

I am also continually struck by the themes of loss, sacrifice, and new beginnings born of both that permeate the stories through and through.

I have always felt so moved by the spiritual power of Tolkien's mythology, and have found that images and archetypes from LOTR especially have made their way into my own thinking/feeling about spirituality. In a way, the mythology captures so much of the essential notions central to so many faiths.....