One Ring
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Just for fun, I've been thinking about the curious relationship between symbolism of Ayin and the Lord of the Rings saga.
The ring itself is a circle and Ayin was written as a circle in ancient times. Also, the obvious eye of Sauroman that can see all that happens from the top of that phallic tower in Mordor. The strong connection with aspects of power and Capricorn, Saturn as a destructive force or the all consuming force, the eye of Ayin and the phallus, and also the astonishing visualization of the tarot trump "The Devil" in the thoth deck when you are taken to the Land of Mordor are more than a coincidence.
It's interesting that the characters are going through this initiatory steps that lead them to a battle that is basically a symbolic conquest of the paths of Ayin and Nun, Death and the Devil. I feel that I'm moving from Malkuth (the Shire) to Tiphereth (Lindon).
Was J. R.R. Tolkinen an occultist? Just a nerdy question.
93s -
Excellent topic.
I've often pondered the same thing. My first online researches revealed only a host of Christian conspiracy-theories, all of whom agree that Tolkien was a puppet of the Illuminati, and wrote his books (which deal with such evils as sorcery and witchcraft) in order to delude the Christian world at large. I didn't know this, but the devil gave him the inpiration to write TLOTR in order to undermine Christianity. Also, did you know that Oxford is controlled by the Illuminati, and the school is a means by which they exert their sinister influence on impressionable minds?
One thing, however, is certain: he was well read in Runes, and ancient Norse texts, etc. There are a great deal of spells and incantations in such works, and he drew a great deal of inspiration from their study. He also expressed an interest in Egyptian mythology and the ancient texts of the East (the oracles of Zoroaster, etc.)--so it would be safe to assume that a great deal of Magical lore was incorporated in his books. The Nordic runes in particular deal with many spells, incantations, and so forth.
If he was a member of an Order, he did well to mask his true leanings behind his Catholisim.
As for myself, I have little doubt that his works were written with full knowledge of Qabalah. He says himself that they have no allegorical meaning at all, but then again, in our world of misconception and prejudice, one does not always reveal the truth of things to the profane.
One also wonders about comparisons to Wagner's "Ring Cycle," for Wagner was in close contact with high-ranking Masons. (Also he is listed as a former member by the OTO.)
Edit: Ah, a little research shows that, while he was never admitted (due to his "immoral" lifestyle), he applied to a Masonic order, and often expressed a desire to join the Masonic fraternity. Many of his close friends and associates were Masons, so he most likely picked up a lot of Masonic symbolism from their correspondence.
Quite interesting, as Tolkien and Wagner are two of my favorite artists. One recalls, also, that Nietzche was a close friend of Wagner's, and Nietzche had a vast knowledge of ancient lore: the Oracles of Zoroaster, Greek rites and Magick, and Norse mythology.
Edit the second: consider, also, that the hobbits and orcs may represent elementals.
And I just recalled that Tolkien was well read in the Egyptian Book of the Dead, which is rife with spells and incantations of a Magical nature. He also said (I paraphrase) that the inhabitants of Middle Earth are best conceived in Egyptian terms, such as those figures found in the BOTD. (Funny, I always thought of them as rather like Vikings and Knights, etc.
)I'll do a little more research on the subject, and perhaps we could compare the Lord of the Rings with Qabalistic archetypes, if nobody minds.
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I presented this same problem to my music partner who is a professor of literature. He said that Tolkien condemned his contemporaries who employed metaphor & analogy in their work. Apparently he was primarily interested in producing what he considered a creative masterpiece with no intentional double-meaning, but it is also possible that in his attempt to do so he gave voice to several classic Archetypal motifs from his own unconscious within which the entire western world might find meaning.
729
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93!
What I find interesting is that the creative process taps into this energies and images. The symbols are very strong, so to me, being an artist, I can understand that if you are always pushing and tapping in one direction, the archetypes answer with their powerful imagery. In this case, I posted here because I saw the strong correlation with Ayin, but I have to mention that if you concentrate on one Hebrew letter, it will crack open and unleash the archetypes and imagery of that particular letter.
I always consider the tarot cards "portals" (particularly the thoth deck) that can be used to access different realities, or better said, different aspects of the One reality. -
www.amazon.com/Lord-Rings-Philosophy-Popular-Culture/dp/0812695453
My friend who is chair of the Philosophy dept it RIT highly recommends this book.
There is actually a who slew of these text (ie the philospohy of Star Wars, Seinfield, Harry Potter ect).At the Margeret Woodbury Strong Museum, The Nation Museum of Play they have a huge Tolkien display, along with other magickal stories (Potter, King Arthur,-Wagners music playing in the back ground...) The children are encouraged to make crafts, potions, and the like.....
While the belief system of Tolkien may not have been occult (or may have) he is certainly fodder for up and coming magicians. When I took my sons friend to play there, he came home and told his parents that he just had the best day of his life....
I have watched the movies with my young, several times, and have found it an excellent tool for teaching.
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@Arsihsis said
"I presented this same problem to my music partner who is a professor of literature. He said that Tolkien condemned his contemporaries who employed metaphor & analogy in their work. Apparently he was primarily interested in producing what he considered a creative masterpiece with no intentional double-meaning, but it is also possible that in his attempt to do so he gave voice to several classic Archetypal motifs from his own unconscious within which the entire western world might find meaning.
729"
Yes...but never trust an Adept.
Assuming he was an adept.
One would think that someone so versed in lore might have opened a Magical Text or two? Remember that the Germainic texts he studied contained a great many ancient incantations.
