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

“If Elves indeed still dwell here in this darkening world.” We're back! For a special festive episode where we explore the symbolism of gift giving in Lothlorien.  Every member of the Fellowship is given a parting gift by the Lady of the Light. Does she know what will befall them all? What do her gifts symbolise and how do they shape the narrative as the Fellowship cracks at the Falls of Rauros?  From Galadriel's gift of the Light of Eärendil, we take a whistle stop tour through the history of Elvendom on Middle Earth. We discuss the Eldar, the people of the stars, those born under the night skies in the First Age of Beleriand. The ones who chose to stay in the dark realm of Middle Earth rather than follow the call to go to the undying lands. It's a beautiful choice. To stay in the land of decay, decomposition and disintegration. And the choice is an astonishing one when you yourself are immortal.  We honour the choice to stay and fade with every passing season. We live in a society which would have us turn always towards the light, to distract from the deadening expanse of the landscape. But there is something soul making in our choice to dissolve with the fading light.  As soon as we trust in winter, we can trust in the return of the spring.  May this Solstice bless you all with the shimmering dark.  “May it be a light for you in dark places, where all other lights go out.” 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

"... 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

"Hail the victorious dead" 3 March 3019, The Battle for Helm's Deep It is just before dawn. The hour when it is always darkest. Theoden King waits in the Hornburg. The screams of his men have lessened through the night as the Uruk Hai have silenced them in their droves. Theoden hears the brutal thuds of club on wood, as they begin battering down the door, crying "bring out your king!". "What are men to do in the face of such hate?" It seems a perfect time... for a tarot reading. Join us in this episode for a tarot reading for Théoden Ednew in memory of the beloved Bernard Hill. Our brother, our captain, our King. "I go to my fathers. And even in their mighty company I shall not now be ashamed." 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

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." We're back! And finally discussing a topic that prompted us to make this podcast in the first place.... the hobbits as the four aspects of ego consciousness. Thinking, Feeling, Sensing and Intuiting. But who represents each function? Do you agree? And, how can we use the cognitive functions to help us better understand the minor arcana in tarot? Are you a Merry, Pippin, Frodo or Sam? Let us know what you think of this episode by emailing ⁠fortheshire.pod@gmail.com⁠ or reach out 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:

Ten withered outstretched fingersreaching into the darknesspalms searching for the pull of the Ring.He waits in the darkrelentlessly holding on.I lift my soft, sensitive, loving skinto meet the ragged worn surfaceof his hopeless hands.At first he doesn't notice the changingforce of palm to palm.I wrap my fingersaround the gnarled mountainsof his knuckles. Cling to himand the parts of methat I have also cast adrift. Meet us on the slopes of the Misty Mountains, get carried away in the slipstream and into the current of Dream. We didn't know where this episode would take us. But of course, we ended up in the liminal. The eagle flying between the solar light of consciousness and the first sliver of the young moon. The hairs on the back of necks rising in the space between the lifting fog and the starless sky. The hesitation between being repulsed and reaching out in awe. We explore two dreams, one of Frodo's and one of a listener's.  We look for what is at threat of being lost. Where we can listen to inner guidance to point us to what we already know. How we can let our fingertips plunge ever deeper into the fertile soil of the Dreamworld. You can listen to the Dream Nidra from Lothlorien here. If you have a Dream you'd like to gift us… email fortheshire.pod@gmail.com or reach out 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

"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

It's just before dawn on the morning of 25 October, 3018 of the third age. The embers of the fires from the night before turn to ash. The stars dwindle, the waterfalls begin to crescendo with the energy of another day. A cloaked figure stands alone in deep contemplation. Gandalf the Grey - steeling himself for the council where the fate of many shall be decided. We meet Gandalf at this very moment and offer him a gift... a tarot reading, from our very own Molly. This episode was an experiment in trust, and well, it really paid off. This is a deep dive into Gandalf; Mithrandir, Tharkûn. We explore his story through a very potent half-Celtic Cross reading. We hope you enjoy listening as much as we loved recording this. Find us @fortheshire.pod to see the imagery in Molly's spread and more inspiration for our next epsiode. "Wisest of the Maiar was Olórin'. He too dwelt in the house of Lorien, but his ways took him often to the house of Nienna and of her he learnt pity and patience."

"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

So be it, we shall discuss... the Fellowship of the Ring! We begin this episode in the Shire, where we find Gandalf entwining duty with dharma as he sets Frodo off on the quest of a lifetime. "All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you." We follow the four hobbits as they leave the conscious realm of the Shire and drop deeper and deeper into darkness. As they cross many thresholds, the layers of the known are peeled back and the Hobbits are exposed to new dangers. But, a mysterious stranger appears as an unexpected guide... Join us for this unravelling of dharma, depths and fraternal devotion in the Fellowship of the Ring. "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you'll be swept off to."

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.

Welcome Mellons! Molly and Libby welcome you to this quest... to explore every crevice of Tolkien through the lenses of Tarot and Jungian Depth Psychology. In this, our very first episode, we begin in the Middle: The Two Towers. This story begins with an ascent into the depths and keeps us there by illuminating the path forward with a sliver of hope. We explore the archetypal aspects of Gimli, Legolas, Frodo, Sam and Gollum and celebrate the power of friendship and ask, what are you holding onto?