The Lore of the Ent–Shepherd of the Forest

Being a lover of trees it is no surprise that I take great fondness in Ent lore.  For those of you who may not know what an Ent is…. An Ent is a race in Tolkien’s Trilogy “Lord of the Rings”.  They were the shepherds of the forest and themselves resembled  giant trees.  Although they did so in a very slow manner, they were able to travel and converse when the need or desire arose. They were an ancient race, if not one of the first.  They were first woken by the Elves it is said and slowly taught to speak and help the Elves themselves learn their language.  

 

The best known Ent is probably Tree Beard.  He of course was the keeper of Merry and Pippin for a time during the movie version of the “war of the Ring”.  Although if by chance you read the book, you will also know of Quickbeam or Bregalad as he was sometimes called.  He as a younger Ent.  Definitely not as mature as the others.  It was his job to guard over the Rowan groves.  His name “Quickbeam” is another word for Rowan or Mountain Ash.  Being younger he was not always as patient as the older Ents.  His second name “Bregalad” means hastiness, something that an Ent is not usually associated with.  It was Quickbeam who first wanted to attack Saruman and Isengard.  He had seen first hand the destruction of many of the rowan groves in which he was entrusted.

 

Although from a book thought fiction, I can not help but wonder what the trees of today must think.  It was said that as time continued, the Ents themselves began to slow and take less of a part in the world.  This decision helped them to become more “treeish”.  They did not travel as much and thus found a suitable place to stay for long periods of time.  When this was done in many cases, they would take root and remain, thus becoming more as a tree then an Ent.  Still I am sure that they kept their slow sense of observance.  Watching the world as it traveled by in time.  The acts of nature as well as man was surely part of their daily show.  I have always found that trees hold a sense of deepness to them, especially the trees that seem to have been for years and years.  What must they have seen.  What secrets they could tell.  I often go among the trees and just listen.  They hold so much inside… they have so much to tell and so few who will listen.  Like the tale of Ents it is not a task that can move quickly.  It is one of patience and  quietness.  Yet if one gives the time and a willful ear, who knows what one may hear. 

 

Blessings

Musical Mondays - Into The West

There are things through life that grasp us. They take hold of us in a manner that is hard to explain to those who do not have the wonder of experiencing them also.

To many these experiences are shared by many

yet to some they are shared by few.

In my opinion this makes the blessing even more special.

I have always been somewhat of a quiet person,
that is until of course you get to know me
 then some say I have a problem of not shutting up.
 This may be so, yet when it comes to myself and the life that surrounds me, I will admit that I do not share easily with those that I do not know well. I have become better at sharing my stories and such yet still the feeling that I may be looked upon as slightly daft lingers in the back of my mind.

I will say though that as I grow older in years,

this worry about what the others with differing opinions

may think of me grows less and less.

If only I would have known such wisdom

 when I was younger.

I would like to share some of myself with you today for Musical Mondays. Not that I do not share a little of myself with you each time I write,

it is just that today I may journey a bit deeper into the "real" me than I usually do.

I hold great belief and respect for that which the average man sometimes dismisses

due to lack of evidence or just the fear

that some may laugh at him because he claims to believe in something that most do not.

The Lord of the Rings is one of those things that touches me in such a manner. Yes I know it is a book written by Tolkien and it is said that it represents the world wars and such. Yet it is hard for me to believe that Tolkien being of the heritage and influence that he was did not have some feelings towards the unseen and that which is not fully known.

My favorite and perhaps most sad part of the story is when the time of man comes and the time of the elves and others comes to a close. Why is it that the two can't coincide together. The wisdom of the ones prior is so deep and so unlike the wisdom of man.

 Man wishes to build and grow and prosper

and does not seem to be satisfied or happy
 unless he does this.

Often in his quest
 he loses sight of what he may be damaging
in order to gain his prize.

Whereas the others
 think first of simplicity and the old ways.

Progress (or what is interpreted as such)
 is not always a good thing.

Take technology for instant.

We have become so consumed
 with possessing the latest gadgets to get us "connected"  

that we have forgotten the simply joys of life.

For some time I worried
about the fact that I did not "fit in".
 This is not longer a concern, at least not as big of one.
 I now count myself as blessed
to be able to still see the beauty of little things
 and the wisdom that many have to give us.

It can at times be a bit of a solitude life.

I am blessed beyond words to be able to live it.

I may not be in the fastest lane of life

but I most definitely am in
 one of the most scenic.

Today's song is "Into the West" by Annie Lennox. Annie has a way of putting such expression into any piece she presents and this is no exception.
 The lyrics can be found on my Musical Monday page.
Take a quiet moment to sit back.
 Close your eyes and simply experience.

Although it is a song which speaks of an end

it also speaks of another beginning.

Yet isn't that what each end really is;
 the beginning of something else.

Enjoy and remember:
it is still the simple little things
 that make this world keep turning.

All Who Wander

There is a wonderful quote of Tolkien's which has always given me courage.  At times when I feel that I a bit scattered and not necessarily moving forward in a straight line I think back to his words. "All who wander are not lost."  Such a profound statement in so few words.  Personally I think it a wise thing to wander then and again.  It allows one to go off the beaten path and find new things to make their mind think on. 

I have always felt somewhat sorry for those who allow others to tell them how everything is, never questioning for themselves.  You know the ones I am talking about.  The ones who allow someone to be the authority on things they feel are important in their lives.  I have always wondered why people do this.  I do understand that there truly are those who know more, are more educated, etc.  Yet when it comes to some things, let's say beliefs.... why would you want to allow someone to have such power over you.  I guess in a way I was fortunate.  Although I was very much an introvert as a child it allowed me to sit back and observe.  And believe me I did just that, which at times confused me even more.  Yet in my confusion I just wandered further in til I found the answers that satisfied me. 

Not growing up in a specific church home, I passed around to 5 of the denominations that were represented in the small town I grew up in.  My first experience was with the Lutheran church.  It was the closest thing that my mother who was originally from Germany felt comfortable with.  Even then she had problems with the social aspect that Americans put into their church going.  I remember her saying often that it was just a place to go and show off your new clothes and that was just not right. 

Then at 4 I started to attend the Methodist Church with an older couple who were childless and somewhat adopted me as a grandchild.  It was here that I truly got my first taste of the Christian religion.  One of my favorite events was once a month they would have a dinner and invite a missionary who had served in another country to speak.  I loved to hear of the adventures they had.  I found it so exciting.  One specific time we had a man from the Philippines.  He brought money from his country for the children and was so kind.  His wife prepared a dish that was native to the Philippines.  It was on this night at the raw age of 5 maybe 6 that I heard my first words of hypocrisy spoken.  The missionary had spoken and all were winding down from their meal.  People were too and fro visiting with one another.  Being a small kid no one really took mind of me as I walked around the room.  I remember overhearing 2 men speaking to one another and the words they spoke confused me.  They were making fun of the missionary and his wife.  Saying unkind words about them  and the manner in which they lived.  I could not understand this as a child.  I remember so vividly wondering why they would do such a thing.  Because only earlier they sat and talked and laughed with the man.  Needless to say as a young child this perplexed me deeply. 

There were other incidents throughout my life, whether Baptist, Christian, or so on... yet that is not the pathway I want this post to take.  It would be easy to post numerous events where man did not shine his brightest.  I do not want to expound on the negative aspect of this point.  I want to stress the positive...

I learned very early to look for the answers to my questions myself.  Of course this meant asking, listening, and learning from those around me.  Yet it did not necessarily mean that I had to accept everything that they said to me.   Some of you may be thinking, who are you to question... I am me thats who I am... I was taught that the relationship between God and one is personal... I learned that at a very young age... I witnessed that at a very young age... If it is so personal then why do I need to let someone else tell me what it is I am suppose to believe....

If something did not feel right to me... did not sit with me well I asked for guidance, for wisdom... Such things could come in a variety of manners...., A teacher, a friend, a child's words, a book, a song, from nature.... and on and on... It was endless... It was just a manner of opening up my mind and allowing it in.  So many times there are messages all around us in so many forms, yet because we are programmed not to listen to such things in this manner we don't get the full benefit. 

I have learned more from Mother Earth then I have learned from any human.  I have learned more from the simplicity and honesty of a child then I have learned from an arrogant adult who feels that they are superior over me because of the position they hold.  I have learned more from a simple look at a persons eyes who has suffered and endured, from sitting silently with someone after the passing of a loved one, from laughing at the pain experienced,  and so on. 

It is not the norm I think to be this way... Or so it seems that many people prefer to be told what it is they are to do... How they should act, what they should and shouldn't say.  In a way I understand.  Yet what is so wrong about wandering... what is so wrong about going off and trying to experience it for yourself... Yea there will be stumbles along the way, yet isn't that how we learn.  Yea sometimes we may think we are somewhere only to be reminded that we really are not as  high as we thought.....

There was a book I read as a  young girl and occasionally I pick it up and read it again.  It is an allegory something I truly love. .  Hines Feet in High Places by Hanna Hurnard.  It is somewhat of a Christian book yet to me it could pertain to anyone.  It speaks of the climb we all take through life and the journey.  A wonderful uplifting book that truly makes you think twice about all the things that may occur to you throughout life.

I guess in some ways (probably many) I intertwine my early influences of the church into my beliefs now.  Yet I will be honest and say that I can not bring myself to go to a "church"  I do not like the way the church tries to force one into a specific manner of living.  Not allowing them to have a say in anyway as to what they may feel.  I also do not like the judgmental manner some treat others.  Now I know that this is something that occurs even outside the "church" and sometimes in the pagan belief system too. Yet it does not seem to be such a prolific characteristic. 

I still consider myself on my journey.. I have been so fortunate to meet many along the ways.  Many of all faiths.  Some I have grown to truly love and others I can not seem to understand where they are coming from... I am far from perfect.. .Learned to accept that about myself a long time ago.  I can be a bit pushy sometimes if I feel strongly about something and at times have to pull myself back and stop.  I am terribly protective to a mother bears stance of those who are dear to me, friends, family whatever. I always protect the underdog, to a fault.  I am a hopeless romantic and optimist and truly do not enjoy ones who look at things negative constantly... even if they call it being realistic... I have a very long fuse and usually it will never ignite especially to the point of explosion, yet if it does... watch out.... It is the Scorpio in me that comes out at this time and believe me sometimes it is not pretty....

Once again I do not claim to be perfect... I am just me... walking along my path... experiencing my journey.  I try to be nice and pleasant... yet am sure at times to some I appear that I am not.  Yet this wanderer will continue to do just that... Wander here and there... and though sometimes it may appear to some that I am lost without a cause... believe me I am right where I need to be...