At a time before Time began, there was first Illuvatar, “The one who is alone”, The All Powerful. Through the manifestation of his concepts and thoughts he creates the Ainur. Before anything else can be created, Illuvatar teaches them the art of ‘Music’ which becomes their life and work.
Soon they and their music mature and they soon realize the existence of one another, and begin to play in harmony, collaborating in their music. This forms the First Theme and their music fills the heavens. While it is true that the Ainur are Iluvatar’s thoughts embodied, they each have a life of their own, and are expected to utilize their 'freedom' by cultivating the grand theme. Only in the future, at the 'end of days', will all the created beings of Iluvatar fully understand not only the divinely provided concepts and themes they each personally embody, but how each relates to all the others and fits (as per Iluvatar’s intentions) in the entire greater scheme.
Among the Ainur, the first to be named is Melkor. He is considered one of the most powerful of the Ainur and has knowledge of illuvatar’s thoughts, including something of each of the primary themes that prefigure the other Ainur. He develops impatience with the schooling process of thematic elaboration: like a precocious child, Melkor begins thinking of certain musical ideas and themes as being 'all his own', and he feels compelled to develop them apace. Melkor even harbours the notion of becoming a creator himself and becomes a disruption to the harmony of the other Ainurs’ music which is part of Illuvatar’s grand design. Iluvatar’s music through the Ainur is beautiful, melodious and filled with sorrow where as Melkor’s is discordant and violent.
The Great Music of the Ainur progresses thus: Iluvatar introduces a First Theme to the choir of the Ainur and Melkor 'spoils' it, converting many of the Ainur to his cause in the process, thereby creating all that is evil. Next, Iluvatar imposes a Second Theme, and again Melkor corrupts it. Iluvatar then proposes a Third Theme, which is also infected by Melkor and devolves into a raging disharmonious conflict. Iluvatar puts an end to the disharmony with the conducting of "…one chord, deeper than the Abyss, higher than the Firmament, piercing as the light of the eye of Iluvatar…" suddenly the music stops, and Melkor is no match for Illuvatar.
Illuvatar then shows the Ainur the vision of the Universe. The Vision is of what the transliteration of their collaborative Great Music into a material reality would be like. They are shown that the Music has a point, has a result and effect beyond its composition and singing: it amounts to no less than a highly detailed template commensurate with the entire history – beginning to end – of a material, 'physical' Universe that could exist inside 'time’. Even Melkor realizes that all his acts are all part of the great design and contribute to the universal harmony that is created.
In the vision The Ainur see things that they don’t remember composing or creating. They also see things that they remember composing but could not fathom it could take such a form in the Universe.
Soon they see the Earth and the Children of Illuvatar-the men and elves and all other living creatures. Upon spotting the earth a particularly fascinating advise is given: “don’t read too much into the relative size of the Earth as compared to the entire Universe, or be overly impressed with the immensity of Space compared to, say, the delicacy and complexity of design in a mustard seed.” The Ainur come to realize that Water is the ultimate resonance of the collaborative elaboration that was the propounding and cultivating of Iluvatar’s entire creative plan. Ulmo is related to water and is said to have conceptualized it. Illuvatar also points out that the meddling of Melkor has in fact benefitted Water, beyond Ulmo’s conceptions. Melkor’s attempts to disrupt with the use of fierce heat and severe cold do nothing to ruin Water (as Melkor must have hoped), but rather leave the World with the beauties of snow and frost and clouds and rain.
The vision is now suddenly snatched away from the Ainur before they can fully comprehend their existence and the whole of the Music-made-into-substance. Because of this, and because of their nature as beings that must grow to an understanding of themselves in the context of the interplay of all creation, the Ainur know quite a bit of the past, present and future of the Universe and its inhabitants, yet they don’t know everything.
Time begins now. Thus at the end of the beginning, Illuvatar takes the music of the Ainur and creates the universe, from a vision into reality. And thus the Ainur including Melkor enter the Universe as its preservers and vow to stay there till its end.
This is the Tolkienian creation myth of a mythical universe and a mythical world. Yet in essence its concepts can be related to the creation of our world. This myth talks about harmony of good and evil, and the general balance of things. It talks of the senses about the beauty of music. And creation through music which I think is beautiful. It metaphorically raises questions of understanding ones own existence and morals, of the past present and future, and the fact that some things have to be found out by one.
Thus this mythical creation myth in essence is valid even in this world in this reality.
At a time before Time began, there was first Illuvatar, “The one who is alone”, The All Powerful. Through the manifestation of his concepts and thoughts he creates the Ainur. Before anything else can be created, Illuvatar teaches them the art of ‘Music’ which becomes their life and work.
Soon they and their music mature and they soon realize the existence of one another, and begin to play in harmony, collaborating in their music. This forms the First Theme and their music fills the heavens. While it is true that the Ainur are Iluvatar’s thoughts embodied, they each have a life of their own, and are expected to utilize their 'freedom' by cultivating the grand theme. Only in the future, at the 'end of days', will all the created beings of Iluvatar fully understand not only the divinely provided concepts and themes they each personally embody, but how each relates to all the others and fits (as per Iluvatar’s intentions) in the entire greater scheme.
Among the Ainur, the first to be named is Melkor. He is considered one of the most powerful of the Ainur and has knowledge of illuvatar’s thoughts, including something of each of the primary themes that prefigure the other Ainur. He develops impatience with the schooling process of thematic elaboration: like a precocious child, Melkor begins thinking of certain musical ideas and themes as being 'all his own', and he feels compelled to develop them apace. Melkor even harbours the notion of becoming a creator himself and becomes a disruption to the harmony of the other Ainurs’ music which is part of Illuvatar’s grand design. Iluvatar’s music through the Ainur is beautiful, melodious and filled with sorrow where as Melkor’s is discordant and violent.
The Great Music of the Ainur progresses thus: Iluvatar introduces a First Theme to the choir of the Ainur and Melkor 'spoils' it, converting many of the Ainur to his cause in the process, thereby creating all that is evil. Next, Iluvatar imposes a Second Theme, and again Melkor corrupts it. Iluvatar then proposes a Third Theme, which is also infected by Melkor and devolves into a raging disharmonious conflict. Iluvatar puts an end to the disharmony with the conducting of "…one chord, deeper than the Abyss, higher than the Firmament, piercing as the light of the eye of Iluvatar…" suddenly the music stops, and Melkor is no match for Illuvatar.
Illuvatar then shows the Ainur the vision of the Universe. The Vision is of what the transliteration of their collaborative Great Music into a material reality would be like. They are shown that the Music has a point, has a result and effect beyond its composition and singing: it amounts to no less than a highly detailed template commensurate with the entire history – beginning to end – of a material, 'physical' Universe that could exist inside 'time’. Even Melkor realizes that all his acts are all part of the great design and contribute to the universal harmony that is created.
In the vision The Ainur see things that they don’t remember composing or creating. They also see things that they remember composing but could not fathom it could take such a form in the Universe.
Soon they see the Earth and the Children of Illuvatar-the men and elves and all other living creatures. Upon spotting the earth a particularly fascinating advise is given: “don’t read too much into the relative size of the Earth as compared to the entire Universe, or be overly impressed with the immensity of Space compared to, say, the delicacy and complexity of design in a mustard seed.” The Ainur come to realize that Water is the ultimate resonance of the collaborative elaboration that was the propounding and cultivating of Iluvatar’s entire creative plan. Ulmo is related to water and is said to have conceptualized it. Illuvatar also points out that the meddling of Melkor has in fact benefitted Water, beyond Ulmo’s conceptions. Melkor’s attempts to disrupt with the use of fierce heat and severe cold do nothing to ruin Water (as Melkor must have hoped), but rather leave the World with the beauties of snow and frost and clouds and rain.
The vision is now suddenly snatched away from the Ainur before they can fully comprehend their existence and the whole of the Music-made-into-substance. Because of this, and because of their nature as beings that must grow to an understanding of themselves in the context of the interplay of all creation, the Ainur know quite a bit of the past, present and future of the Universe and its inhabitants, yet they don’t know everything.
Time begins now. Thus at the end of the beginning, Illuvatar takes the music of the Ainur and creates the universe, from a vision into reality. And thus the Ainur including Melkor enter the Universe as its preservers and vow to stay there till its end.
This is the Tolkienian creation myth of a mythical universe and a mythical world. Yet in essence its concepts can be related to the creation of our world. This myth talks about harmony of good and evil, and the general balance of things. It talks of the senses about the beauty of music. And creation through music which I think is beautiful. It metaphorically raises questions of understanding ones own existence and morals, of the past present and future, and the fact that some things have to be found out by one.
Thus this mythical creation myth in essence is valid even in this world in this reality.
At a time before Time began, there was first Illuvatar, “The one who is alone”, The All Powerful. Through the manifestation of his concepts and thoughts he creates the Ainur. Before anything else can be created, Illuvatar teaches them the art of ‘Music’ which becomes their life and work.
Soon they and their music mature and they soon realize the existence of one another, and begin to play in harmony, collaborating in their music. This forms the First Theme and their music fills the heavens. While it is true that the Ainur are Iluvatar’s thoughts embodied, they each have a life of their own, and are expected to utilize their 'freedom' by cultivating the grand theme. Only in the future, at the 'end of days', will all the created beings of Iluvatar fully understand not only the divinely provided concepts and themes they each personally embody, but how each relates to all the others and fits (as per Iluvatar’s intentions) in the entire greater scheme.
Among the Ainur, the first to be named is Melkor. He is considered one of the most powerful of the Ainur and has knowledge of illuvatar’s thoughts, including something of each of the primary themes that prefigure the other Ainur. He develops impatience with the schooling process of thematic elaboration: like a precocious child, Melkor begins thinking of certain musical ideas and themes as being 'all his own', and he feels compelled to develop them apace. Melkor even harbours the notion of becoming a creator himself and becomes a disruption to the harmony of the other Ainurs’ music which is part of Illuvatar’s grand design. Iluvatar’s music through the Ainur is beautiful, melodious and filled with sorrow where as Melkor’s is discordant and violent.
The Great Music of the Ainur progresses thus: Iluvatar introduces a First Theme to the choir of the Ainur and Melkor 'spoils' it, converting many of the Ainur to his cause in the process, thereby creating all that is evil. Next, Iluvatar imposes a Second Theme, and again Melkor corrupts it. Iluvatar then proposes a Third Theme, which is also infected by Melkor and devolves into a raging disharmonious conflict. Iluvatar puts an end to the disharmony with the conducting of "…one chord, deeper than the Abyss, higher than the Firmament, piercing as the light of the eye of Iluvatar…" suddenly the music stops, and Melkor is no match for Illuvatar.
Illuvatar then shows the Ainur the vision of the Universe. The Vision is of what the transliteration of their collaborative Great Music into a material reality would be like. They are shown that the Music has a point, has a result and effect beyond its composition and singing: it amounts to no less than a highly detailed template commensurate with the entire history – beginning to end – of a material, 'physical' Universe that could exist inside 'time’. Even Melkor realizes that all his acts are all part of the great design and contribute to the universal harmony that is created.
In the vision The Ainur see things that they don’t remember composing or creating. They also see things that they remember composing but could not fathom it could take such a form in the Universe.
Soon they see the Earth and the Children of Illuvatar-the men and elves and all other living creatures. Upon spotting the earth a particularly fascinating advise is given: “don’t read too much into the relative size of the Earth as compared to the entire Universe, or be overly impressed with the immensity of Space compared to, say, the delicacy and complexity of design in a mustard seed.” The Ainur come to realize that Water is the ultimate resonance of the collaborative elaboration that was the propounding and cultivating of Iluvatar’s entire creative plan. Ulmo is related to water and is said to have conceptualized it. Illuvatar also points out that the meddling of Melkor has in fact benefitted Water, beyond Ulmo’s conceptions. Melkor’s attempts to disrupt with the use of fierce heat and severe cold do nothing to ruin Water (as Melkor must have hoped), but rather leave the World with the beauties of snow and frost and clouds and rain.
The vision is now suddenly snatched away from the Ainur before they can fully comprehend their existence and the whole of the Music-made-into-substance. Because of this, and because of their nature as beings that must grow to an understanding of themselves in the context of the interplay of all creation, the Ainur know quite a bit of the past, present and future of the Universe and its inhabitants, yet they don’t know everything.
Time begins now. Thus at the end of the beginning, Illuvatar takes the music of the Ainur and creates the universe, from a vision into reality. And thus the Ainur including Melkor enter the Universe as its preservers and vow to stay there till its end.
This is the Tolkienian creation myth of a mythical universe and a mythical world. Yet in essence its concepts can be related to the creation of our world. This myth talks about harmony of good and evil, and the general balance of things. It talks of the senses about the beauty of music. And creation through music which I think is beautiful. It metaphorically raises questions of understanding ones own existence and morals, of the past present and future, and the fact that some things have to be found out by one.
Thus this mythical creation myth in essence is valid even in this world in this reality.
At a time before Time began, there was first Illuvatar, “The one who is alone”, The All Powerful. Through the manifestation of his concepts and thoughts he creates the Ainur. Before anything else can be created, Illuvatar teaches them the art of ‘Music’ which becomes their life and work.
Soon they and their music mature and they soon realize the existence of one another, and begin to play in harmony, collaborating in their music. This forms the First Theme and their music fills the heavens. While it is true that the Ainur are Iluvatar’s thoughts embodied, they each have a life of their own, and are expected to utilize their 'freedom' by cultivating the grand theme. Only in the future, at the 'end of days', will all the created beings of Iluvatar fully understand not only the divinely provided concepts and themes they each personally embody, but how each relates to all the others and fits (as per Iluvatar’s intentions) in the entire greater scheme.
Among the Ainur, the first to be named is Melkor. He is considered one of the most powerful of the Ainur and has knowledge of Illuvatar’s thoughts, including something of each of the primary themes that prefigure the other Ainur. He develops impatience with the schooling process of thematic elaboration: like a precocious child, Melkor begins thinking of certain musical ideas and themes as being 'all his own', and he feels compelled to develop them apace. Melkor even harbours the notion of becoming a creator himself and becomes a disruption to the harmony of the other Ainurs’ music which is part of Illuvatar’s grand design. Iluvatar’s music through the Ainur is beautiful, melodious and filled with sorrow where as Melkor’s is discordant and violent.
The Great Music of the Ainur progresses thus: Iluvatar introduces a First Theme to the choir of the Ainur and Melkor 'spoils' it, converting many of the Ainur to his cause in the process, thereby creating all that is evil. Next, Iluvatar imposes a Second Theme, and again Melkor corrupts it. Iluvatar then proposes a Third Theme, which is also infected by Melkor and devolves into a raging disharmonious conflict. Iluvatar puts an end to the disharmony with the conducting of "…one chord, deeper than the Abyss, higher than the Firmament, piercing as the light of the eye of Iluvatar…" suddenly the music stops, and Melkor is no match for Illuvatar.
Illuvatar then shows the Ainur the vision of the Universe. The Vision is of what the transliteration of their collaborative Great Music into a material reality would be like. They are shown that the Music has a point, has a result and effect beyond its composition and singing: it amounts to no less than a highly detailed template commensurate with the entire history – beginning to end – of a material, 'physical' Universe that could exist inside 'time’. Even Melkor realizes that all his acts are all part of the great design and contribute to the universal harmony that is created.
In the vision The Ainur see things that they don’t remember composing or creating. They also see things that they remember composing but could not fathom it could take such a form in the Universe.
Soon they see the Earth and the Children of Illuvatar-the men and elves and all other living creatures. Upon spotting the earth a particularly fascinating advise is given: “don’t read too much into the relative size of the Earth as compared to the entire Universe, or be overly impressed with the immensity of Space compared to, say, the delicacy and complexity of design in a mustard seed.” The Ainur come to realize that Water is the ultimate resonance of the collaborative elaboration that was the propounding and cultivating of Iluvatar’s entire creative plan. Ulmo is related to water and is said to have conceptualized it. Illuvatar also points out that the meddling of Melkor has in fact benefitted Water, beyond Ulmo’s conceptions. Melkor’s attempts to disrupt with the use of fierce heat and severe cold do nothing to ruin Water (as Melkor must have hoped), but rather leave the World with the beauties of snow and frost and clouds and rain.
The vision is now suddenly snatched away from the Ainur before they can fully comprehend their existence and the whole of the Music-made-into-substance. Because of this, and because of their nature as beings that must grow to an understanding of themselves in the context of the interplay of all creation, the Ainur know quite a bit of the past, present and future of the Universe and its inhabitants, yet they don’t know everything.
Time begins now. Thus at the end of the beginning, Illuvatar takes the music of the Ainur and creates the universe, from a vision into reality. And thus the Ainur including Melkor enter the Universe as its preservers and vow to stay there till its end.
This is the Tolkienian creation myth of a mythical universe and a mythical world. Yet in essence its concepts can be related to the creation of our world. This myth talks about harmony of good and evil, and the general balance of things. It talks of the senses about the beauty of music. And creation through music which I think is beautiful. It metaphorically raises questions of understanding ones own existence and morals, of the past present and future, and the fact that some things have to be found out by one.
Thus this mythical creation myth in essence is valid even in this world in this reality.
No comments:
Post a Comment