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

"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."