A Word Re-Enchanted January 2025
The Gregorian calendar has once again turned over and the start of a new year has begun. Change is a constant aspect of the seasons and time moves steadily forward. Here on the Big Island of Hawaii however things progress along pretty normal timelines. The seasons do not really exist and so tracking things like winter, spring, summer and fall are completely different. That being said even January has an impact as people look towards the newly unfolding year.
Many people drawing on the fire ignited by the energy of the new year have started resolutions and sadly some have already ceased them and an estimated 43% will drop them by the end of this month. The issue with the new year resolution tradition is not when it comes to a goal or desire that part is wonderful. Problems arise by often setting vague goals due to details absolutely mattering in accomplishing any endeavor undertaken. In order to achieve a sustainable outcome and long term change be incredibly detailed with the outcome for the year. Understand that true and meaningful change is a daily practice of patience and not a 100M Dash.
January Magical and Mundane Tasks
To continue with the theme of sustainable change these are tasks that can be accomplished in January to set the pace and expectations needed to create a truly enchanted and magical year
Conduct a Life Audit- Reflect on your current physical, mental, emotional and spiritual states. Select a goal that you want to change within each of these 4 areas.
Define those goals- Write a vision statement for each of those goals for the year to come.
Perform a New Year Cleansing ritual during the month using sage, rosemary, saltwater, dragons blood incense etc.
Create a vision board or an intention journal with symbols and words that resonate with your goals.
Meditate daily with crystals like selenite or amethyst to gain clarity for the work you are beginning to forge this year.
Full Moon of January – Isilnarvinyë
Isilnarvinyë is known as the Moon of New Fire (Returning of the Sun)
In the spiritual tradition of Way of Arda’s Lore a path based on Tolkien’s Legendarium the entire month of January is dedicated to the element of Fire and all the properties it includes. Fire when harnessed correctly can clear land, provide warmth to a house and help with cooking food. Uncontrolled a fire can destroy homes, neighborhoods, communities and cities. The proper technique needed is to learn how to draw the correct amount of the energy of Fire to create a sustained fuel source to catalyze change for the entire coming year.
The Moon of New Fire is a perfect time to focus on the strength and power that fire represents. It is a time start slow and understand that patience and skill are needed in order to bring change and to enchant the blueprint of the year with magical energy.
Vala of January is Aulë
Aulë is known to the Elves as the Smith who created everything and ultimately the Dwarves of Arda. To the Dwarves he is known as Mahal which translates to Maker since he is the one responsible for them existing.
Since he is known as the Smith/Smith of the Valar it is he who created everything that currently exists from simple things such as the skin on living things all the way to mountains, valleys, land, gemstones, all minerals.
Aulë enjoyed devising and making new things. During the creation of everything he actively worked with Manwë and Ulmo since he is considered the third strongest of the Valar.
Lesson we can learn from Aulë are to find simple joy in not only in the accomplishing of a task but even in the mere planning stages of those things that we want to shape into reality.
An Introduction to this Column
A World Re-Enchanted will look at how to bring the magic back into everyday reality and the world we interact with. As we journey through the column together the we will ever strive to leave the mundane world behind and rediscover the world with the eyes of a child, using Tolkien’s writings and quotes to connect the splendor of the world of Arda and its characters to our modern day to find the sacred in every moment.
Tolkien’s Elves have a name for each of the full moons that reflect a vast and spiritual heritage found in their culture. Instead of 4 seasons as commonly found in most modern pagan practices the world of Arda has 6 acknowledged by the Elves and others.
Tolkien wrote about Valar in The Silmarillion and their various abilities. They are not Gods or Goddesses but are each powerful in their unique various abilities and tasks. Each is a thoughtform of Iluvatar the creator of Arda(Earth)
Each Valar is also connected to a full moon and there are meditations, spells and rituals that can be performed to help with reconnecting to the magic in those writings and incorporating that back into our daily lives.
In 1968 during a radio interview Tolkien was asked if he believed that the stories he wrote, the Valar, Iluvatar and all of it was true and real. He paused for 12 seconds, before the interviewer changed the topic and asked a different question to which he answered instantly.
The magic, spirituality, and deeper information found in his material can inspire pagans today around the world.
Many European pagans in fact point to Tolkien’s work as having a direct influence on their practices.
Throughout the content of this column we will examine monthly, various rituals and recipes inspired by Tolkien’s world that can help re-enchant our daily lives.
Next Month Preview
The element of February will be Water. The Valar will be Ulmo. Look forward to continuing this exploration and starting to live a more magical life and together finding a world Re-Enchanted and filled with magic and wonder in each and every moment of every single day and not just certain times out of each month.
