Lord of Dreams, Visions, and Passion, Lorien
keeps gardens
in Valinor to which many spirits including the Valar go for rest, as
they
are the fairest places that exist. His place is called Lorien, thus his
name as the Lord of Lorien is Lorien, but his name in the Quenya
language of the Elves of Valinor is Irmo.
He is sixth of the Lords of the Valar, yet not one
of the Aratar although his brother and sister are.
Namo, Lord of Mandos, is his elder brother, and
together they are called the Feanturi, the masters of spirits.
Irmo and Namo's
sister is Nienna.
Irmo's wife is Este.
Reference: Silmarillion
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Irmo, Lord of Dreams and Visions, is one of the
Fëanturi, and as such he wields no hammer like Aulë, no spear
like Oromë, for his dominion is the souls of those that dwell in
Ëa. Unlike his brother Nàmo he does not pass judgement on
the disembodied spirits in Arda nor does he offer prophecies or words
of Fate.
His pastures are solace, his house is peace; and the groves of
Lórien where Valar and Maiar, and Iluvatar’s Firstborn go to
ease the burden of Arda, are dreamlike in their harmony.
By the trees and flowers in the gardens of Dream and
Vision, Melian lifted her voice and enchanted both Ainur and Quendi,
touching their hearts with the wonder of her song.
Irmo’s name does not appear in the tales of Arda and
the Eldar do not mention him in song, for he does not work in the open
- his
power is unseen and his influence is subtle even to the Wise. Yet if
one
wishes to understand the ways of the serene Dreamlord, they are
reflected through Olórin (also
known as Gandalf, ed.), wisest of
all Maiar,
who dwelled in Irmo’s abode. For he was sent forth from Lórien
to
lift the hearts of the Free Peoples in Arda and to convey Wisdom and
Compassion and most importantly, Hope.
Also Lothlórien, the fabled home of Celeborn
and Galadriel in Middle-Earth thrived and (by its beauty) paid homage
to
the original home of Irmo.
Seek not Irmo in scenes of strife, or woe where
conflict or physical power prevail. Seek him in Inspiration, in Desire,
in Hope,
and in the heart of the slumbering Hero before his day of great
deeds...
And, it is said, there were times when Darkness had not yet been
corrupted with Melkor's malice and been made bearer of fear and
quencher of lights.
In the beginning, Irmo, Lord of Dreams, used the embrace of the
soothing darkness to convey his Visions, for Darkness and Light were
brethren, and neither sought to dominate the other.
As there was splendour and brightness in Light - even so did comfort
and rest dwell in the Shadows. The Valaquenta tells us that this, the
perversion of Darkness was indeed counted among Melkor Morgoth's most
loathsome deeds
Yet, in spite of the vile discord which Melkor sowed in the harmony of Arda, those who look may still find remnants of the balance and union of old; for are not Dusk and Dawn, the wondrous and brief mingling of Light and Darkness, the faint echo of the Valar's original Creation as seen in the Vision of Ilúvatar...?"
Irmo - Seigneur des Rèves et des Visions
Reference: Silmarillion
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Image
- No longer up. "Lorien".
Artist Elgaladna Shapiro. Rolozo Tolkien page.
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