Rivendell is the name of the house of Elrond the Half-elven in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien. it is situated in a spectacular natural setting: a deep valley surrounded by waterfalls and mountain woods, shielded from the hostile world by the ancient magic of the Elves. In Tolkien’s works, Rivendell is a safe haven where weary travellers can rest, where work is pleasant, and where songs and stories are created and shared. J.R.R. Tolkien describes Rivendell as,
Perfect whether you liked food, or sleep, or work, or story-telling, or singing, or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all.
The Hobbit, Chapter 3
In Rivendell, visitors are refreshed and uplifted by rest, healthy work, and inspiring art. These last few posts have explored how to incorporate these elements into homes of the 21st century. These are not meant to be comprehensive how-tow’s, but rather springboards. It is hoped that readers will go away inspired to pursue these ideals on their own. A short list of resources is included at the end of each post.
NB: This is the final instalment of the “Building Rivendell” series. If you would like to receive more writings like this in the future, be sure to subscribe to our email list.
Celebrating Creativity
In a way, this final post is a culmination of Part I “Rest” and Part II “Work.” When the people of a home have a healthy rhythm of work and rest, creativity abounds. Most people in the 21st century have a heavy dose of work, very little rest, and thus no energy for creativity. But human beings have been creating since time began: painting, sculpting, writing poetry and prose, composing music, building cathedrals—it is part of our nature and time should be set aside to pursue something of this sort, if one is to live a fulfilling life. Set aside time each day or week to spend in leisurely study, reading, discussion, art, or craft. One needn’t be a master, only an enthusiast. The origin of the word amateur means “one who loves.” It is enough to be an amateur, to study or create “for love.”
Art and creativity must be shared in community if it is to have maximum effectiveness. Share what you have created and read. Discuss it. Invite people together to read aloud, or host an in-house concert where friends and family can recite poetry, perform music, or informal stage plays.
Making space to study and create opens the doors of the mind and heart and enriches the person, and coming together to enjoy art under the umbrella of hospitality deepens community and the atmosphere of the home.
Resources
Poetry & Literature
- Poems to Learn by Heart
- Pride and Prejudice
- Beauty for Truth’s Sake: On the Re-enchantment of Education
Gatherings & Communities
- The Wordstapas
- The Poetry Pub
- How to Throw a Bardy (a Shakespeare play in your backyard)
Aval House 