#aratar

Namo Mandos

by EKukanova

"He is the keeper of the Houses of the Dead, and the summoner of the spirits of the slain. He forgets nothing; and he knows all things that shall be, save only those that lie still in the freedom of Ilúvatar. He is the Doomsman of the Valar."

Ulmo - Lord of the Waters

Below are my notes that I developed for working with Melkor as a pop culture pagan/chaos magician/I don’t like labels. My primary focus here is on details that can be most directly utilized in spiritual practice/magical workings (e.g. correspondences), but more general information is supplied as well in order to give greater context and develop themes.

I take a generally sympathetic and positive slant, so if that’s not in alignment with your tastes, you probably won’t get much out of this post. Furthermore, I admit that my knowledge of this subject is fragmentary at best and make no claims to expertise. I am simply someone with great interest in this figure/character.

Names:

True (Valarin) Name: unknown

Quenya Name: Melkor, “He Who Arises in Might”; older form Melkórë

Sindarin Names: (after stealing the Silmarils) Morgoth, “Black Foe”/“Dark Tyrant”; Bauglir, “the Constrainer”

Names given by Mairon in Númenórean cult worship: Lord of All, Giver of Freedom, Lord of the Darkness

Names given by himself: King of the World, Master of the Fates of Arda

“It is he whose name is not now spoken; for the Valar have deceived you concerning him, putting forward the name of Eru, a phantom devised in the folly of their hearts, seeking to enchain Men in servitude to themselves. For they are the oracle of this Eru, which speaks only what they will. But he that is their master shall yet prevail, and he will deliver you from this phantom; and his name is Melkor, Lord of All, Giver of Freedom, and he shall make you stronger than they” (Silmarillion, Akallabêth, p. 271).

Title/Occupation: First Dark Lord

Race: Ainur/Valar/Aratar

Texts: The Silmarillion (Ainulindalë, Valaquenta, Quenta Silmarillion, Akallabêth), Morgoth’s Ring, Ósanwe-kenta

Domains: All*

“To Melkor among the Ainur had been given the greatest gifts of power and knowledge, and he had a share in all the gifts of his brethren” (Silmarillion, Ainulindalë, p.16).

Patron of: children; anyone who creates—artists, musicians, artisans, craftspeople, inventors, engineers; anyone who works with words—linguists, writers, poets; outcasts, criminals, prisoners

“From the first he was greatly interested in “language”, that talent that the Eruhíni would have by nature; but we did not at once perceive the malice in this interest, for many of us shared it, and Aulë above all. But in time we discovered that he made a language for those who served him; and he has learned our tongue with ease. He has great skill in this matter. Beyond doubt he will master all tongues, even the fair speech of the Eldar" (Manwë about Melkor to the Elves, Ósanwe-kenta).

Themes: existence (universe/cosmos/creation/Eä)/nonexistence (Void), parent/child, power/powerlessness, creation/destruction, order/chaos, purity/corruption, divinity/humanity, life/death

Colors: galaxy, black, rainbow, light

Elements/Energies: music, fire, ice, smoke, storm, lightning, darkness/shadow, void

“And he descended upon Arda in power and majesty greater than any other of the Valar, as a mountain that wades in the sea and has its head above the clouds and is clad in ice and crowned with smoke and fire; and the light of the eyes of Melkor was like a flame that withers with heat and pierces with a deadly cold” (Silmarillion, Ainulindalë, p. 22).

Magical Disciplines:

Creation magic/art or music magic/chaos magic/tulpamancy

Corruption magic

Magical languages, runes, and incantations

Dark magical races/creatures: orcs, dragons (draconic magic), werewolves, vampires, evil fay/spirits

Sex magic

Crystals

Blood magic

Necromancy

Spirit work

Ceremonial and sacrificial magic, deity work/worship, constructed places of worship (i.e. temples)

Symbols: hammer, crown, gemstones, chains (Angainor)

Weapon: Grond (Hammer of the Underworld)

Sabbats: Samhain

Animals: cats, bats, wolves, dragons

Plants/Herbs:

Amaranth - immortality

Aloe - immortality

Strelitizia - freedom, immortality

Heather - independence, confidence

Tassel flower - creativity, originality

Muscari - power, confidence, mystery, creativity

Stinging nettle - a stinging plant with a variety of uses, including food, textiles, and folk magic

Crown flower - a plant with flowers resembling crowns that is dangerous if touched or ingested

Cannabis - a plant popularly used as a recreational drug and sometimes associated with artists and creativity, the Devil and immorality, and counterculture

Elgaran flower - a fictional flower appearing in the video game Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor that grows on the graves of Men

Materials: metal, especially iron

Tarot Cards: the Tower, Five of Wands, Eight of Swords

Related Entities: Mairon (Sauron)

*Some alternative suggestions for what his domain may be include chaos, destruction, corruption, change/transformation, evil, and darkness/shadow.

Edit 10/26/2021: Added more interesting herblore options.

🌟☄Varda ☄🌟

The Lady of the Stars ☄

was originally going to post this for Women's Day but didn't manage to finish it on time \•-•/