Sailing West

Thanks for visiting my blog. The name “Sailing West” is inspired by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien; I’ve been on a Tolkien reading-spree lately.

In Tolkien’s world of Arda, there are two main continents: Aman and Middle-earth. Aman—also known as the Undying Lands—is the home of the god-like Valar, the slightly lessser Maiar, and the immortal Elves.

Middle-earth—where almost all of Tolkien’s stories take place—is home to the other races as well as some of the Elves who were sundered from their kin in Aman. Elves that live in Middle-earth are still immortal except in cases of violent death. They live for millenia among the mortal races, and experience time in a different way.
As they age, they become weary of Middle-earth and long to “sail west” across the great ocean Belegaer, along the Straight Road, to the lands of Valinor in Aman. Towards the end of The Lord of the Rings, Legolas expresses his desire to depart from Middle-earth and journey across the sea in the Song of the Sea.

Sailing West is borne from a longing for that which lies beyond the horizon. It may manifest as reflections on Tolkien’s works, attempts at Catholic theology, or completely disparate ventures. Whatever form it takes, I thank you for accompanying me.