February 1st marks the beginning of the Elven season of "Coirë" [KOH-ee-ray] ("Echuir" in Sindarin), i.e. the Stirring. Appropriately, it also brings Eldalië [Elves and those who identify with them] to Sovalwaris [so-VAHL-wah-rees], and the annual Time of s'Elf purification. The Ritual of Sovalwaris is practiced at this Time; any time between sundown on the 1st and sundown on the 2nd. In many ways, this ritual may be the most important of all the (Tolkien-based)* Elven rituals; it enables Eldalië to begin active movement in all areas of personal spiritual growth, and s'Elf manifestation--to begin riding Arda's prospering circadian rhythm toward Harvest--with a pure psyche, and with purified intentions. That purity affords a deeper interaction with the Secret Fire/Holy Spirit, and with all of the Valar and Maiar, which, in turn, disallows interference from negative mental habits and self beliefs, and such people, circumstances and conditions that would deny us the happiness of our s'Elf Dreams for this loa/year being abundantly fulfilled.


Why Annual Purification is Required For Elven Spiritual Growth

If you are walking this Path, then, you began a Death process, Last October. You allowed yours'Elf to look back over your accomplishments and evolution during the previous loa, and, with Namo's help, differentiated between what no longer serves you, (relative to the practical ways you outgrew aspects of yours'Elf and of your life), and what you may carry forward as new Dream Seeds, i.e. as your intention-driven, upgraded vision of the new You. Thereafter, you journeyed to L órien and spent time resting and healing/recovering with Estë, segueing into a plunge into the Underworld, wherein Nienna helped you to look back even farther, indeed to the Dawn of Eä, thereby enabling you to grow in the powers of empathy, compassion, forgiveness and mercy for yours'Elf, and for everyone else. That, in and of itself, was a messy, somewhat putrifying phase of your Journey; a phase wherein you confronted all the mucky and murky aspects of your consciousness--a phase that served to dissolve the husks of your new Seeds, allowing germination to occur during last month's Moon of Narvinyë. During Narvinyë, Aulë's forges helped to affect an initial separation of your dross from your gold, (so to speak); then, Nénimë comes, bringing Ulmo and the elemental contrast of water into the mix.

In most spiritual traditions, water is analogous with Spirit, and spiritual Flow. In nature, (in the context of plant growth), water initially serves to affect germination, (a la the consequence of Nienna's activity with you immediately prior to Narvinye); thereafter, water serves to facilitate the infusion of vital power that the newly germinated life requires to completely shake off its husk, so it may rise into what it will become. Likewise, Sovalwaris arrives to wash that dross away, so you may experience a new, holistic infusion of vital Power, (in the form of a purified alignment of your inner being with Divine Spirit e/Energy); so the holistic unfolding of your new Dream s'Elf may be empowered by your gold, rather than impaired by the vestiges of limitations the Valar have helped you to release in order to enable you to become the reality of your new Dream. (Speaking frankly, Sovalwaris enables you to shake off that s***, so you may soar!)


The Valar Focus

The primary focus of Sovalwaris is the Valië, Nienna. The full renewing Power of her tears, (which are able to cleanse the body, psyche, mind and spirit), is at our disposal at this Time. (As the Vala, Ulmo, is Lord of Waters, i.e. all the water on Arda, [e.g. the material expression of Nienna's tears, and the water in our cells], he is also in attendance at this Time. Ulmo loves the Children of Ilúvatar more than all of the other Valar; his Love adds "umph" to Nienna's Work within you during this ritual.)


The Ritual Itself

This is a beautiful, and very deep ritual. For your convenience, Elven Spiritual Path (ESP) is exclusively providing the ritual as it's presented in "Initiation Into, and Practice of the Elven Spiritual Path for the Solitary Practitioner". Click on the below (PDF) book cover to read through and apply it. It's (somewhat Scorpionically) intense, so, read through it academically first, (along with listening to the opening intonings via the Ritual Songs playlist on ESP's YouTube channel). Thereafter, fully immerse yours'Elf in the experience to gain the benefit of Nienna's care, cleansing, guidance, and Love. (There's no better Way to start the Stirring!)



Laita!

Click the book cover to donate.
		Initiation Into and Practice of the     Elven Spiritual Path for the         Solitary Practitioner As mentioned in the above article, here provided for all Eldalië who may wish to dive into (Tolkien-based) Elven spirituality more deeply; without needing to join something to do so. Donate $10, (or more), to enable ESP to grow; and receive the .pdf e-Book as a "Thank you" gift!

Note: If you're finding this after Feb. 2, water affects a spiritual continuum accommodating your doing the ritual throughout Nénimë. Just ask Nienna to align your time with Sovalwaris' Time, when you first feel her Presence during the ritual, after Corrolairë.






* Elven spiritual thought, practice, and tradition evident in the Middle-earth Mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien.







February 1, 2023                                                                                                                           Cover (and background) image by Mo Eid
Revised Feb. 2, 2023