The magic Lord of the Rings box is a unique and enchanting collector's item that will mesmerize any fan of J.R.R. Tolkien's iconic fantasy series. This intricately designed box features symbols and imagery from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, including the iconic One Ring. Crafted with exquisite attention to detail, the magic Lord of the Rings box is made from high-quality materials that give it a luxurious and mystical feel.
The more I learn about the way indigenous people have been and still are treated breaks me. But here I am, on stolen land. I know that no one “owns” this land - we are here as passers by. Why do we take and forcibly oust? Where do these beliefs stem from? Why this culture of control? Why the need to overtake another? What are we so afraid of? Why are differences perceived as threats to the unconscious mind?
My soul trusts that my role here matters in so many realms - my 34 yo, white, cis, het privileged human body experience sees how my role here matters, too. Such effects included causing a roof shingle to slip out from under a man, an air hose to whip around to draw another to a roof s edge then yank him off, a caulk gun to roll under another man s foot to cause him to slip and fall, a tree branch to suddenly spring upright causing a man on a ladder to suffer a fatal fall, causing a tire to blow out and a cup of coffee to spill.
Crafted with exquisite attention to detail, the magic Lord of the Rings box is made from high-quality materials that give it a luxurious and mystical feel. The box is adorned with images of dwarves, elves, and wizards, transporting you into the fantastical world of Middle-earth. What sets this box apart is its magical properties.
Life & Liberty
I spent the better half of the night worked up both in gratitude for where I was sleeping — in an over-the-water boathouse on a quiet lake with loons singing and the moon out the window through pines — and in agony and confusion hearing about another Residential School mass-grave discovery. I went to bed after a perfect sunset and rose to a magnificent sunrise. Usually inspired and hopeful, today my heart still feels heavy.
“How is this real” to “how many more” to “who could do this” to “how does this evil exist?”
I know some of the answers to those questions, but it shocks me nonetheless. In a Native American studies class I took at UW-Madison, I first learned a more accurate story of Treaty Rights violations and atrocities suffered by the indigenous people of America and right here on the land I hold so sacred. Wisconsinites, do you know about the Walleye Wars? Have you seen the Residential School “unmarked graves” that exist right in our state? Do you know there are corners of our country where humans on reservations do not have access to clean water? Indian Removal Act, Black Hawk War, Trail of Tears - like wtf?
The more I learn about the way indigenous people have been and still are treated breaks me. But here I am, on stolen land. I know that no one “owns” this land - we are here as passers by. Why do we take and forcibly oust? Where do these beliefs stem from? Why this culture of control? Why the need to overtake another? What are we so afraid of? Why are differences perceived as threats to the unconscious mind?
I go deeper, still. Race, religion, sexuality, gender, politics. My head swirls. My heart aches. It’s enough to make you resent the present moment in history, but that’s not productive either. This is all coming to surface for a reason - I hate that it exists to learn about. I hate that lives have been at stake.
Since I was itty, I connected with Native American culture in a way that I couldn’t understand. I was told that I had a sliver of Native American in my ancestry - and I clung to that with hope that maybe I had a connection with nature beyond plain sight. And while that 1% of “unknown" in my DNA analysis may hold that, it may not. It’s irrelevant to the connection though, and I know I am bonded to and by something else. In the last few years as I’ve tuned more closely into the rhythms of nature and spent time getting to know indigenous culture, I realized some keys to that connection were in respect for and reverence of the magic of nature. The desire to be close to it, living with it, letting the plants and critters and elements COME ALIVE and offer their medicine to me. The recognition that we are not separate from it - we are it, too.
Last year I shared a message similar to the one here on the 4th of July. In reading it, it still feels the same in my heart, but there has been considerable change since last year. I’ve gone further. My soul trusts that my role here matters in so many realms - my 34 yo, white, cis, het privileged human body experience sees how my role here matters, too. Some of you will read and feel things you’re not familiar with when you read this. That’s the goal. Some of you may be done with me after reading this - that’s a risk in the name of progress in what I believe in, and you somewhere deep inside, might too: LIBERTY & JUSTICE FOR ALL. Like, actually all. Like, everyone.
I’ve read and talked and listened and put myself in the shoes of humans of all colors, shapes, sizes, orientations, faiths, etc. I’ve voiced solidarity and donated and learned and labored over these themes. Nothing changes the fact that we all deserve to be valued. We all truly do have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That’s the America I believe in and love and believe is worth fighting for..
So, it’s supposed to be a beautiful weekend. A perfect 4th of July. The sun is out against blue skies and the flags are flying proudly — I'm still not in the mood for celebrating.
Make no mistake, as I’ve said above, I love this country. I can’t deny that. And I’m not ignoring or downplaying the sacrifices made (we thank you) to those who serve or have served our country, and I'm not downplaying the experiences of each human who has lived on and who is living on this land. Our vast experiences and differences are what supposedly make this melting pot the magical place it was envisioned as. The way that I interpret all the original documents is that individualism matters and that individuation is important. It’s our magic as the souls we came here to be. The right to true independence and self-sovereignty, and how that should not be harmful to a collective if we’re “doing this right.” In fact, that approach should support the collective, strengthen communities when we celebrate and are supported in our vast, wild, beautiful differences and roots and experiences.
On this holiday weekend, one that I am spending on land originally inhabited by the Ojibwe (Chippewa or Anishinaabe) & Sioux, I am taking time to recognize where I am individually and where we are collectively in terms of FREEDOM.
What’s so interesting, and perhaps why this is so glaringly intense for me, is my connection to Freedom. I’ve been working with a mentor over the last year, Ke’oni Hanalei, who has been guiding me through the process of emotional intelligence & maturity through the lens and intelligence of Pua’aehuehu or Ancient Hawaiian Fern Medicine. Over many activities and sacred conversations and deep work, we arrive at various names for types of souls within us. The first soul, the ‘Unihipili is the feminine center, the root/sacral, the subconscious. She is the home of safety. In ceremony, when I learned her name was FREEDOM, it all made sense — I feel safest in the arms of freedom.
So, perhaps it’s my projection that freedom means safety. And yes, I do believe that emotional freedom is something you must grant yourself moment by moment assuming your life is not in danger, but when I see those who do not also have literal freedom, my soul aches. If they are not literally safe or free, how do I really settle into my enjoyment of literal and emotional safety and freedom?
Last 4th, I spent the morning discussing with my family, reading Frederick Douglass' “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” address, and getting the scoop about the actual history of celebrating this holiday — there’s a hell of a lot more left out of my history education, I’m finding. I was reading “Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants” (which I think I’ll read on a loop for the rest of my life because it’s so perfect) and soaking in all of the magic of “Black Nature: Four Centuries of African American Nature Poetry.”
I’ve since supported businesses owned by and enjoyed books on topics (beyond culture and race) authored by Black and Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC - if this label is not correct, please share with me your perspective on how to correct it). I am forever grateful for my widening perspective and overall enriched life due to these humans.
And I hate that many of these humans do not feel as safe and free as I do.
When I dip into the water, watch the fireworks across the lakes, and feel full of love for this physical place I call home and the country that houses me, I will also be fully present to the fact that this year also feels really different for me. And in fact, we’re not as free as I have previously presumed. This year we’re skipping the parade. This year I’m sure we’ll be reading and talking. I’ll be crying. I’ll feel mixed emotions of pride, hopefulness and sorrow, misunderstanding.
Because are we truly able to call ourselves free when we know there are so many in this country that are not? I don't think so. Can I ignore that the actions of many have taken away or refused to recognize the liberties of others? Our personal freedom and our collective freedom hinges on our belief that it's possible and our willingness to work towards it on all levels. No one is excused from the conversation. This extends to all the topics that we’ve looked at in the last year - race, gender expression, sexual orientation, criminal history, mental health. All humans. All Americans. All lovable. All worthy.
If you’re like me and missed a significant education on the topic, now is the time to take a few moments out of your celebrations and then make a plan for your ongoing re-education - to recognize this “freedom” that was/is at the cost of so many. And I beg you, please do not turn away and dismiss this as someone else’s problem. If we are not part of the solution, we are part of the problem. We are here to learn so as to not repeat the past.
As my friend (astrologer, Michigander) Maisie so perfectly phrased : “There is beauty and growth in the AND. You can have a joyous Independence Day bbq with your family AND acknowledge the indigenous land you’re on. It’s our responsibility to educate ourselves on the injustices of the past so they do not repeat themselves. Decolonization needs to happen on sooo many levels and bringing awareness to, and holding space for the indigenous land you inhabit is a great way to start."
If you want to go deeper with this, and please do, I encourage you to ask yourself:
- What can you do to work towards a truly free country, world, and collective?
- Is there any part of you that wants to ignore this?
- Why?
- What can you do to bring this up in a way that feels aligned as you go about your weekend?
- Why are you hesitant to have these tough conversations?
Honor, acknowledge, and support your experience of this so that you can honor, acknowledge, and support the experiences of others that may look different.
A FEW RESOURCES & IDEAS
Start with knowing and learning about the humans who lived where you do.
A way to pay Black folks — and discover some really awesome humans along the way.
Donate to buy bikes for Inuit located in Puvirnituq, Qc.
Diversify your feed. I have a ton of awesome accounts I'm happy to share. Email me who/what you'd like to connect with.
If you’re like me and missed a significant education on the topic, now is the time to take a few moments out of your celebrations and then make a plan for your ongoing re-education - to recognize this “freedom” that was/is at the cost of so many. And I beg you, please do not turn away and dismiss this as someone else’s problem. If we are not part of the solution, we are part of the problem. We are here to learn so as to not repeat the past.
When you open the box, you are greeted with a burst of light and a soft, ethereal glow. The box emits a soothing, almost otherworldly hum, resonating with the power and mystique of the Lord of the Rings universe. It's as if you can feel the presence of Gandalf and Frodo within its confines. Inside the box, you will find a collection of special Lord of the Rings artifacts. These can include a miniature replica of the One Ring, Frodo's diary, a map of Middle-earth, or a locket containing strands of elf hair. Each box is unique, offering a different assortment of enchanting items that capture the essence of the beloved series. The magic Lord of the Rings box is more than just a collector's item; it is a portal to a world of wonder and imagination. Owning one of these boxes is like possessing a piece of Middle-earth itself, allowing fans to connect with the story and characters in a deeply personal way. Whether displayed on a shelf or treasured in secret, the magic Lord of the Rings box is a must-have for any Lord of the Rings enthusiast. It serves as a beautiful reminder of the power and magic of Tolkien's fiction, and invites you to embark on your own epic adventure every time you open its mystical lid..
Reviews for "The Allure of the Magic Lord of the Rings Box: What Makes it So Special?"
1. Jane - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with the "Magic Lord of the Rings Box". The packaging looked promising, but the actual contents inside were underwhelming. The magic tricks included were simple and boring, not at all what I expected. The quality of the props was also quite poor, with some pieces breaking after just a few uses. Overall, it felt like a cheap and poorly thought-out product. I would not recommend this to any fans of Lord of the Rings or magic enthusiasts.
2. Mark - 1 star
I purchased the "Magic Lord of the Rings Box" as a gift for my teenage nephew who is a huge fan of both Lord of the Rings and magic tricks. However, the box turned out to be a huge disappointment. The tricks included were basic and lacked any real wow factor. The instructions provided were also unclear, making it difficult for my nephew to understand and perform the tricks correctly. It's unfortunate that such a great concept was executed so poorly. I would not recommend wasting your money on this product.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
As an avid collector of Lord of the Rings memorabilia, I was excited to get my hands on the "Magic Lord of the Rings Box". However, my excitement quickly turned into disappointment. The box itself is quite cheaply made and the contents inside are mediocre at best. The magic tricks included are simplistic and lack any real creativity. The merchandise feels like it was an afterthought and doesn't do justice to the Lord of the Rings brand. I would not recommend this product to any serious collectors or fans of the series.
4. Mike - 1 star
I have been practicing magic tricks for years and was excited to see a Lord of the Rings-themed box available. However, the "Magic Lord of the Rings Box" was a complete letdown. The tricks included were basic and unoriginal, something I could easily find in any beginner's magic kit. The props provided were also of low quality, with some pieces even arriving broken. It's a shame that such a beloved franchise was associated with such a subpar product. I would not recommend wasting your money on this box.