from the bestselling substack
Wounds That Cannot Be Wholly Cured
Lessons on grief, loss, and healing from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
Explore what the beloved fantasy classic has to teach us today in this essay by JRR Jokien.
After loss, there is no real going back
In this short essay, JRR Jokien shares how losing his youngest brother brought him back to the epilogue of The Return of the King, where he found modeled in Frodo and Sam a series of lessons on how to deal with the impact that wounds and grief can burden us with. Whether you're looking for hope, encouragement, or just want to know you aren't alone, come along as we examine Tolkien's insights together.
Here's what readers are saying:
"Beautifully written and insightful, showing deep understanding of both Tolkien and the human condition."
-Joseph S.
"So moving...It made me cry… but ‘not all tears are evil.'"
-Stanni H.
"A stunning reflection."
-Daryl W.
"This is an amazing piece of writing and so heart-rending."
-Kristi S.
In Frodo's struggle with wounding by the Witch-king, his eventual fate, and Sam’s sudden experience of the grief of Frodo’s departure, I believe we can find some truths about loss and healing to take with us for help and encouragement.
Read the lessons for yourself
$5
$5
author
JRR Jokien
Josh, or “JRR Jokien,” is a writer and content creator who loves anything and everything Middle-earth related. I love finding humor, wisdom, and inspiration in Tolkien's works and their adaptations and share this love for Tolkien's legendarium on social media, in my email newsletter, and all over the internet.
This is one of the pieces of writing that I'm most proud of because I've seen the impact it's had on hundreds and thousands of readers. I'm honored that you're considering joining them. Thank you.
Namárië
“I am wounded with knife, sting, and tooth, and a long burden. Where shall I find rest?”
-Frodo Baggins
Don’t miss out on the lessons found within the conclusion to The Return of the King