Where is Valinor?

Finally a reasonable explanation for the Bermuda Triangle - its that bloomin straight road and all of our missing ships are washing up ashore in Elf Land

My impression was when Eru Illuvatar made Arda a spherical world, Valinor was seemingly sealed in its own realm or dimension and only reachable by permission of the Valar and Eru, to prevent another maritime invasion as when Ar-Pharazon’s armada stormed Valinor. The spiritual realm being reachable by sea yet separated from the mortal world was similar to Avalon of Arthurian mythology, especially for how a mortally wounded King Arthur is borne west to be healed and rest until Britain’s hour of need.

Never would I expect to hear "geosynchronous orbit" in a video about Tolkien. :)

The metaphysics of Tolkien’s world are at once thought-provoking, emotionally fulfilling, and extremely beautiful. Another wonderful video, Robert! Thank you for all you do.

You really have a way with words, Robert. I knew all the info presented in this video, and knew the answer in its entirety, but the way you present it is really evocative of Tolkien himself, and reminds me of why I adore his world so much.

When I was a kid, in my hometown in Croatia there was a dance club called Valinor. It was famous for being a venue for techno, trance and mainstream pop events. It was the home of pop culture coming from, incidentally, the West. Unfortunately, in its later years it became a home for Serbian turbofolk music and scene. So, in our world, there is a Valinor that fell to the forces of the dark. Well, actually, forces of kitsch and glitter, but you get what I mean.

Now we finally know where Amelia Earhart went lmao

What a beautiful close you made. I have not yet finished reading the red book, but the way you described being able to glimpse only a bit of valinor, right before dying, makes me feel that this is what I would want to experience as my last moment.

"The grey rain-curtain turned to silver and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores, and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise." In the movie this is how Gandalf described the afterlife to Pippin in the midst of the battle for Minas Tirith.

Valinor is what we call the moon. Tol eressea is the international space station. Neil Armstrong was actually earendil. Yuri gargarin was actually Tuor.

I like how poetic you get with this one. Bravo!

Very poetic writing and narration by In Deep Geek.

My first new In geek deep video. And I must say, cant get enough. My love for Middle earth and lotr has been rekindled. Thanks so much.

Always happy to see a new IDG video!

So here's a theoretical question. You have two ships. One full of Elves bound for Valinor. The other not bound for Valinor. However, they sail parallel to each other. From the viewpoint of the people on the 2nd ship, what happens with the 1st ship? I think, based on what Tolkien wrote, that it would slowly appear to rise into the sky as it follows the Straight Road while the 2nd ship falls away beneath the 1st one as it follows the curvature of the world.

West of middle earth

Okay but the REAL question is where was Valinor when Westfold fell??

What a wonderful video, you never cease to impress! Your closing thoughts were particularly beautiful and reminded me of one of my favorite literary quotes which is ironically about beginnings and not endings. It comes from "The Magician's Nephew" (Chronicles of Narnia) when Frank the Cabby is witnessing the creation of Narnia: ‘Glory be!’ said the Cabby. ‘I’d ha’ been a better man all my life if I’d known there were things like this.’ I hope everyone is able to find something that inspires them to be better no matter their current circumstances ...

I must say this Channel is the best Channel which covers Tolkien. Especially because of your voice. It's perfect for narrating. I like others too, but yours is without a doubt on another level. Thanks for doing what you do Robert!

Sometimes, when either reading Tolkien's work, or reading/watching something about him and the legendarium, it actually feels real.