"The chamber was filled with a soft light; its walls were green and silver and its roof of gold. Many Elves were seated there. On two chairs beneath the bole of the tree and canopied by a living bout there sat, side by side, Celeborn and Galadriel....Very tall they were, and the Lady no less tall than the Lord; and they were grave and beautiful. They were clad wholy in white; and the hair on the Lady was of deep gold, and the hair of the Lord Celbor was of sliver long and bright; but there no sign of age was upon them, unless it were in the depths of their eyes; for these were keen as lances in the starlight, and yet profound, the wells of deep memory." (The Lord of the Rign)

Celeborn and Galadriel: Of Wisdom and Comfort

The Lord Celeborn and the Lady Galadriel must, I think, be handled together, not seperately. For together there is a completeness about them not found anywhere else in Tolkien's epic. Both the Lord and Lady welcomed the Fellowship to Lothlorien, even upon finding out the fate of Gandalf, who had perished in the mines of Moria. Together they bore the sorrow of the Fellowship, so that it might not destroy them. Together they offered comfort and reprieve, albeit temporary, from their sorrows and the burden of their quest. The purpose was that they might regain their strength to continue and fulfill their quest. Frodo, not least of all, had great need of this comfort. Yet they offered not simply comfort, lodging, food and music, but also advice, counsel, and provisions. During this time Celeborn speaks little, so we are tempted to dismiss him. Yet is he not Lord of Lothlorien? By his command have they received welcome, comfort, reprieve. It is Galadriel, Lady of Lothlorien, who does most of the speaking. Through her they receive counsel, provisions and direction. Through her they minister to each as each has need. Probably one of the most touching seens is when Gimli is asked what gift he would ask of them. He asks for a single strand of Galadriel's hair. All in attendance are shocked at his request, although he had it forced out of him. She rewards his bold request by giving him, not one, but three strands of her hair, and the promise that "if hope should not fail, then say I to you, Gimli son of Gloin, that your hands shall flow with gold, and yet over you gold shall have no dominion." This is a very important lesson.

Jesus promised us a "Comforter" who should come to those who follow Him after His death. This Comforter is the Holy Spirit, of whom Jesus also said, "shall lead you into all truth." Just as Lothlorien is a secret place, we must find our secret place in prayer. If we do we have the promise of God that He shall be our fortress, that He shall guard us and protect us. We can come in to Him and find rest. We can come to Him and find counsel. Yet it doesn't end there. For if we dare to be bold, as Gimli, son of Gloin, and ask boldly, with proper motives, God shall be delighted to answer our prayers. This is not a doctrine of "Name it and Claim it," but of finding ourselves in God, walking His paths and asking greatly, according to His will. Part of God's will is that we receive the mighty blessings that are His. Together Celeborn and Galadriel give us a glimpse of the person of the Holy Spirit of God, and that relationship He wishes to have with each of us. This is what we must strive for in prayer. For without our stay in our secret place, our Lothlorien, we shall not be able to fulfill the tasks that our Lord gives us. Nor shall we find the boldness to ask of Him what He wishes to pour out into our lives.