[Child of the 7th Age]

Pio--

I am not aware of anything in Tolkien which directly compares ainu and fea. But Gandalf the Grey's definitions seem to suggest that the whole issue of "intellect" bears some part in this discussion. Tolkien calls this component the "mind" or "sama." And the Osanwe-kenta essay does address this directly. Let me quote a few pertinent points. By the way, these are all taken from Pengolodh's discussion (some of which appear in Morgoth's Ring, but the bit on osanwe was in Vinyar Tengwar).

First, Pengolodh says "all minds (sama, pl. samar) are equal in status, though they differ in capacity." He then goes on to discuss at some length various attributes of the mind and will, and how these bear on the communication of thought.

All these things, says Pengolodh, are true of all minds, from the Ainur in the presence of Eru, or the great Valar such as Manwe and Melkor, to the Maiar in Ea, and down to the least of the Mirroanwi. But different states bring in limitations which are not fully controlled by the will.

"Mirroanwi", by the way, means "Incarnates", literally those put into flesh (hroa).

He continues:

The Valar entered into Ea and Time of free will, and they are now in Time, so long as it endures. They can perceive nothing outside Time, save by memory of their existence before it began: they can recall the Song and the Vision. They are, of course, oen to Eru, but they cannot of their own will "see" any part of His mind. They can open themselves to Eru in entreaty, and He may then reveal His thought to them (note 4)

The Incarnates have by the nature of sama the same faculties; but their perception is dimmed by the hroa, for their fea is united to their hroa and its normal procedure is through the hroa, which is in itself part of Ea, without thought.

The essay goes on to analyze specialized cases such as when a Valar assumes bodily raiment. There is lengthy discussion of this and other issues which affect a being in its ability to communicate mind-to-mind.

Leaving aside all such details, however (and there are many), I will simply say this. It seems to me that the whole concept of osanwe-kenta rests on a basic compatibility between the souls of the Ainur and those of Incarnates. The possibility of mind-to-mind communication assumes an ability to relate to each other that would not be possible unless both the Ainur and Incarnates were created in the image of Eru. And this fact, that we share the common image of Eru, represents, to me, the link between the Ainu and the fea, whether we express that in Tolkien's terms or in those of personal belief.

[ September 09, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]