Thank you very much, Maril! Interesting thoughts on passive receiving and active pushing and probing. I recognize Galadriel would have been exposed by that treacherous connection Sauron had forged between the one and the three, but I think her mind was hidden not by the power of her ring, but because she was not misusing Osanwe, so her unwill held.
Those are excellent points about Elbereth and Aule. Those moments in Frodo and Sam's journey towards through cliff, marsh and wastelands where Sam says Galadriel's name and something happens... the rope unknots, or light breaks through the murky air, I begin to feel that Galadriel and Elbereth are truly acting in concert ... almost as one. Hmm, let me clarify that. Not that they are merged in any way, they remain separate entities, elf and Vala. But that when Sam says 'the Lady', the word doubles, although he's not consciously aware of this, and he therefore addresses both in one; both hear, both help as they can: Galadriel with her rope (you know she made it herself) and Elbereth with the light and Manwe's winds.
Possibly Galadriel intended all along to open a larger idea of 'the Lady' in Sam's mind than he could understand at that time in his development, so that he would be able to speak to and think of her, a great beautiful lady he remembers all in white under the stars, a great lady he had met and spoken with, and thus gain contact with Elbereth in a way within the means and nerve of a plain hobbit.
As far as the great rings go, the three rings' power, their bearers' natures, and the elements signified seem to be adapted to one another in a fluid and natural way-- very elvish. There's no similar distinction with the rings of men and dwarves-- perhaps those rings could have varied their nature, had their bearers been of a responsive temperament, or perhaps Sauron's tainting of them dulled their functioning. Not much is said of those rings, so I'm working from the sketch of the ring of Thorin's house. It did not corrupt its bearers into greed, their honor resisted, but it did not enhance its bearers' purposes without gold to multiply. That did not reflect the need or the character of Thorin's house particularly. That ring was not attuned to their nature in the way the three rings were to their bearers.
The ring of fire ends with Gandalf, who kindles hearts and minds, and, I think, was of a nature to do that with or without a ring of power. This is much more of a match between like-natured entities than an individual triumphantly acquiring a treasure. Elrond suits the air in his insight and thoughtfulness, Galadriel suits the water in her changeability and qualities both life-giving and dangerous. She seems to reflect and scatter starlight as water does, As master of Rivendell and wise councillor, Elrond seems to be a self-effacing medium for other's existence that nevertheless sustains life as air does. He doesn't scatter light, but he doesn't impede it. Gandalf is a source of some light (gleaming eyes) but more warmth (think of Theoden).
This seems very elvish to me. Their own rings of power companion them as their horses do-- like bearer finds like artifact and a cooperative relationship is born: no bridle, just going in the same direction; no mastery but a merging of like nature into like mind.
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