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Does all magic (or the 'power' needed for it) in Middle-earth (or even Eä) derive from the Melkorian element in matter?
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To me, the passage in question:
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Originally Posted by Notes on motives in the Silmarillion, ii, Myths Transformed, HoME X
It was this Morgoth-element in matter, indeed, which was a prerequisite for such 'magic' and other evils as Sauron practised with it and upon it.)
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is explained by a previous referrence (emphasis added):
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Originally Posted by Notes on motives in the Silmarillion, ii, Myths Transformed, HoME X
Sauron, however, inherited the 'corruption' of Arda, and only spent his (much more limited) power on the Rings
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Melkor was given power, more than any other of the ainur; he spent much/most of it to infest Arda, in order to subdue the Children of Eru to his will. It is this power that Sauron uses. There is, however, another power at play:
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Originally Posted by Valaquenta, Silmarillion
Therefore Iluvatar gave to their vision Being, and set it amid the Void, and the Secret Fire was sent to burn at the heart of the World; and it was called Ea.
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Originally Posted by Myths Transformed, II
...it is said that whereas there is now great evil in Arda and many things therein are at discord, so that the good of one seemeth to be the hurt of another, nonetheless the foundations of this world are good, and it turns by nature to good, healing itself from within by the power that was set there in its making
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Originally Posted by Atrabeth Finrod ah Andreth, Note 10
'Matter' is not regarded as evil or opposed to 'Spirit'. Matter was wholly good in origin. It remained a 'creature of Eru' and still largely good, and indeed self-healing, when not interfered with: that is, when the latent evil intruded by Melkor was not deliberately roused and used by evil minds.
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While the bad guys can resort to the taint of Melkor to do their magic, there is good deal of another power that is always at play - and that comes from Eru (or more directly so).
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What is it that determines how powerful someone or someone's magic is?
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Letter #155, referred to previously, states that magic cannot be learned, so according to this all magic power is received at birth (or through a direct intervention of the powers - see Gandalf & the numenoreans).