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Old 09-11-2004, 08:20 AM   #32
Aiwendil
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Join Date: Mar 2001
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Davem wrote:
Quote:
Well, principally in that the earth, unbound, free nature, has always been seen symbolically as 'feminine'
Yet this is something that can to some extent vary from culture to culture. We ought to consider this from the point of view of Tolkien's mythology; if we do, we see that there is a distinction to be drawn. The earth itself - the soil, the rock, the mountains - is associated with Aule and is masculine. But the plant life that covers it - the grass, the forests, the athelas - is associated with Yavanna and is feminine.

While there is some truth in calling nature a feminine presence, I'd be wary of taking that as a simple, unambiguous fact.
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