the Sacred Feminine

[Mithalwen]

If I remember rightly the bodies that the valar chose to dress themselves in were chosen to reflect their inclinations. It should be remembered that they were spiritual rather than physical beings - and the use of the word spouse again is in the sense of a spiritual rather than physical union (which is why the idea of the Maiar being the offspring of the Valar was rejected). True soul mates if you will. Because the gender is a reflection of their nature rather than the nature a reflection of the gender the worship of Varda and the other valier is in a sense a worship of the sacred feminine because they are the "holies" who manifest themselves in female forms. If you look at the "interests" of the valar they do fall into broad sexual stereotypes. Most belief systems do ascribe male and female aspects to creation. Generally it is all a matter of perspective, balance and harmony.

Strange in that while I ended up saying yes and Formendacil no I think his final phrase "sanctity made visible in gender-specific ways" is more or less what I was saying too .