The Pits of Utumno

[mhagain]

I'm very suspicious of the "everything must be a Maia" mindset.

Don't forget that the Maiar were members of the Ainur, they were the first-made, they existed before the universe, and they took part in the Music. The only real distinction between Valar and Maiar is that the Valar were just the most powerful of the Ainur who came into the world. Otherwise they are the very same class of being, and "Maiar" is not a separate taxonomic classification.

That's not the kind of thing that one should idly toss about whenever a convenient taxonomic classification for some other entity doesn't seem to exist. I personally find it easier to accept that there are other classes of spirit, created by the Music, and which meet this requirement.