The Mirror of
Galadriel
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> Mirror of Galadriel
In placement, the Mirror was on the southern slope
of the hill of Caras
Galadhon, behind a high green hedge in an enclosed garden open to the
sky. There were no trees. Sam and Frodo could see the evening star
shining with
white fire over the western woods. To go down into the garden, they
walked down a long flight of steps. The hollow was deep green, with a
silver stream running through it that came from a fountain on the hill.
At the bottom of the hollow of the garden was a silver basin that was
wide and shallow, set on a low pedestal carved like a branching tree.
Beside it was a silver ewer (pitcher). Galadriel poured water from the
stream into the basin and breathed on it. This can be considered a
magical act. She didn't speak until the water was still again. The air
was very still and the dell was dark (at least dark enough to see the
evening star).
Galadriel said that she could command the Mirror to
reveal many things. To some,
she could show what they desired to see. The Mirror would also show
things unbidden, often stranger and more profitable than what a person
might ask to be shown. It showed things that were, things that are, and
things that yet may be, but even the wisest could not always tell which
was which, and not all the future possibilities would come to pass.
Since trying to act on what was seen in the Mirror might cause that
thing to happen, those visions were dangerous to use as a guide to
actions.
At first Sam saw stars reflected in it, then the
stars went out, then
it seemed as if a dark veil was withdrawn and he saw images. The images
had to do with the viewer, not actually random, but it did not wait for
the viewer to try to understand it.
The phial
of Galadriel contained water from the Mirror of Galadriel.
Reference:
J.R.R. Tolkien. "The Mirror of Galadriel", Fellowship of the Ring
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