The Mirror of Galadriel and its Visions - How Did it Work? | Lord of the Rings Lore 

I think that, like an electrical appliance of our world, the mirror functioned because of a unique combination. A lightbulb requires power and someone to complete the circuit in order to give light. I think the combination of Galadriel, the water and the silver basin or the mirror is what allowed the magic to work. Metaphorically, the mirror is the bulb the water is the power and Galadriel is the one who controls the power switch.

Here’s my thought - Ulmo was the Vala who most loved the Children of Illuvatar. He spoke through the sound of water. But of course speaking with sound is a choice, not a restriction. We know he gave prophecies of them. I believe the mirror is just a place to ceremonially hold the water, through which Ulmo prophecies. The fact that Galadriel can request to see something, but the mirror at times will show something else shows Galadriel is not the ultimate controller of what the mirror shows.

If it's linked to any mind, it would be the mind of Eru Iluvatar, the 'in-universe' creator of Middle-Earth

@@jpbjoel Ulmo was also the Vala most instructed and informed in music by Eru, he understood the Music of the Ainur better than any other, and that understanding passes down into water, his preferred medium for everything. It's a bit of a chicken and egg thing--is water the best substrate in Arda to connect with the Music and thus this is why Ulmo loves it so much, or is water the best substance because Ulmo knew most about music and the Music and then he happened to like water best, thus infusing water with this quality? I am not sure I would say that we re seeing direct prophecies and visions from Ulmo in the mirror----to me it is more like this is the substance--water---best suited to connect with and echo the music, due to to Ulmo's work with it in the earliest days. Then Nenya---and Galadriel's "charge" from the Two Trees, of which I believe she has extra in her hair, more than any other elf ever probably (Feanor wasn't charged by the Trees as she was, he was just a superpowered Fea from the beginning)--keys into the music, maybe like a guitarist playing strings with a fret, ie Nenya and Galadriel's inherent power are the fret to pluck the strings of the Music of the Ainur.

Yes indeed

@@SehlraC ah yes, as told in Tolkien letter 69

Cheers Mike, it's awesome to be back :)

Cheers man, I'll have plenty more videos coming soon ;)

As you've made your own mirror, it seems that you're the resident authority to answer the question once and for all Did the birds that rested in your 4x4 wok mirror acquire a connection to Sauron? If so, then we can conclude that yes, Galadriel was concerned about the same thing happening to Frodo

Thanks Shane! :D

Well, if it could happen to Sam and Frodo, then that is evidence that it could "sometimes happen." Do you have any citations for it being a "mind game" and a "trick" rather than a legitimate vision, as presented in the text? I should also point out that the Elven rings (the ones that Sauron didn't make and never touched) were created for the purpose of healing and preservation, not weaving illusions as you stated.

​@@David_Fellner "For this is what your folk would call magic. I believe; though I do not understand clearly what they mean; and they seem also to use the same word of the deceits of the Enemy" ― Galadriel, The Mirror of Galadriel No, I don't have any solid citations. There are none as the mirror and elf magic in general was very vaguely presented to us. There are a few possible deductions that can be made though. I think that the first thing to approach would be the suggestion that the Elven Rings were created for the purpose of healing and preservation and not weaving illusions. "Those who made them did not desire strength or domination or hoarded wealth, but understanding, making, and healing, to preserve all things unstained." The Fellowship of the Ring, Book II, Chapter 2: The Council of Elrond What you said is close but completely avoids mention of the first two desires. Your rendition also seems to suggest that illusions cannot be a part of the understanding, making and healing process. It totally can. Actually it's kinda a thing that surrounds Galadriel is illusion for the sake of protection and perseverance. Lothlorien is after all "The Dreamflower" in Sindarin and known to the folks in Rohan as the "Valley of Illusions". "Lorien" itself being the Sindarin name of the Ainur responsible for the creation of dreams. An odd choice of name wouldn't you think? Not to mention Galadriel's talk of deceits. She was an inherently enigmatic person and used that to her advantage. She actually says when presenting the mirror itself “Many things I can command the Mirror to reveal,” she answered, “and to some I can show what they desire to see. But the Mirror will also show things unbidden, and those are often stranger and more profitable than things which we wish to behold. What you will see, if you leave the Mirror free to work, I cannot tell. For it shows things that were, and things that are, and things that yet may be. But which is it that he sees, even the wisest cannot always tell. Do you wish to look?” I mean sure she could be telling the truth and the mirror itself can act of it's own accord to decide what a person sees. It's entirely possible but to me that sounds like the vague banter of a showman magician before they carry on to demonstrate their trickery. I suppose that leads me on to whether it was a "legitimate vision" or not. Well, Frodo and Sam saw something that happened whether by ring magic of elf magic so yes it was a legitimate vision. The illusion Galadriel presented was not that of the vision though but of the theatrics that surrounded it and the mirror. It's my belief that the Mirror itself is nothing more than a silver washbasin and that the visions were actually her using the power of the ring to show Frodo and Sam what they needed to see and remember. She could easily have done the same thing using a puddle on the streets of Minas Tirith. Anyway, like GeekZone said at the end of the video where he suggested it may be due to Galadriels Elven nature there is speculation. My suggestion that it was ring magic and Galadriels use of the ring is also speculative but again just like GeekZone said I feel that it really fits together nicely.

@@bobleonheart9600 You make good points. I admit I had completely forgotten the etymology of Lórien and Lothlórien. When Galadriel says she can command the mirror, I always interpreted that as meaning that she could only tell it to show real (or at least plausible) events, but your theory that she intentionally showed them what they needed to see to carry on the quest seems equally valid to me. Thanks for taking the time to elaborate.

Always love to listen about Galadriel

You'll get your Mordor propaganda soon enough!