Magic in Middle-earth

[Maerbenn]

Originally Posted by Raynor

While the bad guys can resort to the taint of Melkor to do their magic, there is good deal of another power that is always at play - and that comes from Eru (or more directly so).

So you do not agree with Saulotus’ speculation that even Gandalf used the Melkorian element (within his body) when practising magic? Is it only the ‘bad’ guys who use it? If so, do the ‘good’ guys use only power directly from Ilúvatar? Does no one use their ‘own’ power?

Originally Posted by Raynor

Letter #155, referred to previously, states that magic cannot be learned, so according to this all magic power is received at birth (or through a direct intervention of the powers - see Gandalf & the numenoreans).

So you do not agree with Saulotus’ opinion that Tolkien noticed that there were problems with this ‘solution’ and decided that magic has to work in some other way, and therefore did not include this portion in the letter actually sent (published as letter #154)?