~Which Female Vala is your favorite?~

[Thinlómien]

I decided Varda's too cold and distant and Yavanna's too, well, whiny, and that's why Nienna is my favourite. Besides, she strikes me as a much more unique character than the two others.

[Morwen]

I voted for Yavanna. I don't really feel that I have a good sense of who the others are. She also seems more attached to Middle Earth, one of the few Valar to visit in the time before the awakening of the Elves and the one to come up with the idea of having Shepherds for Trees.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I decided to go with the variation of choosing the Vala with whom I can identify, who has something in common with me; therefore I chose Vairë the Weaver. I like the little that is said about her:

[She] weaves all things that have ever been in Time into her storied webs, and the halls of Mandos that ever widen as the ages pass are clothed with them.

That certainly relates to my love of patchwork and quilting! It also reminds me of a line spoken by the Lothlórien Elves that has become my motto:

We put the thought of all that we love into all that we make.

If even a mighty Elven ruler like Galadriel wove fabrics, I am certainly in good company!

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

Though I sew and quilt and embroider and weave, enjoy gardening (especially herbs), and have a tremendous love of music, I have to go with Varda, because I have loved the stars since the first time I laid eyes on them. Unfortunately, being raised in a large city, I didn't really SEE them until I was about five and went for a family wedding at a farm in the northern part of the state, but it's an experience I've never forgotten.

[Gwathagor]

My wife, Vana, of course. I mentioned that I'm actually Orome, didn't I?

[Formendacil]

Nienna.

Definitely Nienna--and not just because I'm especially fond of the Downs member of that name. The Vala herself is awesome. Not that the others aren't, mind you. Varda Elbereth will always have a place, thanks to Frodo and The Lord of the Rings, but in terms of character, I think I can be said to follow Gandalf, and prefer Nienna.

Something about weeping over the wounds of Arda strikes me as profoundly Catholic... though I'm not sure I want to get myself into any sort of an argument there. I think, additionally, that despite the definite identification that could be made between her and "weepiness," Nienna is, undefinably, the strongest of the Valar--not just the Valier, but the Valar. She's the least shocked, despite the most offended, by the marring of Arda.

Also the whole fact that she's probably the one Melkor scorns most, but the one his opponents (eg. Gandalf) have the most to learn from.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

It is quite interesting that after coming back here after such a long time (and seeing that I could not have made a decision several years ago), I feel now I would choose Nienna, with resounding probably what Form has mentioned above too. Which is quite interesting, nevertheless. Estë could still probably be the other option there, but hers is different and more "profane" or "mundane" approach. Vairë does not seem too bad either, after what Esty mentioned here (story-weaving is indeed something noteworthy). But I think in general I may leave this option open again and see what I feel like voting for in, say, another two years.