Seven Stars, Seven Stones and One White Tree...

[Ardent]

Originally Posted by Aiwendil

... Tolkien's notes on the subject can be found in Unfinished Tales, in the chapter 'The History of Galadriel and Celeborn'...

With regard to Tolkien's notes, a further possible explanation of the seven stars comes to mind: that the stars can themselves be people.

In the fall of Gondolin Glorfindel plunges to his death in battle with a balrog, but in Tolkien's notes he is brought back to live in Valinor from whence he returns to Middle Earth with the Maia, including Olorin (Gandalf). At the ford of Bruinen Glorfindel reveals himself as a being of light in order to drive the Nazgul into the flood. Gandalf reveals himself in a similar way at various points in Lord of the Rings, even falling in a repeat of Glorfindel's battle, while Galadriel repeats Gandalf's trick of transformation when offered the Ring. These are examples of dual natures, I'm sure there are others that are more or less explicit.