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The '''Secret Fire''' and '''Flame Imperishable''' as well as possibly the '''Flame of Anor''' are references to a mysterious power.
{{merge|Flame Imperishable}}
{{sources}}
{{disambig-two|a mysterious power in the [[legendarium]]|book by Stratford Caldecott|[[Secret Fire: The Spiritual Vision of J.R.R. Tolkien]]}}
{{quote|Therefore Ilúvatar gave to their vision Being, and set it amid the Void, and the Secret Fire was sent to burn at the heart of the World; and it was called Eä.|''[[Valaquenta]]''}}


The Secret Fire, also called the Flame Imperishable, seems to refer to that aspect of Eru [[Ilúvatar]] which is his Power of Creation. It was with Ilúvatar at the beginning, so [[Melkor]] sought for it in vain, and later Ilúvatar set it (or an aspect of it) at the centre of [[Arda]].
The '''Secret Fire''' was a mysterious power in [[Arda]]. It was the same as the [[Flame Imperishable]] and perhaps also the [[Flame of Anor]].
 
:''Therefore Ilúvatar gave to their vision Being, and set it amid the Void, and the Secret Fire was sent to burn at the heart of the World; and it was called Eä.'' — [[Valaquenta]], [[the Silmarillion]].


==History==
The Secret Fire seems to refer to that aspect of Eru [[Ilúvatar]] which is his Power of Creation. It was with Ilúvatar at the beginning, and later Ilúvatar set it (or an aspect of it) at the centre of [[Arda]].


The Secret Fire is also described as being part of all [[Fëa and hröa|feä]]: it is that Gift which makes sentient beings capable of independent thought.
The Secret Fire is also described as being part of all [[Fëa and hröa|feä]]: it is that Gift which makes sentient beings capable of independent thought.


Loosely, it could be taken as an alternate name of the [[Holy Spirit]].
[[Gandalf]] the Grey referred to both the Secret Fire and the Flame of Anor at the Bridge of [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]]:


[[Gandalf]] the Grey referred to both the Secret Fire and the Flame of Anor at the Bridge of [[Khazad-dûm]]:
{{quote|You cannot pass, I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass.|[[The Fellowship of the Ring]], [[The Bridge of Khazad-dûm]]}}


:''"You cannot pass," he said. The orcs stood still, and a dead silence fell. "I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass."'' — [[The Fellowship of the Ring]] II 5: The Bridge of Khazad-dûm.
==Inspiration==
 
This is an alternate name of the Holy Spirit in Tolkien's mythos, like [[Ilúvatar|Eru]] is the name of God. In ''[[Tolkien and The Silmarillion]]'', [[Clyde S. Kilby]] refers to a discussion he had with Tolkien: "Professor Tolkien talked to me at some length about the use of the word 'holy' in ''The Silmarillion''. Very specifically he told me that the 'Secret Fire sent to burn at the heart of the World' in the beginning was the Holy Spirit." (p. 59)
''Anor'' is a name for the [[Sun]] in the mythology, as well as a name for the ''True West'' (i.e. [[Valinor]]). Further, some have speculated that Gandalf said "Flame of Anor" in reference to the fact that he wielded one of the Three Rings of Power, [[Narya]].  Thus it is uncertain if the ''Flame of Anor'' is identical to the ''Secret Fire'', but both it and ''The Secret Fire'' identified Gandalf as a servant of the [[Valar]].


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Fëa and hröa]]
* [[Fëa and hröa]]
[[Category:Concepts]]
[[de:Das Geheime Feuer]]
[[fi:Salainen Tuli]]

Revision as of 14:11, 21 August 2014

Merge-arrows.gif This page should be merged with Flame Imperishable.
"Who told you, and who sent you?" — Gandalf
This article or section needs more/new/more-detailed sources to conform to a higher standard and to provide proof for claims made.
This article is about a mysterious power in the legendarium. For the book by Stratford Caldecott, see Secret Fire: The Spiritual Vision of J.R.R. Tolkien.
"Therefore Ilúvatar gave to their vision Being, and set it amid the Void, and the Secret Fire was sent to burn at the heart of the World; and it was called Eä."
Valaquenta

The Secret Fire was a mysterious power in Arda. It was the same as the Flame Imperishable and perhaps also the Flame of Anor.

History

The Secret Fire seems to refer to that aspect of Eru Ilúvatar which is his Power of Creation. It was with Ilúvatar at the beginning, and later Ilúvatar set it (or an aspect of it) at the centre of Arda.

The Secret Fire is also described as being part of all feä: it is that Gift which makes sentient beings capable of independent thought.

Gandalf the Grey referred to both the Secret Fire and the Flame of Anor at the Bridge of Khazad-dûm:

"You cannot pass, I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass."
The Fellowship of the Ring, The Bridge of Khazad-dûm

Inspiration

This is an alternate name of the Holy Spirit in Tolkien's mythos, like Eru is the name of God. In Tolkien and The Silmarillion, Clyde S. Kilby refers to a discussion he had with Tolkien: "Professor Tolkien talked to me at some length about the use of the word 'holy' in The Silmarillion. Very specifically he told me that the 'Secret Fire sent to burn at the heart of the World' in the beginning was the Holy Spirit." (p. 59)

See also