Secret Fire

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"Who told you, and who sent you?" — Gandalf
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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

External links