Magic of Illúvatar

The greatest, oldest, and most powerful of all the kinds of magic in Tolkien’s world is undeniably Illúvatar’s. Illúvatar is the equivalent of God, and has dominion over all things, having made them.

Besides having created everything in Eä, Illúvatar’s magic can be directly seen in various ways throughout the narration. Earlier, when I mentioned the Fate bound in the roots of the world, I was referring to Illúvatar’s hand that guides everything that takes place. His intervention can be obvious, like in the destruction of Númenor, something the Valar did not have the power to do by themselves, or it can be subtle, like the series of events that led up to Bilbo finding the ring. If he had not found it then, it would not have been destroyed.

Evil magic

Evil magic is the reason that these days many Christians avoid fantasy, and anything to do with the word magic. But, like technology, magic is not inherently evil, it depends on what it is used for.

What is evil magic? It is a corruption of good magic. Tolkien says:   

“It may become possessive, cling to the things made as its own, the sub-creator wishes to be the Lord and God of his private creation. He will rebel against the laws of the Creator…”

And as I mentioned early, he contrasted good magic with evil magic:    “…Its object is Art not power, sub-creation not domination and tyrannous reforming of Creation.”

Good magic seeks to shape and enhance, to make more beautiful. Evil magic seeks to reform and dominate.

The beginning of evil in Middle Earth was Morgoth.[11] In the beginning he was called Melkor, and he was the most powerful (The Ainulindalё says he had “The greatest gifts of power and knowledge.”) of all the Ainur. Melkor even means ‘He who arises in might’. When they sung the Great Music, Melkor had rebellious thoughts, and wove them into his music, which became dissonant with the rest. Some of those who were around him started singing according to his theme, and not Illúvatar’s.

Later on, after they went down into the world, Morgoth sought to corrupt and mar everything the other Ainur were making and shaping. He did not create evil creatures like the Orcs, he corrupted Elves and other things. (Balrogs are corrupted Maiar.)

On the topic of corrupted Maiar, I want to mention Saruman, who is another example of magic becoming corrupted. At first he was very wise, and the leader of the White Council (The wisest people in Middle Earth.) Then he started to become selfish and to want power for himself, which ultimately led to his downfall.

What about the One Ring? This was forged to be greater than the others, and was made so by Sauron pouring all his hate and evil power into it.

Why does Illúvatar allow this evil magic? He explains this himself in the Ainulindalё:   

“And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.”

Likewise, he says a little later on, as he first shows the newly made world to the Ainur:    “And thou, Melkor, wilt discover all the secret thoughts of thy mind, and wilt perceive that they are but a part of the whole, and tributary to its glory.”

He explains an example of this to Ulmo the lord of the waters, saying how the extreme cold and heat Melkor used to try destroy the beauty of the water only made it more beautiful, in the making of clouds, rain, snow, and frost.

Conclusion

In real life also we can see these kinds of magic. There is our sub-creative art (Tolkien was using a kind of magic when he came up with these myths and wove words together into the wonderful tales we all know and love.), the magic of the angels, the omnipotent magic of God, and the corrupt magic of Satan and his followers. But just as in Middle Earth, God can use anything for good ‘in the devising of things more wonderful’, which neither we nor the evil magicians have imagined. He sees and guides everything that happens.

[11] Sauron was his successor, but he was far less powerful, originally being a Maiar