Questions about Aviendha's 2nd time through the glass columns

[chiamac]

So I got to that part last night, started thinking about it, and I have some questions and thoughts. 

Why was it prohibited to go through a 2nd time?

So this would have been a thing after the breaking of the world, and after the Aiel would have settled down there. I can't remember if the columns were what they were safekeeping in their exile, or if they were just there and then the city built around them, or if the whole thing was just there and the Aiel found it. Point being though they were in the service to the Aes Sedai before the bore hold and before the breaking, and I'm assuming at that point that the glass columns weren't a thing. 

So who did it twice and what was the story? 

I'm assuming they were already in exile, so it wouldn't have been seeing them go into the waste and living there. 

I don't think anything was eluded to in their past as far as any other large disaster. 

I'd assume then if it was just "you'd see your future" that it would just be a warning of just that, and not a blanket only go through once. 

I'd also assume, since if it was that disastrous, and came true, that there would have been legends about it passed down that would have turned into prophecy. Kind of like when the men go through it, they see a shared or similar vision of the past and can confirm it later. 

So I just don't know what the warning was about, why it would have been there, and what to think about what she saw. 


I do find it perplexing that she makes a comment or the book says "she is disappointed because she knew what she would see". Then she finds it more complex than she thought from touching it, and it showed her something she didn't expect or didn't want to see. Going through a 2nd time then also showed her something she didn't expect and didn't want to see. So maybe having a clear mind and not knowing what to expect is to then get what's expected? Dunno. It does have similarities with Nynaeve going through her test for the shawl, in that she was pretty powerful and knowledgeable at that point. It also gets back to Mat asking more questions than he should have, or even going back to the tower of Ghenje to rescue Moiraine. 

Then maybe it is the truth, and we're just seeing everything setup for the Seanchan to take over. But, that's depressing, and not the way everything else is being setup, and if that's the case why write the story in the perspectives we have. It's just a story, I don't care, but it's depressing. It also doesn't make sense, because the Aiel seemed to be pretty status quo once they settled in exile, and what could have been seen, and come true, to prohibit a 2nd trip. 

Then finally, although not a deep book spiritually there are some Biblical references here and there. Moses striking the rock a 2nd time had the consequence that none of them could see the promised land. Since this was in reference to the Messiah being pierced a single time, rather than twice. Moses screwed that up, and paid a price for it. So this whole thing could just be that, but it seemed more a warning than a command. 

Anyway, I'm sorry that's long, it was just an interesting question. Maybe it's simple, or maybe it's explained in the rest of this book or the next or the prequel. I didn't search for it, more in a writing mood this morning than reading, but if it's been answered before I'd be more than happy to read those threads. 

[Tenobia si bashere kazadi]

maybe a wise one dreamt something bad would happen if they went through twice

[chiamac]

47 minutes ago, Tenobia si bashere kazadi said:

maybe a wise one dreamt something bad would happen if they went through twice

 

That's as good of an answer as any. Kind of goes along with the "it's evil to go fully into TEL dream world" but never really explaining why - although that also came from Rand and his greater memories, so it's "older" than whatever with the columns. 

[HeavyHalfMoonBlade]

They say you "lose a bit of your soul" if you enter TAR in the flesh. Though what that means, how they know, and if they are correct in that belief is never really expanded upon. 

 

And if it is right, nor does it ever discuss what that means for Rand, Egwene and Perrin who all do it, iirc. I guess you could hold up the Forsaken and Slayer and say "see?", but why would the Forsaken want to lose their souls? What is evil about losing your soul? Will you turn into a Grey Man? 

 

It is one of the hand-wavy moments that hints at a lot of things, has an effect on the story, but also doesn't actually stop anything happening. Good story telling, I guess. 

[chiamac]

6 hours ago, HeavyHalfMoonBlade said:

It is one of the hand-wavy moments that hints at a lot of things, has an effect on the story, but also doesn't actually stop anything happening. Good story telling, I guess. 

 

Well and it goes back to my rant or soapbox about it not really being a tight story with any deep background. RJ just seems to have a good idea, writes it in the story, and then sometimes we don't hear about it again or it is covered for somehow in a way. I don't mind it, but it does bring up interesting questions sometimes.