Given that the Ogier and the stedding themselves are constructs/beings that were not necessarily created (such as the Nym or the Trollocs), I wondered about the Talisman of Growing.

Was that specifically created to grow the Ways, or did it enhance things like Treesinging?

Also...is the Talisman of Growing one of the ter'angreal that Elayne found when she was having Aviendha "read" the ter'angreal?

Yes, Windfinders sell their gift while Aes Sedai use it for the betterment of the societies they are involved with...

...unless they're making cuendillar to sell, for example...but those ARE rebel Aes Sedai.  Rebels!!!!

We also have to remember that what we see of Nynaeve's temper tantrums is comical, but there is a lot more to Nynaeve than just her outbursts of anger.  There are other Aes Sedai who have quick fire tempers, i.e. Alanna.

Aviendha says of Nynaeve "she is brave to the point of madness sometimes" and Aviendha is Aiel, so that is a statement and a half, indeed.  Also, the whiny annoying Wisdom bested a Forsaken twice and helped kill Rhavin.  I think when the chips are down, Nynaeve was a logical (if young) choice for Wisdom because there is a depth to her and a "wisdom" to her.  Even Galad says "I remember you typically see more than you let on" so I think that in the end, Nynaeve al'Meara is much more than just a whiny character.  I like her a lot.

When all is said and done, one of the reasons that all the Forsaken as well the Aes Sedai in the Age of Legends were so scared of the Choedan Kal was because it had not been tested.  The boundaries and limits of the sa'angreal had not been tested so they really didn't know WHAT would happen when it was used, and because of the attacks with Sammael and Demandred, the Aes Sedai did not have time to test it.  This was probably why Moghedien made the comment that she was surprised the Choedan Kal had survived being used for as long as it did at maximum power.

I think it was a combination of the "too much stress" and "Rand didn't know enough about it" theories which probably led to the female half being melted.  if there is another access key out there for use by female channelers, something tells me that Rand probably won't find it before Tarmon Gai'don.

Faile isn't that hard to understand.

Perrin was suddenly thrust into leadership, and Faile is a trained noblewoman of Saldea, related to some very powerful rulers.  So she is doing a great job of teaching Perrin how to act like a leader should act.

As far as how to handle her, it's true that she had time to see how Two River folk act, but she is Saldean and she is training Perrin how to be a noble in the ways of Saldea as she is.  So it would be strange if Faile didn't expect him to expect HER to be strong enough to handle anything.  It's like Elyas said...that's how Saldean women WANT to be treated by a man - they like the idea of a man thinking that they have the necessary strength to survive in this world, and also that the men have even MORE strength to put them in their place when necessary.

It's not THAT foreign of an idea.  Women like to appear strong, but now and again every woman likes to be overpowered.  At least...I think they do.  Maybe Rand would know...or Mat.

I thought Amys's statement was foreshadowing, perhaps the very first glimmer of hope that we have that Moiraine is not dead.  I don't think it was an attack on Rand blaming himself.  Amys is a dreamwalker, she knows a lot of things that MIGHT happen, but it's not like she goes around telling everyone.  Wise Ones only tell what they feel is necessary to tell, much like Aes Sedai.

Also, Moiraine had a foreknowledge of what MIGHT happen from the rings when she herself went to Rhuidien.  Even her letter states that several things could have happened, and if Rand was reading the letter then "this" thing panned out.

the DO had her remade, and therefor could do whatever he wanted with her (which is what he did) 

I don't think the DO has THAT kind of power.  He can transmigrate souls but I don't think he has the ability to dictate what power level they will be at, or why wouldn't he just create tons of channelers who can operate at the very highest levels.  That would be immensely chaotic and suit his purposes just fine.

No...he did transmigrate Lanfear's soul...but I still think there is a mystery surrounding why she is weaker, and I haven't bought into the idea that she was Healed by a woman yet.  In order for Cyndane to still be considered incredibly powerful, operating at half of Lanfear's power would mean that Lanfear was operating at a level beyond imagination.  Healing stilling by someone of the same gender cuts the power level roughly in half.  So I think there is another explanation.

you would have to go back and figure out if the description of Cyndane as a "boxoum" type is parallel with a description of Cabriana as well.

I hadn't thought that they may have used her body.

I guess you'd have to figure out just how powerful Lanfear was. So that if you cut her power in half, is that still enough for her to be amongst the most powerful channelers?

Let's say Siuane was a level 5 channeler, among the top channelers in this Age.  And she was Healed and now she's a level 1 or 2. 

Lanfear would have been a level 10 maybe, the most powerful.  Cutting her in half would leave her at a level 5 or 6 and then you would have to determine if everyone around who is considered powerful is a level 5 or 6?  or are they higher?

So this is why I also think that Cyndane's power drop was from something else, because Lanfear would have had to have been significantly more powerful than just about everyone in order to STILL be amongst the most powerful Forsaken AFTER her power got cut in half.  That would make Lanfear's original power level staggering indeed.

it's not likely Selene was Lanfear using Illusion to downplay her looks.  Loial says "I have never thought of it before, but if a human being were to have perfect beauty..." when he meets Selene.  I don't think she used any disguise except the name. 

And I think she actually told one of the boys "Selene is a name I use sometimes" or something.

Lanfear, Selene and Cyndane are all the same woman.

i'm sure Lanfear made excellent use of the fact that she was the most beautiful woman anywhere.  Her beauty was a source of power, and Lanfear is all about power.

The Wise Ones even told Aviendha during the first-sisters ceremony "are you saying you won't ever use your beauty to get a clan chief to do something he doesn't want to?"

Beautiful women are notorious for resorting to "look!! boobies!!" when nothing else seems to work.  I think they get taught that early on.