I didn't really expect any since I didn't think my idea was grand or anything. I just thought it was an interesting (new?) way of considering the situation...

I think of the TP and OP as opposites because they seem totally oppositional forces. One comes from the Creator and the other from the Dark One. Both can be used for fire, water, etc; both have weaves and Shielding and all that. Thinking about them, they fit neatly into the Ying/Yan thing. Saidin and Saidar are opposites within the Pattern, TP and OP are opposites within the greater scheme of the WoT universe... Since Rand and LTT are both separate and whole, I think they fit into it too...

I don't really suspect the Creator's voice of being phony, but it is fun to toss about... And I agree that Rand wouldn't need an alternate personality - nor would a crazy one be very helpful...


In the end, I wanted to put some serious thought into (a) the way opposing forces work in the WoT and (b) Rand having a more traditional break from reality (e.g. not from saidin). RJ said that sometimes the Power isn't involved in the cyclical battle of the Wheel, but I figure that the Dragon prolly goes a bit mad in each one. Not crazy to the point of useless, but prolly a little nuts. And I agree, Rand's madness is from channeling (until the authors say different)...

*Excellent* points about SH, the Forsaken, and the TP! Still, I wouldn't advise Rand to ever touch the TP again - and prolly not the first time either...