Now the Valar became shape and hue ; and because they were drawn into the World by love of the Children of Iluvatar, for whom they hoped, they took shape after that manner which they had beheld in the Vision of Iluvatar, save only in majesty and splendor. Moreover, their shape comes of their knowledge of the visible World, rather than of the World itself ; and they need it not, save only as we use raiment, and yet we may be naked and suffer no loess of our being.  Therefore Valar may walk, if they will, unclad, and then even the Eldar cannot clearly perceive them, though they be present. But when they desire to clothe themselves the Valar take upon them forms some as of male and some as of female ; for that difference of temper they had even from their beginning, and it is but bodied forth in the choice of each, not made by the choice, even as with us male and female may be shown by the raiment but is not made thereby.  But the shapes wherein the Great Ones array themselves are not at all times like to the shapes of the kings and queens of the Children of Iluvatar ; for at times they may clothe themselves in their own thought, made visible in forms of majesty and dread.

1.)  Where does the raiment that the Valar clothe themselves come from?  As in, who creates that?

2.) What do you picture the Valar to look like?  Are they bound to size?

3.) The way I read it, the Valar have gender, but the physical expression of it is not what makes their gender.  Why the inclusion of this specification?

4.) What of the name "Valar?"

"Will you look into the Mirror?"