Re: Old wisdoms - Edit 2
Before modification by sleepinghour at 28/12/2010 12:06:12 AM
It is said at various points in the series that wisdoms who can listen to the wind and who are exceptionally good at healing are in reality channeling. Why are there no indication that these women live to be very old? One would expect at least some of them to become several hundred years old.
Just like Foretelling, listening to the wind doesn't require any active channeling. My guess is, those Wisdoms have the ability, but rarely or never channel, so they don't live nearly as long as an active channeler would. Longer than average, but not several hundred years.
Nynaeve's teacher Mistress Barran was the oldest woman in Emond's Field, and may have had the ability, but it's doubtful if she ever did any channeling since nothing's been said about her cures being miraculous. Morgase has slowed a bit, but not so much that anybody would think she's Elayne's sister.