Kolo

If Urithiru is a stormlight sink, and that is what causes the storms to dissipate when they reach Shinovar, then it means that stormlight is what causes a highstorm to have strength. OK, so on any given highstorm, we can assume that about one half of the spheres in the world, excepting any in Urithiru,, are being infused before the high storm reaches Urithhiru. It actually does make sense, because a highstorm does indeed get weaker as it moves west, so it is possible that as easterners infuse gems, they are weakening the highstorms for westerners, and then Urithiru finishes it off. P.S I don't believe that the highstorms are all just one highstorm. It would make it extremely unlikely that the highstorms come at irregular times, which they do, or vary in strength, which I,m actually unsure about.

Sorry, but, who said Honor and Cultivation were lovers?

Is it possible that the Sunmaker didn't directly remake Vorinism? Perhaps, under the influence of Odium, he encouraged a warlike society, without touching on the religion itself. The priesthood at that time would have either been severely weakened or completely gone. In that case, the religion could have reformed to suit the culture, and not the other way around. It would explain the deep prohibition against gambling. The people of that time did not want prophecies or predictions because they had been lied to. The priests decided that in order to keep from being hated by populace, they needed to make prophecy evil. Beyond that, I don't think the whole, "To speak of what might be is forbidden" is really all that important. More, its probably about all of that time travel stuff. When you speak of what could happen, it changes how people act, many times for the worse. Look at what happened on Scadrial: they knew that a HOA had to come because of the prophecies, and that caused them to believe in Alendi, leading to the Final Empire, not to mention the near- release of Ruin. Notice, Tanavast doesn't say what will happen, but what might happen.

I like the concept, but there are some problems First, energy takes the form of waves. Since magic is always a manipulation of energy, I don't think waveforms are limited to Surgebinding. Second, disregarding that, ordinary light doesn't help at all with Surgebinding. It has to be stormlight. That means that there is something supernatural about two of the waveforms. Could the sound thing be something more? Also, I see no evidence of sound use in Windrunning. Finally, you talk about the Physical aspect of spren. They can be perceived, and have power, but they are not there physically. Shallan says, near the same sentence you used, that when she put her hand through a creationspren, it smeared, she herself felt nothing. This is further supported by some things Syl does. She changes her appearance, which is something all larger spren do, but I think it is because they have a larger Cognitive aspect. Mathematic calculation and those other things you talk about don't seem very physical to me. The only physical part, the symbols they are represented by, are nothing unless they are interpreted. Therefore, Math is Cognitive. Therefore, though I think your theory has merit, it does one or two holes and could do with some extension.

I think that spren do give specific powers, but not completely. In a sense, its like the groupings of Allomantic metals, but more so. The aspects of the focuses are certainly related, such as tin and pewter both enhancing the body, giving alertness, and stuff, like two spren both giving one same surge, but both producing different wholes. According to Vasher/ Tax, there are four categories of Awakening. Two give sentience, and 2 not. However, all four are distinct.( I'm not sure I got the powers right for BioChroma, but regardless, the groupings should basically still prove my point).

Is It possible that only Preservation and Ruin are end- positive/negative. ? After all, I see no evidence in AonDor or BioChroma of any kind of gain or loss. AonDor is done completely outside the body, and Biochroma does not destroy any or gain it. Unlike in Hemalurgy, no power is lost in the transference of power, and since everyone is born with a finite amount of power, there can be no net gain.

I think its very possible that Returned spend their lives endowing. It makes sense that those who did so the most would eventually give their lives in service. Blushweaver probably helped people by sacrificing oppurtunities for greater wealth in favor of being decent. Calmseer was a healer, and obviously worked hard. Lightsong searched for fraud. This could have easily been considered an endowment, depending on what he asked for in return. Even if this isn't particularly in line with bravery, I don't think the Hallendren priests really had any basis for what they called Returned, other than what they did to get killed.

I am now wondering whether or not the Dawnshards were actually swords. Both Shardblades and Honorlades are clearly weapons, but you don't need to be a sword to " bind any creature."