In the Black Garden, we witness the dark heart turn statues into Vex. In essence, creating living organisms from stone. Were these statues Vex constructs, designed to be animated by the dark heart? Or were they really just statues that the heart empowered and brought to life?

If that's the case, does that mean that the Traveler had the same ability during the Golden Age? Is this how humanity saw so many new life forms spring into being? Did the Ahankara spring forth from ancient statues of dragons?

Once again, more clarification from Bungie on these matters would help, but it's interesting to speculate about.

From the Grimoire, the Gorgons and the Templar seem to have the powers of ontology and can convince time and the universe to expunge from itself what they designate unfit. This can only be done in a realm of overwhelming darkness though.

So I think the heart of the black garden is reflecting these rules of light vs darkness gaining influence over the rules of the universe. Essentially, the more influence one has, the more real and powerful their magics become.

The planets which the Vex turn into machines seem to have their machinery mixed/covered by stone. Perhaps this is what was happening with the statues? They were Vex lifeforms, but encased in stone?

As we fight the darkness further and further back, surely there will be areas of intense Light, as opposed to darkness. I hope the Traveler (or some product of the Traveler) will be able to use ontological powers in select areas, imagine how satisfying it will be to zap a couple Gorgons out of existence...

While the Ghost calls them statues, it seemed they were lightning rods for the power of the darkness that the Vex were channeling somewhere.

If this is the Vex's first encounter with the darkness, did they build that machinery after the traveler's defeat? If it was always there is that why Rasputin fought the Darkness in the Black Garden? Did he try to use it against the Darkness?

If this is the Vex's first encounter with the darkness, did they build that machinery after the traveler's defeat? If it was always there is that why Rasputin fought the Darkness in the Black Garden? Did he try to use it against the Darkness?

When did Rasputin fight in the Black Garden? Is that in a Grimoire card?