Pandora:A place where everything co-exists in harmony and balance without fear, jealousy, violence, selfishness and hate. All energy is in sync and possesses only calm and serenity.
So, two months ago, I, like so many other people, went to watch the movie Avatar. I was skeptical at first, as I am not too fond of sci-fi type movies (which I thought this movie might be). Boy, was I wrong! instead, Avatar was anything but another sci-fi type movie. I was first inspired to see the movie when my sister had come home after seeing it and could not stop talking about the beauty and pure essence of the film. She explained to me how Avatar depicts a beautiful world unlike the one we live in here on Earth. She explained that the movie places a true value on nature and on oneness with the environment. The Navi who live in Pandora, are truly one with nature and energy around them. She explained that I would identify with this movie just as she did and that I must go see it. So, my boyfriend and I went to see Avatar the next week. WOW, it was truly amazing! Yes, the 3D effects were unbelievable and cutting edge. But for me it was the story that was captivating and awe-inspiring. It truly left me with a renewed spirit and understanding that I must strive to be a better person and recognize that I exist on borrowed energy from the universe. As one author put it, "the film is a wake-up call—reminding us of the dangers of greed, unconsciousness, disconnection, insensitivity and arrogance, both globally and personally. It's also a bold call for each of us to reconnect with that which is most sacred to us, to focus on what truly matters and to remember how connected we are to each other, all living beings and the environment in which we live." -Mike Robbins
Mike Robbins goes on to describe how the film relays 3 important messages:
Honor the sacred: A central theme of the film is the way in which the Na'vi (the native species of the moon Pandora, where the story takes place) honor the sacredness of their land—specifically Hometree (where they live) and the Tree of Souls (where they worship). They have a deep sense of reverence for these important places and for all of Pandora.How well do you honor your own space? How much reverence do you hold for where you live, where you pray, meditate or worship, where you work, where you eat, the planet? So often we forget that the sacredness of any place is more about how we relate to it than about the space itself. We have the ability to bring a sense of sacredness to anywhere we are, at any time.
Connect with spirit: The Na'vi worship a mother goddess called Eywa. Eywa is the center of the Na'vi's spiritual universe, and their reverence for her is displayed in a beautiful and palpable way throughout the film. In all that the Na'vi do, there is a direct connection back to their relationship with Eywa. There are breathtaking scenes in the film showing large groups of Na'vi chanting and praying around the Tree of Souls as a way to honor, connect with and access Eywa's power, wisdom and love.How consciously do you connect with spirit in your own life? We often get so busy that we don't take the time to connect with spirit in a deliberate and meaningful way in our daily lives. We also sometimes get too caught up in the external aspects of our spirituality—thinking we have to go to a specific service or gathering, practice a particular form of prayer or meditation or do something else externally in order to tap into our spiritual connection. While any of these practices can help us access spirit, none of them are necessary: We can connect with God at any time, in any place and for any reason.
Remember our interconnectedness: The way the Na'vi live in harmony with their land and all living creators is one of the most profound and awe-inspiring elements of Avatar . There is a deep respect and appreciation for all living creators and for all elements of nature that the Na'vi truly embody. A great example of this is how the Na'vi warriors bond with their Banshees (the four-winged creatures they fly around on). Once they bond—which they do both physically and energetically—they are bonded for life and work together as one. The first few scenes in the film where we see the Na'vi warriors connect with their Banshees literally took my breath away and had a visceral impact on me as I sat in the theater. The many ways in which the Na'vi exemplifies this interconnectedness remind us of the universal oneness that is at the core of our spiritual essence.How consciously interconnected do you feel toward other people, living creatures and our planet in your daily life? It's so easy for us to get caught up in the illusion of separateness—we think, talk and are reminded of all the ways we are different, disconnected and isolated from one another, living creators and the earth all the time. However, most of us have had experiences in our lives where we've felt a deep sense of interconnectedness, not just with people we know and love, but with all of life. In those moments, we've seen, felt and touched the depth of our spiritual nature. When we consciously tap into this, we remember that, at the deepest level, we are all one. -Mike Robbins on oprah.com
Personally, the Navi reminded me of the Native Americans. They have a spirit that echoes the spirit of their environment. They have a respect for all the plants, air, animals and fellow spirits all around them. If they must kill an animal for survival, they stop, bless the animal and send it to Eywa (their god) to protect it. They believe the energy of that animal goes back to the universe. I want to live this very way. I want to be one with the energy that has been lended to me. I do not want to get caught up in the craziness of the reality we exist in today. I want to transcend the human negativity and unconsciousness and exist on a conscious level with the universe and the spirits in nature all around us. This is what beauty means to me.
I share the following quote that touched me from the film:
"All energy is borrowed. Someday, you have to give it back."
