The realization that everything in this world is interconnected has always excited the minds of mankind. The feeling of this subtle connection between all living things (and non-living things too) is reflected in many religions, beliefs, and even in some scientific theories, for example, about Vernadsky’s noosphere. In James Cameron's Avatar, Ava, the spirit that permeates all life on the planet, is the embodiment of this idea.
Pandora's World
Before we mention the very concept of Ava, let's first remember what Pandora is. In the film, this is a planet on the edge of the Universe, which the conquistadors from Earth from the near future have arrived to conquer for exploitative purposes. The world of Pandora is in harmony - its inhabitants do not fight with nature for benefits, but use them wisely and skillfully. Their civilization is quite primitive and corresponds to the primitive system, which is still found in some places in the Indian tribes, lost deep in the jungle. But Navi, the people of Pandora, enough of what they have is enough: they do not want to come into conflict with mother nature.
In Ava, Ava is the all-embracing mother nature. Her spirit pervades everything on the planet Pandora, and each inhabitant of this world feels his connection with the rest. Based on the existence of this spirit (the essence of Ava), Avatar reveals to us the culture and beliefs of the Navi people.
The Importance of Ava in Avatar for Navi
The people of Navi are like people, but much more agile and strong. They are taller than people, their skin is blue, and they also have a tail with which they are able to create a connection with all living things on Pandora. Ava seemed to have provided for all her children to be in contact with each other. Navi believe that all life in their world is permeated by one energy. They can take energy from other creatures, for example, during a hunt, but be sure to ask for forgiveness for the selected life. They can share their energy with another creature (to contribute to recovery) or to unite their forces for the sake of a common cause. Navi also understand that one day they will have to give up all the energy they had borrowed once. It is then that death will come. They perceive her as something very natural, part of a continuous cycle of events and a return to Euwe in order to connect with her forever or to be embodied in a newborn living being.
Tree of Soul Ritual
One of the most memorable scenes of the film is the joint meditation of Navi around the Tree of Souls - the personification of Ava. Connecting their tails with the branches of the Tree of Souls, the Navi seem to become a single collective mind, the will of which is subordinated to one goal.
In their general trance, the Navi meditators try to ask Ava for advice on what their deity and their common Mother deigned to do to protect the planet from human invaders. And Ava sends her children a sign in the form of the main character descending from heaven on a huge saddled pterodactyl. Ava decides that it is necessary to fight for her freedom and all nature is activated: the Navi army, together with all living beings, repel the attack of human troops. Not without the help of Ava, the main character remains to live in a Navi body instead of the former helpless human body.
The prototype of the Ava tree from Avatar (Photo)
Pictures of the exotic nature of tropical rainforests make it clear what inspired the creators of the magnificent graphics for the film. The world of Pandora is constructed on the basis of real tropical landscapes, still lost from the eyes of the world in the wilds of South America or Central Africa. Even the Ava tree (which is in "Avatar") is nothing more than a rare banyan tree in India .
Crohn's banyan tree, extending far from the vine covered with vines, is very similar to the image of the Tree of Souls. And it is believed that it was while sitting under the banyan tree that Buddha gained enlightenment.