I just got back from bike-riding down to the forest today. :) I figured since it was nice out, I would go down there for a few minutes to clear my mind. Being around nature is the best...thing...ever.

Listening to the Avatar soundtrack on my iPod ("Jakes First Flight," and "Climbing up Iknimaya") when riding down the huge hill that leads to the forest is the most invigorating and exhilarating thing in the world. Bolting down the hill staring into the sun with the treeline in the distance, makes me feel for that one split second that I can lift myself off the ground and fly. From that point on, it's just me and my ikran. Everything else just melts away.

It's almost as though every time I visit this forest, the massive nostalgia of when I first saw Avatar all comes down on me at once. The forest truly holds all of my good memories in it's woodwork. In the past during the days I first saw Avatar, the forest helped me when I needed it most, when I feared that there was no more green in this world, when everything seemed dark, when PAD was strong; the forest was always there to remind me of the things in this world that I love. The things that Avatar inspired me to love.

I really owe a lot to nature. It's gotten me through the toughest of times.

I've decided that I'm going to go here a lot more, especially during Summer vacation, to escape society and be one with Eywa. I have a feeling that establishing a strong connection with nature will allow me to become a better person in the long run.

I love nature, Avatar, and each and every one of you
Oel ngati kameie

I can totally relate to what you described HoTG, i've too spent a good bit of time out in nature by myself. I think the equivalent for me of your favorite spot would be a place I found last summer. It is the highest sand dune on a island at the beach, you can go up there and see for miles in every direction. Their are city lights nearby but it is still a very special place to me. Watching the sun rise or set from their gives me chills. I totally agree that an Earthly Eywa does exist.

Sounds like a great place to collect your thoughts. :) Thanks for sharing, tsmukan. Nature is the KEY to keeping yourself sane in this crazy world full of tawtute sxawngs...

Sometimes we just need to escape all the technology...and go to a different world, even if it is in our imagination.

HoTG, I haven't noticed the link to the video that you posted the pics from. the pics are great but the video is awesome (imho), it could have been added as some kind of an epilogue to Avatar!
I guess that it is not "Pandora vs Earth" attitude but the other way around: the same feeling that we could experiment in the forests (valley, mountains, seas...) of our own planet - could be very similar to what we feel about Pandora's jungle or floating mountains. Feel the flow within all things...
And the coincidencies that you mention - the sudden ray of light in a cloudy day, right in the perfect moment, or the lost glasses - because maybe you need to "see differently" - are very important. I guide myself by coincidencies, and the life is much more flowing than if I try to figure it thru a purely rational mindset. Mind and intuition shouldn't be "vs" each other either but rather like two wings of the same bird: the bird only flies if they work together and both are strong.
My appreciation anyway, I already expressed it somewhere else, but "the truth doesn't wear out because of repetition".

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ this. SO MUCH THIS.

Epilogue? I like the sound of that. :) When I created the video, I had so much PAD and emotions for Avatar...it was crazy how I felt. I just wanted to let every viewer know that they weren't the only one depressed by how beautiful Pandora is. I've been lucky to reach out to as many people as I have. :)

I love your bird analogy. It undoubtedly true. If I didn't step back and realize that the occurrences during my film session happened for a reason, we probably would not be having this discussion right now about how Eywa plays a role in each of our lives.

that's an excellent thinking. This is why the forum exists, imho. I guess each of us (at least for some time) found oneself alone, not understood, "on a wrong planet", dying of PAD, bursting with feelings - & nobody to talk to. Until we discovered the forum.

Just yesterday by a pure coincidence I met a friend who has been as nostalgic about Avatar & Pandora as me - the only person in RL. (I mean "coincidence" cos altho we live rather close to each other we have different work schedules & very rarely coincide. Yesterday I walked out, just for 5 minutes - & saw her passing by. A minute earlier or later, & we would have missed each other). Anyway! we've been right under each other's noses all this time, & wouldn't share the feeling, can you believe it! But ok, it happened when the moment was right. Eywa knows what she is doing, how & when, I just leave it to HER...

ah-ha - yes, definitely so. Who knows what next...

Erm, do you mind if I mail the link to your video to this particular friend? She'll love it.

^THIS. I'm about 100% certain that each and every member on this forum is here because of this reason. Oel ngati kameie tsmukan.

Yeah go right ahead. It's on YouTube for the world to see, so spreading the message helps the cause.

Well said... but, that is still true, and always will be.

Conngratulations on the friend though, I wish I knew someone like that :'(

Most people, perhaps.

oel ngati kameie... same here...

ahhhhhh but we are here, what about us, the ToS people????
Or do you mean a friend in RL? Hm, that's a bit more difficult... Well let's see how many of ToS clan can make it to England some day - or maybe you can travel somewhere, of all the places on this planet some are not that remote - & virtual friends will become the RL ones!
Or no?

true... Most - not all - but I like to believe that the saldo is in our favour :):P

ok, I go ahead with your blessings :) done!

BTW, that friend's name is Eva - almost Eywa! :)

do you want another coincidence, now that we started talking about them?

The next day after seeing this post - this part - I was in the office when a music started drifting into my head - a traditional Indian chant, tabla, drums, and a woman's swirling voice. I wondered, why and what, then thought the track must have been from Spirit of India CD that I haven't listened to in about a year. So I thought I should put it on when I get back.

Guess the name of the track? "Song of the Banshee".
Whoah! :D


yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssssssss!!!! !!!!!!

Oel ngati kameie

That's pretty coincidental :shock:
What are the chances it was named that of all things lol

:( I am getting an impression that you're living in some place similar to the Earth in Avatar: buildings, concrete, cars, neon lights, & very little green (if any). Can you escape to any place with a forest? Even for a weekend, or better, for more time? Just wander there alone, nothing can be compared to it. Is there any chance?

I spent this weekend in a place with mountain valleys, a forest & a river in it - I walked barefoot for some distance (inspired by the Barefoot Thread on ToS btw :) ) & when I took the shoes off & stopped "making noise like a stupid ignorant baby" I suddenly... felt part of the forest. Like any animal or plant. I could perceive & hear so much more, & somehow the forest "accepted me". When I got to the river, I just sat there & spent sometime without thinking.... just listening... & suddenly it was this ONENESS feeling, I find it hard to express but sure somebody can capture it. ALL IS ONE... no more to say. The trees, the birds, the river, the flowers... all united in the energy flow.......

EYWA..........................

Yet another great story :)

Oh yeah. You don't even think that this stuff is real until you're actually out there alone, and you have that irreplaceable feeling of just pure..."woah." :D

And HNM, I have a feeling you'd love this type of thing, even though it may be a drive away.