Eywa Exists
 

The date was May 15'th 2010.
Creativity was flowing and PAD was strong.
A time I wish I could go back to,
but is currently just memory.
Eywa was with me today.

http://i51.tinypic.com/t6feo1.jpg

This is a place where magical things happen. Where the differences between Earth and Pandora are abolished. Where I go to every now and then to clear my head of this world and to be as close to Pandora as possible; this is my movie set, where I make all of my short films.

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I had set out to this place on a fine weekend afternoon to film something that I had been writing about for a while; a short film about finding Pandora. I love film-making, and I knew that making a film was the only way to purely express PAD and everything that came with Avatar. So I did.

Encounter #1

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Take a look at this picture from the film; when I go through the transformation and become a Na'vi. Looks good, doesn't it? Now what if I told you that this shot is completely un-edited. Would you be surprised? Well, there's a story behind this moment captured in this photo. The skies were cloudy seconds before this shot. Once I set up the camera and pushed record, the clouds parted and a perfect blast of sun beamed through the sky and decorated the forest clearing. Once the shot was over, the sun was gone and the sky clouded back up. Am I the only one who thinks that's incredibly coincidental; how the one shot that I needed for this movie to be perfect, was?

There's more backstory to this. This land was owned by a neighbor who lived alone. He knew about all of the films I made in the woods behind his house. He died the day before I filmed this, and I found out the news later that day. That afternoon as I reviewed my footage, I wondered why the hell the sky was so perfect during that shot, and how the sheer beauty of nature seemed to be at it's peak throughout that entire day. I came to a conclusion. I related it to Avatar. "All energy is only borrowed, and one day you have to give it back." Right? With the death of the man who owned these woods, all of the energy that he had in his life was absorbed and put into the land he once owned. THAT was why the day was so perfect. It was the flow of energy that made the day so beautiful.

Encounter #2

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As I was running through a giant field during one scene of the film, I lost my glasses; and never found them again. I tried looking through the entire set afterwards and still could not find them. That signifies something; glasses don't just disappear randomly. Since everything happens for a reason, I believe that they became lost so I could look at this world differently; and SEE everything in a new light. This day was a turning point. From this point on, I would See.

http://i52.tinypic.com/112e7v7.gif

It was one of the most symbolic days of my life. It was so long ago, but it still sticks with me to this day. I had become as close to a Na'vi as possible. It was a great feeling. Eywa exists somehow, and someway. I know it. I could almost feel her comfortable presence that day, with all the wildlife surrounding the area, tall trees, and of course that amazing sun. Mother nature is truly the key to being as close to Pandora as possible. If you let her in, and truly become one with nature; you will See. You will become your own Na'vi; and it will be the most amazing thing that you can possibly imagine.

May Eywa be with you all.

Beautiful pictures. Beautiful feelings.

I'm going to be frank though, all of this beauty belongs to Earth and Earth alone, and I think it should be left at that. I don't mean to say that thinking/wishing about Pandora and all that is bad (and this might be more of a general comment then one directed at Hunter of the Glade), but Eywa, the Na'vi, and Pandora are all the product of imagination; none of this is. I feel that if you see something amazing it shouldn't be viewed as bringing you closer to an imagined world but as something amazing in itself, something to be appreciated for being real, tangible, and right in front of all of us.

As some of the Avatar makers said on Oscar night, the world we're on is as amazing as the one they created for us.

That .gif is sweet ****.

I love it :D

Icu, that's your opinion and you are entitled to it, but some people find meaning in Avatar and you shouldn't be against that.

Precisely the purpose in making the movie: to get you to appreciate our own world.

whoa whoa whoa..... I've talked to you enough for you to know that I find meaning in Avatar. I'm almost offended that you would think otherwise. If you somehow thought that then you completely misinterpreted what I was saying. Maybe I didn't say it correctly, I'm still trying to phrase it right in my mind.

I want to say that we should appreciate Earth not only insomuch as it reminds us of Pandora, but because it itself is wonderful. JC had a quote like this... I can't find it though :/

They're both wonderful planets. Fair compromise?

Anyway, that's an awesome post, HoTG. I love threads like these. There really is...something out there in nature, you just need to open yourself to it. :)

Yeah, I know the quote you are referring to - but JC would have failed if he didn't get people to care about Pandora. To me, it's just better, and you know I understand that you find meaning in Avatar as we all do, but you did come close to criticising people for liking Pandora more, which I also do - that is our choice much as you choose to like Earth more or equally. I didn't intend to make it seem like I thought you didn't care about Pandora, as I know you do :)

Fair compromise indeed :)
Well, a planet and a moon! :P

@ Hunter : simply awesome. I love those pictures, they remind me of my country-side where I used to spend my childhood years ago, running through the forest by my own, it made me feel very connected to the nature. Now that AVATAR brought to me again the image of my childhoods made me ambitious to find nature and to find myself in nature. I think on Easter holidays I'm going there and I'm planning to spend more than 3 days all by myself. Sitting in this room, between 4 concrete walls and two windows made my sickness for this world more stronger and I hate that I can't be free, to be more free. :(

I just don't know, but I'm not having any doubts that AVATAR is right. The energy you get in nature is a living energy, and when you're inside of it, you get more connected to it making you wish to stay forever. When you touch a tree or when you touch the ground, you feel a strong energy going through you. Nature is a living spirit and I feel that everytime I go to a forest. You don't get this feeling inside a building.

Thank you for this post, it gives me goosebumps. :)

Great post Hunter of the Glade. It's true what you, and everybody else says - Eywa (or the Earth equivalent) is definitely here. When I go into the forests alone, I always feel a connection to the place around me and get this strange feeling that I am not alone. Whether or not our world is a living organism or simply has a spirit I don't know but when you get away from the noise of the towns and cities, when you shut out all the pressures of society, you can hear and feel something in these wild places. It's a truly incredible feeling.

i've seen the film and it was great but i never knew of all this information, now i'm seriously amazed. maybe it's a coincidence, maybe not. i like to think it isn't :)

Your post was a pleasure to read Hunter of the Glade :)

I have the same kind of feeling when I wonder around an unharmed forest. It's an unique feeling. Eywa does exist. :)

Hey hunter, you got great talent with filming and pictures, keep it up, and enjoy nature and your imagination!
Love the post and pics.

All my sentiments exactly, Tsyal!

And Irayo, Hunter of the Glade, for sharing your experiences that day with us here! I'm even a bit envious. :)

I wish there was some forest near me :'(

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.

It's not quite that bad, there is some green, there are even trees, as much as most cities, I guess, although what gets to me is there is a lack of a proper natural forest. There's one area that's not all that far, but it's nearly impossible for me to get too as it's too far to walk and there isn't any other way to get there other than drive :(. I've been to a few areas of forest, but they are relatively far away and it was before Avatar, and I didn't have quite the same appreciation.

sounds amazing, glad you enjoyed it.

^^^^ yes - and it goes for so many things. One won't know what the sea is, even tho one reads hundreds of books about seas - until one just gets to a sea! And feels the salty smell, the breeze, the waves, the ingravity when you're in it... the power and the endlessness of it...
Or even simpler: a taste of a strawberry. HOW to explain the taste of a strawberry to someone who never ever tried it? Try it - that's the only way.....

The sense of nature was taken away from us long time ago after the industrializing of all things, we are taking it back !

@ apache_blanca : everytime I leave the seaside I get very sad. Everytime I leave mountainside I get very sad. But I'm also optimistic that I was feeling the energy out there, a feeling that will never leave me. Who knows how long we can enjoy with all the faysawtute which are cutting and digging everything for profit and short term interests... :(

KalTXI Tsawke ´Iheyu-
to think about it, the massive industrialization started in the 20-s of the past XXth century. Add maybe a half of the XIX century. So it has not been that long, but look at the change! :( Scary, eh. But about to "take back the sense of nature" - better late than never! On the other side, I believe for some reason that Earth was more like Pandora before, and maybe even our ancestors were able to see something similar to bioluminiscence: Don Juan, a yaqui shaman from The Teachings of Don Juan, talks all the time about the "colours of the world", "the energy lines between everything", and that in fact people look like "shining eggs" - for those who can SEE. I am sure we were able to SEE before, how come we lost it? If we didn't maybe we would care more about our beautiful planet! Maybe the reason for this loss was survival - or maybe just greed for material stuff? I.e. looking the other way...

People often view me as a pathological optimist, but I am probably sounding right on the contrary when I say: "Hm... I just pray we still have the time to reverse the tide!"

And then again, I'd support myself in Don Juan's Teachings and try to be "a good warrior doing my best in any situation - and leaving the rest to the Force"...

i love it! thanks for posting this Hunter of the Glade

Kaltxì. :)

It's a sin we were born with, a sin rooted since the early human days. To consume for his own and forget the real meaning of life, to price the spiritual things, the gift that was given to us. Once fallen in the sin, human evolved and lost track of time. Once fighting against the sin, human can regain the mighty things. It's not a wasted time to restart being one with our Mother as we once did, you know "wasted time is not wasted" :D

True, I support Don Juan's sayings, very obvious and brings heads-up :)

http://img807.imageshack.us/img807/595/p4030043.jpg
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6246/p4030058q.jpg

Here are two of the pictures I took on Sunday when I left the town to mountainside with a very good friend of mine. It was awesome to breathe the mountain fresh air and to share thoughts about nature and all-mighty things with a friend :) I was also feeling a great energy, just like when you go home and leave it forever then want to remain, after that I told him : "Oh, how much I want to remain here and get going on with my life here..." :'( I hate this city !!! :(

Location : Carpathian Mountains.

KalTXí again :)
agree on this one. I see it this way too - the greed blinded us. Now that we know the reason... we can reopen our eyes again! Globally - and/or individually. Everyone makes one's free choice.

About sins... In summer I saw an old TV program (maybe from the 80-s) about a tribe in the Amazonas that live just like the Na'vi (I posted it on AF). One phrase hit me: "These people are the true children of the Nature. They live in paradise. This is how we lived, too, until we commited the sin of abusing of the Nature..." So so true!

oh goody of course not wasted ! I am rather taken aback imagining anybody could think this way, but, truly - yes, there are people, and many, who chose to "see" this way... or rather to live with closed eyes... But heck, who am I to judge, I choose to see - that's my free choice :)

I learnt A LOT from Don Juan. I even made peace with the Death :shock:still have to reread some books, it's good to be reminded sometimes.

(pictures)
.
Beautiful pics! And great to have a friend to be able to freely share this feelings with... And to be sensitive enough to feel the energy... It's such a gift, sometimes we should reappreciate it, that's really lucky. So many people don't feel/have it...

This goes for the Hunter and HNM, too: thanks to these kind of threads/posts here on ToS I got inspired to escape to the forest as much as I can, even better - barefoot. I was PAD-ish for 2 days, and the forest gave me some healthy "grounding" (literally :) & metaphorically too). I was all thunderballs & lightnings (very very frightening!) but I felt so much better after this walk...

till next one, *waves*


@HNM: "Going barefoot" is YOUR thread so don't tell me you're not doing enough! It matters to ME at least!

How to become a na'vi; the cure to Avatar Emptiness.

Personally my favorite thread on AF.
This was the one thing that inspired me to do all of this, including my short film.
Hell, my short film is pretty much based on this thread entirely.

I do it always when I can :) I don't have a walkman altho I DID get finally the Avatar CD, but it doesn't matter cos the music is always in my head anyway :) and if you silence your thoughts you can hear Eywa's speaking!

Indeed! Anyone else getting major goosebumps when a good song plays in your head?

It's awesome :D