What is it like to *be* a Na'vi?

[Tsyal Makto]

Whether it be an emotional-level experience, or a consciousness level experience, or a slow wade, or a deep plunge, I think we can all at least agree that it is an ineffably intimate experience that incredibly deepens the relationship between two Na'vi.

Caveman - What do you mean the sex scene was physical? It was completely emotional. Neytiri mated with Jake not because of his body, but because of his spirit within the body. Tsaheylu allowed her to See Jake completely, and vice versa for Jake with Neytiri. If anything human love is inherently more physical because each spirit is trapped within the body. The Na'vi are able to experience, See, each others spirits wholely.

[Fkeu'itan]

This really is an excellent thread. Unfortunately, I can't add much really other than to say that I agree with both the views on Tsaheylu and what Tsyal said about 'living the lifestyle'.

Caveman - I don't feel that the physical aspect of it detracts from that sense at all. Sex for humans can be one of the most spiritually intense and meaningful experiences possible, given the circumastances are 'right'. It's doesn't have to be just for mere reproduction or pleasure, it can be the most intimate moment between soulmates or even just two beings there can be. I should imagine that the Na'vi juat have an intensified experience due to Tsaheylu, as it is literally two souls intertwining.

I didn't see that scene as sex, I saw it as a strong declaration of love.

[Cynegen]

Advent: as far as 'tsahaylu with animals,' I figure that it's an emotional-level connection, as I said before. So the Na'vi might be strong enough to push the animal around and make it do what they wanted...but it would be painful, because the Na'vi would share the animal's dismay at being poorly or painfully commanded.

And if (for instance) an ikran wasn't happy about what happened, it might not be likely to come when its rider called it anymore.

[Cynegen]

Avatar: Seeds of Life is now complete!

Skip to Part 5.

Or, start at the beginning.

Thanks to everyone for the support and encouragement, both here and via email/PM. I love writing novels...but I also enjoy giving gifts, so if you enjoyed it, please pass it on!

The index.

[Banefull]

As far as Tsaheylu with other animals is concerned, the Navi most likely have access to the sensory inputs of the animal. When Jake learns to ride a direhorse for the first time, he feel the heartbeat and strong legs of the direhorse. This clearly implies a sense of feeling through touch. I would imagine that this would extend to other senses such as sight, hearing, taste, and smell (i.e. they can see through their own eyes and the animal's eyes at the same time).

As far as actual control goes, I think that they do not force their will but influence the thoughts of the animal. Like if you think "to fly" or to "move forward" then the animal receives the idea or impulse in its head and has a strong tendency to act based on that influence. When Jake bonded with the Ikran for the first time, Neytiri told him to think about flying. Jake did think about flying for a moment and the Ikran took off, but then Jake stopped thinking about flying and became afraid which influenced the Ikran's mind to sense fear also thus causing it to freak out. Jake didn't command the Ikran "to fall" literally but rather had a notion of falling. I also see further evidence for this system of influence when Jake is about to tame the Toruk. As they are flying high above the Toruk, the ikran looks scared and hesitant and Jake has to reassure it mentally.

The reason that sentient creatures are able to control other creatures is not just because they are more intelligent but because they can rationalize better. The system of influence works both ways. the Navi can impart feelings and impulses into an animal and the animal can impart its own feelings and impulses into the rider but a rational being can decide whether or not to act on those feelings or impulses. A creature that cannot rationalize on the other hand will act on those feelings or impulses like instinct (it will still have influences from its own natural instincts however like we saw with Jake's Ikran upon seeing the Toruk but the feeling can be so strong as to override them). This also explains why in Tsaheylu when two Navi connect their queues, one does not control the other. Both give each other feelings and impulses but they can rationalize and choose whether or not to act on those impulses.

[Cynegen]

This apparently got lost at the end of a long post, and I'm interested to know: what do you think?

"This brings up a disturbing question: to what degree are the Na'vi just puppets of Eywa? Or her agents? Animals don't seem to bond directly with her (we don't see direhorses, or anything else, bonding with the Tree of Souls)...so maybe she doesn't really have control over them like she does the plants, and the reason the Na'vi exist is to be the agents of Eywa and keep Pandora in balance?"

[auroraglacialis]

Thats an interesting question. Obviously the NA'Vi do have a special place on that planet. Like many cultures on Earth who believe they are chosen by the gods or even made by the gods to be different from other animals. In the dominant culture, that belief lead to the horrible idea of dominating the planet, but definitely the NA'Vi as well as humans have a special place on the planet in the way that they can think and interact and understand. Other species may not be able to SEE their place in the web of life. As of the "purpose" of humans or NA'Vi, I would not think that ecology needs a purpose. It is like a child that plays (as it is incidentially portraied in Hindu mythology) and some things come out of it that are interesting. In the case of Pandora, the NA'Vi provided Eywa with a kind of partner, someone she could talk to and understand and learn from their experiences in life.

An interesting thought is though - why do all animals seem to have queues if they dont bond? So I would not be so sure about this statement...

BTW great story. I'd like to hear more about the bones they found and the story behind that - some months ago I wrote in the forums, that my vision of the final scene of Avatar 3 was a shot of some desolate place on Earth and a little seed of a pandoran tree starting to grow there... - Now I see where that seed came from

[electrosphere11]

I think being a Na'vi would be a hundred times more fulfilling than living my life.

[Cynegen]

Originally Posted by auroraglacialis

As of the "purpose" of humans or NA'Vi, I would not think that ecology needs a purpose.

Of course not. Ecology is just what happens to life. But when we speak of conscious entities, it is appropriate to speak of purpose.

Originally Posted by auroraglacialis

An interesting thought is though - why do all animals seem to have queues if they dont bond? So I would not be so sure about this statement...

...

BTW great story. I'd like to hear more about the bones they found and the story behind that - some months ago I wrote in the forums, that my vision of the final scene of Avatar 3 was a shot of some desolate place on Earth and a little seed of a pandoran tree starting to grow there... - Now I see where that seed came from

Those two issues (animal queues, and the bones of the 'others') definitely tie together in my mind, and with several other interesting facts about Pandoran life forms. I'm almost afraid to see what JC and his ghostwriters come up with, because I doubt it's going to be nearly as fascinating as what I imagine...

Anyway, I'm glad Seeds of Life spoke to you. I'm glad I was able to write something that ends with hope instead of just the specter of endless conflict...

[auroraglacialis]

Originally Posted by Cynegen

Of course not. Ecology is just what happens to life. But when we speak of conscious entities, it is appropriate to speak of purpose.

True - in that context it is possible, but even then - humans as conscious beeing do so many things not for a specific purpose...

Those two issues (animal queues, and the bones of the 'others') definitely tie together in my mind, and with several other interesting facts about Pandoran life forms.

So I assume, you will write some more

One idea I had once was [spoiler] that Eywa/Pandoran life could actually be a creation - kind of like what would happen if on Earth the Avatar-lovers would mysterioulsy come to power and use all biotechnology available to create their own version of a paradise [/spoiler]

I'm glad I was able to write something that ends with hope instead of just the specter of endless conflict...

Oh, I think if JC manages to get the sequels to an end, he will definitely provide an ending with hope. That is simply good conventional storytelling and one thing about JC is, that he follows these conventional and proven principles - that is why his movies are such a success - not because he breaks convention but because he follows them. So the "happy ending" is a classical one and even if it is not an all gold and glory ending, every story that is targeted to make people feel better and thus achieve high sales has an ending that leaves people with hope or content in the end. In Avatar I it was Jake beeing reborn. Such a strong positive ending. I have no doubt, at least the last sequel will have a good ending (the second one may have a cliffhanger though )