The (Earth-related) Philosophy Lessons of Pandora (as it pertains to magic)

Started by Kaltxì Palulukan!, September 23, 2022, 08:17:26 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Kaltxì Palulukan!

Hello again  :P

I just left the theater (30 minutes ago). Having been what seems like ten years since I have seen the movie in theaters (I never was one to keep watching it over and over on video—I preserved my memories from multiple theater viewings), I found my mind drifting. I remembered the scenes as they came up, and so my mind was free to drift. I thought of what I had learned in the intervening years, and what I *honestly* felt about Earth-based philosophy, and what we could reasonably include in a daily life existence from Pandora that was not make-believe.

I miss the tribe. I was never one, but I supported their passion and ideals. They were on to something, but I am interested in the here and now for all of us. What can I do to bring some of Pandora to life? Where did the story of Pandora come from? What real-world similarities of Eywa and the Na'vi can be drawn to Gaia, the fey, the Sidhe, gods (metaphorically and metaphysically), and magic that actually works?

Just a quick boring side-note on "who thee hell am I to address this topic anyway (and that is a fair question, but anyone should be allowed to have an opinion). For what it's worth, I am KP, resident philosopher of LearnNavi.org, back from an extended absence. I founded the first Avatar movie podcast and wrote the second book on Avatar. WoooOoo! Big f'in' deal, right? Yeah, it's not like I wrote Avatar. I am just some guy. I also wrote one of the best selling books in history on how to read the tarot, and then the bible of professional tarot professionals. I am finishing up a book on astrology that should shake the world to its core if people ever realize what its in the book (so that should be fun). Oh, and I founded the Academy of Divination and Magic, and I am an illuminati member of the Rosicrucians. I also make films. Okay, so not to brag—seriously. This is just what I do with my life. I bury my head in obscure and arcane texts, research, study, go to university, and teach what I have learned to serious students. I like to think I am a decent person to start a conversation on the subject, as I am passionate about the Na'vi, Pandora, and Avatar. I am hoping that the next few Avatar movies do not disappoint.

So, down to business, right?

Whatever your take on reality (we will hopefully be talking philosophy, theology, theosophy, psychology, metaphysics, alchemy, herbalism, and even a little cosmogony here), we have to allow each other to use words either unfamiliar or uncomfortable to us. Words like "God," or the gods, faeries, angels, spirits, spirit guides, "source," the collective unconscious, and whatever. Hopefully we can skirt demonology and Satanism: let's agree to leave those for some other people to talk about somewhere else. So, if we can get along long enough to express ourselves intelligibly and in considerate manners, we can find the bridge the RDA could not with the Na'vi. How can humans (for lack of better term at the moment) reach anything near a state resembling that of thee Na'vi?

Is it possible? Can we build communities? (yes) can we build harmonious relationships among larger collectives? The Amish seem to have don extremely well at this, and their philosophy seems to hinge on no more than 20 families (which may range up to four, five [, more?] family members—so yeah, do the math on that!) per colony before they split the hive like bees. The Amish certainly can't be the only society in the world that has found ways to live in harmony with each other, and without inter- or intra- "tribe" violence and crime. So I don't buy into the argument that humans are asshats by design, and that there is nothing that can be done to prevent people from being abusive to each other.

But can we connect? (with each other, with nature, with "the divine")

There are innumerable arguments throughout history that we can, but also modern societal, psychic and psychological experiments and traditions whose findings agree. So what does it take to get results? No "flying broom" results, but at Sea World (oceanic theme parks) the main attraction for decades has been the bonding of human divers and orcas. This may be a far-too-mundane-for-our-liking comparison to horses and ikrans (Neytiri's words, not mine btw), but it is a starting point to say that "this much can be done.? From here we can ask, "what else can be done?" What has been claimed and what has been proven? Moreover, looking into the Rosicrucians and other valid mystery schools (ever ignoring the fads and frauds), what is taught to students all over the world, every month of every year? Are there improvements? (hint: yes, and they will be seen in forthcoming books) Are there modern scientific labels and discoveries that compare and even cross-pollinate with old knowledge? (also hint: yes) What can we draw from herbalism and alchemy that actually makes sense?

Most importantly, can we, as "regular people" develop closer bonds with animals or the "magic of nature" (read: "can we achieve tangible results"?) simply by changing or enhancing our awareness? Can we practice exercises that develop our "psychic skills," and how would philosophy help?

I hope someone wants to discuss this, or these ideas will be stuck in my head (and forthcoming books), but never will the beauty of the Pandora magic and philosophy be scrutinized to see "where on Earth" (write literally) it came from, and how valid the Terran-based magical practices and beliefs are. Magic is everywhere. Raw, crudely formed aspects are found in self-help books on all subjects. Slivers of highly refined techniques are found in some of the most powerful and expensive techniques of the world's top motivational gurus, just as if Mickey (the "Sorcerer's Apprentice") had ripped a page out off his master's book—or more correctly, that Nazi guy from Raiders of the Lost Ark who burned *HALF* of the medallion into his hand. Too bad he didn't get the other half.

I believe that we can examine some of the core ideas, and specific scenes from Avatar and see places where we can swap out reality for fantasy. We can find (not so hard) ways to enhance our own existence and awareness "for fun and profit" (as humans are like to do). We can compare the fantasy (movie) to the more boring reality (of magic, physics, metaphysics, philosophy, and secrets behind religion) and become maybe just a teeny bit superhuman in the process.

These are big words, but they are hardly unique. The world is filled with snake-oil salesmen, but underneath that veneer of idiots and charlatans are real schools of thought unfortunately reserved for those who can *pay*, because information on how to bend reality is worth selling at high prices. But screw that. I believe we can unearth plenty of interesting bits of information and discuss them here. All I ask is that you bring your facts when presenting an argument.

Okay, so that was an impossibly long set-up. I will keep working on my new (astrology) book, and taking classes at Harvard (extension—I have no desire to move to Boston just yet, as it is cold and expensive!). This information will come out and people all over the world can judge it. But I would like to see if we can have our own little nook of intelligent conversation here, in a small corner of the internet, where just those who are genuinely interested will come search out this information.

That means you have to respond. If you read and fail to respond, it's not that you don't count, but you have lost your voice. So, even if you say nothing of note, you need to say something; otherwise we will never have anything to debate and discover.

Thanks for reading if you got this far!

KP  :)


P.S. feed your  :palulukan: or s/he will wander away.



2022 update: Working on the new astrology book. "How to read tarot" books are on Amazon, if you are into that sort of thing.
Okay, so the old podcast is here: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/radioavatar It was goofy fun that ended too soon, but we had creative people. I hope we can get a new gang together (interested? PM me, let's make some magic!)
(Very old, outdated) Na'vi FUN activity book is here: But what are you doing? Let me know! :)

Alyara Arati

I probably shouldn't even mention this without scouring the internet for the article I read, but  I'm trying to get a handle on what's interesting to you, and what isn't.  Personally, as a Biology major and a former Veterinarian, I find the slow realization by science that the spiritual world wasn't complete self-delusion after all, truly fascinating.  For example, recently researchers have observed that when a forest is attacked, especially by a novel threat like the Gypsy Moth, trees deep in the forest will begin to produce insecticidal chemicals and take other protective measures, not just the trees at the forest's edge.  The only explanation for this that they've been able to find is that fungal mycorrhizae around the roots carry "alarm cytokines" from the affected trees all throughout the forest, which are then absorbed by far distant trees.  Sound familiar?  A little Eywa-like, perhaps?  Several studies have suggested that trees do this, and possibly also Prarie grasses.

So, is Gaia more or less spiritual if evidence of how she might communicate actually exists?  I don't think that Gaia is impacted at all by what scientists can prove, but  if even one person is instilled with a little more awe about and care for our planet,  I believe that can only be a good thing.   :D
Learn how to see.  Realize that everything connects to everything else.
~ Leonardo da Vinci

Toliman

Quote from: Alyara Arati on September 25, 2022, 10:07:10 PM
So, is Gaia more or less spiritual if evidence of how she might communicate actually exists?  I don't think that Gaia is impacted at all by what scientists can prove, but  if even one person is instilled with a little more awe about and care for our planet,  I believe that can only be a good thing.   :D
Oe mllte nìwotx :)

ColtonIbarra

It is a very interesting topic to think about. I find it difficult to find answers to all the questions you mentioned. In any case, I believe that there is something magical on Earth that is difficult to explain and prove scientifically. I know that a person is blessed with a destiny and a life path at birth. For example, numerology raises quite a few questions that I try to find answers to. Why do people constantly see a certain combination of numbers? What does it tell them? Recently I read about the 1122 angel number, which is quite common in our life path. It was interesting to find out what it means and what clues and directions it gives. Hopefully, humanity will eventually find a solution to many of the mysteries of the universe.

Toliman

Quote from: ColtonIbarra on October 19, 2022, 08:55:14 PM
I know that a person is blessed with a destiny and a life path at birth.
Sometimes it can be quite depressive idea... :-\

Toliman

Quote from: Toliman on October 25, 2022, 07:00:49 PM
Quote from: ColtonIbarra on October 19, 2022, 08:55:14 PMI know that a person is blessed with a destiny and a life path at birth.
Sometimes it can be quite depressive idea... :-
Well, after few previous years I start to believe that it's true... but I am really not happy about that :o