Avatar: Last Airbender

Dear Readers,

I have decided that I want to talk a little about the Avatar series, particularly, how bending works. Now, I have only seen Avatar: the last Airbender, so I am not too antiquated with the sequel series Legend of Korra.

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Now, lets imagine a world in which the children of God, or the human beings, have some genes that allow individuals to have command or dominion over certain elements. These elements are associated with the western ideas of air, water, earth and fire.

Now, these genes can be passed down, but they are not dominate. This is why most people in this hypothetical world are normal, but in each group there are those who have the genes associated with one of the elements.

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For example, the Earth Kingdom has earthbenders, but not everyone is an earth bender. Same with the Fire Nation, Water Tribes, and Air Nomads.

Now, each of these groups or countries have certain characteristics, such as: Fire Nation is power hungry, Water Tribes are spread out, Air Nomads travel, and Earth Kingdom builds large cities. Whether or not these characteristics are traits that are common among the benders, or if they sprang from the benders remains unknown. There is logic on both accounts.

Like, do firebenders have a disposition to gain and crave power because fire consumes and devours by burning fuel? or are the genes associated with firebending leave genetic susceptibility to greed, like some genes allow for greater temptation to addiction or depression (see my post: Depression is of the Devil?).

In either case, a correlations is visible. Air Nomads travel like the breeze, migrating from temple to temple. The Earth Kingdom fortifies and is defensive and strong. Water Tribes spread out to the far reaches of the flowing water, as well as along banks or shores where water is abundant.

Whether nature or nurture is the culprit for these characteristics, it matters little. What is important is the use of these genes. Just because the individual has the genetic traits allowing them to commune with one of these elements, it does not mean that they know how to "speak the language" per say.

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With waterbending, the individual feels their emotions and then lets them flow like a river. This, communication with the heart, is the language the water responds to. In the case of waterbending, the martial arts of Tai Chi have the fluid motions that allow a connection between the user's body, their emotions, and the element.

Knowing and building this line of communication, using practice and discipline, allows the individual to manipulate that element, "...for there is a God, and he hath created all things,...both things to act and things to be acted upon." (2 Nephi 2:26). The elements, the earth, fire, wind, and water, are things to be "acted upon". People and animals are "things to act". Thus, as children of God, it could be a genetic birth rite to command the elements.

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This understanding could be why M. Night Shyamalan's movie The Last Airbender was such a horrible flop. He focused too much on the martial art combinations as the language as opposed to a direct constant communication, each body movement having immediate influence upon the element. This could also be explained with the seals or hand signs from Naruto and the invocations from Bleach. M. Night was trying to show how the language speaks, how it talks, rather than quick, precise, and instant effect.

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That is why the cartoon was so loved, like the ninjutsu or spells from Naruto and Bleach respectively, an action had an obvious causality. They punch, and the fire ball launches. They kick, and the rock moves. They spin, and the wind blows. They sway, and the water surges.

Mr. Shyamalan was complicating something that was enjoyed because of its simplicity. Now, even though I can understand what M. was doing, it does not mean that I enjoyed the movie any more. It was quite horrible. It does, however, give it a good merit, the understanding that there is more depth to what is going on than what meets the eye.

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Now that I have finished my quick rant about the atrocious movie, I will return to waterbending. Waterbenders can manipulate water in all three forms, liquid, solid and gas.Thus, they can harden or freeze the water into ice, melt ice into water, dissipate water into the air, or even draw moisture from the air and condense it into water.

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After further growth and understanding of water, a waterbender can even manipulate the water inside of living things: like plants, animals, and even people. In the case of animals and people, this is usually called bloodbending. Because most of the water of the human body is in the cells and blood stream, the bloodbender can control the person like a puppet, or simply rip the moisture from their body.

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After a similar manner, a waterbender can use water to mend and aid cells, causing healing.

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As a polar opposite, firebending uses explosions of emotion, usually anger. The language or martial art associated with this is Shaolin. With the fancy and wide moves involved in this technique, the firebender would sweep the fire, burning and collecting the oxygen to consume as fuel.

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However, there is also the use of lightning. Lightning is considered to be the "cold-blooded fire". Unlike most firebending, it does not involve an explosion or release of emotion. The electricity is release with cool, collected precision. In other words, a simple pure desire to kill.

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It is interesting to note that while waterbenders can manipulate their sweat, saliva, or other body fluids and thus produce their element, firebenders can manipulate their ki, like in Dragon Ball, and use that heat energy to not only warm themselves up, but even produce fire. 

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Earthbenders, on the other hand, cannot even remotely produce their own element. However, their element is found it quite abundance. The language of earthbending is Hung Gar. Toph Beifong has described earth as a "stubborn" element. It is quite solid and unyielding, thus the rigid, strong, forceful motions of Hung Gar. 

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Toph was also the first one to develop metalbending. During the smelting process, most of what makes the rock or dirt earth was burned or melted away, leaving only the metal mineral. This makes it nearly impossible for earthbenders to manipulate metal. However, because of Toph's blindness and her ability to listen and feel the element, she managed to locate whatever part of metal that still responds to bending. This allows her to manipulate metals as easily as earth, though the metal has different properties. 

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As I said, earthbending has helped Toph to be able to "listen and feel the element". This has enabled her to practically see with her earthbending, which is a great feat since she is blind. Seeing in this manner could also be called seismic sense, for the vibrations are felt through the solid matter. 

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As earth's polar opposite, airbending is quite extravagant. The Ba Gua Zhang movements are circular and large allowing for great amounts of air disruption. 

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With the comparison to the planet Earth and it's rotation, the direction coupled with the heat changes in correlation to its position to the Sun causes great air currents. Thus, the circular, and even spherical, movements resemble the wind rotation on the Earth. 

Thus we see, the language of the elements connects the individual's mind to their body, and allows their soul to commune with the element. 

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Though we too are children of God, He has not seen fit to bless us with genes that contain His inherent authority or power. However, by faith and the priesthood, also known as the authority of God, we can indeed act in His name. Whether that is healing the sick, commanding the seas to part, or mountains to remove to a yonder place, as long as it coincides with His will, we can do all things. 

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I fully realize that not all of my readers are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Though you may doubt my claims, I testify that God's power and authority is on the Earth today. It is the same power by which Moses parted the Red Sea, the same power by which Christ raised the dead, and the same power by which miracles have been performed throughout history. To those of the Mormon faith, specifically those who hold the priesthood, its keys, or simply the authority to act under those keys, I exhort you to try to understand the power that you hold. It is the power of God, and by maintaining your worthiness to exercise that power, miracles will manifest. I know this to be true.

I have born my witness, and now ask for anyone who has questions about what I have talked about, or simply want to share their experiences with and witness of the priesthood, feel free to do so. 

Love,

Jacobugoth

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