The awesome 3D effects notwithstanding, Avatar does move the audience with several deep spiritual messages. These spiritual lessons may be a contributing factor to the enormous popularity of the movie, having surpassed Titanic's revenue as officially the largest grossing movie ever made.
Here is a review and analysis of these spiritual messages in James Cameron's movie, Avatar.
Message of Interconnectedness in the Movie Avatar
Carl Jung's "collective unconscious" phenomenon is explored in the movie, Avatar. All of the planet is interconnected, replete with racial and cultural memories that trace back to the beginning of the planet and the Na'vi, the indigenous people of the planet Pandora. These memories can be accessed through the Tree of Souls.
The interconnectedness of the planet's ecology and its inhabitants is also demonstrated later in the film (spoiler alert) in a pleasant twist to the plot, allowing for a victory of the planet as a whole.
Message of Anti-Racism in the Movie Avatar
A subplot in the movie Avatar involves a love story between a human, the character Jake, and a native of Pandora, a Na'vi called Neytiri. The two beings are of different races. While the romance is quite predictable and inevitable, there is a deep, spiritual message in the relationship.
"I see you" is the greeting among members of the Na'vi. The phrase, "I see you" does not refer to an exterior, materialistic or aesthetic meaning of literally seeing the person addressed. When they say this, they see the inner being, the inner essence of the person.
(Spoiler alert) At the end of the movie, Neytiri holds the human body of Jake and they exchange the traditional Na'vi greeting of "I see you." They see past the physical differences of their races and see each other's true essence. This is a powerful spiritual lesson that all of mankind could learn from.
Message that the Planet Earth is a Sentient Being in the Movie Avatar
Dr. Grace Augustine, Sigourney Weaver's scientist character, tries to impress upon her fellow humans who are intent on raiding the natural resources of Pandora that the planet is a living entity, a sentient being. All of the planet and its inhabitants are interconnected.
The Tree of Souls, declares Dr. Grace, have more neurons than a human brain! This lesson can be easily extrapolated to apply to the planet Earth.
Other Messages of Hope and Lessons for Enlightenment in the Movie Avatar
Here are other lessons learned from watching the movie Avatar while evaluating the plot from a psychospiritual perspective:
- The righteous will prevail when all work together for the greater good.
- Greed is not for the greater good.
- Aggression takes different forms, the outwardly mighty do not always prevail.
- Trust and love are inseparable.
- Honesty and love are inseparable.
- Staying true to oneself can force a change of allegiance.
This is an excellent movie to watch with children or with a friend or loved ones, as lively discussion may arise after ingesting the powerful spiritual messages in Avatar.
Humans have a vague sense of understanding that the ecosystem of planet Earth is delicate, intimately interconnected and interdependent. While it has been scientifically proven that extinctions of species have dramatic effects on the entire delicate balance of the ecosystem, less is understood of the spiritual dimension.
The lessons of interconnectedness and of the collective unconscious should serve to enlighten movie audiences of Avatar, and lead them to understand that people are not different races, but rather interconnected beings inhabiting a sentient planet.
Join the Conversation