Na’vi clans across Pandora share certain key values, such as a deep respect for nature, that stem from their shared belief in the globally distributed consciousness of Pandora called Eywa. Eywa works like a brain to ensure that the entire body of the moon is using its resources as perfectly as possible—a network that allows creatures to live in harmony with their environment.
The Na’vi religion is a blend of Animist, Pagan, Pantheist and Monotheist forms, although the Na’vi have no word for ‘religion’. For them, their beliefs and practices are simply their way of life. Eywa, also referred to as Nawma Sa’nok, ‘Great Mother’. is the one primary deity. The Na’vi call Pandora Eywa’eveng, ‘Eywa’s child’. Eywa is not just spiritual or metaphorical for the Na’vi—she is a very real entity able to send and receive information through tsaheylu.
The Na’vi also believe that all living things have a spiritual counterpart, or animus, which is endlessly recycled into the consciousness of Eywa and then back into living matter. In Na’vi thinking, a creature is made of three main parts: a tokx (body), a tirea (spirit), and a vitra (soul).
It is an oversimplification to say that the Na’vi worship nature. It is more correct to say that they see all nature as a single connected system, and that system is a manifestation of Eywa, although they make the distinction that Eywa herself resides only in certain trees and plants. Vitrautral, the Tree of Souls, is the most sacred place on Pandora for all Na’vi, as it is the closest connection to Eywa on the entire moon.
Animals and Na’vi are said to express free will, and are not, strictly speaking a part of Eywa, as a child is not a part of the mother, but owes life to the mother. The Na’vi do not view Eywa as an all-powerful, world-creating deity. They also do not believe there are other gods, demons, or spirits associated with the non-living forces of the world, such as mountains, rivers, or volcanoes. The Na’vi know that storms, floods, and other natural phenomena are uncontrollable forces. Instead, Eywa acts as a defender of life and its balance, who helps, protects, and guides the Na’vi against such life-threatening natural disasters.
Eywa does not take sides, although she can be petitioned. The Na’vi may tireapängkxo (commune; converse spiritually) and aho (pray) to Eywa at the willow-like Utraya Mokri (Trees of Voices) and Vitrautral (the Tree of Souls). Big petitions require the prayer of many voices—the biggest prayer rituals are conducted by a clan’s tsahìk.
In times of great need, Na’vi clan members sit arm-in-arm before Vitrautral in the Ayvitrayä Ramunong (Well of Souls) and make tsaheylu with the tree’s exposed roots that spread out across the ground. Through this ritual, each Na’vi experiences a simultaneous connection to each other—a condition of profound emotional power for them. According to the tsahìk, this connection enables clan members to better ‘See’ each other and amplifies any message they may have for Eywa. Reflecting the interconnections of Eywa’s overall creation, clan connection is the strongest statement of purpose the Na’vi can make. Vitrautral is currently the only site on Pandora where clan-wide connection is known to occur.
The Na’vi look for signs from Eywa, known as aungia, in the natural world. Recognizing and interpreting such omens is an important skill for a tiretu (shaman) or tsahìk in particular. One aungia comes in the form of atokirina’, or ‘woodsprites’, the seeds of willows. The appearance of one or more atokirina’ is considered a favorable sign.
The Na’vi live by meoauniaea—by living in harmony with their world. Their oneness with Eywa provides them with a sense of certainty, selfless values, and pure motives. The Na’vi’s trusting ways can appear naive to the sawtute (sky people; humans), some of whom hope to prey on the Na’vi’s perceived innocence. However, faith and optimism have proved strong enough to lead the Na’vi through many hard times in their long history.
