A young Avatar trying to understand how any of this cosmic imagery connects to the physical world they’re destined to save. The final moments of Avatar: Seven Havens episode 9 feel deeply mysterious and hugely important, but Avatar: The Last Airbender fans have been here before with Aang. To better understand what Pavi (Saheli Khan) may have encountered in her vision, it’s time to revisit an eccentric old man and his nasty banana-and-onion juice.
After receiving an invitation via Appa, Aang visits the Eastern Air Temple hoping to learn how he can master the Avatar state. Instead, he gets an elaborate lesson on the nature of spiritual energy and its relationship to the chakras. Nearly two decades after its original release, “The Guru” feels even more relevant than ever before.
Spoilers follow for Avatar: Seven Havens through episode 9 and Avatar: The Last Airbender Book 2. Pavi ends episode 9 walking along a path made of light in a cosmic void, approaching a red symbol that seems to be associated with Ellora. To anyone familiar with the concept of chakras, that connects Ellora itself with the root chakra, typically associated with the color red.
As Guru Pathik tells Aang, the earth chakra governs survival, and fear blocks its flow. That sounds like an apt description of life in the Haven of Wind and Sand given the nature of the Anomaly, so the Pathik’s other lessons might wind up being just as important. Aang arrives at the Eastern Air Temple expecting a lesson about mastering the Avatar State.
Instead, he’s told he must open the seven main chakras of his body so that spiritual energy can flow freely through him. Pathik takes Aang to a series of pools connected by a stream. Debris obstructs the flow of water.
Clearing it restores the flow. Emotional burdens affect spiritual energy in much the same way. It’s an elegant demonstration, and Pathik’s personality makes it even more approachable.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
