Source of air and earthbending

[asian malaysian]

Firebenders draw power from the Sun and waterbenders from the Moon. Where do you think earth and airbenders draw their power from and can their bending be effected by events the way firebending and waterbending is effected by certain astronomical phenomenons (eclipses commets, etc)?

[Horyo]

I'd say Earthbenders draw their power from the Earth (or core). Not to get too technical, but it sounds magnetic, or their control over Earth is, which may imbue them with energies coming from the earth itself.
Airbenders manipulate the flow of air, so I suppose the rotation of the earth?

It seems that they can never really be cut off from their powers so long as the element is present (no eclipses here). I'd say anything affecting these will prevent them from bending properly.

[Fire Nation Goddess]

Horyo - You beat me to the "magnetic" suggestion. This was my first instinct, given that the earth possesses very powerful and intricate magnetic fields. However, I question myself with this one due to the fact that most earthbenders are stopped dead by metal. What you said about the core made me wonder if it's possible that the earthbenders are affected by seismic activity or plate tectonics?

As for air, I'm sort of stumped for ideas. Not to get too scientific about it, but I wonder if they bend any kind of gas or if they require a specific element of the earth's atmosphere to be capable of bending. However, I'm not sure if anything would cause a significant increase or decease in power for an airbender. There are natural aircurrents the same way there are paths of current in the ocean, but I'm unsure how this could change things for them.

[asian malaysian]

Nice theories, guys. Air is a tough one. From the Guru episode, I think its the only element without its own specific chakra. Perhaps an Airbenders powers are increased by the presence of natural wind. A theory might be that everything is connected to each other, the earth and the universe by spirit and each bender is manifesting a single aspect of the whole spirit. In this theory, "bending sources" may merely be catalysts to a natural inclinations towards certain bending skills. Remember that true spirit bending existed before the Avatar but was whose knowledge was probably since lost to humanity.

[Fire Nation Goddess]

Jun 3, 2009 0:40:48 GMT -5 asian malaysian said:

From the Guru episode, I think its the only element without its own specific chakra.

Actually, Air was associated with the Heart chakra in that episode as I recall. (Here is a reference: avatar.wikia.com/wiki/Chakras ). Not trying to jump your bones, just pointing it out.

To keep myself on topic, I like the idea of natural wind. However, I could also see wind getting in the way of an inexperienced airbender... perhaps it takes some talent to be able to truly utilize wind?

[asian malaysian]

Jun 3, 2009 9:53:04 GMT -5 Fire Nation Goddess said:

Jun 3, 2009 0:40:48 GMT -5 asian malaysian said:

From the Guru episode, I think its the only element without its own specific chakra.

Actually, Air was associated with the Heart chakra in that episode as I recall. (Here is a reference: avatar.wikia.com/wiki/Chakras ). Not trying to jump your bones, just pointing it out.

To keep myself on topic, I like the idea of natural wind. However, I could also see wind getting in the way of an inexperienced airbender... perhaps it takes some talent to be able to truly utilize wind?

Wiki entry notwithstanding, Im not sure the fact that Aang's vision of the Air Nomads and Katara qualifies as proof of the association of the heart chakra with the air element. They were clearly the people closest to his heart for obvious reasons. Considering that the key principle for the Air Nomads is to detach themselves from Earthly Concerns, I would think that the Thought Chakra would be a closer association but even then I dont see that as the source of Airbending.

Btw, you can jump my bones anytime you feel like it. ;D