Talk:Air Nomads/@comment-95.96.128.2-20120626213257/@comment-101.163.10.130-20120806075426

I always thought that the bending disciplines were connected to six spirits (Earth, Fire, Ocean, Moon, Air and Avatar/Energy/Spirit) who, apart from the fifth one, connected to geographical locations (Water to the Poles, Fire to the East, Earth to the West and Air to the non-cardinal points). The benders of each nation were people particularly close to their area's spirit, expalining why the ultra-spiritual Air Nomads were all Benders, and that the Spirit's sphere of influence could fluctuate, explaining the absence of Airbenders after the Genocide. Aang, being the Avatar, maintained a connection to the Air Spirit even after its influence had been abolished. Air Acolytes, despite not being benders themselves, are still spiritually close to the Air Spirit, and spread its sphere of influence, meaning that Airbending will slowly return to the world. As a side note, my personal headcanon marks the monkey-spirit from Siege of the North Part 2 as the reclusive Air Spirit.