Talk:Bending arts/@comment-97.97.52.204-20120423170824

tl:dr theory about why I think bending is NOT genetic and why.

Has anyone notice that it was assumed in the Avatar universe that ALL the molebadgers, dragons, and sky bison could bend their cultural element? Wouldn't the same apply with people?

Chi, which is closely related to spirit, flows through all living things. It's life energy. You can change the flow of your chi with your mind and body. Bending occurs when they are all in sync, which is why the element you're bending follows your movements. Your chi becomes connected to the energy in the element, allowing you to influence it. Those with the strongest flowing chi will also be the most powerful benders.

In the begining, people would bend the energy/chi within their own bodies. It was the most raw and purest form of bending. Over time some types of animals would become immersed in the energy of the world around them, they would intermingle, and they would learn to bend that element. People would follow suit. They would also pass their energy on to their children. They are bound through spirit to their element, which is why you can't learn more than one. Anyone can learn to bend the element of their lineage, but those who's energy flows closest to that of their element will have an easier time learning it and becoming a stronger bender. This is why the Avatar will find it most difficult to bend the element opposite of their personality. This is also why all the Air Nomads can bend so easily. Their entire culture rotates around Air. The spirituality associated with Air such as freedom and peace are taught at a young age so bending air would be natural for them. If you are not spiritually self-aware or are willing to "sync" with the element of your lineage, it will be impossible for you to bend. Someone who already practices bending can find themselves suddenly unable to if they were to lose whatever syncs them to their element. Zuko could not bend when he lost his drive. He reiscovered it and became more spiritually self-aware when taught about fire from the dragons. He also found his new drive which was to help the Avatar. Since then, his bending was even stronger than before.

The Avatar is a special case. They contain the Avatar spirit which allows them to potentially bend all the elements. A fully realized Avatar will be in perfect spritual balance and will have mastered each element. They can also commune with both the mortal and spirit realms at will.

The ability to bend is entirelly spiritual. The only thing passed by anything close to lineage is the element you can bend. But even then, each element can be versatile. Techniques from one element can be used to influence your own bending, such as how lightning redirection is fire bent like water. I think because of this, the line of Air Acolytes might one day produce airbenders. They would have to wipe themselves clean spiritually and then immerse themselves in Air culture. Eventually the energies between themselves and the element of Air would merge, connecting them. I don't know how many generations it would take, but eventually there might be airbenders.