Spirit Tree

Spirit Tree
Location Information
Location	Cove of the Ancestors
Residents	Na'vi
Behind the Scenes
First seen	Avatar: The Way of Water

The Spirit Tree (Na'vi name: Ranteng Utralti) is a sacred place of the Metkayina clan, located underwater in the center of the Cove of the Ancestors.

Description

Kiri connecting to the tree using her queue

This tree is the marine equivalent of the Tree of Souls. It is connected to the seabed by a dense network of roots containing neural connections, making it one of the most important points in Pandora's neural network, the Oma, as it allows one's consciousness to enter the Spirit World. For the Na'vi, this is associated with the strong presence of Eywa. The tree also provides oxygen for prolonged sessions underwater.

Tulkun also view the Spirit Tree as a sacred place where they connect with Eywa, as they join with the Metkayina to link their newborn calves to the Spirit Tree each year.

Avatar: The Way of Water

Payakan swimming around the tree

Kiri suffers a seizure during her connection with the tree while having a vision of Grace Augustine's spirit within Eywa and according to Norm Spellman and Max Patel that plugging into the tree underwater became a trigger to Kiri and was never to do it anymore otherwise it could kill her if she seizes again while underwater. Later, after the Skirmish at the Three Brothers had ended and the funeral of Neteyam had finished, Jake Sully and Neytiri visit the tree underwater to connect with Neteyam's spirit.

Avatar: Fire and Ash

During Neteyam's funeral, Lo'ak (still connected to the tree) appears in the spirit world, participating in an ikran race alongside Neteyam. After a tender moment between brothers, Neteyam tries to comfort him, as Lo'ak blames himself for his death. They say goodbye with a hug, with Lo'ak then disconnecting, visibly distraught. Meanwhile, Kiri goes off to be alone for a while. Sitting on a rock, she looks visibly upset about not being able to connect due to the risk of having another seizure underwater; Spider approaches her and tries to cheer her up.

After Kiri performs the ritual to save Spider, the two share an intimate moment while sitting on the same rock from the beginning. As Kiri braids Spider's new queue, she offers to be his guide in the spirit world once she can safely reconnect. Shortly after, the Tulkun and their offspring arrive, ready for the First Communion between Tulkun calves and reef babies, with Kiri and Spider showing themselves excited and happy about the event.

The Battle at the Cove of the Ancestors takes place here, with forces of the United Clans and the Tulkun under the command of Toruk Makto and the Matriarch, facing off against the RDA (Cet-Ops)-Mangkwan alliance. With the Resistance forces losing, Kiri, aware of the risk, attempts to reconnect to the spirit tree, intending to "call upon the warrior mother", just as Ronal had instructed her. Although she initially struggles to advance, both Spider and Tuk dive in and connect to the tree as well, helping her finally reach Eywa. Kiri manages to plead for help, but just as she is about to finish speaking, a torpedo disconnects the three boys, leaving them temporarily unconscious.

The battle culminates with the decisive victory of the United Clans and the Tulkun, thanks to Eywa's intervention. Having triumphed, the First Communion ceremony takes place. As calves and babies make their first connection to the tree, Kiri and Spider distance themselves a little from the group and connect together to the spirit tree. There, Spider is greeted by many of the deceased Na'vi, including Ronal, Eytukan, Tsu'tey, Neteyam and even Grace Augustine. The rest of the Sully family connects as well, joyfully and proudly witnessing as Spider is finally welcomed as one of the People. The scene zooms out, showing the panorama of Pandora from above, visibly illuminated by the Oma.

Trivia

• The term "Spirit Tree" appears to be a general term among the Na'vi, since in Avatar: Reckoning, the Hulanta Clan and the Rey'tanu Clan are mentioned as having their own Spirit Tree.
• Ironically, the Spirit Tree shares its name with the overarching protagonist of the Ori and the Blind Forest.
  • Even more ironically, same goes for the Spirit Willow from Avatar: Rites of Passage, sharing it with the deceased tree of Ori and the Will of the Wisps.

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