The Pneuma of Pocahontas

When most people think of Disney’s Pocahontas, they probably think of Native Americans, John Smith, and tribal/community tensions. They also might think “wind” as anyone who has watched Disney’s Pocahontas recently can tell you, there is a great emphasis and symbolism put on how Pocahontas (and some others) interact with the wind. As I was watching Pocahontas with some friends a while ago I was struck by how Pocahontas listens and even seems to breathe in the wind swirling around her in the first scene we see Pocahontas. My mind instantly went to the Gospel of John:

The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)

This passage has a play on words as the Greek word "pneuma" can mean “wind” or “spirit” and is used for both words in the passage above. (According to my study Bible with Hebrew word rûah has the same double meaning.) Just in that one scene alone I saw/imagined Pocahontas pausing to listen to the wind (Holy Spirit), breathing in the Holy Spirit.

If we look at Sacred Scripture, one can clearly see that the Holy Spirit is the “Breath of Life”.

“Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Gen 2:7) "The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” (Job 33:4) And perhaps the most obvious connection can be seen when Jesus appeared to his disciples after the Resurrection, “'Peace to you! As the Father sent me, I also send you.' And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit'" (John 20:21-22)

As I continued to watch the movie I viewed the wind as Holy Spirit, the third member of the Holy Trinity and the Advocate promised by Jesus Christ (John 16).

When Pocahontas is telling Grandmother Willow about her dream, Grandmother Willow tells Pocahontas to listen to the spirits to guide her. I replaced spirits with the Holy Spirit as He is the Paraclete (Parakletos in the original Greek) which can be translate as Advocate, Helper, Comforter. The Holy Spirit is also our guide as “He will guide you into all truth” (John 14:26) When Pocahontas listened to the spirits, or Holy Spirit as I was viewing it, she hears the wind. Coincidence? I think not! Then Grandmother Willow sings and tells Pocahontas to “Listen with your heart, you will understand”. God does not usually speak audibly to man, but He pulls on our heart and nudges and guides as long as we listen to him. How do we listen to God, to the Holy Spirit? Through prayer, through taking time to be truly present with God, to listen to Him as well as speaking to Him or making petitions to Him. I heard a great acronym for PRAY way back in Middle School Youth Group.

P = Praise: make sure to praise God for granting us life, the blessing in our life, for the sacrifice of His Son our Lord Jesus Christ, and whatever else you want to thank Him for. Edit: It is also very important to praise God in times of trial and suffering for we are called to "bless the Lord at all times" (Ps 34:1) and "continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God" (Heb 13:15). This helps us remember that "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Rom 8:28

R = Repent: repent of our failings, the times when we have turned from God and chosen to act selfishly and put our desires and will above God’s. Ask for God’s forgiveness.

A = Ask: I think we all got this one down as we readily tell God what we want or ask for things for ourselves, our loved ones, or the world at large. Usually we ask more than we listen as we get so caught up in what we want/need that we don’t open ourselves up to what God is trying to do in our lives currently. That brings us to

Y = Yield. Yield to God’s Will, to God’s Divine Plan for our lives and the lives of those around us. Open ourselves up and listen to what God desires to give us right now and what He knows is best for us. Trust that God desires our greatest good and will provide for and lead us to that good if we surrender to His Will. “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.” (Is 55:9)

A few other moments stood out to me in the movie as well. When Pocahontas and John Smith met for the first time, they did not understand each others words, but as Pocahontas accepted John Smith’s hand the wind came upon them and they could communicate with each other flawlessly. We have precedent of the Holy Spirit doing such miracles, such as at Pentecost. When the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles with “a noise like a strong driving wind” (Acts 2:2) and rested on them as tongues of fire “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.” (Acts 2:4) This and other gifts or charisms (from the Greek charis meaning grace) are available to all Christians if they open themselves up to the spiritual gifts that God desires to work in their lives. As Scripture says “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit… To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” (1 Cor 12:4, 7) Read the 1 Cor 12: 1-11 for more details on the different gifts/charisms of the Holy Spirit. I have personally experienced and known people who have been given several of the gifts listed there.

And lastly when Pocahontas realized John Smith’s compass was the spinning arrow from her dream, the wind appears again as if the Holy Spirit is guiding her to this revelation and the wind follows her as she runs to prevent war. Pocahontas’ action give her father pause and he then listens to the wind and realizes the path to peace. Pocahontas’ father stopped listening to his own desires and followed the wisdom he found in the Holy Spirit.

If you feel inspired to watch Pocahontas and meditate on how the Holy Spirit is acting in your life and how you can strive to listen to him, I encourage you to do so. Or you can just meditate without the movie as well. I was surprised at how much God was calling out to me through this Disney film and how, intentionally or not, Disney was pointing to how God acts in our lives and calling us to listen to Him and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us.