When people think about The Force, they think strictly to the films. But since the inception of the Jedi Community in the mid 1990s, students of the Force Realist Community have come to understand that “The Force” was more than something in a movie franchise. With the help of a Bill Moyers Interview with George Lucas, it became apparent that “'The Force' was a loosely adapted term to explain something which all cultures agree exist, but disagree on exactly what it is. As such, a Jedi dedicates themselves to understanding of all things within and through 'the Force'. As a rule, no Jedi can set down in law a concrete definition of 'the Force' for all to follow, only for themselves." (Jedi Compass, The Force)
This take on the Force allows the Jedi Path to be flexible and allow all religious paths the opportunity to decide whether or not they wish to conform their lives to Joseph Campbell’s analysis of a life lead by the Hero’s Journey.
In the scientific community, “the Force” is Energy. Energy is the basis for all things, it is an impartial, unquantifiable concept. Science can show the results of energy, but not the energy itself. The vague popular quote from the Star Wars movies, that the Force is in and around all life, that is what creates it and what is created by it, fits the description of energy in the scientific sense.
Ashe is the Yoruba term for the energy which encompasses all things-living, dead, animate, inanimate. At the beginning of creation, everything was empowered with Ashe. It is by this empowerment, that Olorun(the god of the Yoruba) is able to monitor everything within the infinite cosmos. It binds everything together. Because of Ashe, Olorun is able to "split" himself up so as to provide mediators between humans and himself. Through the ashe, these anthropomorphic entities (known as orishas) keep the cosmos operating smoothly.
Teotl is a supernatural energy source which acts as a super-computer for the cosmos. It is present in every little detail that exists, and it continues to create and mandate the universe. In accordance with Aztec belief, teotl cannot be exhausted by any single, existing thing. It is a constant "circle of life" which holds no concept of what is good or evil.
Magick usually refers to the practice of ritual and spells, however talking with the pagan community, I have come to realize it is much more than this. It describes an energy force that is constantly around us. In some traditions, it is in more concentration of select objects than others.
Perhaps the most misunderstood concept is how it is perceived in Abrahamic traditions. Some equate it to God or the Holy Spirit, while others (such as myself) believe it was spoken of in the Bible, but not specifically named. For those that are less likely to believe the idea is even present in Abrahamic traditions, you need only look to the story of Moses and Aaron facing off against the Pharaoh during the 10 plagues, or the parting of the Red Sea. If one believes these events are real history and not something out of a myth or scientifically explained, then it is not much further of a leap to believe that something like “the Force” exists in the world. But I’ll get into that study at a later date.
For those that are scratching their heads at this point, not everyone believes that “The Force” is the same thing as another person. It varies so widely in interpretation, that you can believe the value of “the Force” is metaphoric in nature. That the idea of “the Force” throughout history in it’s various incarnations, was meant to help people of the tribe or pantheon understand how they interconnected with each other.
Some still study “the Force” in the metaphysical concepts. They study spell work, energy healing practices and prayer, depending upon their focus and primary religious study. Be it Christian, Wiccan, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Native American, Hindu or otherwise.
Then you have those that believe there is a scientific explanation for all the metaphysical occurrences spoken of in mystical traditions. Sometimes they are not understood even by the practitioner themselves, and other times the set up is meant to simply invoke a powerful feeling of placebo for psychological health, or to simply con people of their money. Like the episode of Bones “Bod in the Pod” where Dr. Brennan tells a story of a witch doctor in El Salvador that made a purification ritual built on pouring cows blood into the ground and then bringing it out during the ritual through the fire heating the ground. In the scientific understanding, the mystical philosophy is no less powerful than the metaphoric understanding, or the metaphysical- it’s simply a difference in application of study and usage.
On the surface the concept of understanding “the Force” may not seem at all worthwhile. However, if we look through the ages, a lot of people were able to enrich the lives of those around them by dedicating their life to the concept various Force Realists attribute the overall term “The Force” to. Jews of old found that placing their faith in something higher than themselves allowed them the courage to go forward in whatever action they believed would aide in the survival of their society, and later this ideology would spread through the new interpretation given to us by Jesus of Nazareth. The Hindus, likewise, found that celebrating various aspects of life through the myths and legends of their ancestors gave rise to a life that could be inspiring in everything. This belief that all things are sacred, and created by a divine spark made life worth exploring when consciousness finally left life boring.
Meditation on what the Force is, and how it interacts with life around us gives us an idea of how to move forward in our interactions with each other, and can help us better understand why living the Hero’s Journey is so important to the lives surrounding us.
At some point we reach a plateau where we think we understand the world. We might look into concepts like “the Secret” and believe this is how the world works. And that’s when problems begin to emerge, the moment you stop challenging what you believe and simply believe with the crowd. A Jedi must remain flexible in their views of “the Force” and discover whether or not their world view needs adjustment, expansion, or even just rejecting old ideas that no longer hold water.
Oftentimes practitioners of mysticism get lost in their mysticism. A Jedi should always strive to determine what practices are useful to helping people in the real world, and which ones are truly detrimental. Astral Travel, for example can be a fabulous tool for learning how to deal with problems in our everyday life, but most people that deal with that world are "Astral Junkies". They have no trained guide to help them recognize the differences between the importance of that plane and the importance of this one. Most people that act as guides are complete idiots. They are typically Astral Junkies too.
Then you have the types that see energy healer John Chang and want to chase after that gift, but they find a school that forced them to meditate for 10,000+ hours, without going into what other benefits the meditation can bring. So they waste away in clearing their mind for the end goal, never gaining anything further from it.
What is more distressing is that getting the right information about a spiritual practice can be difficult. Sometimes you find people that claim great knowledge in the study of a particular metaphysical field. Modern books, in a time when there is no need for peer review and a publisher will simply latch onto whatever they believe will sell, tend to be half studied by the author. And even at that, to believe that you can learn everything from a book is folly. Not only is experience the best teacher, but you have to find people that understand the art- dedicate themselves to it, if you want to advance into areas such as energy healing or shamanic training.
The Jedi’s primary duty, as Matthew Stover puts it in his book Shatterpoint, “is to protect civilization, because civilization creates peace”. As such, the metaphysical aspects of the Force may not have any relevance in exploration. But rather to explore the more mundane aspects- such as developing empathic talents to communicate better with others. It is wonderful to have a belief that telekinesis may be possible, but studying telekinesis and living for the possibility it might be obtainable when you can be impacting the world around you now, simply detracts from both life and the purpose of a Jedi.
It is because there is value in meditation, and the exploration of using meditation as a method to focus on the world around us, that the Prowess Spiritual Art in the Jedi Compass specifies this is all that is necessary for to cultivate. Furthermore, it is the cornerstone of all spiritual practices, as meditation can help you better tap into your thoughts and how you wish to make requests of the divine.
To reiterate: a Jedi's study of the Force is for all to profit from, not just the tree that represents you. When a tree produces apples, and they are ripe for picking, it gives nourishment to those that choose to eat from the tree. Just the same, a spiritual connection to the Force will help you give back to others as the Apple Tree can give back to the people which interact with it. As farmer chooses to share with others, the apple can extend further than just to the individual that picks it. In the the popular story of Adam and Eve, an apple represented knowledge of good and evil, which is at the core of a healthy society’s growth. Without this understanding or the wisdom that comes with growing from what you know, anarchy has an opportunity to slip in and reign supreme.
The Jedi Path can be difficult to lead in our lives, but as you align yourself with “the Force” in either ideology or metaphysical reliance upon it’s guidance, it can become practically second nature. For your assignment, begin by considering what you believe “the Will of the Force” is. Try relating it to a concept that fits into another religious view that you have explored in the past, or might hold now.
May the Force light your path.