What is the Force?
There are many diverse opinions on what the force is. What started out as a vision of George Lucas has developed into a multi-cultural and in-depth philosophy emphasizing a multitude of aspects and theories based on the portfolio of mankind’s spiritual legacy.
Meeting different people pledged to studying the force, we also encounter many different core considerations. Some believe eastern teachings, reflecting the spirituality and lore of philosophies such as Zen, Tao, and Chi, represent the best road map to explain the force. Others take a more western approach, looking at Christianity and Paganism for the right answers.
Within the force again, the practicing majority agree that different aspects exist, defining the moral values any student should follow. Some believe the force should be studied to do good in the world, others believe it is solely a personal path to mainly benefit their own individual goals.
While the communities agree and consolidate all such initiatives under a joint brand, acknowledging equal value for each concept presented, there is little information provided on theories trying to encompass a holistic view, describing the force in its entirety. This lecture is devoted to that goal.
The force represents the universe in its entirety. Including all living beings as well as the energies existing between all matter, living beings and the universe itself. In its core, the force is a polar trinity of energies. Imagine a diagram of a point in three dimensional space. You have three axes determining its position. One axis represents Good and Evil. The second axis represents Order and Chaos. The third, Creation and Destruction. In the middle, the center point and intersection of all three axes, you find your average human being. For the first step, I would like to outline more around the axis and the forces they represent.
Many people believe that physical beings, e.g. human beings, are not the only form of sentient beings in existence. They believe there are powers, deities and other forms of sentience that are accessible to us, representing certain moral or ethical values and intentions. Regarding terminology, I would like to distinguish between Sentient Entities and Energies. The Sentient Entities being non physical forms of cognitive Creation that exist within the universe. Energies being a form of power that can provide and fuel, but that also represent a direct or indirect part of these Entities: An extension of their will, but one that also connects with other living beings and the universe itself.
If I try and summarize the historic development of the universe, to further outline the above, I would see it as follows. First there was the universe. It was there, but it was empty. And I will leave the question of whom or what put it there aside for now. What did exist within the universe at that time was raw energy without direction or purpose, this perhaps being by definition the origin of Chaos. As the energy further stabilized, it began to separate, distinguishing different forms of energy with their own first patterns and behaviors. This again, potentially marking the birth of Order.
As these first Energies grew in age and diversity, contributing further to their complexity and purpose, first matter came into existence. Gases developed creating stars and matter. Some things came into being and some again became unstable and dissolved. This again potentially marking the birth of Creation and Destruction in terms of life and death. While it is tempting to argue that Destruction is nothing but Chaos, the opposite is true. Creation is also a matter of Chaos. Out of given energies, a change must occur. A pattern needs to emerge and redefine itself to create. It can be argued that a form of Order is developing out of Chaos, but Creation is movement and thus, not Order by definition. Therefore I have considered it separate, valuing Creation and Destruction with its own axis.
So at this point we have Energies with a purpose: A program that they follow, interacting with each other, whereas the dominant manifestation of one source of Energy began to dictate physical occurrence in the universe. With age, the sum of each Energy, expanded in an ever-complex pattern throughout the universe, eventually developing its own sentience. This is a point that can be obviously argued and is certainly a point of controversy. In my personal beliefs and theories, anything that exists for long enough will develop sentience.
Let’s say you would throw a piece of toast on your front lawn. It will grow moldy, it will decompose and become a part of the soil. At the same time, the soil will offer by-products: grass will grow out of it; maybe bushes and trees. but also bacteria, which is nothing other than Life (Creation). Bacteria will develop eventually into more sophisticated life forms. Water creatures, later land animals and eventually human beings. Somewhere along that line sentience developed out of our piece of toast.
If you take a stone, the same thing will happen. Granted we need maybe some more time. Some wind to turn it into sand. Some rain to turn sand into mud. Inevitably you are granted soil again, or at least algae growing on the side of our original piece of rock. I concur that this is not a comprehensive answer, but explains the gist of what I am getting at. Everything eventually becomes alive with its own energies that it encompasses but also adheres to. If this is true for physical matter, which is just a reflection of energy, why should it not be equally true for energy itself?
Coming back to our Energies: our existing Energies at this point, with their own program and intent as well as a growing sentience. Not all energy is always applied in full utilization. There are always remaining energies, a by-product that disperses and is recycled back into the whole. If we allow for existing Energies to have achieved sentience then in the end we must allow for the same potential regarding their by-products.
The Energies continued to diversify and develop into more and more forms. Each form weaker than the parent it came from (principal of dividing energy). At some point there was a mesh of energies indirectly supporting the overall expansion of the universal program and process. From Chaos would come Creation that would continue to expand in its manifestations. A pattern and Order of its own. These new energies, this mesh, focused on the preservation of these activities, and given enough age, developed a sentience of their own. And thus what was considered good and right to occur in the universe became defined. As each energy must have its opposite in equal measure, a different mesh of by-product focused on the destructive aspect of the universal programming. The more action occurred in terms of productive expansion and Order, the stronger opposing forces would need to develop to support an equilibrium and balance. From this nature of opposing Good Energies, came in simplified terms, the Energy of Evil.
As the universe continued to unfold and Energies continued to produce their own offspring of sorts through a mix of mentioned by-products, first independent sentient beings developed. Made of incorporeal energies, and with a far more diverse pattern in terms of programming and behaviors, beings developed that we would refer to as deities.
And this assumption rings true as well if we revisit our own historic religions. Almost each religion and god or pantheon offers a story of creation, where the gods were born by the parents of Creation, Order, Good and other defined energies.
The deities existed in the same framework of polar trinity. Depending on the underlying energies of their birth, and what they chose to associate themselves with, they can be profiled in our three dimensional diagram. Each deity known in history can be mapped out. Did he or she stand more for Good or Evil? Each one had a closer affiliation with Creation or Destruction as well as Order or Chaos. Were they preservers or destroyers for mankind?
And here I make also a clear distinction that their birth pattern played as important a role as their conscious actions. I align with something I read from JediknightG the other day. The more we do Good and think Good, the more we become aligned with that power, force or Energy. The same goes for Evil. The same goes for any other alignment within the trinity. The same goes for human beings as it does for deities. Some deities were more distinct in their alignment towards the trinity. The Midgard-Serpent will one day devour the world (Destruction). He has little else to add or which he seeks. Zeus on the other hand was more sophisticated in his alignment. He created man (Creation), but also didn’t hesitate to punish his foes (Destruction, Order). The Christian God in the Old Testament seems to be more harsh, apparently focusing more around Order than around Good, which would later become his dominant role in the New Testament.
Again, this part of the theory makes further assumptions: That the deities allied and battled each other, and eventually turned their attention to mankind as an extension of their battleground.
Which is where the ever forming creation of lesser Energies inevitably lead to: the first cognitive sentience that did not have enough energy to sustain itself without a physical shell, i.e. human beings.
Looking at the above assumption that opposed Energies would try and hinder each other, it is logical to assume that deities would do the same based on their alignments.
With that humanity came into the picture. Our own as well as potentially that of other worlds and their version of a corporal sentience. And as perhaps the older Energies did to the deities, so did they try and do to us. Approach us and explain what they stand for and seek that we align our own behaviors and core with the values (pattern of the alignment) they stand for.
But no matter how the deities aligned themselves according to our diagram, they would have one dominant axis of alignment which is usually what they became famous for, and that is the dominant Energy they project.
A valid question here is: why serve? What is the purpose or benefit for a deity to have a human align himself to a specific Energy? I believe this has to do with trying to further and nurture the strength of that Energy. If we simplify again: A Good deity approaches you and wants you to do Good. Your actions, behaviors and thoughts continue to align yourself with the Energies of Good. It strengthens your link to it, over which you receive more and more guidance from your deity and the guiding principle, as well as your energies and by-products flowing, recycling back to the Energy you are aligned to most. This is probably valid in life as much as in any form of afterlife. Although logically, and regarding the big picture, no Energy can supersede the other without potentially putting the universe as we know it at risk, it doesn’t mean they wouldn’t try. We all know we are going to die one day, but still we try and do something meaningful with our lives, in accordance with our personal values, to support certain things and oppose others. We are fundamentally the same as deities in terms of our basic programming (if on a lesser scale). Which brings me back to our diagram.
What are the aspects of the Force?
Regarding the aspects, we distinguish between the Light, Dark and Shadow side within the force. In our diagram, I would consider the light side an area, including the area from the center to the end of the poles for Creation, Good and Order. This is based on both the original information provided by the star wars universe, as much as it is based on how we see the Light Side practiced among its followers today.
In the Star Wars universe, we encounter the Jedi as protectors of peace; as warriors, scholars, diplomats and advisors. They follow a belief in a natural Order, accessing the force to seek guidance and insight. The Jedi believe in peace and prosperity, in love and kinship as key values. They strive to protect and support what is Good in the universe, encouraging others to seek the same. They believe in the power and beauty of life as the unique Creation of the force.
The people following this path mutually follow the path as scholars. They study the force and offer advice and teachings to those seeking them out. But then we begin to see the differences in terms of which areas within the Light Side they take the most interest in. Many come from a Christian background. They believe in the prevalence of Good, the importance to distinguish between right and wrong and nurture right in both own behavior as in the advice given unto others. Some come from a more esoteric background, from Pagan belief systems, bringing with them ideas and concepts supporting the importance of Creation and preservation of life.
Again many turn to the east, embracing traditional philosophies around Zen, Tao and Chi. Mind over matter, karma as the pathway to follow. From my own experience with eastern philosophies, I consider them most closely affiliated to Order. There is a destiny, a path that we all follow. Karma is the reflection of how we deal with that path. And while the path, as a reflection of life will include its highs and lows, importance is given to maintaining inner peace. It is most important to maintain an inner balance, following a higher direction and Order. While events happen and emotions are incurred, it is about preserving balance within the inner self. We grow by the Good we encounter and make a part of ourselves. Change (Chaos) is often an important part of this. But we are also to let go of that which is negative and undesirable. The path is one of change, but the goal is to maintain Order despite the storm around us.
In many regards, with time, these cornerstones have become a weave of fabric which we all graze with our fingers and clothe ourselves in as we travel on our path through life.
The Dark Side accordingly covers the area from the center to the end of the poles for Evil, Destruction and Chaos. Again, we find support of this both in the original Star Wars characters as well as the followers of the path today.
In the movies, we find quite obviously the theme of supporting Evil for its own sake. Anakin Skywalker turns to the dark side as a result of his experienced pain and his inability to process it successfully. He brings terror and fear to others, so that they shall feel as he did. Bringing pain and suffering for its own sake is the very root description of Evil. We find Destruction, in terms of what the Sith bring to their enemies (death) as much as in their own philosophy. They take on every risk and challenge to further develop their own strength (Chaos) and maintain Destruction as a close companion. Any equilibrium they encounter, they try to disrupt. The only balance they achieve is within the Empire, but that only with two of them left and directing their order and will unto others.
Among the followers of the Dark Side, we find similar concepts. Many, I believe, focus actually on Chaos. They enjoy challenging the status quo, playing the devil’s advocate to test boundaries and gain a glimpse and insight of what lies beyond. Some do this for their own benefit, some to disadvantage their victims. You will find more esoteric practitioners in these ranks, many studying power and methods of achieving it. They tend to dissect human kind both physically and emotionally, detached and callous towards those they experiment on. They do this to fuel their own skills and powers, to sharpen the blade with which they bring destruction to any opposition. The relationship they entertain with Destruction and Chaos, as per our definition, is a classical mark of their handwriting, both in terms of their goals and actions.
And then there are those who serve the Dark Side, either in return for benefits acquired or for servitude’s sake. And with that, Evil grows within them and among them and is what they bring unto others and mankind.
The majority of current day followers of this path touch upon all three fields, again showing that there are original roots, as well as a joint culture which has developed from them.
The Shadow Side is not an aspect originally supported by the movies and the Star Wars universe. And this is the aspect most difficult to pinpoint and define in terms of their culture. In our diagram, I have concluded that they are themselves in the center, equally exposed to all poles. The difference to our “average human being” that has no (conscious) knowledge or relationship with the force is the way they experience and practice within their specific area. They create their own perimeter around the center point, equally seeking involvement and distance from each of the energies they are exposed to. They will embrace Chaos, considering change a way of life. They will focus on maintaining Order, despite the storm around them. They will act in accordance with Good and Evil, believing there is justification in neither and both. They will look at life (Creation) as the path they travel on, but welcome Destruction and death as an inevitable step and encounter in their journey. From death comes rebirth and the path continues.
Again the above focuses on what we predominantly expose ourselves to in terms of the Energies around us. These are our main focal points. But the diagram is more, giving us opportunity to also map out our own nature and thus understand our relationship towards others. As with the deities, so do we have our own profile within the diagram.
Any active student of the Light or Dark aspect will have at least one Energy (trait) which stands out in his personal diagram. This dominant Energy will be from his related aspect. The remaining characteristics can be a random weave of the remaining poles, although certain combinations are more likely than others. For example, an active Jedi will demonstrate a dominant trait in the areas of Good, Order or Creation. This is what characterizes him or her as a light Jedi. These three traits usually go hand in hand, but there are exceptions: A freedom fighter may have a dominant trait in Good, relating to his or her cause. But at the same time, he or she may be strong in Chaos and perhaps even Destruction. I refer to Chaos in terms of being focused on changing an existing framework, social or governmental, without having a clear idea on what the aftermath should look like. If this freedom fighter uses violence to promote his or her goals, he or she may represent the Energies of Destruction more than those of Creation (helping to “create” a new beginning, but needing to “destroy” the “Order” that exists to bring about change).
Similarly, a follower of the Dark aspect will present a dominant Energy in Chaos, Destruction or Evil. Again, the pattern of the remaining weave can be random, although again certain patterns are more likely than others. Most practicing darksiders show a strong presence in Chaos, in terms of their desire to challenge. But again from challenge comes growth, whereas they may score strongly in Creation as well. The wide-spread consensus on moral relativism between darksiders further indicates that many would indeed by neutral on the Good and Evil pole, showing little concern for the question of absolute right and wrong.
How to use the model
The intention of the above presented model is to supply you with a map and compass. By profiling yourself and your Energies in the model, you can understand where you are now. By spending time and reflecting on the nature of the Energies and your preferences, you can determine where it is you want to go. And between the both, plot your course and take action.
Some of what you discover may come as a surprise: Perhaps your personal weave is very different from the Energies / Deities you have been studying. Perhaps they are different from the weave of those within your aspect, or even the definition of the aspect itself. What you discover will help you better understand your environment and it will help you understand what is right for you, in terms of which areas you may want to develop. It may lead to personal change for you or affirmation of your current path. In both cases it will support your confidence and growth.
Once you have ascertained your desired path, begin studying the Energies related to it. Your major focus should be on aligning your own values, thoughts and actions with that of your dominant trait or Energy. If we take here the example of Good, then spend your time thinking about this. Think about what Good means to you. What are Good thoughts and actions? What does Good in the world mean to you? What does Good in your life mean personally? What can you do to promote Good and how would you go about it?
An important point here is intention over action. We can never truly foresee the outcome of our actions in their entirety. What we can foresee depends on our intelligence and experience. Accordingly, the better way to align yourself with Good is to focus on your intentions when taking action. If your intention is sincere and you’ve made a decision based on a best estimate of outcome, then that is good enough and entirely what you should be doing. Don’t be discouraged if everything doesn’t right away go as planned. The target is to align your Energies in a first step. As you progress on this path, you will begin to feel the presence of that Energy within you. It will comfort you and guide you in your decisions and actions. The more time you spend consciously with it, making it a part of you, the more the Energy will become a part of you and the larger your success will become in practice.
Different people will go about certain things differently, even if they have the same intentions. That does not mean anyone is wrong. You are only acting based on your experience and maturity within the related Energy. Accordingly, be careful to judge others in their actions. Spend time on understanding their intentions and motives and you will not only learn, but on occasion be able to give guidance as well. All will lead to a stronger relationship with your Energy. And if it is the right thing for you and aligns with your values, you will discover not only purpose and fulfillment, but happiness as well.