My Thoughts on the Force
The following entries are excerpts on, as the title suggests, my thoughts on the concept called "the Force", including its nature, its meaning, and what its existence means for the galaxy. During to the scale of such an existence, there will be times when I may digress from the subject at hand to go into more depth on a certain point, or may turn down another road altogether as an entry progresses. There may even be time when one entry contradicts another, as my thoughts may be wont to do at times. Such is the what occurs when I take to writing my thoughts on paper.
But these thoughts are indeed mine, and I leave them here in the hope that, by writing them down, I will have a finer grasp on what my feelings about the Force truly are, and therefore perhaps become a little bit wiser for it. You may disagree with me at this point and many others (I may even disagree with me) and I will respect your opinion. Just so long as you extend the same courtesy and respect mine. With that said, let this short preface reach its conclusion, and this venture begin.
Entry 1: What is the Force?
The Force is neither an energy source, nor an ability to be harnessed. It is the all-pervading essence that defines, gives shape to, and contains within itself everything in the universe that exists. Truth and lies, day and night, good and evil, all are part of the Force, and the Force is a part of them. It is capable of strengthening and weakening others, of destroying and healing, of uniting people and dividing them. The true nature of the Force is that it is all things, and yet, none of them.
The Force is all things, for it gives life to all creation and is the foundation for existence. Without the Force, everything that exists would never have, and the universe would be nothing but an eternal void. That is why those who reach out through the Force can perceive people and events from across the universe, and even in other parts of time. It is because the Force flows through everything in the universe throughout all of time, thus enabling one to see all that is, if they are willing and able to open their eyes.
Yet, for all this, the Force is none as well as all. Even though it is integral to creation, the Force is not something that can be perceived by any of the senses. It cannot be seen, tasted, smelled, heard or touched. Indeed, the sensations we feel—the chilling rush of power, the tranquil warmth of meditation—come from the responses we have to being exposed to the Force's power. Not from the Force itself. It is the perfect example of the metaphysical—it exists, but cannot be perceived in a way that can be done while remaining within the physical and tangible world.
The Force's power, therefore, cannot be divided into simple categories, as it goes beyond them. There is no true 'side' to the Force due to it encompassing all sides. The Dark and Light sides, originally known as Bogan and Ashla by the Je'daii Order, are but two more ways to see the Force, two more points of view to consider. Bogan, the Dark, focuses on the passion and strength of the individual and draws power from emotions such as anger, fear, greed and passion. Conversely, Ashla, the Light, focuses on inner peace and benevolence, believing itself to be the 'right' version of the Force and centered around calmness, wisdom and healing.
Both Dark and Light possess flaws in their proclamations. The Force is greater than any one individual, and is affected by more than one set of emotions. It can be used to empower both oneself and others, and is empowered by love and hate just the same. Attachments made by a person will serve to amplify their emotions, but emotions do not lead to corruption. Rather, emotions are the sign that something is alive, and is capable of feeling. It is what someone does when acting on those attachments and emotions—and whether or not they let their emotions consume them—that determines their fate.
Moreover, Light and Dark are dependent on each other to exist. Without the Dark, Light would have nothing to illuminate, to enlighten, and all would be simply burnt away. And without the Light, the Dark would leave everything blind, fearful, and nothing would be able to grow. And these are just two philosophies revolving around the Force; so many more exist, each one its own lens to view the Force with. Yet Force is more than any one set of beliefs. It cannot be enslaved, or allied with. It is not just a means to an end, or simply the ultimate decision maker. It is less and more, and which parts of it are seen is only constrained by the user's perception.
This in turn highlights the fact that, while living, any perception of the Force is incomplete. To use the power of the Force is to reach out and touch the fabric of creation itself, and channel that pure essence through a conduit—the self—to affect the rest of the universe. But that conduit also acts a barrier between someone and complete perception of the Force. As stated earlier, the sensations felt when exposed to the Force are merely the responses we produce to such an exposure. They are not sensations produced by the Force itself, but by ourselves.
To truly feel the Force in its entirety, one would be required to shed their physical self and become as intangible as the Force. So long as a person remains within the physical realm (referred to by some to be the 'land of the living') their perceptions are restricted to only what they are capable of experiencing that the tangible barrier of 'self' does not filter out.
That said, it is possible for someone to, for a limited moment, achieve state of complete union with the Force while living, becoming a means by which the Force interacts with the galaxy while maintaining a state of purity unseen by any physical object. That said, those that experience this state typically had a strong connection to the Force even beforehand and, even then, less than a handful of individuals have achieved this more than once. But when this is done, that person's power in nearly unlimited.
As the Force resides within all things, its power may in turn be used for any purpose. What an individual can accomplish is limited only by how much they open themselves to the Force and their own inner strength. When channeled through oneself and guided by the user's will, the effects take the shape that is desired. By nature of containing everything that lives, the Force also possesses its own will, and its own plan for the universe.
The will of the Force affects the paths and decisions of all living things, guiding everything along a path. That will is independent of all moral constructs, personal philosophies and founded beliefs. It does not succumb to perspectives of what 'should' and 'should not' be. It exists beyond that. However, even if the Force has a will and a plan, that plan is not set into stone, and can be influenced by the actions of those who possess the necessary willpower.
Any living being who therefore possesses the willpower to determine their fate may either accept the path laid out for them by the Force, or reject it. To perform the latter will subsequently open new roads to be traveled upon. Consequently, each decision made in response to that decision will cause another decision to be made, continuing ad infinitum, turning the tides in the ocean that is reality and changing the end result of the Force's plan with each choice made. It is for this reason that the future is subject to change, and even glimpses made into it are not absolute. Destiny is false, for all actions in the universe are decided by the Force and those who are part of it.
This is the truth of the Force. It is more than Light or Dark, Bogan or Ashla, good or evil. It envelops and transcends all things in the universe, even time, and guides everything within itself along a path that can change with the one who walks it. And to use the power of the Force is to channel the very essence of existence.
So, it has been said. May the Force be with all that is, and its embrace reach out into eternity.
