The Force in Star Wars: A Complete Guide

The Force was a mystical energy field generated by all life that connected everything in the universe. Throughout galactic history, it was known by many names. The Lasats called it the Ashla, the Mustafarians knew it as the Life Current, and the Lew’elans referred to it as the Tide. The Chiss called it the Sight, while the Zeffonians named it the Life Wind. Other names included the Great Presence, used by the Pathfinders of the Chaos, and the Luminous Mist, used by the Mist-Weavers. The Sorcerers of Tund called it the Unity, while the Magys and her people knew it as the Beyond. Aniseya’s coven of witches referred to it as the Thread, and the dianoga Omi simply called it “It.”

Since the Force was created by life, it existed in all living things. It was especially strong in certain individuals born with high numbers of midi-chlorians in their blood. Midi-chlorians were tiny, intelligent life forms that lived inside cells and communicated the will of the Force. People with high midi-chlorian counts were called Force-sensitive and could consciously feel and use the Force. This allowed them to access various Force abilities.

Unlike living beings, droids and other artificial things existed outside of the Force. They had no connection to the energy field created by life, though the physical effects of the Force could still impact them.

Besides its scientific aspects, the Force was the basis for various religious groups. These groups had different ideas about what the Force was and what it was for. Some of these groups included the Church of the Force, the Guardians of the Whills, and most famously, the Jedi and Sith Orders. The Lasats believed the Force was the “spirit” of the galaxy.

The idea of the Force had been known for over twenty-five thousand years. There were two main parts of the Force that worked together. The Living Force was the energy of all life, which then fed into the Cosmic Force. The Cosmic Force connected everything and communicated the will of the Force through midi-chlorians.

The Jedi followed a code of selflessness and helping others. They used the light side of the Force, which was one of two ways to use the all-encompassing energy field. The Sith, who were the Jedi’s enemies, wanted strength and power through the dark side of the Force. Their opposing beliefs led to thousands of years of back-and-forth conflict between the two groups. This eventually resulted in the Sith being wiped out and the Jedi nearly being destroyed.

1. What is the Force and How Does it Connect All Life?

The Force was everything. It was in the seas, the canyons, and the current within all living things. It was the energy that made life flow. Those who believed in the Force were always certain it was with them. (For more on the well-known phrase, see our article on ‘May the Force Be with You’ Meaning).

The Force connected all life in the galaxy through a mystical energy field. Distance meant nothing to the Force, which linked life forms across the galaxy. Many believed nothing was impossible for the Force, which was beyond the power of any machine made by people. Every living thing in the universe had a place in the Force, even small insects.

The Force manifested in two distinct forms: the Living Force and the Cosmic Force. The Living Force represented the energies of all living things, and those energies fed into the Cosmic Force, which was the source of the Force. The Cosmic Force interconnected the galaxy and conveyed the will of the Force via midi-chlorians. When a living thing died, it became “one with the Force” by joining the Cosmic Force, which then gave power to the Living Force.

Scholars had long debated where the Force came from and when civilizations first learned about its power. There were many answers, but none were considered final. Different species had their own names for the Force, as well as their own ways of understanding it and techniques for learning its powers. Force-sensitive children without training were often good at one aspect of the Force instead of many. Though only certain individuals were Force-sensitive, the Force lived within all living things. Ahsoka Tano believed that anyone, with enough time and focus, could learn to use the Force. She thought those with natural sensitivity had a talent for it, but said that discipline was what really mattered. Force-sensitives could feel a “disturbance in the Force” when many lives were lost. The Force could be taken from living beings.

When asked why the Force wasn’t simply “magic,” Jedi Knight Gella Nattai described it as existing everywhere and being everything. She explained it was vital to the constant flow of life. The Sunset Prayer of the Guardians of the Whills linked the Force to life itself, saying that life and the Force could be found in each other. The prayer also said that the Force was eternal. Droids, being mechanical creations without midi-chlorians, could never sense the Force. Although the Force was everywhere, even in deep space, it was strongest in areas of life. Force-sensitives in such lively places didn’t need to spend time or energy looking for a deep connection to the energy field, as it was all around them.

Force-sensitivity could often be passed from parent to child as an inherited trait, though this wasn’t always the case. The Force was strong in the Skywalker family and the Palpatine family. The twins Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa were born Force-sensitive like their father, Anakin Skywalker, as was Organa’s son, Ben Solo. Unlike Anakin Skywalker’s descendants, the son of Galactic Emperor Sheev Palpatine (the Sith Lord Darth Sidious) did not inherit his father’s connection to the Force. The Emperor’s son was an artificial clone, a result of the Sith Eternal cult’s cloning experiment with Sidious’ genetic material. However, the Emperor’s cloned son had a natural-born daughter, Rey, who was Force-sensitive because of her descent from Sidious, her grandfather.

It was possible for siblings born to normal parents to not share a talent for Force-sensitivity. This was the case with Zare and Dhara Leonis. While Dhara could always sense her brother’s presence from a young age, Zare never had this ability or any special skills that could be linked to the Force. The technique of “Magick” was an aspect of the Force, with the Nightsister Talzin claiming it allowed her to become a Force-user through unnatural means. Despite what non-Force-sensitives often thought, using a Force power wasn’t as simple as waving one’s hands. Channeling the Force took effort, especially for individuals like Ty Yorrick, who had experienced trauma. Being surrounded by negative emotions also made it hard for a light side user to focus on their abilities—a weakness that was once exploited by Marchion Ro, who surrounded an imprisoned Jedi Master with people being constantly tortured to hinder his ability to call on the Force.

Studying the Force was a lifelong commitment for a Jedi. While Luke Skywalker devoted his life to the Force, his sister did not finish her Jedi training, choosing her family and political career instead of the Jedi way of life. The Jedi Code restricted members of the Jedi Order from forming personal relationships. Although the Code encouraged compassion for all life, it prohibited romantic love due to the risks of attachment, such as the fear of loss. The Jedi of the Republic Era were identified by their midi-chlorian levels; the Force-sensitive population of the Galactic Republic was more easily identifiable than that of the territories outside of the Republic’s domain. The Order sought to protect its members from fear, anger, hatred, and other emotions that were considered dangerous to the Jedi. As such, the Order preferred to recruit younglings, although exceptions could be made for older children at the discretion of the Jedi High Council.

A Force-bond was a connection between two Force-sensitive individuals; the bond between a Force dyad was extremely rare and as powerful as life itself. A Force-bond could span across space and time, allowing the bonded Force-sensitives to communicate over vast distances, such as separate planets across the galaxy. During the High Republic Era, Jedi Master Avar Kriss had a rare ability involving such bonds, being able to connect and strengthen the natural connections into what effectively became a communication network. Although it was inexact and best for informing each other of locations or sensations, dozens of Jedi could be brought into the network, allowing for better coordination during the connection.

Different beings saw the Force in different ways. While Kriss saw it as a song, Jedi Knight Elzar Mann, partly because he knew that the Force would never end, saw it as an endless, deep, storm-tossed ocean. The Wookiee Burryaga Agaburry thought of it as a massive tree with deep roots and high branches, while Jedi Douglas Sunvale compared the energy field to an interlocked series of gears made from an endless number of materials. Master Loden Greatstorm felt that using the Force was like dancing with the wind, while his Padawan, Bell Zettifar, thought of it as dancing with fire. According to Chirrut Îmwe of the Guardians of the Whills, the Force moved darkly around any being that was about to kill. Despite the beliefs of the Path of the Open Hand, the Force could not be “damaged” from “overuse” by Force-users. The Path incorrectly believed that, if the Force was used, it would strike back to establish balance; for example, the Path believed that, if the Force was used to save a life in one location, the Force would arrange for another life or several more to be taken elsewhere in the name of balance. As such, the Path believed the Force needed to be “freed” from use and that Force-users were abusing it.

Although the Force is in all living things, it is seen differently by many species. For example, the Force is called Third or Second Sight for the Chiss, and is viewed as a tool to be used for lightspeed travel. A Force-sensitive for a Chiss is rare, but when it does happen, the sensitivity fades away when the Chiss are in their teens. For the Magys, it is only seen as the Beyond, and the afterlife. For the Nightsisters, it is seen as Magick, and the Force was gained through the lands of Dathomir. But no matter how the Force is perceived through culture, it is always there. Whether or not a being is Force-sensitive, the Force is still in the living plants and animals around the galaxy. Everywhere.

2. What Powers and Abilities Does the Force Grant its Users?

The Force grants abilities like telekinesis, mind control, enhanced physical traits, and precognition. Light-side users focus on healing and protection, while dark-side users wield destructive powers like Force lightning and choking.

2.1 What are the Common Abilities and Techniques Used by Force-Sensitives?

The Force gave many supernatural powers to Force-sensitives such as the Jedi and the Sith, as well as entities like the Bendu and the Mortis gods. The potential a being had to use the Force was determined by the amount of midi-chlorians they had.

Among their various psychic abilities, Force-sensitives were capable of moving objects with their minds, manipulating others’ thoughts, putting people to sleep, and seeing the future. The ability to see the future allowed Jedi mystics and other seers to predict events far into the future, forming prophecies about the Chosen One or the Force dyad in the Sith Eternal’s lore. Force-users’ ability to see the future allowed them to see an opponent’s attacks before they came, and even navigate a ship through hyperspace.

Quick reflexes were the more immediate effects of a Force-sensitive’s ability to see the future; even without formal training, an untrained child was capable of developing Jedi-like traits. Force-sensitives’ physical strength, energy, movement, and toughness could also be increased by the Force, allowing them to crush objects with their bare hands, jump very far, float, or survive injuries that would seriously hurt or kill normal beings. During the fight on Kef Bir, for example, the Jedi apprentice Rey and Supreme Leader Kylo Ren used the energies of the Force to increase their speed, agility, and other physical traits. Although Rey gained a slight advantage in speed, Ren was physically stronger than her.

To learn more about Force powers and abilities, check out our article: All 103 Force Powers and Abilities in Star Wars Explained.

2.2 How Do Light Side and Dark Side Powers Differ?

Some Force techniques were used by those on either the dark side or the light side, such as moving objects with the mind (telekinesis), telepathy, and enhancing one’s physical abilities. However, certain powers could only be accessed depending on the user’s alignment with the Force. Jedi younglings were taught that the Force could be used for many purposes, including protection, persuasion, gaining wisdom, manipulating matter, and performing great physical feats.

Yet while the Jedi used the light side’s abilities through a mental state of peace and calmness, the Sith relied on their passion for strength, giving them access to many abilities some considered to be unnatural.

For instance, Force lightning was a dark side ability used to torture, disfigure, and kill one’s victims. Another example of the dark side’s power was Force choke; by visualizing the ability with a claw-like or crushing hand gesture, the user could strangle a victim either to intimidate or kill them. While the Jedi used mind tricks to gently influence weak minds, the dark side could be used to force one’s way into a victim’s mind.

Through different techniques, both sides offered the ability to preserve one’s consciousness after death. Dark side users could transfer their souls into new bodies or bind their spirits to relics. Those who served the light who gained this power could become Force spirits—beings who achieved immortality by keeping their identities after becoming one with the Force.

3. What are the sacred sites and structures tied to the Force?

There are many sacred sites and structures tied to the Force, such as Jedi temples for training and meditation, Sith temples for dark rituals, and the Kyber Temple for spiritual significance, each reflecting different Force traditions.

3.1 Jedi temples

The first simple Jedi temple was built on Ahch-To, but as the centuries passed and the Jedi Order spread, the thousands of temples they built across the galaxy became more complex and unique. The most renowned Jedi Temple, situated on Coruscant, housed the Jedi High Council and the extensive repository of knowledge known as the Jedi Archives. When the Empire took control of the galaxy, the Temple on Coruscant became their new Imperial Palace.

Most Jedi temples on other worlds were searched for their ancient secrets by Imperial forces and then destroyed. Some Jedi temples, like the one on Lothal, were hidden in plain sight and could only be found by those strong in the light side of The Force, though the empire was never really that far behind. Ach-To’s simple stone huts and forbidding caves may be where the Jedi began, but as the Order’s influence spread across the Galaxy, so did the number of places where the force could be worshipped-by followers of both the light side of the Force, and dark side of the Force.

3.2 Temple of the Kyber

The Temple of the Kyber’s enormous spire stretched high above Jedha City, welcoming all believers. The temple was home to the Church of the Force, a group whose followers had no Force-sensitive members yet still chose to follow the teachings of the Jedi Order. The Church of the Force began as a clandestine movement during a period when the Empire strictly prohibited their form of worship. Nevertheless, their followers grew stronger and more numerous despite enduring years of continued oppression. The Temple of the Kyber was protected by the Guardians of the Whills, a nearly extinct order of fiercely loyal warrior monks, until the Jedha’s Holy City was destroyed when the Empire used the area as a test site for the first Death Star Superlaser.

3.3 Sith temples

While Jedi temples could be found on countless worlds during the days of the Galactic Republic, by that time, most of the ancient Sith temples had long since been buried. One of these grim, pyramid-shaped structures managed to survive the passage of time in the caves beneath the surface of the planet Malachor. This was the site of the Great Scourge of Malachor, a brutal massacre that decimated the Sith Order (Sith Empire) eons ago. The temple, filled with the petrified remains of those who fell in combat, lay dormant for thousands of years until it was rediscovered by Kanan Jarrus’ cell of rebels. It is said that those who visit Malachor’s hidden temple can be overwhelmed by the rage and hate that still infused the Sith ashes covering the site.

3.4 Fortress Vader

It seems fitting that Darth Vader’s ultimate monument to himself was built so close to the site of his most brutal defeat. Constructed on top of a Sith cave on Mustafar, the lava-covered world where Obi-Wan Kenobi defeated his former apprentice and left him to die, this obsidian stronghold was where Darth Vader would go to meditate and heal between battles. The castle’s distinctive design, inspired by the ancient Sith Lord Darth Momin, was carefully aligned with the dark energies of the planet to penetrate the boundary between life and death. It was the loss of Padme that had completed Anakin’s journey to the dark side, and finding a way to see her again became Vader’s secret obsession for the rest of his days.

3.5 Beyond the Temple

By 34 ABY, almost all the great shrines dedicated to the Jedi and the Sith had been lost to history. Even the oldest of them all, the sacred Jedi Tree on Ach-To, was ultimately reduced to ashes by Grand Master Yoda. But those who truly worship the Force understand they need not travel to a temple to find it. They only need look within themselves.

4. What are Cosmotic and Acosmotic Views of the Force?

For decades, the Star Wars saga has captivated audiences worldwide, largely due to its portrayal of an epic struggle between good and evil through the Force. This cosmic conflict resonates with viewers across cultures, religions, and backgrounds – a universality that creator George Lucas intentionally aimed for. Inspired by Joseph Campbell’s concept of the monomyth, Lucas sought to distill core moral teachings shared across belief systems into a modern galactic myth.

At its heart, Star Wars presents an internal struggle we all face between selflessness and compassion on one side, and greed and cruelty on the other. This spiritual dimension has made Star Wars a kind of Rorschach test, with commentators often revealing more about their own beliefs than the films themselves when analyzing its mythology. Indeed, books have been written arguing that Star Wars truly represents Christianity, Buddhism, Daoism, Hinduism and other traditions.

While Lucas aimed to create a transcultural moral framework, this approach has led to some philosophical inconsistencies in how good and evil are portrayed through the Force. At times, the light and dark sides fit a “cosmotic” view where good and evil are mismatched opponents in a cosmic battle. This aligns with traditions like Zoroastrianism, Platonism, and Augustinian Christianity, which see good as more fundamentally real and evil as a defective absence of good.

In other instances, the Force is depicted more in line with “acosmotic” philosophies like Daoism, which view light and dark as interrelated, balanced elements of a greater whole rather than opposing forces. This creates an underlying tension in how morality functions in the Star Wars universe.

4.1 What is the Cosmotic Perspective on the Force?

The cosmotic portrayal of the Force borrows from belief systems that posit a divine, ordered universe governed by natural and moral laws. In this view, good and evil are locked in an eternal cosmic struggle, with good seen as more aligned with the fundamental nature of reality.

This echoes ancient traditions like Zoroastrianism, where the good creator deity Ahura Mazda is eternally opposed by evil forces led by Angra Mainyu. Similarly, Platonic and Augustinian thought equate goodness with true being and evil with a privation or absence of good. For Augustine, God represents the fullness of being and goodness, with all existence deriving its share of goodness simply by existing.

Crucially, cosmotic views do not advocate for balance between good and evil. The goal is not to find the right amount of evil to offset good, but rather to eradicate evil entirely as an unnatural aberration. This aligns with how Jedi often describe the Force, especially in the original Star Wars trilogy.

Throughout those films, characters refer simply to “the Force” rather than qualifying it as “the light side.” This implies that the Force in its natural state is inherently good, while the dark side is a corrupted deviation needing a special modifier. Obi-Wan reinforces this when telling Luke that Darth Vader was seduced by the dark side’s unnatural power, becoming “twisted and evil, more machine than man.” This echoes the Christian and Platonic notion that turning away from ultimate good makes one less real.

In “The Empire Strikes Back,” Yoda similarly cautions Luke that succumbing to anger and fear will set him on a dark path that will “forever dominate your destiny, consume you it will.” Even the Sith highlight this cosmotic perspective when they boast about the “power of the dark side,” acknowledging their Faustian pact with an evil force.

The cosmotic view manifests in the devastating galactic wars between Empire and Rebellion, Sith and Jedi. The Jedi make no attempt to rehabilitate or coexist with the Sith, seeing total eradication of dark side followers as the only path to resolution. This absolutist mentality mirrors historical Christian crusaders who justified killing enemies as “malecide” – destroying evil itself rather than humans.

Notably, Jedi in the first six films never speak of balancing light and dark. Their understanding of balance, as referenced in the Prophecy of the Chosen One, implies eliminating the Sith entirely to allow unchallenged Jedi supremacy. This cosmotic view reaches its apotheosis at the end of Return of the Jedi, with evil seemingly vanquished as rebels and Ewoks celebrate on an Edenic Endor.

4.2 How Does the Acosmotic View Describe the Force?

While the light and dark sides often function like cosmotic antagonists, they also sometimes resemble the paired opposites found in acosmotic philosophies like Daoism. This view rejects both the privation theory of evil and being-centered metaphysics in favor of a processive worldview emphasizing balance rather than struggle.

Daoism teaches that all things are part of the Dao, with apparent individuals actually being interrelated processes within a greater whole. Rather than moving toward a final end state, the Dao is in perpetual becoming, developing integrity through the interconnectedness of all things. This closely aligns with Obi-Wan’s initial description of the Force as an energy field generated by all living beings that envelops us, permeates us, and holds the galaxy together.

The quintessential acosmotic concept in Daoism is yin and yang – interrelated elements that balance and mutually define each other rather than being locked in conflict. Daoist thought sees ultimate truth as beyond good and evil, giving birth to both. This naturalized conception of morality contrasts sharply with Augustine’s judgments based on proximity to God’s will.

One clear connection between Star Wars and Daoism is the concept of wuwei or “non-coercive action.” This counsels acting spontaneously and naturally rather than according to formal norms. We see this when Obi-Wan tells Luke to “act on instinct” during lightsaber training. It’s even clearer when Luke turns off his targeting computer during the Death Star trench run, following Obi-Wan’s spirit urging him to “use the Force” and “let go.” Only by feeling his connection to the Force can Luke achieve his goal by doing as little as possible.

4.3 How has Force Mythology Evolved in Star Wars Movies?

The sequel trilogy that began with The Force Awakens promised to shed new light on the nature of the Force. However, the first two entries largely reinforced existing tensions between cosmotic and acosmotic portrayals without resolving them.

The Force Awakens reintroduced the Jedi-Sith conflict in familiar cosmotic terms. The First Order, led by the dark side user Kylo Ren, seeks to crush the Resistance and restore imperial rule. Meanwhile, Rey embarks on a heroic journey to become a Jedi and restore balance to the Force – implicitly by defeating the First Order.

However, The Last Jedi complicated this narrative by introducing more acosmotic elements. Luke Skywalker, disillusioned with Jedi teachings, argues that the Force does not belong to any one group. He guides Rey to a mosaic on Ahch-To depicting the “Prime Jedi” in a meditative pose balancing light and dark. This implies an older, more Daoist understanding of the Force predating the rigid dualism of Jedi and Sith.

The film also introduces the concept of “Force dyads” – pairs of Force-sensitive individuals with a profound connection transcending light and dark alignments. This manifests in the link between Rey and Kylo Ren, suggesting their opposition may itself be part of a larger balance.

Yet The Last Jedi still retained cosmotic elements, with characters like Snoke firmly embracing dark side power and Rey ultimately rejecting Kylo Ren’s offer to “let old things die” and forge a new order beyond light and dark. The film left audiences with lingering questions about the true nature of the Force and balance.

4.4 What New Insights into the Force Does “The Rise of Skywalker” Offer?

The Rise of Skywalker, the final entry in the Skywalker saga, attempted to resolve these philosophical tensions with a novel synthesis of cosmotic and acosmotic elements. While not entirely successful, it presented a more nuanced view of the Force that acknowledged both the reality of moral struggle and the ultimate interconnectedness of all things.

The film reintroduced the ancient Sith Lord Palpatine as the ultimate embodiment of dark side evil, initially framing the conflict in familiar cosmotic terms. Rey’s quest to become a Jedi and defeat this evil mirrors Luke’s journey in the original trilogy.

However, The Rise of Skywalker also expanded on the dyad concept, revealing that the connection between Rey and Kylo Ren/Ben Solo was part of a “Force destiny” greater than either light or dark. Their opposition itself created balance, with each growing stronger as the other did. This more closely aligns with Daoist notions of mutually-defining opposites.

The film’s climax attempted to reconcile these seemingly contradictory ideas. Rey confronts Palpatine not just as a Jedi, but as a conduit for “all the Jedi” who came before. Likewise, Palpatine claims to embody “all the Sith.” This frames their battle as the culmination of an age-old cosmic struggle between good and evil.

Yet Rey’s victory comes not through martial prowess or even her own power, but by opening herself to the Force as a whole – light and dark, life and death. In doing so, she reflects Palpatine’s dark side energy back upon him, ultimately destroying him with his own power. This resolution suggests that true balance comes not from eradicating darkness, but from accepting it as part of a greater whole while choosing to act in harmony with life rather than against it.

The film further reinforces this synthesis through Ben Solo’s redemption. Unlike Darth Vader’s last-minute turn in Return of the Jedi, Ben’s journey back to the light is portrayed as a gradual process of inner balance. His final act is to give his own life force to revive Rey – a selfless deed that allows him to become one with the Force despite his past dark deeds.

This ending implies a new understanding of the Force and balance: Good and evil, light and dark, are real and opposing forces. Yet they are also part of a greater unity. True mastery comes not from rejecting darkness entirely, but from accepting its existence while choosing to act in accordance with life and compassion.

5. How Have Recent Depictions of the Force Shifted in Star Wars?

The 2015 release of “The Force Awakens” hinted at a potential resolution to the longstanding tension in Star Wars mythology by emphasizing an acosmotic view of the Force. This represented a notable shift from the traditional cosmotic depiction that had previously dominated the franchise.

Kylo Ren challenged conventional villainous archetypes. His internal struggle with the dark side of the Force represented a nuanced approach to morality, diverging from the clear-cut good versus evil narrative of previous installments. This shift was so pronounced that even the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, criticized the film for its portrayal of evil, noting how it inverted traditional concepts of temptation.

The animated series “Star Wars Rebels” (2014-2018) further developed this new perspective. In a September 2016 episode, Bendu described himself as “the one in the middle,” existing between the light and dark sides of the Force. This character, whose name referenced the first “Gray Jedi” in Star Wars lore, represented a step towards establishing a more balanced view of the Force in canon.

Anticipation for “The Last Jedi” grew as trailers hinted at a deeper exploration of this acosmotic terrain. Luke Skywalker’s ominous declaration that “it’s time for the Jedi to end” and Kylo Ren’s urging to “let the past die” fueled speculation about the potential introduction of Gray Jedi – Force users who balance light and dark – into the main film series.

Initially, “The Last Jedi” seemed to fulfill these expectations. Luke Skywalker appeared as a disillusioned figure, criticizing the Jedi Order’s presumptuous claims to represent the entire Force and their futile attempts to eradicate the dark side. The film also explored a complex relationship between Rey and Kylo Ren, blurring the lines between hero and villain.

However, the film’s final act appeared to revert to a more traditional good versus evil narrative. This shift left many fans disappointed, feeling that the promised exploration of a more nuanced Force philosophy had been abandoned. Critics argued that the film missed an opportunity to introduce Gray Jedi and explore new moral ground.

Yet, a closer examination of “The Last Jedi” reveals a novel approach to depicting the Force, one that combines elements of both cosmotic and acosmotic cosmologies. This new interpretation can be better understood through the lens of Aztec philosophy, particularly the concept of teotl.

Teotl, as described in James Maffie’s “Aztec Philosophy: Understanding a World in Motion,” represents a dynamic, processive ontology similar to Daoism. However, where Daoism emphasizes gentle harmony, teotl achieves balance through the constant conflict of opposing forces. This perspective offers a fresh way to interpret the Force as depicted in “The Last Jedi.”

Viewing the film through this Aztec lens reveals a Force that strives for dynamic balance through conflict, rather than despite it. This interpretation aligns with the film’s portrayal of the ongoing struggle between light and dark, suggesting that this conflict is not a flaw in the cosmic order but an integral part of it.

The relationship between Rey and Kylo Ren exemplifies this dynamic. Their Force-mediated conversations and brief alliance against Snoke’s Praetorian Guard represent moments of balance achieved through the interaction of opposing forces. The subsequent sundering of their alliance and return to conflict doesn’t negate this balance but reinforces it, echoing the Aztec concept of cosmic renewal through cyclical struggle.

Luke Skywalker’s arc in the film also reflects this philosophy. His disillusionment with the Jedi Order stems from a recognition of the necessity of both light and dark. His final act of Force projection, which simultaneously saves the Resistance and confronts the First Order, embodies the idea of achieving balance through action rather than passivity.

This interpretation of the Force as a dynamic, conflict-driven balance offers a more complex and nuanced view than either the strictly cosmotic or acosmotic perspectives. It allows for the continued existence of clear moral distinctions while acknowledging the interdependence and necessary coexistence of opposing forces.

The Last Jedi’s depiction of the Force challenges viewers to move beyond simple dichotomies of good and evil. It suggests that balance is not achieved through the elimination of one side or the creation of a neutral middle ground, but through the ongoing interplay of opposing forces. This view aligns with the Aztec concept of teotl, where cosmic balance is maintained through cyclical conflict and renewal.

This new interpretation of the Force also has implications for character development in the Star Wars universe. It allows for more complex and morally ambiguous characters, as seen in the evolving portrayals of both Rey and Kylo Ren. Their struggles and moments of connection represent the dynamic balance at the heart of this new Force philosophy.

Furthermore, this perspective on the Force offers rich possibilities for future Star Wars narratives. It opens the door to stories that explore the nuances of morality and the nature of cosmic balance without sacrificing the epic conflicts that have always been central to the franchise.

The influence of Aztec philosophy in this interpretation also highlights the potential for incorporating diverse philosophical traditions into popular narratives. By drawing parallels between the Force and teotl, The Last Jedi inadvertently showcases the value of looking beyond Western philosophical frameworks to understand complex cosmic concepts.

This approach to the Force also resonates with contemporary discussions about morality and the nature of good and evil. In a world often painted in black and white, The Last Jedi’s portrayal of the Force encourages viewers to consider the complexity and interdependence of opposing forces in both cosmic and personal scales.

Critics who argued that The Last Jedi missed an opportunity by not introducing Gray Jedi may have overlooked the more subtle, but potentially more profound, shift in the film’s Force philosophy. Rather than creating a neutral middle ground, the film presents a dynamic system where balance is achieved through the constant interplay of light and dark.

This interpretation also offers a new perspective on the Jedi and Sith Orders. Instead of viewing them as absolute representations of good and evil, they can be seen as manifestations of the ongoing cosmic struggle necessary for balance. Their conflict is not a flaw to be resolved but an essential part of the Force’s nature.

The Last Jedi’s approach to the Force also has implications for how we view personal growth and moral development. It suggests that internal conflicts and struggles with opposing impulses are not necessarily signs of weakness or moral failure, but part of a larger balancing act. This perspective can offer a more compassionate and nuanced view of human nature and moral decision-making.

Looking forward, this new interpretation of the Force opens up exciting possibilities for future Star Wars stories. It allows for exploration of complex moral dilemmas, the nature of cosmic balance, and the role of conflict in maintaining that balance. Future films and series could delve deeper into these themes, potentially offering even richer and more nuanced portrayals of the Force and those who wield it.

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