Dark side of the Force The dark side of the Force , also known as the Bogan , or simply as The Dark Side , was an aspect of the Force . Individuals who used the dark side drew their power from more intense , raw and darker emotions such as fear , anger , hatred , passion , and aggression . The Sith were major practitioners of the dark side , and were the mortal enemies of the Jedi Order , who followed the light side of the Force . There were others such as the Inquisitorius , who , though not Sith , could draw upon the power of the dark side . Darth Sidious believed that the source of his dark side power was the universe beyond the edges of the known galaxy . Although Jedi were taught to follow the light side of the Force , the dark side was considered seductive , and a Jedi had to maintain vigilance in order to avoid falling to the dark side . Anakin Skywalker was a powerful Jedi who , partly through the machinations of the Sith Lord Sidious , fell from the light side and began practicing the dark side , becoming the famous Sith Lord known as Darth Vader . Even a Jedi raised in the traditions of the Jedi Order from birth could quickly be corrupted by the lure of the dark side in certain situations . Despite this , while the Jedi often described the dark side as a " quick and easy path , " drawing upon its power did not necessarily come with ease or without cost to those who possessed strong compassion and were not used to drawing upon feelings such as hatred . Use of the dark side of the Force granted certain abilities that were generally closed to a user of the light side , such as possession , the ability to manipulate Force vision s and even , according to legend , to manipulate midi - chlorian s to create life or keep someone from dying . The dark - side historian and Sith cultist Yupe Tashu told Wedge Antilles on Akiva that some Sith Lord s were able to siphon the Force from their captives in order to extend their own lives for centuries beyond their natural expiration . The power of the dark side was penetrating and pernicious . The Jedi Temple was built on top of an ancient Sith shrine and , unbeknownst to the Jedi , the power of the dark side rippled upwards through the Temple from the shrine , slowly weakening the Jedi over a millennium . The dark side of the Force was considered highly corrupting . The Jedi Grand Master Yoda , for example , believed that " Once you start down the dark path , forever will it dominate your destiny , " a view he espoused despite having personally witnessed the redemption of at least two individuals who were at one time deeply steeped in the dark side . Anakin Skywalker also proved an exception , as he overcame his past actions to save his son , Luke , and kill the Sith Lord Darth Sidious . While Yoda said that the dark side of the Force is not stronger than the light side of the Force , he said that it was merely " quicker , easier , more seductive " . Additionally , use of the dark side by somebody with generally good intentions in a moment of weakness could leave that individual feeling weak and shivery , with a general feeling of wrongness . This was once experienced by Ezra Bridger when he once unconsciously drew upon the power of the dark side to summon a massive fyrnock to attack the Grand Inquisitor . If the presence of the dark side was significantly powerful , nearby Force - sensitives often feel the sensation of cold , such as when Darth Vader was near Ezra Bridger and Kanan Jarrus , or when Luke sensed the dark side emanating from the Cave of Evil on Dagobah .