Force power A Force power was , generally speaking , any ability that could be used by a Force - sensitive individual using the power of the Force . Some such abilities , such as enhanced reflexes and minor acts of precognition , could be accessed without conscious application . Others , such as telekinesis or a mind trick , required acts of will , though with training could be made to seem effortless . In certain cases , attempting to act consciously could actually hinder one ' s ability to draw upon the Force . Some abilities could only be accessed by those aligned with the light side of the Force , while still others were open only to those who practiced the dark side . General abilities . A wide variety of abilities were open to those who were able to use the power of the Force . One such ability commonly used was telekinesis , the ability to move or otherwise manipulate on objects using only an application of the Force . Another well - known ability was the mind trick , a power that could be applied to actually influence the thoughts of another individual , often to the user ' s advantage . Force vision s were a powerful and mysterious ability that sometimes occurred without conscious application in sleep , though such visions were not always reliable . Force users were also able to , both consciously and inherently through their connection to the Force , augment their own natural athleticism , allowing for speed , coordination and acrobatic maneuvers beyond natural limits . During his fight with Count Dooku , Yoda was able to absorb Force lightning which Count Dooku deflected . It is unknown whether these abilities are specific to the dark or light side . A mind probe was a Force power which allowed the user to search the thoughts of others . It was possible to resist this ability using the Force , and if the one resisting was powerful enough , one could turn the effects of the probe around and manage a look into the mind of the user . Some users of the Force could also use their power to sedate , as Qui - Gon Jinn demonstrated on Jar Jar Binks , or even to induce sleep and render a person unconscious , as Kylo Ren demonstrated on Rey . Light side abilities . The ability to retain consciousness as Force spirit after death was a rare Force power known only to certain orders such as the Force Priestesses and a select few Jedi . Use of this ability required special training , but one who mastered could continue to have influence in the realm of the living even upon the death of their physical body . Luke Skywalker displayed the ability to astral project across the galaxy , sending a lifelike image of himself to another planet . This projection was so realistic that Kylo Ren could not detect the deception until he tried and failed to strike Luke down with a lightsaber . However , the strain of creating such a projection proved to be fatal for Luke . Dark side abilities . Users of the dark side of the Force , such as the Sith , drew upon feelings of hatred and anger , as well as thoughts of greater power , to make use of abilities not practiced by those such as the Jedi . Darth Plagueis was a powerful Sith Lord so skilled in the dark side of the Force that he was able manipulate midi - chlorian s to create life itself .