Wellspring of Life

"*What is this place?*"
"*All that surrounds us is the foundation of life. The birthplace of what your science calls midichlorians. The foundation of what connects the Living Force, and the Cosmic Force.*"
―Yoda and Serenity[src]
The **Wellspring of Life** was a mysterious Force nexus, and a planet which existed in the Z-000/01 system in the Deep Core, near the center of the galaxy. The planet was located not far from Galactic Center, the supermassive black hole which bound the galaxy together. The Wellspring orbited the star Iliosolis, and was located within a thick nebulosity of luminous and colorful gases.

The Wellspring of Life was the homeworld of the midi-chlorians, microscopic lifeforms which created the Force in every living thing. The Wellspring was also the adoptive home to the Priestesses of the Force, a group of five Force-sensitive individuals who dedicated their lives to training people in how to retain consciousness after death, as they did. On the surface, the world appeared to be a desert planet covered with large energy geysers in ravines, but beneath the geysers were floating jungle islands strong with the Living Force.

## Description

### Astrography

The Wellspring of Life was located in the Deep Core region of the galaxy, and was only accessible through a tangled web of hyperspace jumps, due to the Deep Core being tightly-packed with stars. As such, it was not actually located on any true "hyperspace routes." In the Deep Core, the planet was located within the Z-000/01 system, very close to Galactic Center—the supermassive black hole at the galaxy's heart. In the system, it was surrounded in a cloud of luminous, colorful gas.

### Surface

"*So, blocking our scanners, the gas is. But inside, a planet may be.*"
―Yoda[src]
On the surface, the Wellspring of Life was a small planet, roughly the size of Hesperidium, one of the moons of Coruscant. It was a desert world characterized by deep ravines and crevices which had energy geysers within them, and was obscured from view by a thick nebulosity of colorful and luminous gases emanating from the system's star, Iliosolis. The planet was located in the Deep Core, not far from Galactic Center, the supermassive black hole which bound the galaxy together. The geysers were surrounded by soft volcanic stone, and travelling through the geysers would lead one to a different ecosystem beneath the surface.

### Underground

Beneath the energy geysers was a jungle-like terrain of floating islands bathed in soft orange light. The islands were all covered with plant life and some water flowing off the sides in some case. Also floating were large, bouncy fungi called mykiita which could be used to travel from island to island.

## History

### Origin

The Wellspring of Life was an ancient world in the Deep Core, located near to the supermassive black hole called Galactic Center which bound the galaxy together with its immense gravitational pull. The Wellspring was one of the first places in the galaxy to gain life, in the form of the microscopic midi-chlorian lifeforms that created a conduit for the Force to flow through their host.

At some point, the precursor to the Priestesses of the Force went to the world in search of knowledge, and through gaining the "Great Gift," split into five entities: Serenity, Joy, Anger, Confusion, and Sadness. These five entities became the Priestesses, and remained on the world to pass their knowledge on to those who sought the pathway to life after death, such as Revan and Qui-Gon Jinn.

### Clone Wars

#### Yoda's visit

"*You are late. We have been waiting for you, Master Yoda.*"
―Serenity, to Yoda[src]
In 0 BEF, near the conclusion of the Clone Wars, Jedi Grand Master Yoda traveled to the Wellspring of Life after communing with Jinn, who had not entirely completed his training. There, Yoda was greeted by Serenity, the leader of the Priestesses, who brought him to the Cave of the Priestesses where the five Priestesses agreed to begin his training.

Yoda's training began with facing his Force shadow on the Island of Darkness, and conquering the darkness in his soul—achieving true balance with himself. After defeating the shadow, he went to the Valley of Extinction where he had to face his greatest fear, the destruction of the Jedi Order. Once being deemed worthy, the Priestesses granted him the mask of Serenity, and told him to go to Korriban, which he did.

#### Post—visit

"*The source of Qui-Gon Jinn’s voice, found, I did. A wellspring, in the Deep Core. Home to many interesting things, it is. Trials, I took.*"
―Yoda, to the Jedi High Council[src]
After his trial on Korriban had concluded, Yoda returned to Coruscant where he recounted some of his journey to the Jedi High Council, excluding the fact he had learned that the Sith Lord was Chancellor Palpatine until he felt the time was right. After gaining the first mask of Serenity, Yoda would later gain all five masks after undergoing all five trials and being deemed worthy of the Great Gift.

## Locations

### Cave of the Priestesses

 *Main article: Cave of the Priestesses*
The Cave of the Priestesses was a hovel-like structure where the Priestesses of the Force met to discuss possible trainees, including Yoda when he travelled there. It was a cave with circular designs which had the possibility to glow orange when the priestesses were all present.

### Island of Darkness

 *Main article: Island of Darkness*
The Island of Darkness was a place strong with the dark side where possible trainees would travel to face a Force shadow of themselves and ward off their dark side to find true balance. It had many of the same life forms as the other floating jungle islands, but their colors were darker and it was more infused with the dark side.

### Valley of Extinction

 *Main article: Valley of Extinction*
The Valley of Extinction was a cave with an appearance that could be altered by the Priestesses of the Force, and served as the second trial for any trainee where they would have to face their greatest fear.

## Inhabitants

The Wellspring of Life was home to the midi-chlorian species, the building blocks of the Force in the universe. It was also home to the five Priestesses of the Force, although they did not originate on the planet, instead they adopted it as a nexus of the Force to teach others how to manifest their consciousness after death. The planet was also home to zephyryn, super-avians with deep, guttural calls, as well as the massive mykiita mushrooms.

## Appearances

* *Secrets Revealed* Chapter I — *Trial and Sacrifice*
* *Secrets Revealed* Chapter II — *Decisions* (Mentioned only)
* *Secrets Revealed* Chapter IV — *Plans* (Indirect mention only)
* *Soul Searching* Yoda I — *Understanding* (Indirect mention only)

## Sources

* *The Skywalker Saga Supplement*
* *The Astronomy Guide*
* *Mysteries of the Force*

## Notes and references

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 *Secrets Revealed* Chapter I — *Trial and Sacrifice*
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 *The Skywalker Saga Supplement*
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 *The Astronomy Guide*
4. ↑ *Secrets Revealed* Chapter II — *Decisions*
5. ↑ *Soul Searching* Yoda I — *Understanding*