The Force

"*You can't change the river's flow by casting a stone; but live in harmony with nature and you'll change together. The people of this world know that well. You know that the breath of life becomes wind and will always respond. Magina, may you rise, and… may the Force be with you.*"
―An unknown Jedi
**The Force** was an energy field created by life that permeated and bound the multiverse together. It had existed for billions of years, so long that scholars could not agree when and where civilizations first became aware of its presence. As a result, a multitude of cultures had their own names for the Force. The most ancient of these were the **Ashla**, the **Bogan**, and the **Bendu**, for the aspects of the Force. Other names for the Force included: the **Life Current**, the **Sight**, the **Luminous Mist**, the **Light Wind**, the **Unity**, the **Magina**, the **White Current**, the **Power**, and the **Source**. The Force was able to communicate its will through microscopic organisms known as midichlorians, which existed in the blood of every living being, as well as the organic material that composed any life form. Beings who experienced a particularly high concentration of midichlorians within them were **Force-sensitive** and could learn to feel and manipulate the Force. Because of its deific power and independent will, the Force spawned countless religions, the most famous being the Jedi and Sith Orders.

The Force had two aspects, the dark side and the light side, which were essential to the balance of the multiverse. The light side of the Force was the Force in its natural balanced state. The dark side of the Force was a perversion of the light driven by negative emotions. Philosophically, the Force had two further divisions: the **Living Force**—created from the energy born of all life—and the **Cosmic Force** which bound that life together and communicated the will of the Force. Just as all life came from the Living Force, all who died transformed into energy and passed into the Cosmic Force.

## Description

"*The Force can be a trickle, a stream, a river, a flood… for* anyone *who can sense it. Think of yourself as a door. The wider you open, the more easily the Force flows through you. Some people just start out with their door a bit more open. But any door can open wide.*"
―Luke Skywalker

Because the Force was created by life it also existed within all life. Those with a high midichlorian count were deemed Force-sensitive (alternatively called **Force wielders** or **Force adepts**) and could exert a degree of influence over the Force, or likewise have a higher degree of its influence exerted upon them. With enough training, a Force wielder could learn to channel the energies of the Force to great purpose, with most either joining the Jedi or Sith Orders, though there were other Force traditions of which they could also become apart.

Sentience was not required for Force-sensitivity, as plant life or even entire worlds could be strong in the Force. The Force could likewise gather in large quantities around certain places or people with great destinies, becoming a **Force vergence** or **locus**. The Chosen One was one such type of vergence, while planets like Ahch-To and Moraband were also vergences aligned with the light and dark sides of the Force respectively.

A being's strength in the Force was random at birth—one could be either strong, average, or weak in the Force. However, strength in the Force was not determined by birthright or blood. Instead, those who learned to open themselves up to the Force could achieve greater strength, even more than those with natural talent. For example, Darth Sidious was a Sith Lord of seeming ordinary birth with no discernible destiny or special bloodline. Even so, he rose to be the most powerful Dark Lord of the Sith in the history of the galaxy, rivaling even his strongest Jedi contemporaries.

### Will of the Force

"*It is said that the Force has a will… it has a destiny for us all. I wield it, but it uses us all, and that is abhorent to me. Because I hate the Force. I hate that it seems to have a will, that it would control us to achieve some measure of balance, when countless lives are lost.*"
―Darth Traya

The Force had an unknown degree of sentience, as it was observed to have a will by both practitioners of the light and dark sides of the Force. The exact purpose of the Force's will was not fully understood, even by those who were sensitive and susceptible to its will. The Force did not seem to have a bias, despite light being its natural state, evident by the fact that both light side and dark side adepts could detect the will of the Force in their actions and destinies.

Some Force wielders believed that the Force was apathetic to the struggle between its light and dark halves and instead used the life it was connected to in a continual struggle for its own balance, regardless of the loss of life that struggle caused. Those who adhered to this strain of reasoning often believed that, in spite of the capriciousness the Force could sometimes show, it was impossible for ordinary beings to deny the will of the Force—even when they actively sought to do so. Indeed, the Force was not inherently malevolent or benevolent. Both light and dark — good and evil — were needed in the multiverse; thus, the Force, despite its seeming sentience and the existence of those who attempted to interpret its will, allowed both to exist without trying to excise one or the other.

### Time and the Force

"*Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.*"
―Yoda
Some Force wielders experienced powerful **Force visions**, permitting them to view the past and the future. These visions could come as warnings, guidance, or even be manipulated for malevolent purposes. Visions of the future in particular were known to be vague and unreliable. The existence of shatterpoints, which split the timeline into diverging universes, compounded the difficulty of predicting the future. As a result, some members of the Jedi Order actively warned against over reliance on prophecy and visions. Sith such as Darth Sidious were often more arrogant, believing their visions of the future gave them some measure of control over the galaxy and its denizens, as well as control over their own destinies.

### Disturbances in the Force

"*There is a great disturbance in the Force…*"
―Darth Sidious
Force wielders could sense **disturbances in the Force** caused by a shift in the will of the Force, a tragic event, or a tremendous loss of life. In the case of the latter two, these disturbances were sometimes caused by **wounds in the Force** (sometimes called a **Force echo**) which were themselves the result of the fabric of the Force being torn open by the sheer horror and number of deaths caused. Exceptional Force wielders could even sense an impending shatterpoint, though they could not always sense the direction of events to transpire.

### Force bonds and dyads

"*The life force of your bond… A dyad in the Force. A power like life itself unseen for generations.*"
―Darth Sidious

It was possible for two Force-sensitive individuals to develop strong bonds with one another and thus be connected through the Force itself. Such **Force bonds** linked the destinies of the individuals involved and often caused them to experience the suffering of the one to whom they were bonded. Visions often also accompanied Force bonds, lasting until one or both members of the bond perished. It was possible for Force bonds to be forged artificially, but more commonly, the bonds formed between master and apprentice in the Jedi and Sith Orders. Even more common, at least in the Jedi Order, was the bond between a Force wielder and a kyber crystal. Not only did these bonds dye the crystal a unique color, it was also required for the crystal to be used as the heart of a lightsaber.

The strongest type of Force bond was a **Force dyad** or a **dyad in the Force**. How two Force wielders became linked in such an extraordinarily intimate way was unknown, and dyads were exceedingly rare. In the days of the ancient Sith, dyads were at least somewhat more common, as these Sith operated under the Doctrine of the Dyad which held that the Sith in charge—master and apprentice both—be linked by a dyad. Members of a dyad were capable of communicating across vast distances and even teleporting objects in their vicinity to one another. They were also able to share the tremendous energy generated by their joined life force to heal, even from the brink of death.

## Sides of the Force

### Light side of the Force

"*It matters which side we choose. Even if there will never be more light than darkness. Even if there can be no more joy in the galaxy than there is pain. For every action we undertake, for every word we speak, for every life we touch, it matters. I don't turn toward the light because it means someday I'll win some sort of cosmic game. I turn toward it because it is the light.*"
―Qui-Gon Jinn
The **light side of the Force**, called the **Light** or the **Ashla**, was one of the two sides of the Force and the side most associated with peace, serenity, non-violence, and selflessness. The Jedi Order were the most ardent followers of the Light and believed its only uses were for knowledge, meditation, and defense. Because the light side was the Force in its balanced state, those who touched and wielded it were drawn towards balance and sought to thwart the adherents of the dark side to accomplish this.

Adherents of the Light formed a symbiotic relationship with the Cosmic Force, accepting death as a natural part of the cosmos and rejoicing for those who transformed into its energy. Those who embraced the Light fully, with the proper training, could learn to retain their consciousness after death and obtain eternal life.

### Dark side of the Force

"*The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural. [Darth Plagieus] became so powerful… the only thing he was afraid of was losing his power, which eventually, of course, he did. Unfortunately, he taught his apprentice everything he knew, then his apprentice killed him in his sleep.*"
―Sheev Palpatine
The **dark side of the Force**—called the **Dark**, the **Shadow**, or the **Bogan**—was one of the two sides of the Force and the side most associated with anger, fear, aggression, hatred, and selfishness. The Sith Order were the most strident acolytes of the Shadow and sought to use its to achieve power and control over the galaxy. The dark side of the Force naturally invited strife and thus its adherents were prone to turning on and killing one another to achieve greater power.

Use of the dark side threw the Force out of its natural balance and dramatically altered those who used it. Because it consumed everything, adepts who used the dark side could never use it to achieve balance. Though adherents of the dark side gained the raw power they sought, their paranoia was enhanced, leading them to believe others might take that power from them. This caused them to forget about their allies and loved ones and lash out in hatred. Many acolytes, such as the Sith, sought immortality, but true immortality was impossible to obtain with the dark side, as those who embraced it were never satisfied with their power and alway sought to obtain more. The dark side was also often a pathway to unnatural abilities that greatly corrupted the galaxy and those who would wield them.

### Greyness and the Force

"*Jedi and Sith wield the Ashla and Bogan. The light and the dark. I'm the one in the middle. The Bendu.*"
―Bendu
Despite the existence of Force wielders outside of the dichotomy of Jedi and Sith, and aberrations such as the mysterious entity Bendu, it was not possible to be "grey"—or to wield both the light and the dark sides of the Force in tandem. This was because the dark side inherently corrupted all who touched it, even briefly, and eventually consumed those who used it. A Force wielder could use the light side and dark side independently of one another, especially if one was in the process of a fall to the dark side, but never both at once and never for long periods of time. Once a Force wielder started down the dark path, it would dominate their path unless redeemed to the light.

## Force powers and abilities

 Main article: Force power

"*The Force is not a power you have. It's not about lifting rocks. It's the energy between all things, a tension, a balance, that binds the universe together.*"
―Luke Skywalker to Rey
Force wielders were capable of using their connection to the energy that drove the multiverse to channel supernatural abilities unavailable to ordinary beings. Some basic abilities, such as telekinesis, were instinctual and easier to draw upon. The Force also inherently enhanced the natural abilities of its users, such as their stamina, speed, and strength. Other powers required years if not lifetimes of study and practice.

### Dark magick

"*Magick is a living thing. It arises from blood and trees and mist.*"
―Shelish
**Dark magick** was a unique expression of the Force wielded by the Witches of Dathomir. The women who wielded it were not natural Force wielders, though some could be. Outsiders could also learn to use the magick by consuming a special energized mist that turned their blood to ichor. Despite its name, dark magick could also be wielded by light-siders. It involved the use of rituals, ceremonies, poultices, and incantations to direct the Force; and it drew its power from the core of the planet Dathomir.

## Force traditions in the galaxy

"*The moon of Jedha is sacred to many, including the Jedi.*"
―Creighton Sun

Though the Jedi and Sith Orders were the most famous examples of Force religions in the galaxy, other traditions revered and even worshiped the Force. The most ancient of these traditions was the worship of the so-called "Mortis gods," which appeared to be a family of Force wielders so strong in the Force that they represented its various sides as avatars. The moon Jedha was the site of numerous cults who worshiped the Force and a central place of pilgrimage for all who were Force adepts. There were also alternative dark side traditions, such as the Witches of Dathomir, which practiced a unique and mysterious form of the Force.

## Behind the scenes

The Force is a concept that unifies the multiverse. Therefore, it is the same in every universe, regardless of the other variations. The Force on the *Star Wars* Fan Works Wiki is designed from mostly cannonical sources of information. However, some *Star Wars* Legends material has been incorperated where it does not contradict canon.

## 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 *The Star Wars Book*
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6  The Force in the Databank (backup link)
3. ↑ *Star Wars: Timelines*
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1  Multiverse on the *Star Wars* Fan Works Wiki
5. ↑ *The Village Bride*
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 *Star Wars Rebels: Steps Into Shadow*
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 *Star Wars: The Rise of Kylo Ren*, Issue #3
8. ↑  Ahch-To Jedi Temple in the Databank (backup link)
9. ↑  Moraband in the Databank (backup link)
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 *Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith*
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 *Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords*
12. ↑ *Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace*
13. ↑ George Lucas, *Times* Magazine, 1980
14. ↑ George Lucas, *Times* Magazine, 2002
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 *Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back*
16. ↑  Shatterpoint on the *Star Wars* Fan Works Wiki
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 *Master & Apprentice*
18. ↑ *Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi*
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 *Shattered*
20. ↑ *Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope*
21. ↑ *Aftermath*
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 *Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker*
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 *Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi*
24. ↑ *Sacrifice*
25. ↑  Kyber crystal in the Databank (backup link)
26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 *Star Wars: The Secrets of the Sith*
27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 *Age of Republic - Qui-Gon Jinn 1*
28. ↑ *The Mythology of 'Star Wars' with George Lucas*
29. ↑ Freddy Prinze Jr. on the concept of 'Grey Jedi'
30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 *Jedi: Survivor*
31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 *Star Wars: Uprising*
32. ↑ 32.0 32.1  Nightsisters in the Databank (backup link)
33. ↑  Asajj Ventress in the Databank (backup link)
34. ↑ *Dark Disciple*
35. ↑ *The High Republic: Convergence*
36. ↑  Mortis in the Databank (backup link)
37. ↑ *Rogue One: A Star Wars Story*