Dark side of the Force

The **Dark Side of the Force**, also known as **Bogan**, 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 perhaps the most well known practitioners of the Dark Siide, and were the mortal enemies of the Jedi, who served the Light Side of the Force. There were others, such as the Inquisitorius and the Knights of Ren who, though not Sith, could draw upon the power of the Dark Side. The Celestial being known as the Son was theorized to be the physical embodiment of the Dark Side of the Force.

The Dark Side was described as a roaring fire: obviously powerful, seductive, and potentially dangerous. Darth Revan and Darth Bane mentioned the difference between the two sides of the Force. They claimed that while the Light Side represented the compassion and tranquility of all beings of the galaxy, the Dark Side focused on individual passion and strength. They also mentioned that while the Light Side was about maintaining the status quo, the dark side was about change and evolution. Jedi Master Jarik Shan held the view that the Dark Side itself wasn't inherently evil, rather the ways in which it is utilized by Force-sensitive individuals and groups such as the Sith Order, is what is evil; although not a practitioner of the Dark Side, Shan believed that it was a necessary aspect of the Force in order for there to be balance.

The Dark Side was seen as having been used for selfish purposes, although many dark siders who were accused of such selfishness claimed that the dark side was simply a means to achieve an end. One of the most notable examples was Anakin Skywalker, a Jedi who embraced the Dark Side with the intentions of saving his wife after seeing her die in a vision, even at the expense of the Jedi Order. Many found the Dark Side to be addictive, unable to resist its pull the more they were subjected to it. Even as their physical bodies slowly decayed, Dark Side users became more powerful in the Force, such was the case with Sith Lords like Darth Sidious and Darth Vitiate. However, some users noted that the use of the Dark Side was a practical matter, as the power it granted was more efficient when performing destructive Force powers like telekinesis. Like the Light Side, the Dark Side was often treated as a semi-sentient entity with purposeful designs.

It has been theorized by some that there is no such thing as the Dark Side but only malevolent intent in the user, since most Dark Side users already possessed negative intentions or else fell victim to the temptations of absolute power and domination. Darth Sidious also hinted that there was truly only one Force that was above such things as "positive and negative, black and white, good and evil." He stated that the only difference was that the Jedi saw the Force as a power in itself, while the Sith believed it was a means to power. This theory was fervently opposed by the Jedi Master Yoda. Additionally, Darth Plagueis believed that there were distinct differences between the energies of the Light and Dark Sides as well as distinct differences in how one drew upon each.

## **Appearances**

* *A Visit from Cybertron*
* *Secrets of Jinn*
* *Forbidden Love*
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 1: Beginnings*
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 2: The Clone Wars*
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 3: Revenge of the Sith*
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 4: A Jedi in Exile*
* *Sun and Moon*
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 5: Rebirth*
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 6: Children of the Force*
* *Galactic Civil War*
* *The New Jedi Order*