"I used to wonder about that myself. Thought it was a bunch of mumbo jumbo. A magical power holding together good and evil, the dark side and the light. Crazy thing is... it's true. The Force, the Jedi. All of it. It's all true." ―Han Solo; Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
The Force is a universal energy field that surrounds, penetrates, and binds the galaxy and all living beings together. It can also be tapped and manipulated by Force Adepts; beings with an advanced connection to this energy field.
There have been many such Adepts populating the Known Galaxy and have formed various religious and philosophical sects ranging from the Nightsisters and the Bendu over the millennia. But the most prominent ones included the Jedi and the Sith who have frequently been at odds with each other and have resulted in terrible struggles across the galaxy.
Background[]
The Force Rocks!
The Force is a fictional metaphysical, supernatural, and spiritual power in the Star Wars Franchise that was created by George Lucas.
First appearing in the space opera film, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope; the Force was proclaimed to be an “energy field that is created by all living things” and that it “surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together”.
The creator of Star Wars, George Lucas stated that he wanted to “awaken a certain kind of spirituality” in the audience. For that, he conceived of the concept of a universal good and evil with a belief in God and a higher power without specifically endorsing any specific denomination or deity. He reputedly drew inspiration from various sources including the ancient Chinese concept of ch'i.
The various media of the Star Wars Franchise has developed the concept that all sentient and living beings are part of the Force itself and it exists throughout the universe that often defies scientific or rational explanation. However for most living beings, they are either untutored or incapable of tapping it directly and simply use it intuitively. Some individuals have flashes of insight, hunches, or are simply phenomenally "lucky" but are actually drawing upon the Force unconsciously to a limited degree.
There are also some very rare individuals who known as Force Sensitives—they have the ability to tap into the Force itself and harness the power for various feats such as telekinesis, telepathy, and extrasensory perception. It is roughly estimated that of the entire population of the Galaxy, less than one fraction of a percent are Force Sensitive.
Through training, meditation, and practice; such Force Sensitives can evolve their powers and skills to heighten their strength and speed as well as manipulate energy on an unprecedented scale and are considered Force Adepts. It has been stated that the Force is infinite and there is literally nothing that it cannot do; the only limitation is the Force Adept themselves in their training, skill, talent, and belief.
However the greater their powers, the more that Force Sensitives are affected by their emotions which influence them and their powers resulting in the development of two separate philosophical branches exemplified as the Light Side and the Dark Side of the Force.
THE LIGHT SIDE
The Light Side of the Force is the facet that is aligned with compassion, selflessness, and benevolence. The Jedi Order in particular is deeply concerned with striving to serve the Light Side of the Force. They sought to live in harmony with nature and to bring forth understanding, knowledge, and order to others and thus the universe around them.
Although widely considered to be great warriors and keepers of the law and justice; the Jedi Order was actually originally a monastic order dedicated towards healing and the promotion of knowledge. They view themselves as servants to the Force and the Galaxy itself.
THE DARK SIDE
The Dark Side of the Force is the counterpart of the Light and is aligned with hatred, fear, and aggression. The Sith are a corrupted form of the Jedi Order itself who view the Force as nothing more than a tool for them to use—ironically that they often become nothing more than a tool for the Dark Side itself.
The Sith focuses on malice and aggression which made them fierce warriors and experts in destruction. However they lose any sense of mercy or compassion in exchange. Further, the Dark Side uses the emotions of hate to fuel their wielders and is considered incredibly seductive and corrupting.
The Universe itself presents temptations for Force Sensitives for a "quicker and easier" path than the rigorous discipline and meditation that the Light Side demanded. All they had to do was give in to their baser emotions and would gain tremendous power. The cost however was that the Dark Side also appeared to take a grave toll of them and was horribly corrosive to the users themselves; literally burning them out. Through his years of extensively using the Dark Side, Emperor Palpatine appeared to be a horribly aged and wizened figure.
Psychologically, many Dark Siders developed a pathological need to exert control over their environment; literally over everything and everyone. And that anyone who is not under their control is an enemy who must be destroyed. Oftentimes, those who use the Dark Side often turn on one another and destroy each other; which have led some to speculate that in the end; the thing that the Dark Siders hate most of all—is themselves.
