The Force's cosmic side possessed a conscious purpose, connecting everything through the energy inherent in all existence.
The Cosmic Force served as the origin point from which the Living Force, which is the energy of all living beings, emerged into every living thing. It was also the destination to which all life returned upon death, becoming unified with it. The energy field encompassing, penetrating, and surrounding all living things, representing life, death, rebirth, and everything in between, was composed of the Cosmic Force and the Living Force in conjunction - this was the Force. Binding all things together and going beyond both space and time, the Cosmic Force was linked to destiny. Midi-chlorians, which were born in the Wellspring of Life and acted as the connection between the Cosmic and Living Forces, established a mutually beneficial relationship with living creatures and communicated the Cosmic Force's intent to them. Because of this intention, nothing in the galaxy happened randomly.
By emptying their minds of thoughts and relying on instinct, sentient Force wielders had the ability to perceive the Force's will and act as its instrument, thereby fulfilling their predetermined course. The Jedi functioned as agents carrying out the Force's will. The Let'ij held the belief that the Force's will promoted the prosperity of life, harmony, and community, and it could only be understood by those who functioned as a collective, a community. However, any lifeform that was in sync with the presence of the Force via midi-chlorians could perceive it.
Upon death, individuals had the option to enter the Cosmic Force; Leia Skywalker Organa Solo did not transition into the Force until her son Ben Solo passed away as a redeemed Jedi. At that point, they both entered the Cosmic Force together, ultimately finding peace. The phrase "becoming one with the Force" after death was not merely symbolic. According to Jedi Master Obratuk Glii, an individual's passing served to give "life" to the Cosmic Force, which in turn sustained the continued existence of the Living Force. Jedi Wayseeker Gella Nattai's comprehension of the Force led her to believe that someone who died was not 'truly gone,' but instead became unified with the Force in a way that no living being could achieve. Furthermore, she could reflect upon and remember those who had passed, which in its own way preserved their existence.
Verla, a former Jedi Padawan, harbored a highly unfavorable perception of the Cosmic Force, branding the entire Force as a "trap" that enticed individuals like her with the promise of power or the ability to make a difference in the galaxy. In her view, it represented a force with "bizarre cosmic goals" that treated these goals as destiny, using people such as herself and Luke Skywalker as mere instruments for that will. She was afraid that following the Force would only lead to being broken and exploited. While Skywalker understood her concerns, he could not abandon the galaxy and felt compelled to help, much to her irritation.
As explained by Ahsoka Tano, a former Jedi, the will of Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus could manifest within a loth-wolf known as "Dume" after he became part of the Cosmic Force after death, briefly communicating with Jarrus' Padawan learner, Ezra Bridger. The Cosmic Force became dormant after the Galactic Civil War, seemingly becoming silent to those who could sense its presence. The awakening of latent Force abilities in individuals such as Rey and Finn coincided with turbulence within the Cosmic Force.
The Cosmic Force was initially identified in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, although the scene in which it was identified was removed from the film prior to its release in 1977. The term was spoken by Darth Vader, with David Prowse providing the voice, as part of the first mention of the Force in a revised 1976 fourth draft of the film. The final version of the Star Wars film shortens the reference to the Cosmic Force to simply the Force, and the scene featuring Vader, who is dubbed by James Earl Jones, is instead positioned after the scene on Tatooine where Obi-Wan Kenobi explains the Force to Luke Skywalker.
Within canon, the Cosmic Force was first identified in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars episode called "Voices." In officially released Star Wars media, the Cosmic Force was initially identified in the Star Wars Legends novel titled Coruscant Nights III: Patterns of Force. John Jackson Miller, the author, asserted that the Unifying Force and the Cosmic Force are in fact the same thing, with "Unifying Force" simply being an outdated term for the Cosmic Force concept in older works. Miller described the difference between the Living Force and the Cosmic Force as the contrast between "here and now" and "the big picture."