The Force

This energy field, the Force, served as the bond that held the galaxy together. Distance was insignificant in the face of the Force, which united life forms across the vastness of the galaxy. It was also believed that nothing was impossible for the Force, surpassing the capabilities of any machine. Every living entity in the universe, even the smallest bugs, had a place within the Force. It manifested in two forms: the Living Force and the Cosmic Force. The Living Force embodied the energies of all living things, which flowed into the Cosmic Force, the source from which it originated. The Cosmic Force bound the galaxy and communicated the Force's will through midi-chlorians. Upon death, a life-form would "become one with the Force" by merging with the Cosmic Force, which then empowered the Living Force.

The origins of the Force have been debated by mystics and scholars for ages. Where and when did civilizations first become aware of its power? The answers are numerous, yet none are definitive. Different species had their own names for the Force, metaphors for their perceptions of it, and techniques for mastering its powers. Although only certain individuals were Force-sensitive by birth, and the degree of sensitivity could vary greatly even among siblings, the Force dwelled within all living beings. Ahsoka Tano stated that anyone could learn to harness the Force with enough time and focus. She considered those with natural sensitivity to have a talent for it, but emphasized the importance of discipline. Force-sensitives could sense a "disturbance in the Force" whenever there was a significant loss of life. The Force could be extracted from living beings.

Force-sensitive children without training often excelled in one aspect of the Force rather than many. Alternatively, a being's Force-sensitivity might remain dormant for a portion of their childhood. Yana Ro, reflecting on the Little Utalir, wondered if her Force-sensitivity would develop with age or remain dormant forever. Regardless, Utalir was unaware of her Force-sensitivity until a Nameless sensed her connection and targeted her.

When Princess Xiri A'lbaran asked why the Force wasn't simply "magic," Jedi Knight Gella Nattai described it as being everywhere and encompassing everything, essential to the continuous flow of life. Indeed, the Sunset Prayer of the Guardians of the Whills linked the Force to life, stating that life and the Force were intertwined. The prayer also affirmed the Force's eternal nature. Droids, being mechanical and lacking midi-chlorians, could never sense the Force. Although the Force was omnipresent, even in deep space, it was most potent in areas teeming with life, easily detectable by Force-sensitives. In such locations, individuals did not need to expend time or energy seeking a deep connection to the energy field, as it surrounded them.

Force-sensitivity was generally an inheritable trait passed from parent to offspring, although not always. The Force was strong within both the Skywalker family and the Palpatine family. Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, the twins, were born Force-sensitive, like their father, the Chosen One Anakin Skywalker, as was Organa's son, Ben Solo. Unlike Anakin Skywalker's bloodline, the son of Galactic Emperor Sheev Palpatine—the Sith Lord Darth Sidious—did not inherit his father's connection to the Force. The Emperor's son was an artificial strandcast, a product of the Sith Eternal cult's cloning experiment using Sidious' genetic template. However, the Emperor's cloned son sired a natural-born daughter, Rey, who was Force-sensitive because of her descent from Sidious, her paternal grandfather.

It was possible for siblings born to ordinary parents to have differing levels of Force sensitivity. This was the case with Zare and Dhara Leonis. Dhara could always sense her brother's presence from an early age, but Zare lacked this ability and any other special powers attributable to the Force. "Magick" was an aspect of the Force, with the Nightsister Talzin claiming it allowed her to become a Force user through unnatural means. Contrary to popular belief among non–Force-sensitives, using a Force power required effort, especially for individuals like Ty Yorrick who had experienced trauma. Negative emotions also hindered light side users, creating a vulnerability that Marchion Ro exploited by surrounding an imprisoned Jedi Master with constant torture to weaken his connection to the Force.

The study of the Force was a lifelong pursuit for a Jedi. While Luke Skywalker dedicated his life to the Force, his sister chose her family and political career over completing her Jedi training and embracing the Jedi lifestyle. The Jedi Code forbade members of the Jedi Order from forming personal relationships. Although the Code promoted compassion for all life, it prohibited romantic love due to the risks of attachment, such as the fear of loss. Jedi of the Republic Era were identified by their midi-chlorian levels. The Force-sensitive population of the Galactic Republic was more easily identifiable than those in territories outside the Republic's domain. The Order sought to protect its members from fear, anger, hatred, and other emotions deemed dangerous. Consequently, the Order preferred recruiting younglings, although exceptions could be made for older children at the discretion of the Jedi High Council.

A Force-bond was a connection between two Force-sensitive individuals. The bond between a Force dyad was exceptionally rare and powerful, akin to life itself. A Force-bond spanned space and time, enabling bonded Force-sensitives to communicate over vast distances, such as between separate planets across the galaxy. During the High Republic Era, Jedi Master Avar Kriss possessed a rare ability to connect and strengthen natural connections, creating what essentially became a communication network. Although it was imprecise and best for conveying locations or sensations, dozens of Jedi could be incorporated into the network, allowing for better coordination.

Different beings perceived the Force differently. Kriss viewed it as a song, while Jedi Knight Elzar Mann, knowing the Force was eternal, saw it as an endless, deep, storm-tossed ocean. The Wookiee Burryaga Agaburry envisioned it as a massive tree with deep roots and high branches, and Jedi Douglas Sunvale likened it to an interlocking series of gears made from countless materials. Master Loden Greatstorm felt using the Force was like dancing with the wind, while his Padawan, Bell Zettifar, thought of it as dancing with fire. According to Chirrut Îmwe of the Guardians of the Whills, the Force moved darkly around any being about to kill. Despite the beliefs of the Path of the Open Hand, the Force could not be "damaged" by "overuse" by Force users. The Path mistakenly believed that the Force would strike back to restore balance if used. For example, they thought that if the Force was used to save a life in one place, it would arrange for another life or several more to be taken elsewhere for balance. Thus, the Path believed the Force needed to be "freed" from use and that Force users were abusing it.

Although the Force exists in all living things, its perception varies among species. For the Chiss, the Force is called Third or Second Sight and is used for lightspeed travel. Force-sensitivity in a Chiss is rare and fades during their teens. The Magys view it solely as the Beyond, the afterlife. The Nightsisters see it as Magick, gained through the lands of Dathomir. Regardless of cultural perception, the Force is always present, whether a being is Force-sensitive or not, existing in the living flora and fauna throughout the galaxy, everywhere.

The Force bestowed a multitude of supernatural powers upon Force-sensitives such as the Jedi and the Sith, as well as entities like the Bendu and the Mortis gods. A being's potential to manipulate the Force was determined by their midi-chlorian count. Non-Force-sensitive members of the Path of the Open Hand unexpectedly gained the ability to feel the Force upon arriving on the living world of "Planet X." Prolonged exposure resulted in Shea Ganandra and Bokana Koss developing Force powers. Koss died before leaving the world, but Ganandra escaped Planet X only to have her Force-sensitivity vanish as quickly as it appeared. The world was protected by a veil that nearly destroyed their ship when they tried to pass through it. Upon entering the Veil, Calar, a Force-sensitive Setaran, panicked and demanded they turn back, foreseeing their actions would unleash a great danger upon the galaxy. Realizing the Veil would target Force users, Calar even attempted to destroy himself and his companions to save the galaxy. While on Planet X, Koss also foresaw the Under-Dwellers spreading as a blight and destroying the Force itself.

Among their psychic abilities, Force-sensitives could perform telekinesis, mental manipulation, induce sleep, and see the future. The clairvoyant aspect of the Force allowed Jedi mystics and other seers to predict events far into the future, forming prophecies about the Chosen One or the Force dyad in the Sith Eternal's lore. Force users' precognition enabled them to anticipate attacks and even navigate a ship through hyperspace.

Improved reflexes were an immediate benefit of a Force-sensitive's precognitive senses. Even without training, an untrained child could develop Jedi-like traits. The Force could also enhance physical vitality, strength, mobility, and resilience, enabling Force-sensitives to crush objects, jump across great distances, levitate, or survive otherwise fatal injuries. During the duel on Kef Bir, Rey and Kylo Ren tapped into the Force to enhance their speed, agility, and other physical attributes. While Rey had a slight speed advantage, Ren was physically stronger.

While some Force techniques were common to both the dark and light sides, certain powers were exclusive to each side. Jedi younglings were taught that the Force could be used for protection, persuasion, wisdom, manipulating matter, and performing great physical feats.

Jedi harnessed the light side through peace and calmness, while the Sith relied on their passion for strength, granting them access to abilities considered unnatural. Force lightning was a dark side ability used to torture, disfigure, and kill. Force choke was another dark side power; by visualizing it, the user could strangle a victim to intimidate or kill them. While the Jedi used mind tricks to gently influence weak minds, the dark side could be used to force one's way into a victim's mind. Both sides offered ways to preserve consciousness after death. Darksiders could transfer their souls into new bodies or bind their spirits to relics. Those who served the light could become Force spirits, achieving immortality by retaining their identities after becoming one with the Force.

The Force has been a documented concept in the galaxy for well over twenty-five thousand years before the Galactic Civil War, with distinct schools of thought developing independently on countless planets. The midi-chlorians, linking the Living Force to the Cosmic Force and enabling Force-sensitives to perceive the Force's will, originated on the Wellspring of Life. Many beings held different myths about the Force's origins and the proper ways to wield and interpret it. The Jedi Order once had similar stories, but they were lost during a dark age.

Some believed the Force originated from Mortis. Others suspected the Force created the galaxy because of its complexity and beauty, but this theory remains unproven. Over time, the Jedi Order became the most renowned organization practicing the Force, although many other religions, orthodoxies, and observances existed, even among those who did not control or manipulate the energy field, such as the Guardians of the Whills, who greatly respected the Jedi. The Jedi believed they were instruments of the Force's will, carrying out what they perceived to be its intentions.

Thousands of years before the Clone Wars, the Jedi Order's unity was shattered by a rogue Jedi who believed the Force's true power could only be achieved through passion, not the Jedi's calmness. The Jedi High Council rejected this, and the fallen Jedi was banished. However, a group of renegade Jedi followed the rogue into exile, leading to the Hundred-Year Darkness and the rise of the Sith Order.

The schism between the Jedi and Sith led to the Force being seen as divided between their philosophies: the Jedi's selfless service and defense of others became the light side, while the Sith's use of emotion and violence became the dark side.

As the divide between the Jedi and Sith deepened, their animosity escalated into open conflict, each vying for galactic dominance and the imposition of their respective Force philosophies. Throughout the Old Republic era, the Sith and Jedi engaged in countless wars, each seeking the other's annihilation. Numerous significant battles transpired between these warring factions, leading to the discovery, and subsequent loss, of various Force techniques. The Sith also practiced sacrificing Jedi within ancient chambers on their Moraband homeworld, forever staining these locations with the darkness of their actions. These dark arts were also employed by the Sith to engineer monstrous creatures, such as the Sith snakes, which persisted on Moraband until the Clone Wars.

The conflicts between the Sith and Jedi persisted for centuries, leaving several galactic worlds devastated. Moraband, eventually abandoned by the Sith, and Malachor, the site of a devastating battle that left the planet desolate with no survivors, are prime examples. The Sith tombs within the Valley of the Dark Lords also bore the marks of the dark deeds committed by those interred within.

Lightsabers, powered by kyber crystals, unique crystals deeply connected to the Force, served as the primary weapons for both Jedi and Sith. In addition to their focus on the dark side, the Sith also devoted themselves to constructing superweapons capable of planetary destruction, sometimes utilizing massive kyber crystals as their power source. Consequently, securing control of the source of kyber crystals, with their inherent Force connection, became a critical objective for both sides.

Ultimately, near the end of the Old Republic, internal strife decimated the Sith, allowing the Jedi to emerge victorious. From the ashes of the previous Republic, a modern Galactic Republic arose, guided by the Jedi as their guardians and advisors. This new Republic expanded throughout the galaxy, ushering in an era of peace and prosperity that would endure for a millennium.

Hailing from the planet Dalna, the Path of the Open Hand cult believed that the Force provided for all, but mistakenly thought that it shouldn't be used. The Path believed the Force must be "freed" from use, fearing that its use would trigger a universal backlash, meaning any act of saving someone with the Force would result in equal destruction. This belief led the Path into conflict with the Jedi, and they released the Nameless known as the Great Leveler. Force-sensitive individuals were permitted to join the Path, but they were forced to suppress their natural abilities to adhere to the cult's doctrines.

In 382 BBY, the Path exploited religious tensions among Jedha's faiths, instigating riots to provide the Children of the Open Hand with an opportunity to steal the Rod of Daybreak, which would enhance their control over the Nameless. These riots, coupled with the breakdown of peace talks between the warring worlds of E'ronoh and Eiram—whose treaty was planned to be signed on Jedha due to its neutral status until the Path interfered—resulted in the Battle of Jedha, inflicting significant damage upon the Holy City. Although an uneasy peace settled over the city after the battle, various religious groups united to aid in its reconstruction. Subsequently, the Path embarked on a mission to Planet X to acquire more Nameless eggs, during which their ships penetrated "the Veil" surrounding the planet. During the perilous journey through the Veil, Calar, a Force-sensitive member of the expedition, panicked, claiming that their actions would result in the Force being "chained," killed, and "consumed" along with everything else.

Calar attempted to destroy their vessel using his Force abilities, but Radicaz Dobbs, the pilot, killed him before he could succeed. After crash-landing, the Path team—which included Guide of the Open Hand Marda Ro, who was troubled by the presence of a Force-sensitive individual within their ranks—discovered several Nameless eggs thanks to Bokana Koss, who unlocked his own Force powers due to the planet's unique properties. Ro was appalled by Koss's Force abilities, viewing him as defying the Path's principles, similar to Calar. Koss, however, experienced a terrifying vision that their actions would aid beings known as the Under-Dwellers, and like Calar, he feared an impending blight that would chain and destroy the Force itself. He managed to suppress this feeling when an Under-Dweller attacked. The protector defeated the Under-Dweller but then attempted to prevent the Path team from leaving, with Koss's sacrifice being the only thing that enabled their escape. The Veil then tried to prevent their escape from Planet X, but engineer Shea Ganandra, who also unlocked Force-sensitivity within herself thanks to Planet X, plotted a successful hyperspace course back to Dalna.

Meanwhile, under the Mother's continued leadership, the Path underwent radicalization, transforming into a militant faction determined to 'reclaim' the Force from the supposed tyranny of the Jedi. Ro completed this transformation by reforming the Path into a Closed Fist ready to wage war upon the Jedi. Despite unleashing more Nameless in the battle, the Path would soon meet its end with the Battle of Dalna. During the confrontation, even Ro herself was horrified by the effects of the Nameless and discovered that the Nameless slaughtered Force-sensitive members of her own order, whether or not they actually used the Force, just as willingly as Jedi simply because they were sensitive to it. Further discovering that the Mother was herself a Force user whose only motivation was revenge for not being chosen as a Jedi in her youth, Marda wiped out the collected Nameless with an explosion that only the Leveler survived, with that explosion rippling out and destroying the Path caverns in the process. After killing the Mother for her treason, Marda left to forge a new plan to "free" the Force from use with the Leveler and the Rod of Seasons. Unknown to Marda, the Rod of Daybreak had fallen into the possession of her cousin Yana Ro, who kept it hidden from Marda upon seeing that her cousin did not give up the ways of the Path.

Later, during the High Republic Era, Jedi Knight Elzar Mann's experimentation with various Force techniques expanded the Jedi Order's understanding of the Force. However, the Jedi of that High Republic period were opposed by the Eye of the Nihil, Marchion Ro, a descendant of Marda who inherited his family's revenge mission. Marchion assumed command of the Nihil raiders originally formed by Marda and guided by his family since. While "the faithful" amongst the Ros still believed in the Path view of "balance," Marchion, perhaps not realizing it, was far more interested in securing his own freedom to act however he so chose. Ro claimed that the Jedi thought themselves a group that always acted in ways that were right, only for his family to suffer because of their actions.

During the conflict between the Nihil and the Republic, Ro unleashed the Great Leveler against the Jedi and subsequently deployed other members of the Nameless gathered from Planet X. The Jedi also faced another threat, the Drengir, which possessed a strong connection to the dark side.

Despite the Jedi's triumph over their rivals, the Sith survived thanks to Darth Bane. As the last surviving ancient Sith Lord, Bane established the Rule of Two to prevent further internal conflict within the Sith Order. From that point forward, their ranks would consist of only two members—the Sith Master, who embodied the dark side's power, and the Sith apprentice, who coveted the master's power. It was customary for the apprentice to kill the master to ascend within the dark side of the Force.

Although the Jedi eventually learned of Bane and his philosophy, they were convinced by his death that the Sith had truly become extinct. However, the Rule of Two ensured the survival of the Sith for generations in hiding, plotting their revenge against the Jedi Order and the restoration of Sith rule throughout the galaxy.

During the late Republic Era, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn discovered the prophesied Chosen One in the form of a human child named Anakin Skywalker, whose potential in the Force surpassed all known Jedi including Grand Master Yoda. Honed by Jedi training and wartime experiences, Skywalker's raw strength in the Force made him one of the most powerful Jedi Knights by the time of the Clone Wars. The Clone Wars also shook the balance of the Force with their beginning alone. In the waning days of the war, Darth Sidious's machinations led Skywalker to succumb to the dark side of the Force. Consequently, he betrayed the Jedi and aided the newly formed Galactic Empire in hunting them to near extinction as Darth Vader.

During the Duel on Mustafar, Vader battled his former master and friend, Obi-Wan Kenobi, until Kenobi defeated him and left him to die amidst the lava. Simultaneously, Yoda engaged Sidious in the duel in the Galactic Senate, which forced Yoda to flee. Sensing Vader's peril, Sidious rushed to Mustafar and discovered his apprentice's scarred body, which he transported back to Coruscant. Vader was then encased in a suit of life support armor. Throughout the subsequent Imperial Era, Vader, aided by the Inquisitorius, a group of dark side agents under "the Grand Inquisitor," hunted down surviving Jedi. While Kenobi's later wording implied that, by 9 BBY, not all Inquisitors were former Jedi, the initial group were all former Jedi turned to the dark side by Sidious.

By the time of the invasion of Mon Cala just a year into the Emperor's reign, Vader and the Inquisitorius had already achieved significant success in hunting down Jedi survivors. This invasion marked the emergence of another surviving Jedi, Ferren Barr, who admitted he was not much of a Jedi anymore as he had manipulated the peoples of Mon Cala into fighting and dying in the name of bringing their great starships into a wider, galaxy-wide anti-Imperial effort. While Barr was killed by Vader, his plan succeeded when Admiral Raddus's starships escaped the besieged planet.

Following the Fall of Lasan, Lasat mystic Chava the Wise and former High Honor Guard Gron uncovered a prophecy within the Lasat's ancient writings. Guided by what they believed was the Force, or "Ashla," they embarked on a quest to locate Lira San. Three years before the Battle of Yavin, the Empire captured Chava and Gron. However, Hondo Ohnaka, Ezra Bridger, and the Spectres rescued them. The Lasat prophecy mentioned two figures, "the Fool" and "the Child of Lasan." Chava believed these figures to be Ohnaka and Garazeb Orrelios, a former captain in the High Honor Guard, respectively.

Chava instructed Orrelios to use his bo-rifle in the ancient way with her staff, and with a galactic map provided by C1-10P, they were shown the way to a planet in Wild Space. Believing this world to be the legendary Lira San, they attempted to reach it but were forced to exit hyperspace due to a black hole. Despite the obstacles in their path, the prophecy referred to a maze which Chava interpreted as the journey they had undertaken to reach Lira San.

When confronted by an Imperial light cruiser, Chava saw its commanding officer, ISB Agent Alexsandr Kallus, as "the Warrior" in the prophecy. Refusing to surrender to Kallus, the Spectres used Orrelios' bo-rifle to guide their starship, the Ghost, into the star cluster. Against Kallus' expectations, the Ghost safely navigated the gravity field and ultimately reached the location of Lira San. Chava and Gron settled on the planet, where they found other Lasat refugees, although Orrelios elected to remain with the Spectres and continue fighting the Empire.

The Imperial Era witnessed the near annihilation of the Jedi Order. While some Jedi managed to escape the initial purge, the survivors scattered into hiding as Sidious solidified his position as Emperor. The Galactic Empire undertook a concerted effort to erase the memory of the Jedi from the collective consciousness. The Church of the Force served as an underground movement, preserving faith in the supernatural, but belief in the Force diminished and was met with skepticism, as exemplified by Han Solo. Members of the Empire's military hierarchy viewed the Force as the foundation of an ancient religion with no place in the New Order.

Sometime after the Battle of Atollon and during their time working together, Grand Admiral Thrawn informed Vader that the Chiss Ascendancy, a mysterious empire from the Unknown Regions from which Thrawn originated, employed Force-sensitives as navigators due to their lack of navigation computers. The Chiss referred to the Force as the Sight, and their Force-sensitives were predominantly female, although their sensitivity waned after childhood. These navigators were known as Ozyly-esehembo, translating to "Sky-walker," and were sought after by the forces of the Grysk Hegemony.

Despite Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin's experience in the Clone Wars, where he witnessed the Jedi's use of the Force, he believed that the Jedi Order was extinct and Vader was the last remnant of the Jedi religion. Ultimately, the prophecy of the Chosen One came to fruition when Vader killed Sidious to protect his son, Luke Skywalker, who followed the Jedi path like his father before him. Having fulfilled his destiny at the cost of his life, Anakin Skywalker died and became one with the Force. Through his final actions, the Sith were destroyed and balance was restored to the Force, with Luke emerging as the last of the Jedi in the aftermath of the Battle of Endor.

Although the Jedi prophecy foretold that the Chosen One would bring about the destruction of the Sith, it did not predict the end of the dark side of the Force. With balance restored to the Force, Luke Skywalker gradually dedicated himself to rebuilding the order decimated by his father and the Emperor. Recruiting over a dozen students to train in the ways of the Force, he became the Jedi Master to a new generation of Jedi. Among Skywalker's acolytes was his nephew, Ben Solo, in whom he recognized immense raw potential in the Force. Skywalker hoped that by imparting his knowledge to Solo, the order would flourish once more, and he would not die as the last Jedi.

However, Supreme Leader Snoke, the ruler of the First Order and a powerful practitioner of the Force, noticed Solo's inherent strength. Although Snoke was not a Sith Lord, he was strong with the dark side of the Force. Intrigued by the potential that Solo inherited from his grandfather, Darth Vader, he induced the young Jedi to embrace the dark side. Skywalker sensed the darkness rising in his apprentice's heart and nearly succumbed to the temptation of killing Solo before his future as a dark warrior came to pass. As a result, Solo felt betrayed by his master and proceeded to destroy his Jedi training temple by burning it, killing most of the apprentices. Skywalker survived the destruction, which he felt responsible for, and went into self-imposed exile out of shame for his part in Solo's fall.

Having rejected both his family and the legacy of the Jedi, Solo renounced his birth name and adopted the identity of Kylo Ren—apprentice to the Supreme Leader, warlord and champion of the First Order, and master of the Knights of Ren. But in gaining the former Ben Solo as a disciple, Snoke was concerned that his apprentice's equal in the light would rise as Ren grew stronger in the darkness. Believing Skywalker would be the light's champion, the Supreme Leader hoped that Ren would grow powerful enough to kill his uncle, and therefore, complete the purge that his grandfather began. Snoke had been wrong, however. The one who rose to meet Ren's darkness with light was not Skywalker, but a scavenger from Jakku named Rey. Her encounter with Ren awakened her long-dormant connection to the Force which, combined with Ren's inner conflict, allowed the untrained scavenger to triumph over the dark warrior during the Battle of Starkiller Base.

Ren recovered from his defeat but was castigated by his master for becoming unbalanced and losing to an opponent with no prior experience in lightsaber combat. As he worked to regain his master's faith, Ren discovered that a Force-bond had been formed between himself and Rey, allowing them to commune with each other across the galaxy. The bond became increasingly powerful as their connections grew more frequent, giving Rey insights into Ren's inner turmoil and pain.

After touching hands through the Force, Rey confronted Ren in person with the intention of turning him back to the light. Her arrival resulted in Ren betraying Snoke, assassinating him and later claiming his throne. He wanted to rule the galaxy with Rey, but she rejected his offer and returned to her allies in the Resistance. During the Battle of Crait, the new Supreme Leader was confronted by his former master. Skywalker projected his appearance on Crait from his actual location on Ahch-To, and although the effort led to his death, his stand against the First Order served to inspire hope across the galaxy.

One year after the start of the First Order-Resistance War, the Sith's rebirth was prevented, as Rey killed Darth Sidious, who had been resurrected after his death during the Battle of Endor by transferring his consciousness to a clone body, and the Resistance and Citizens' Fleet defeated the Sith Eternal. The destruction of the Sith ushered in a new era.

Across the vast expanse of the galaxy, diverse groups engaged with the Force, whether through active practice or devout adherence. Among these were the esteemed Jedi and Sith Orders, alongside organizations like the Inquisitorius and the Knights of Ren. Furthermore, the Dagoyan Order consisted of individuals sensitive to the Force, while the Nightsisters and other clans hailing from Dathomir skillfully employed dark-side magick. Groups such as the Church of the Force, the Guardians of the Whills, the Path of the Open Hand, the Frangawl Cult, and the Lasat mystics exemplified entities that venerated the Force or specific aspects thereof. Prince Phan-tu Zenn found that Gella Nattai's description of the Force reminded him of how the Eirami described their god Krel.

While the initial, modest Jedi temple was erected on Ahch-To, the passage of centuries and the expansion of the Jedi Order led to the construction of thousands of increasingly elaborate and distinctive temples throughout the galaxy. The most renowned Jedi Temple, situated on Coruscant, served as both the headquarters for the Jedi High Council and the repository for the extensive collection of information known as the Jedi Archives. Upon the Empire's assumption of galactic control, the Coruscant Temple was transformed into their new Imperial Palace. Imperial forces typically plundered most Jedi temples on other planets for their ancient knowledge before demolishing them. Certain Jedi temples, such as the one on Lothal, remained hidden in plain sight, accessible only to those with a strong connection to the light side of the Force, even though the Empire was never too far behind. The humble stone structures and ominous caves of Ach-To might represent the Order's humble beginnings, but as the Order's influence spread throughout the Galaxy, so did the number of places where the Force could be worshipped - by followers of both the light and dark sides.

The towering spire of the Temple of the Kyber dominated the skyline of Jedha City, extending a welcome to all believers. This temple served as the central hub for the Church of the Force, a group comprising followers without Force-sensitive members who nonetheless adhered to the teachings of the Jedi Order. Despite facing ongoing oppression over the years, the Church of the Force began as an underground movement during a period when the Empire strictly prohibited their form of worship, yet their numbers continued to grow. The Guardians of the Whills, a dwindling order of fiercely loyal warrior monks, protected the Temple of the Kyber until Jedha's Holy City was destroyed when the Empire used the area as a testing ground for the first Death Star Superlaser.

While Jedi temples were prevalent on numerous worlds during the Galactic Republic era, most ancient Sith temples had been buried for a considerable time. One of these ominous, pyramid-shaped structures endured the ages within the caverns beneath the surface of Malachor. This location marked the site of the Great Scourge of Malachor, a devastating massacre that decimated the Sith Order (Sith Empire) long ago. The temple, filled with the fossilized remains of those who perished in battle, remained dormant for millennia until Kanan Jarrus' rebel cell rediscovered it. Visitors to Malachor's hidden temple are said to be overwhelmed by the enduring rage and hatred that permeated the Sith ashes covering the site.

It seems appropriate that Darth Vader's ultimate personal monument was erected near the location of his most devastating defeat. Constructed atop a Sith cave on Mustafar, the lava-covered planet where Obi-Wan Kenobi vanquished his former apprentice and left him to die, this obsidian fortress served as Darth Vader's sanctuary for meditation and recuperation between engagements. The castle's distinctive design was inspired by the designs of the ancient Sith Lord Darth Momin and was specifically attuned to the dark energies of that world to penetrate the boundary between life and death. The loss of Padme had completed Anakin's transformation to the dark side, and finding a way to see her again became Vader's secret obsession for the rest of his days.

By 34 ABY, the majority of the significant Jedi and Sith shrines had vanished from historical record. Even the most ancient, the sacred Jedi Tree on Ach-To, was ultimately reduced to ashes by Grand Master Yoda. However, those who genuinely revere the Force recognize that a temple is not necessary to find it. They need only to look within themselves.

The concept of The Force initially surfaced in the rough draft of the work that would eventually become A New Hope, where it was referred to as "The Force of Others" and was first used by King Kayos. The second draft elaborates on The Force of Others, describing it as consisting of two halves: "Ashla, the good, and Bogan the paraforce or evil part." These terms were later incorporated into canon in Star Wars Rebels; first by the Lasat Chava who refers to the "Ashla" as "the spirit of the galaxy," and later, the Lasat Zeb Orrelios would use "bogen" as a derogatory term for dokma. Finally, Bendu (another word originating from the early drafts) to refer to the Ashla and Bogan both as names for the light and dark sides of the force, respectively.

George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, stated in an interview for The Making of Return of the Jedi that everyone in the Star Wars universe possesses the capacity to learn the Force. However, he noted that only the Jedi "take the time to do it," with other Star Wars works showcasing other Force orders, such as the Sith, that also dedicated time to training. Lucas likened the Force to Yoga or karate: accessible to all, but only pursued by those with genuine interest. The notion that anyone could harness the Force with sufficient dedication was later explored in the series Ahsoka. To address potential confusion, Pablo Hidalgo clarified that the term "Force-sensitive" is akin to possessing talent or aptitude in the field.

A leitmotif of the Force is present. In The Clone Wars, a resonant rumble typically served as the sound effect for the dark side of the Force. In Star Wars Rebels, a high-pitched tone, reminiscent of wind, is employed as the sound effect for the light side of the Force.

In Ronin: A Visions Novel, the Force is reimagined with a white flare and a black current, rather than a dark side and a light side. Author Emma Mieko Candon drew inspiration from the concepts of Taoism and yin/yang to present the Force in a novel manner for the book.