Johauna's homepage, Apprentice Magician
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Johauna's homepage, Apprentice Magician |
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Why be light side ? The nature of our position is that of idealism. We, as Light Jedi, cling to the hope that life can, and will be, better. We cling to the belief that we have an effect through our actions, and that by counteracting negative events, we can turn them into positive ones. This leads to the issue of balance. Much has been made of "Balance" in the force, and the existence of Light and Dark...such as the belief that to have a Light Side, you must have a Dark side...to know love, you must also know hate. But this is simply theoretical. The Force, by our definition of it, does not choose sides. Therefore, it has no "Light" Side, and it has no "Dark" Side. It simply exists, and we, as conduits of this force, use it in "Light" and "Dark" ways. In my personal belief, balancing the force is a way of achieving the purest form that the force may be used in. By doing so, you negate the outside influences. My personal feeling is that the purest way the Force may be used in is for good. By that standpoint, negative uses of the force are an abberation. Of course, there are many different standpoints. Shadow users believe that balance means using the force for both positive and negative reasons, without confining it with rules or using it for a particular ideal. Dark Side force users feel that the force should be used in such a way as to bring power to the user. The Force is a very powerful energy, and can be used in whichever way the user wishes it to be used. This is why we adhere such labels to users...Light Side, Shadow Side, Dark Side...it is not an actual facet of the force, as much as it is a reflection of ourselves. It is a way of classifying the different users of the force into tangible ideals and motives. For me, I am a Light Side Jedi because I believe in optimistic ideals, I believe in humanity, and I feel that we all have an energy that we can tap into as a cohesive world...a universal "power outlet" that we can all use to make the world a better place. That's what we, as Light Side Jedi, must use this to do. We must keep our ideals...we must retain our hope...and we have to continue to believe in something better for everyone as a whole. Meditation To feel the Force flowing through you, you must be an open conduit through which the Force may flow. The question is, how are we, as Force users, better able to condition ourselves in this way? Of course, physical conditioning plays a part in this equation, because a strong body is key to a sound mind. But more important is our mental state. Our mentality is key to opening the uses of the Force...studying the force, using the force, and becoming proficient in the ways of the Force. As Jedi, of course, we prefer to use non-violent means to solve our problems. Based on that alone, mental balance is more important than physical prowess. The way to properly condition ourselves is through meditation. You will find that most people with a balanced mind study some form of meditation, or practice it in unorthodox ways. Meditation for me usually involves sitting cross-legged in a dark room, with no sound or light. By doing this, you cleanse the environment of negative influences. From this point, I like to close my eyes and feel the energy radiate from my body and move around me. If you try this, you will find that you can often enter a trance-like state, through which you control your breathing and heartbeat to the point that they slow down significantly. For some people, Focus, rather than clearing the mind, works better as a meditation. I encourage you to try it both ways...try to relax and feel the energy flow through you, or try to concentrate, and focus your energy on either a mental or physical object of your choosing. Not necessarily to move it, but to feel the connection through this object. I will be posting more lectures on more thorough meditation techniques shortly. If you have any meditation techniques that you have found helpful, feel free to Email them to me, and I may include them in the coming lectures. May the force be with you, and may you use it wisely. JediKnightG
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