The Force binds the galaxy together in Star Wars. The energy field is wielded by those who follow the light side and the dark side, as well as their own paths. It's studied and is the focus of more than one religion, but the Jedi Order is the Force-focused organization we know the best. The pull and use of the Force has been a central component in the Skywalker movies and even had a role to play in Rogue One. But there's more to learn about the Force once you leave the big screen.
If you want to study more about the mythology of the Force, the balance between light and dark, or the difference between the Living Force and the Cosmic Force, you should start by reading and watching these Star Wars stories.
Anakin, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan got pulled to a mystical location in Season 3 of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. In the Mortis trilogy, they met the Father, the Son, and the Daughter. The Son was an avatar of the dark side of the Force, while the Daughter represented the light side. The Father kept them in check and in balance, and he wanted to hand off that duty to Anakin. He was testing whether Anakin could be the Chosen One to keep the Force in tune. The three-part story goes deep on whether the Force should be balanced and what happens if no one maintains it.
If you've ever wondered how Jedi attain the kyber crystals that power their lightsabers, Season 5 of The Clone Wars offered an answer. "The Gathering" featured Ahsoka taking a group of younglings from the temple on Coruscant to Ilum. There, they were sent into the planet's Crystal Caves to locate the crystal for their lightsabers. The story shows how the ritual is an important milestone for an aspiring Jedi and how important trusting the Force is to finding the exact right crystal.
Qui-Gon Jinn found a way to transcend death and continue an existence of sorts. He became a Force ghost and led others through the process so they could follow in his footsteps. The lessons weren't bundled in a special $99.99 kit with all the appropriate tools. No, it was an intense path -- one not meant for everyone. Yoda navigated it in a three-part arc at the end of Season 6, a.k.a. The Lost Missions. The final three episodes of the animated series followed Yoda as he heard Qui-Gon's voice and followed it on a trippy and fascinating journey through the Force.
The Clone Wars arc on Ilum showed how Padawans acquired their lightsaber crystals, but Sith didn't have quite the same experience. Kyber crystals recognize light side Force users and call out to them, whereas dark side users have to already possess a lightsaber or seek out a crystal, usually by stealing it. The Ahsoka novel by E.K. Johnston goes into how kyber crystals bleed in response to being used by dark side Force users and turn red. The story plays into lightsaber lore and the mythology of the Force.
Kanan Jarrus learned the ways of the Force in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, but the location was taken off the table as an academic option with the execution of Order 66. When Kanan attempted to teach Ezra about the Force in Star Wars Rebels, he eventually turned to another Jedi Temple for guidance -- the one on Lothal. They went to the location in Seasons 1 and 2 in the episodes "Path of the Jedi" and "Shroud of Darkness." Each time, they had different experiences through Force visions, from communing with Yoda to facing deep-seated fears to learning hard to believe truths. These episodes are rich with all the information a connection to the Force can provide.
The idea of the Force is embraced by many cultures around the Star Wars galaxy, but they don't necessarily call it by the same name. "Legends of the Lasat" from Season 2 of Star Wars Rebels introduced the Lasan take on the energy present in all living things in the galaxy, the Ashla. The Lasan used the Ashla to guide them on a quest of sorts to find the rest of their people. Seeing the ways in which the Force is embraced by others is enlightening and adds depth to the lore.
Chirrut Îmwe's relationship with the Force was part of Rogue One. He couldn't wield the Force, but he could sense it. His spirituality about the topic is explored in greater detail in the middle-grade novel Guardians of the Whills by Greg Rucka. Besides gaining insight about the Force through Chirrut's beliefs and role at the Temple of the Whills on Jedha, each chapter in the book begins with a note about the Force from various sources.
Luke had an intense experience with the Force on Dagobah. During his training with Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back, the Jedi Master sent Luke into a cave, a vergence of the dark side of the Force. It was that same cave that Yoda visited during The Clone Wars arc mentioned above, and in it he had a vision of the end of the Jedi Order and of Darth Sidious.The trip into the cave was like a rite of passage, for both Luke and Yoda.
Which stories about the Force would you recommend? Share your choices in the comments.
Amy Ratcliffe is a writer for IGN. She likes Star Wars a little. You can follow her on on Twitter at @amy_geek.
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