Light side of the Force/Legends

"A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense. Never for attack."

- Yoda

The Ashla, also and most commonly known as light side of the Force, was the side of the Force aligned with honesty, compassion, mercy, and self-sacrifice. For the most part, the Jedi simply refer to this as the Force.

Definition


The largest group of proponents and teachers of the light side were the Jedi Order, who strove to maintain peace and justice throughout the Galaxy. The Jedi were well aware of the dangers of the dark side of the Force and frowned upon its use, as it represented corruption and a disregard for the natural order of the universe. The dark side was considered the domain of the Sith, whom the Jedi attempted to destroy in order to keep the Force in balance. The Jedi embodied their feelings about the Force in their Jedi Code.

The Force played a large part in the Jedi use of a lightsaber, giving them a heightened awareness that kept them from accidentally injuring themselves in combat and allowing them to perform other feats, such as using a lightsaber to deflect incoming fire (as from a blaster bolt). The Force came into play during the construction of a Jedi's lightsaber as well, both while assembling its intricate innards and with the initial charging of the power cell. With experience, there were possibly infinite things a Jedi could achieve through use of the light side. The Jedi used their powers to gain greater knowledge as a contrast to their ancient enemies, the Sith. Whereas the Sith would use their powers to try to rule the Galaxy the Jedi would use their power to fight in its defense and guide it, although this difference did not always appear so clear-cut. Many people thought that when the Jedi Order was offering guidance, they were trying to persuade the rulers of the Republic to do what they thought was best.

Notable light side users

 * Yoda
 * Mace Windu
 * Obi-Wan Kenobi
 * Anakin Skywalker
 * Luke Skywalker
 * Revan
 * Lord Hoth
 * Kit Fisto
 * Ki-Adi-Mundi
 * Plo Koon
 * Shaak Ti
 * Yaddle
 * Barriss Offee
 * Aayla Secura
 * Qui-Gon Jinn
 * Lowbacca
 * Cin Drallig
 * Jedi Exile
 * Luminara Unduli
 * Bastila Shan
 * Kyle Katarn
 * Vandar Tokare
 * Juhani
 * Zhar Lestin
 * Jacen Solo
 * Ben Skywalker
 * Anakin Solo
 * Count Dooku
 * Kavar
 * Quinlan Vos
 * Mara Jade Skywalker
 * Jaina Solo
 * Cade Skywalker
 * Roan Shryne
 * Ferus Olin
 * Vrook Lamar
 * Agen Kolar
 * Jaden Korr

Notable Orders of the light side

 * Jedi
 * Baran Do
 * Bendu
 * Bendu monk
 * Chatos Academy

Nature of the light side
The light side of the Force was aligned with happiness, joy, love (as an abstract concept of open love for all, and not as a possessive or romantic love, which can lead to powerful emotions...a Sith trait), and benevolence, which some believed nurtured the light side and provided insight into its ethical uses. It was generally concerned with the ideas of good, generosity, healing, and wisdom, instead of anger and hasty judgment. In order to achieve harmony with the light side of the Force, its practitioners would often meditate to clear themselves of emotion; particularly negative emotions such as aggression, anger, and hatred, since these were thought to bring on acceptance of the dark side.

Strangely enough, and despite obvious contradictions, the light side was treated as being both a semi-intelligent entity with definite intentions and a non-sentient essence of good. Which view was embraced appears to have been a personal decision. According to the self-aware interpretation, the light side was held to actively influence events to the degree that some Jedi thought of themselves as mere "tools" of the Force. Though this implied a level of no choice regarding an individual's fate, the Jedi, as leading proponents of the light side, insisted that it was rather "the ultimate free will". This they explained as being because the Force (at least the light side) did not compel anyone. A destiny could be accepted or spurned. And all choices along the way were free to make.

Since Ashla was also the name of the Force itself, before referring only in the light side, it could mean that the light side is also the 'normal' nature of the Force; this view was shared by the Potentium followers who misinterpreted it by stating that since the Force was inherently good, the Dark side was not evil either.

Known light side Force powers and techniques
The light side of the Force was generally harder to use than the dark side, this being because dark side Force Powers are all aggressive and easily fueled by anger and hatred. This allowed dark siders to advance faster, but they were no more powerful than the light-siders. Light side Force abilities are all defensive and passive in nature. While there are light side abilities for increasing ones strength or courage, or incapacitating an enemy, none of them are truly aggressive (with the exception of Electric Judgment).
 * Force Healing
 * Ray
 * Electric Judgment
 * Mind trick
 *  Force Persuasion
 * Force Projection
 * Force Meld
 * Hibernation Trance
 * Combustion
 * Alter Environment
 * Force Protection
 * Protection Bubble
 * Force Defend
 * Force Absorb
 * Dissipate Energy
 * Force Blinding
 * Malacia
 * Battlemind
 * Morichro
 * Force Stun
 * Force Stasis
 * Force Valor
 * Force Light
 * Force Enlightenment
 * Revitalize
 * Animal Friendship
 * Battle Precognition
 * Droid Disable
 * Force Sight

Nature of light side users
Most beings who have used the light side of the Force have known its calming abilities. The Jedi try to maintain calm at all times, even under intense stress. They had the ability to calm animals and people, and increase morale with just their minds. Almost every Force user has had a run in with the dark side of the Force, and used the light side's abilities to restore their normal tranquility. Some Force users that have used this ability are as follows.
 * Obi-Wan Kenobi, after losing Qui-Gon Jinn to Darth Maul.
 * Luke Skywalker, in a duel with his father Darth Vader, before stating he was a Jedi, like his father before him.
 * Kyle Katarn, when Maw told him that he killed his father
 * Jaden Korr, when he confronted Rosh Penin after learning his treachery against the Jedi Order
 * Ki-Adi-Mundi, when he recovered his daughter from Jabba the Hutt.
 * Revan, when he was begged to return to his former life as Dark Lord of the Sith by the Sith apprentice Bastila Shan.

The Chosen One
"He is The Chosen One, you must see it"

- Qui-Gon Jinn to the Jedi Council

An ancient prophecy foretold of a being who would bring balance to the Force and destroy the Sith. This being was believed to be Anakin Skywalker as his blood contained the greatest amount of midi-chlorians ever measured by the Jedi Council. Found on Tatooine by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, Anakin proved to him that he had extensive Force abilities without Force training. The most obvious was to ability to compete in podraces which required tremendous reflexes, reflexes which only a Human Jedi could have. After he joined the Jedi Order, Anakin sped through his training due to his strong affinity with the Force but, unfortunately, fell to the dark side. However, Anakin did fulfill this prophecy even after he embraced the dark side by destroying his master in the love for his son. Anakin was badly wounded in the act and knowing death was near, asked to look at his son with his own eyes. After Anakin died the prophecy had come true, as he had restored balance to the Force by destroying the two Sith Darth Vader and Darth Sidious.

Behind the scenes

 * Ashla was the name given to the light side of the Force in early drafts of Star Wars and was established as canon in the Expanded Universe by the Power of the Jedi Sourcebook.
 * The Power of the Jedi Sourcebook states that the Potentium (the view that the Force is one, and its sides are just a matter of choice of Force powers) is a corrupt, misguided philosophy, thus being the first official source to establish that the Light Side reflects the true nature of the Force.

Appearances

 * Almost all stories in the Star Wars Universe (including the movies).