- "When you live to be a thousand, young Farzala, you must learn to watch those you care about grow old and die. But this is what it means to be a Jedi, it means we see the bigger picture. [...] When someone dies what do we say?"
"That they become one with the Force!"
"It's not just a metaphor or poem, young Farzala, to make us feel better. Their passing gives life to the Cosmic Force, from which the Living Force springs. The Force is real, yes? It moves through us, we feel it all around, hm? [...] I miss them all. But I cannot be sad that a loved one has become one with the greatest power in the galaxy, because they remain with us, always, through the Force. Nor can I fear the moment it happens to me." - ―Jedi Master Obratuk Glii explains the Cosmic Force to Padawan Farzala Tarabal
The Cosmic Force was the wellspring from which the Living Force, the energy of all life, sprang into all living things, and into which all life was feeding upon death, becoming one with it.[1][2][3] Together, the Cosmic Force and the Living Force were the two parts making up the energy field created by, and also penetrating and surrounding all living things, that was life, death and rebirth and everything in between[4] - the Force. The Cosmic Force bound all things,[2] through and transcending space and time,[5] and was connected to destiny.[6] Through the Cosmic Force,[7] midi-chlorians birthed in Wellspring of Life, the foundation connecting the Cosmic Force with the Living Force,[3] formed a symbiotic relationship with living beings and communicated to them the will of the Cosmic Force.[5] Because of this will, nothing occurred in the galaxy by accident.[8]
By clearing the mind of any thoughts and acting on instinct, sentient Force wielders could listen to the Force's will[5] and become an instrument of it,[9] fulfilling their predestined path. The Jedi were agents of the Force's will.[5] Let'ij believed the will of the Force desired the flourishing of life, harmony, and community, and was only heard by those who operated as a larger organism, a community.[10] However, all lifeforms attuned to the presence of the Force through the midi-chlorians could hear it.[7]
In death, one chose to enter the Cosmic Force;[7] Leia Skywalker Organa Solo did not pass into the Force until her son Ben Solo died as a redeemed Jedi,[11] where the two entered the Cosmic Force together and found peace at last.[7] Becoming "one with the Force" upon death was not a simple expression; according to Jedi Master Obratuk Glii, an individual's death served to give "life" to the Cosmic Force, which in turn generated the continued existence of the Living Force.[1] Jedi Wayseeker Gella Nattai's understanding of the Force taught her that one who died was not 'truly gone,' as they instead became one with the Force in a way no living being could manage. Beyond that, she could look back on and remember those who passed, which in its own way kept such people alive.[12]
Former Jedi Padawan Verla had a very negative view of the Cosmic Force, labelling the entirety of the Force a "trap" that lured people like her in with promises of power or making a difference in the galaxy. To her, it was a force of "bizarre cosmic goals" that treated such goals as destiny, treating people like herself and Luke Skywalker as mere tools for that will. She feared that following the Force only resulted in being broken and chewed apart. While Skywalker understood her concerns, he was unable to turn his back on the galaxy and believed he was being called to help, much to her annoyance.[13]
As explained by the former Jedi Ahsoka Tano, since the Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus became a part of the Cosmic Force after life, his will could manifest within a loth-wolf, which went by the name of "Dume" and briefly communicated with Jarrus' Padawan learner, Ezra Bridger.[14] After the Galactic Civil War, the Cosmic Force became dormant and was seemingly quieted to those who could sense its presence. Turbulence within the Cosmic Force coincided with the awakening of latent Force abilities in individuals such as Rey[15] and Finn.[16]
Behind the scenes[]
- "Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've created. The ability to destroy a planet, indeed, a whole system, is insignificant compared with the Cosmic Force."
- ―Darth Vader, voiced by David Prowse, in an earlier cut of A New Hope
The Cosmic Force was first identified in[17] Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, albeit in a scene that was deleted from the film by the time of its release in 1977.[18] The term was mentioned by Darth Vader, voiced by David Prowse,[17] as part of the first mention of the Force in one revised 1976 fourth draft of the film.[19] The final cut of the Star Wars film reduces the mention of the Cosmic Force to the Force, and the scene of Vader, who is dubbed by James Earl Jones, is instead placed after the scene on Tatooine where Obi-Wan Kenobi defines the Force to Luke Skywalker.[18]
In canon, the Cosmic Force was first identified in the episode "Voices" from Star Wars: The Clone Wars.[2] In officially released Star Wars media, the Cosmic Force was first identified in the Star Wars Legends novel Coruscant Nights III: Patterns of Force.[20] Author John Jackson Miller claimed that the Unifying Force and Cosmic Force are one in the same, with "Unifying Force" simply the outdated name given to the Cosmic Force concept in older works. Miller described the difference between the Living Force and the Cosmic Force as "here and now" against "the big picture."[21]
Appearances[]
Sources[]
- "Destiny" Episode Guide | The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 18 (Databank A-Z: First Order–Fyrnocks)
- Star Wars: Complete Locations
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 29 (Databank A-Z: Jelucan–Lord Junn)
- Unlimited Power
- The Star Wars Book
- The Star Wars Archives: Episodes I–III, 1999–2005
- "Forces of Nature: The Wild Spaces and Wilder Creatures of the Star Wars Galaxy" — Star Wars Insider 216
- Who Is Ahsoka Tano? on StarWars.com (backup link)
- The Force in the Databank (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The High Republic Adventures (2021) 7
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Voices"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Destiny"
- ↑ The Secrets of the Jedi
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 The Force in the Databank (backup link)
- ↑ "Forces of Nature: The Wild Spaces and Wilder Creatures of the Star Wars Galaxy" — Star Wars Insider 216
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 The Star Wars Book
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace
- ↑ Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Expanded Edition
- ↑ Shadow Fall
- ↑ Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: Expanded Edition
- ↑ The High Republic: Cataclysm
- ↑ Star Wars (2020) 6
- ↑ Star Wars Rebels — "A World Between Worlds"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Rare New Hope Deleted Death Star Meeting Extended- Star Wars Celebration 2017 RARE on the Star Wars Experience Network YouTube channel (backup link)
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
- ↑ Star Wars: The Adventures of Luke Starkiller (Revised Fourth Draft) by Bjorn Wahlberg on www.starwarz.com (March 31, 2010) (archived from the original on November 11, 2020)
- ↑ Coruscant Nights III: Patterns of Force
- ↑ "John Jackson Miller: The Living Prose" — Star Wars Insider 225