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The Force
The Force is a binding, metaphysical and ubiquitous power that holds enormous importance for many Force-based organizations, such as the monastic Jedi orders and Order of the Dark Hand. The Force is viewed in many different aspects but is primarily divided into the light side and the dark side. The light side of the Force is the facet aligned with compassion, courage, healing, and benevolence, while the dark side of the Force is aligned with hatred, fear, aggression, and malevolence. Some beings believed that the dark side of the Force was more powerful than the light, though it was possible that the dark side was just more tempting to those who used it (or desired to use it). Others thought of the Force as an entity capable of intelligent thought, almost as a sort of god.
Though the Force was thought to flow through every living thing, it could only be harnessed by beings described as "Force-sensitive". This Force-sensitivity was correlated with, and sometimes attributed to, a high count of internal micro-organisms called midi-chlorians that were found in a Force-sensitive's blood: the higher the count, the greater the being's potential Force ability, though there were some exceptions to this rule. Force-sensitive beings were able to tap into the Force to perform acts of great skill and agility as well as control and shape the world around them. Sometimes this ability was described as having a strong Force "aura".
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Light side of the Force
The light side is the aspect of the Force that is aligned with with happiness, joy, love, 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, as opposed to evil, harm, 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 shown to open a Jedi to the possibility of acceptance of the dark side. The light side is treated being both a semi-intelligent entity with definite intentions, capable of actively influence events, and a nonsentient essence of good. The light side is typically seen as the "normal" nature of the Force, with the dark side a perversion that followers of the light side should always endeavour to eradicate.
Dark side of the Force
The dark side of the Force is seen as having been used for selfish purposes, although many dark-siders who were accused of such selfishness claimed that their dark side was simply a means to achieve an end. Some users note that the use of the dark side is a practical matter, as the power it granted is more efficient when performing Force powers. Some believe the dark side to be a more generous than the light, as it provided power, strength, and determination. Regardless of their reasons and excuses, almost all who fell to the dark side did so because they had been faced with challenges and difficulties they felt the light side was incapable of fixing. A major claim of dark-siders was that the stronger, darker emotions that fueled their power also lent them an edge over other Force users. The Jedi, and other groups who held to the light often claimed that the dark side was a shortcut to power, but also to suffering and destruction.
Like the light side, the dark side is often treated as though a semi-sentient entity with purposeful designs. The dark side was known to manifest itself in many different ways, even in the absence of life, which was the supposed source of the Force. Locations where the dark side ran strong were sometimes called dark side nexuses, and could be the result of many different occurrences. These locations were so potent that they could imbue nearby objects with a dark side aura.
Alternate views on the Force
The Living Force
The Living Force, accepted by the majority of light-siders, is thought to be present in most living beings, surrounding and penetrating them, thus making all living things connected by it. Those who believe in the Living Force rely on their instincts and are attuned to living beings around them. The Living Force was viewed as having both the light and dark sides.
The Unifying Force
The concept of the Unifying Force was that the Force is a single entity and has neither a light nor the dark side. The Unifying Force is viewed as a deity that neither has sides nor chooses them, treating all beings equally. In the end, it resulted in Unifying Force supporters trying to fulfill a destiny rather than focusing on here and now, as the Living Force supporter would do.
Potentium
Believers of Potentium say that the potential for light and dark sides resided in the user, not the Force itself. And since there was no dark side, there were no dark side actions or Force techniques; in effect any action, good or evil, could be performed without risk as long as the intent was not evil. Followers of the Potentium see the dark side as something within themselves to be avoided, not something in the Force. They reason that if the Force is the energy that flows through all life, the dark side simply comes from the corruption of sentience. They feel that if they could be perfectly moral, they could be immune to the dark side and therefore use any technique they wanted.
The Insidious Force
Some believe the Force to be akin to some sort of deceptively sinister, indifferent god. They point to the numerous wars fought by countless Force users, as proof that the Force cares nothing for the lives it consumed, so long as balance is achieved. This philosophy emphasizes the belief that neither the light nor dark side is truly superior to the other, and that if people are to be truly free, the Force has to be eliminated from the galaxy.
Force abilities
Manifestations of the Force, which were mentally-based abilities and tapped through the practitioner's willpower, could take all forms, and included telepathy, psychokinesis, and enhanced physical and metaphysical perception. The Force could be used to bend the will of weak-minded beings and guide an adept's body. Users who were very good at using the Force could cease merely reacting to their surroundings and actually predict events in the very near future, such as the next blow in a duel. The Force can also be used to sedate. In addition to enhancing their own skill, Force users were capable of channeling the energy of The Force directly into the world around them.
