The+Jedi+Way,+The+Dark+Side

The Dark Side
(Return to the Jedi Way) (Return to Literature Archives)

The Dark Side Unlike the light side of the Force, which embraces the whole, the entire focus of the dark side is the self. The appeal of the dark side is its very destructiveness and its isolation. Those who seek power for selfish reasons find comfort in its narcissistic gaze. The dark side emphasizes aggrandizement of self to the exclusion of others. In this way, rage and anger are turned into sources of strength. Many are attracted to the dark side because its selfish nature allows great and showy deeds. The ease with which power is summoned belies its danger, for anger and hatred consume the individual even as one dominates one's surroundings. Ultimately, the dark side rejects the very celestial nature of life itself. To the Jedi, the Force is not a part of their existence; it is their existence. To the student of the dark side, this is incomprehensible. It is not uncommon for the dark side students to go into the wilderness, much as their light side counterpoints do. The crucial difference is that the light Jedi goes into the wilderness to commune with the wild. The dark side follower goes to separate himself from the community of life. There, in isolation, a dark side follower can perfect his or her own oneness with the dark side, and revel in that corruption. Yet, in the dark side are anger and hatred and isolation and... fear. That fear drives the Jedi to isolation, jealousy and the desire to be the most powerful of all. This very predatory nature sparks battles of dominance when several dark Jedi or dark side adepts gather. Sometimes these are violent confrontations, other times they involve subtle mind games or diplomatic discussions; but make no mistake, there will be some attempt to assert control over each other. The violent nature of the dark side often leads to betrayal and bloodshed. The dark side, as far as its servants are concerned, is obviously stronger and easier then the light. The dark side beckons with the promise of easy gain; but there is always a price, always a tribute to its passion. The Jedi is his own worst enemy; the greatest conflict comes from within. The Masters teach them, scold them, and command them to follow reason, not their emotions. The student's greatest achievement is attained through succession, a succession that requires the destruction of the teacher. This is what the dark side teaches us. But what you must always remember is that when you embrace the darkness, you are already a master in the design of fate, humbling yourself as a student. The Force is not humanistic --- it regards myriad beings as straw dogs; dark siders are not humanistic --- they regard people as straw dogs. The Book of Anger This deals with the use of emotion to control the Force. A dark sider often considers anger to be the most potent emotional form. With anger, the Jedi can call upon the dark side, harnessing it for great power and destruction. Dark siders believe that anger and rage; mixed with intelligent control, call upon the dark side with a very fine level of control.The best way to unlock the dark side potential in a dark side student is through the student's rage. By exploring one's anger, one can ultimately learn to conquer it, thus taming the power of the dark side --- instead of being tamed by it. Many claim to have found serenity, and through serenity to have overcome anger. Such arrogance is astounding. These fools have never faced their anger, and thus have no idea whether they have truly overcome it or not. True calm is only achieved through testing the limits of one's anger and passing through unscathed. The capacity for this ability lies within everyone, though most fear to test their own strength, and are thus considered at best weaklings, and at worst irresponsible. The Weakness of Inferiors This deals with establishing control, without violence, over the innocent, the ignorant, and "all inferiors." All Power Comes From Outside The Weak. The weak have never been known to believe in themselves or in their ability to wield power. The Face Of Authority. The weak live as in a dream. The face and the voice that controls this dream govern all their thoughts, actions, and urges. The face and voice they have learned to obey. The face and voice of Authority. The Law Of Fear. A consequence of the first two tenets is that the weak live in fear. The mere suggestion of violence from one in authority is enough to inspire their obedience. How can one who doesn't believe in his own powers stand against the power of another? It is impossible. The Weak Do Not Understand The Force. The Force is the ultimate means to gain authority over the weak. The weak do not understand the Force. The weak do not sense the use of the Force, therefore how can they understand or use the Force? So it is that the weak are at the mercy of those who know and use the power of the Force. The proper use of the Force can inspire awe and obedience in the weak. Inferiors continually endanger their own lives and the lives of others through poor decisions, reckless behavior, and simple inability to engineer the reality of their ambitious dreams. They are like children, crying in frustration because they do not comprehend their own limitations. These weaklings need structure --- to be shown their place in the existing social structure. It is left to the wise and powerful to provide that structure in order for civilization to survive and thrive in the world. Those who cannot --- or will not --- accept that peace and order are far more important then their own selfish desires must be removed from society before they can inflict any lasting damage. It has been said that anyone who knows the ways of the force can set himself up as a King anywhere where only he knows the ways of the Force. Any Jedi could do this. But the Jedi fools that they are, adhere to a religion in which the Force is used only in the service of others. Dark siders have learned that anger and will, joined together, are a formidable power. Dark siders have learned to meditate upon anger and will with clarity and precision. Anger concentrated by will in the vital center of the body creates a portal through which vast energies are released --- the energies of the dark side of the Force. The ability to destroy something is insignificant compared to the power of the Force THE DARK PATH The natural order encompasses balance. Day and night, life and death, light and dark --- each pair represents a different kind of balance. As part of the natural order, the Force follows the same rules. The light embodies peace, knowledge, and serenity. The dark side encompasses fear, anger, and aggression. Both sides exist simultaneously, but not always in balance. Sometimes the light side has predominance; at other times the dark side dominates. When the balance tips too far in either direction, conflict usually results. And in conflict, the dark side flourishes. FOUR STAGES OF THE DARK SIDE There are four stages that Force-users experience when stepping onto the dark path: Temptation, imperilment, submission, and atonement or redemption. Every Force-user eventually goes through at least one stage of the dark side in his efforts to become one with the Force. It is the power-hungry, hate-filled, ambitious, tragic, or evil, however, who experience two or more of these stages of corruption. Temptation The Force offers unimaginable powers to those who can feel its connection to the universe around them and manipulate its subtle lines of energy. Those who are sensitive to the Force live in a larger, more vibrant world than those who can't perceive the omnipresent energy field. The Force-user sees and experiences the universe from a different, larger perspective. Because of this bond, the Force-user has the ability to gain incredible powers using the Force.Through the Sense, Control, and especially Alter stages of learning to manipulate the Force, a force-user opens himself to the first seductive tendrils of the dark side power. Those who believe that might makes right or that shoot first and ask questions later are particularly susceptible to the lure of the dark side. If they prefer to act instead of wait, to give in to fear and anger, to proceed from an aggressive posture instead of a passive one. Then he is well on his way to power in the dark side. Imperilment In most cases at this point the Force-user has already accepted the dark side as being powerful. These are the ones who constantly weigh the moral consequences, who obsess about doing the right thing no matter what the personal cost may be. To them, the dark side presents another weapon in their arsenal against evil, regardless of the fact that each use pushes them closer and closer to the very evil they hope to oppose. Submission When a Force-user gives himself over to the dark side. There are no more restrictions, no more dangers to worry about. It is liberating and exhilarating to give one's self fully to the dark side. Once you accept the dark path, there is no longer any need to justify actions. Now power becomes the goal, and through the use of the dark side all obstacles can be pushed aside. Forget past attachments and former codes of conduct. A dark sider should consider himself a law unto himself. Life begins when the Force-user submits fully to the darkness inside him. Atonement and Redemption A person tainted by the dark side can atone by meditating on his actions, reflecting on them, and seeking to fix them. A person who has submitted fully to the dark side. Cannot atone he must find redemption by turning away from the dark side and performing an act of pure and dramatic unselfishness without calling on the dark side of the Force. This will normally require extreme personal sacrifice. Conquer the temptation to teach students that are superior in every way. The danger of such students being turned against you are to great. Instead, focus on instituting controlling weaknesses into each and every student you train. Make them strong where you are weak, but weak where you are strong. They must have a fatal flaw that you --- and only you --- know how to exploit. And always, without fail, be prepared to destroy your most valued student ... or be prepared to be destroyed by them. Fear attracts the fearful........ the strong, the weak, the innocent,the corrupt. Fear is my Ally. A Dark Sider forgets the past, looking only towards the future. All that matters to him is his dedication to the Dark side. Dark Side trianing is harsh, cruel, and relentless. Every Waking hour is spent learning self-defense and how to harness the power of the dark Side. During training, even the small mistakes can lead to terrible punishments. Starvation, beatings, and exposure to danger are common. An Apprentice must learn that pain can come from anywhere, even from someone they trust. A Dark Side Teacher will often place a student directly in life threatening danger simply to test them... After all a Master of the Dark side would rather lose an unworthy apprentice then train a weakling in the ways of the dark side. Another Mantra of the DarkSide: "There is no pain where strength lies." "The feelings of the powerless do not matter. The feelings of the powerful can be exploited." "Anger is a living thing, feed it and it will grow." "Punishment is a lesson." "You must be prepared to lose your own life in order to win." Darkside Mantra I am the Heart of Darkness. I know no fear, but rather instill it in my enemies. I am the destroyer of worlds. I know the power of the Dark Side. I am the fire of hate. All the Universe bows before me. I pledge myself to the Darkness. For I have found true life, In the death of the light. The Vows that are pledged to the DarkSide Teacher after an initiate takes a successful test and becomes a Warrior. I am the haunter of the embracing dark. I am the bringer of fear. I am the scorner of peace and tranquility. I ride the stormcloud and the night! I seek to crush the commonplace. I seek to strike terror in every heart. I know no cowardess or pity. I seek to be Darkness, in all its manifestations... A Dark Side Code: There is no peace; There is anger. There is no fear; There is power. There is no death; There is immortality There is no weakness; There is the Dark Side