There are many reasons why people write books. Star Wars and spirituality. Let me give you one of mine.
It begins with a quote. “The Force is such a fundamental concept that it has universal appeal,” writes journalist Chris Taylor in his book. How Star Wars conquered space. He further stated that the Force is “a secular-age religion that fits very well into modern times precisely because of its lack of detail.” Everyone will be able to add their own layers of meaning. ”
It’s the last part that really touches me. Everyone can add their own layer of meaning.
It’s quite an invitation and even a challenge. It makes you think: What layers of meaning should I add? why?
It is well known that George Lucas was influenced by mythologist Joseph Campbell.Myth, religion, legend, folklore – these are the building blocks of Star Wars universe. Lucas wanted his opera to be a story that draws the viewer in, allowing them to look around and discover what resonates most with them. Finding your own balance between the opposing forces of light and darkness. To take on the challenge of discovering one’s place as a shining being within the single myth of humanity.
“We wanted Star Wars to provide a remote, exotic environment where people’s imaginations could run wild,” Lucas is quoted in an unofficial oral history book. secrets of the force Written by Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman.
I think it’s a spiritual journey. An invitation to use your imagination within the framework of a story that requires you to dabble in concepts such as sacrifice and fate, hope and purpose. These themes resonate in spiritual traditions around the world. It’s not about which tradition we claim.it’s about bringing our stuff Own tradition, our Own We jump into the conversation believing that our story is valuable enough to add “layers of meaning.”
Star Wars It’s a playground where you’ll find more than just laser swords and space wizards. We find something about ourselves, something that speaks to who we are and who we are becoming. We can see a glimpse of our own uniqueness in a universal story.
I am a student of Ignatian spirituality. Ignatian spirituality teaches that the sacred is hidden in all things, that all things can conspire for good if we cultivate the eye to see and the disposition to discern, and most importantly, that all things can conspire for good. It is a reminder of Christian tradition. —Each of us is a lovable creature with infinite potential. The tradition’s namesake, Ignatius of Loyola, was a soldier turned mystic who developed a spiritual system for discerning the forces of light and darkness. Most of it took place while living in caves (although the caves were in Spain, not Dagobah). Ignatius may have been a Jedi.
I’m bringing this tradition into conversation with my own love of Star Wars in my new book. My Life with the Jedi: Star Wars Spirituality. This is not a search for similarities (although they are unavoidable, as suggested in the previous paragraph), but a search for practicality. For our own spiritual journeys, the questions worth asking are not: Did any spiritual leaders live in caves? Rather, What can I learn from a cavernous experience like this for my own journey?
“Unlike a political platform or a religious tract, ‘Star Wars’ doesn’t tell us what to think,” writes Harvard professor Cass R. Sunstein in his entertaining book He writes: A world created by Star Wars. “It invites speculation. You can understand it in different or even contradictory ways.”
I think that’s a good thing. It’s free. Because my spiritual tradition may not be yours. That’s good and right. Just as we bring our own unique perspectives and insights to Star Wars, we each bring our own uniqueness to our own life stories. With books like mine, I hope readers will be inspired to challenge themselves to add their own thoughts rather than finding meaning in exactly the same places as I did. Own their layers of meaning Own A unique life journey. And we all learn from it. We all benefit. We all have opportunities to grow.
That is also a challenge. And I think our shared love of Star Wars is the perfect entry point for making that kind of meaning.
Learn more and get your own copy My Life with the Jedi: Star Wars Spirituality here.
