On The Netherworld
The Netherworld could be likened in some religions as heaven, hell, or purgatory – the place a “soul” goes upon death from this existence. For Force users, I believe it is a place that is impossible for our minds to truly conceptualize and understand. Therefore, all we can do is describe its affects and experiences we have with it.
We all know of Force Spirits – apparitions that appear shortly or long after the person’s physical death. Andur Sunrider, Anakin Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine, Exar Kun, Marka Ragnos, Vodo-Siosk Baas, Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi Wan Kenobi, Yoda, and more have all seemed to know of this ability. Usually this means that the Force user has “unfinished business”, a need by the person or the will of the Force to aid others in this physical world to accomplish some task or thwart another’s doings.
We have also seen several examples of people returning from apparent death. I was supposed to have died on Tatooine in my hermit home when I was roughly 210 years old. My health was failing and I disappeared akin to Obi Wan Kenobi. However, some 20 years later, I appeared on Rhen Var and was discovered by my friends Master Azlum and Lady Tal.
My only conclusion is that the Netherworld is some sort of a holding ground for the dead, more notably dead Force users. I will agree with Master Luke Skywalker when he says the following:
“For now, I can only assume that the survival of a Jedi’s consciousness beyond death may have something to do with training, as well as with the will of the Force, or with the individual’s openness to the Force.”
This must be true, and there is a certain Force Spirit skill that certain Jedi (or Dark Jedi) can learn. And Force willing, they can return from the Netherworld to aid those in need.
After much meditation, studying, contemplation, and self-examination, I have come to the conclusion that the Netherworld is indeed a holding ground. It has the ability to allow Force users to return as spirits to aid others. It also apparently has the ability to reject Force users from ultimate union with the Force (death for a Jedi) and place them back in the physical world.
Although this chapter is briefer than one might expect, my conclusion and its implications have broad meaning for the galaxy and for Force users. The will of the Force is indeed what controls our lives, and it also controls our deaths. If the will of the Force wants us to help others even when we are dead, so be it. We may come back as a Force Spirit or a Holocron entry or a new person or our old physical form. Perhaps if we die by certain methods (e.g.: a duel with another Force user, self-inflicted death, etc) we may not be able to return. But in general, all Force users may return depending on the will of the Force.
This is yet another reason we put our trust and our destiny in the will of the Force. It is by following this will that we learn our true path and do what is necessary. If we try to control that destiny, we shorten our lives, cost the lives of others, and lessen the chance that our own desires will be met. The will of the Force will win out in the end, after all, whether we’re alive, dead, a spirit, or reborn.
We all know of Force Spirits – apparitions that appear shortly or long after the person’s physical death. Andur Sunrider, Anakin Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine, Exar Kun, Marka Ragnos, Vodo-Siosk Baas, Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi Wan Kenobi, Yoda, and more have all seemed to know of this ability. Usually this means that the Force user has “unfinished business”, a need by the person or the will of the Force to aid others in this physical world to accomplish some task or thwart another’s doings.
We have also seen several examples of people returning from apparent death. I was supposed to have died on Tatooine in my hermit home when I was roughly 210 years old. My health was failing and I disappeared akin to Obi Wan Kenobi. However, some 20 years later, I appeared on Rhen Var and was discovered by my friends Master Azlum and Lady Tal.
My only conclusion is that the Netherworld is some sort of a holding ground for the dead, more notably dead Force users. I will agree with Master Luke Skywalker when he says the following:
“For now, I can only assume that the survival of a Jedi’s consciousness beyond death may have something to do with training, as well as with the will of the Force, or with the individual’s openness to the Force.”
This must be true, and there is a certain Force Spirit skill that certain Jedi (or Dark Jedi) can learn. And Force willing, they can return from the Netherworld to aid those in need.
After much meditation, studying, contemplation, and self-examination, I have come to the conclusion that the Netherworld is indeed a holding ground. It has the ability to allow Force users to return as spirits to aid others. It also apparently has the ability to reject Force users from ultimate union with the Force (death for a Jedi) and place them back in the physical world.
Although this chapter is briefer than one might expect, my conclusion and its implications have broad meaning for the galaxy and for Force users. The will of the Force is indeed what controls our lives, and it also controls our deaths. If the will of the Force wants us to help others even when we are dead, so be it. We may come back as a Force Spirit or a Holocron entry or a new person or our old physical form. Perhaps if we die by certain methods (e.g.: a duel with another Force user, self-inflicted death, etc) we may not be able to return. But in general, all Force users may return depending on the will of the Force.
This is yet another reason we put our trust and our destiny in the will of the Force. It is by following this will that we learn our true path and do what is necessary. If we try to control that destiny, we shorten our lives, cost the lives of others, and lessen the chance that our own desires will be met. The will of the Force will win out in the end, after all, whether we’re alive, dead, a spirit, or reborn.