Jediism Explained

By Opie Macleod / K.S. Trout

jediliving.com

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 This Book is Dedicated to Dennis Blundell.

Retired California Highway Patrol. Loving Father. Devoted Husband.

He always encouraged and supported me in the pursuit of my dreams. He had good questions. Kept me
grounded. Taught me the value of financial and social wellness and the balance with each other. More
importantly he taught me the value of just being a good and honest person. Generous and kind with a
great sense of humor, he would have made a great Jedi Master. I will cherish the memories and miss
not making new ones. Love You Dad.

Jediism Explained 2
Table of Contents
Introduction
To the Book ... 01
To the Author ... 02
History
Of the Community ... 03
Of the Terminology ... 07
Philosophy
Development of Jedi Philosophy ... 10
The Core of Jediism … 13
Training
One – The Introduction … 15
Two – The Limits … 19
Three – The Routine … 25
Four – The Core … 32
Five – The Realities … 39
Six – The Reminder ... 45
Seven – The Next Steps … 48
Addition Lectures
The Jedi Method (Jedi Ethics) … 49
Robes, Lightsabers, and Temples – Oh My … 51
The Dark Side … 52
Discovering the Force … 53
Religion ... 55
Resources and Legal
Author Acknowledgments … 56
Jedi Training Resources … 57
Citations … 57
Legal … 58

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Introduction to the Book
Welcome dear Jedi (or simply curious browser of books). I feel it is important to take advantage
of book previews (limited in online formats) and the precious seconds a reader offers to examine the
introduction section. So I want to offer what this book is in a nutshell. It is an examination of the Jedi
Lifestyle as often labeled as Jediism. What this means is simply looking at a path which took the
inspiration of the Jedi Knights from Star Wars and seeks to live by the core ideals expressed by the Jedi
Order in the various media forms. Okay, let us try that again. Being a Jedi simply means living a life
dedicated to world-betterment through self-betterment which is wrapped up in Star Wars terminology.
While we fully understand Star Wars is a fictional universe and that Jedi Masters such as Yoda
are not real, the ideals and inspirations of the fiction are very real and tangible. Concepts of peace,
knowledge, serenity, and harmony are very known and widely practiced concepts. Practices such as
meditation, physical fitness, conflict resolution, and self-discipline are also very accepted useful habits.
There is nothing in this book that is going to run outside the accepted reality of our universe. Even the
more questionable elements such as the Force are offered in a way that anyone can understand and find
ways to apply to their everyday life.
That said and covered I want to be clear about what is in this book. We will look briefly at the
history of the Jedi that exists today. We will look at how the term Jediism became such a staple of the
lifestyle and what exactly it means. This will offer a glimpse at how this whole thing came about and
show where we grew from, which will hopefully help shed light on where we will be going. This will
cover the different “isms” which have arisen over the years. The different training styles we have
explored and tried over the years. As well as the various groups which have sought to champion living
as a real-life Jedi Knight.
We will also be giving a brief overview of the Jedi Philosophy. This isn't as in-depth as it could
be, due to restrictions on rights/permissions. However it does provide a great starting point for our first
steps into a much larger world. We will touch on the history and creators of these concepts and how
they are currently being practiced and taught within the Jedi Community. These texts can just as easily
be found online, which is something I do encourage. You can find links to places that support the
philosophies offered in the Resources section in the back of the book. Our exploration will give you a
starting point, a reminder of core ideals, but for deeper exploration on some of them, you will need to
seek out the appropriate organizations.
You will also find a beginner's course of Jedi Training. This will allow you to start your own
Jedi practices on your own. It is not the end all, be all of Jedi Training. Finishing the lessons in this
book will not make you a Jedi Knight, but it will start you on that path. Don't expect any Jedi group to
give you credit for completing the training in this book. It simply helps you begin to live as a Jedi in
your daily life.
The lessons in this book will cover some basic lessons on popular Jedi topics. Things that
people are often most curious about when they first hear of the Jedi Path or want to join Jediism. This
is things on Jedi Temples, Jedi Robes, the Dark Side, and how Jedi apply the philosophy (ethical
decision-making). Again these lessons are just brief overviews offering a starting point for all Jedi to
learn and grow from. Nothing in this book is meant to be the end standard, merely an introduction to an
often confusing lifestyle and name. While Jedi may be real, we are not exactly what our fictional
counterparts are. Inspiration is our starting point, it is not the all of who we are and what we do. It is
important to begin this journey knowing that Jediism is not the same thing as the Jedi Order in Star
Wars.

Jediism Explained 4
Introduction to the Author
Now that is covered I did want to take a moment and offer an introduction about myself. I am
the one who will be blah blah blahing at you for the entirety of this book. So I feel it is a good idea to
give you a basic understanding of me and what you are going to find as you progress in this book;
assuming you chose to progress further. It seems silly to invest in a book if you cannot stand the author
and/or writing, right?
My name is Kevin, though most know me as Opie Macleod. I have been involved in one form
or another with the Jedi Community since about 1997. I could stretch that to 1995, but that really seems
unfair given the state of the community back then. There wasn't a whole lot to be involved with
honestly. So to state otherwise would just be for an ego-driven, “hey look how long I have been a nerd
online.” Might be enough to say I have been a Jedi since before Jediism was a known term. Or that in
2007 I created the website and group now known as Jedi Living. Take your pick at what gives you
more confidence in my right to jabber at you in written form.
Over the years I have sought to improve this lifestyle we call Jedi. I have been granted and
rewarded with several titles over the years. None I really hold onto these days, but I have been called
an Administrator, Councilor, Knight, and even Master over my time. What does this mean for you? Not
a thing. But people seem to like to know the person they are listening to isn't without recognition. I
suppose I should offer I majored in Philosophy in college, graduated a Police Academy, and have
generally committed my life to the Jedi lifestyle over the past two decades. I have run and created Jedi
websites. I have written over 200 active lessons (still in use) at Jedi Living (not even going to try and
count all the inactive ones). And you can see my ugly mug pontificating on Jedi concepts and practices
on YouTube where we currently have over 200 videos (no count on how many are actually useful).
What does this mean to you? Again probably not much. Though it might be good to note that
professional writing and bachelor's in English Literature was, in fact, missing from my small and very
brief resume. So I would expect some grammar mistakes and overall poor writing quality throughout
this book. It may also help in getting an understanding of my writing style. Self-deprecating humor is
going to be in this book. I am going to talk to you like, well as I would talk to you as if we were
standing face-to-face. I am going to use my own experience to paint a picture of this thing we call
Jediism. Well, that most call Jediism, I simply call it the Jedi Way (or Jedi Path or simply Jedi) and
isms aren't going to be used too much throughout the rest of the book. Or so that is my hope, I haven't
actually written the rest of the book yet so that is just conjecture at this point.
Point being is that I am just a person who has dedicated themselves to this silly and amazing
path for the majority of my life. That has afforded me a lot of time to make a lot of mistakes. As such I
have gained a nice bit of wisdom on what not to do. Trial and error have been my style from the
beginning so I have some tried and true methods for sharing and passing on the Jedi Way. In the end, it
is you who must decide if this is worth the investment. You have to look at the lessons and materials
presented here and determine if they hold value. It doesn't matter who I am or what certificates I hold.
What matters is if the lessons and Path speak to you. If you find this to be positive and beneficial to
your life and to the world around you then make use of it. So approach this book with a keen and
discerning eye. From this point forward you are your own Jedi Master. All I can do is show you the
path, you are the one that has to walk it.

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History of the Community
To understand where the Jedi Path begins we must travel back to the ancient times of 1977.
Many would tell you that the Jedi began with feudal Japan and their Samurai traditions. Others would
tell you that we must look at the Knightly Orders of Medieval times such as the Knights Templars.
Others would request we go back to the beginnings of Stoicism to find the roots of Jediism. Or that we
venture to ancient China and see that Taoism and Jediism are one and the same. We could also venture
just a tad closer to our own time and recite the words of Joseph Campbell and his theory of the
monomyth. All of these are wonderful things to explore. It is great to see the similarities of the varying
beliefs and paths in life. It is enjoyable to see how Jediism and other older and more established (and
respected) traditions share common goals, practices, and ideals. But sharing similarities does not mean
they are the same.
George Lucas created the stories of Star Wars over the course of years. The story evolved and
changed as the creator did. Lucas has gone on record of citing inspirations such as Flash Gordon and
Buck Rodgers. Along with Jedaigeki movies such as The Hidden Fortress. Some even speculate that
this is where George Lucas got the inspiration for the name Jedi (though he has never publicly
confirmed that himself). George Lucas did acknowledge that he was reading and was inspired by the
works of Joseph Campbell and Campbell's Hero of a Thousand Faces book. As such many places like
to hold this up as the beginning of the Jedi Way. All of these, while fascinating, are not really the
beginning of Jediism. Yes, without Star Wars there would be no Jedi. Without the various things that
inspired George Lucas over the years the Jedi might look very different, but these are single entities of
a larger picture.
The analogy I like to use (a lot) is that of a fire. For a fire to begin it has certain requirements. It
needs oxygen, heat/ignition, and fuel/food. Each element on its own is not the start of a fire, but rather
when all three things meet at the same time. Living in Southern California I see this every summer. The
hot dry days make the vegetation a wonderful food source and the slightest spark is all that is really
necessary to begin the fire. Of course California has oxygen, but also warm Santa Ana winds which
help the fire grow. This little digression is similar to the basic way the Jedi Community started back in
1995-1997.
Star Wars had existed for many years before the Jedi Community truly did. There were many
fans and some of even sought to emulate the Jedi. Those that did often found themselves looking into
and practicing many Eastern Traditions such as Buddhism, Taoism, and Yoga. While there were pen-
pals and letter groups which existed, the journey was mostly a very solitary one that often resulted in
following another path. Star Wars and the Jedi inspired people, but that alone did not build the Path. It
was simply one element, though a necessary one, much like fuel/food is to fire. A piece of the puzzle,
but something more was needed for the flames to begin.
By 1995 the internet was quickly becoming a household item. Much less restricted to high end
business people and college students, the home computer was on the rise. Windows was becoming
much more user friendly with its new Windows 95 platform allowing new users easy access to
programs and learning their way around the computer. This increased traffic online and many people
were able to create their own websites dedicated to the things the loved. Of course Star Wars fans were
a part of this and fan sites began to populate the internet. One of the earliest websites was
Jason Ruspini's Star Wars Home Page, created in 1994 (image pictured is from 1997).

Jediism Explained 6
 This ease of access really allowed the fandom that singular place to finally gather. Of course the
internet is much like any other territory on Earth, humans will make their own little tribes and carve out
their own little space. So more than one Star Wars fan site popped up. Many of the early fans who
would become leaders in the budding Jedi Community started at the Mos Eisley Cantina chatroom. The
problem is that there were several Mos Eisley Cantina chatrooms. I'll spare you all the screenshots.
Some are not very exciting, but all shared a common theme, sharing the love of Star Wars. And of
course the rivalries between the name sharing Cantinas. This is where the first steps began to take
shape. The popularity of Star Wars was growing due to our next step. But it is this rise of the internet
that we can count as our oxygen. The element that breathed life into the inspiration.
The last piece we have for our analogy is ignition. What started this blaze that we call the Jedi
Community? It is a little bit of cheating here as I am essentially repeating an element, but it was Star
Wars. The original movies in a sense played a part with the special edition releases in 1997, as the re-
release did exactly as George Lucas had hoped, it brought Star Wars back for a new generation (my
generation). It also reminded people of the wonder they felt watching Star Wars on the big screen when
they had first seen it back in 1977. But this wasn't the only element of the re-release of the Original
Trilogy. It was a prelude to the Prequels that had fans new and old super excited. This news of more
Star Wars caused a lot of buzz and speculation and this of course meant a lot of activity online. People
were flocking to the internet looking for news on Star Wars and a few of us were also looking for
something else. We were looking for a simple answer to a burning question, why can't I be a Jedi? Jedi
aren't real, but why not? Surely someone had sought to become a real life Jedi back in 1977 right?
Eventually two major sites would become the beacons of those specifically interested in becoming Jedi,
Star Wars The Jedi Academy (also known as Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4) and Jedi Lore (pictures below
respectively).

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 It is here that the flames of inspiration grew into the start of something that would later take on
a life of its own. These two websites didn't have much in the way of communication. No forums, no

Jediism Explained 8
chat rooms, not even e-mail groups, as such there wasn't a lot to interact with. But they provided the
idea that this could become something more. By the time Star Wars: The Phantom Menace was
released in 1999 the Jedi Community was growing rapidly. These two websites had grandfathered five
very active Jedi Groups (which did have forums and chat rooms). The Jedi Academy, the Force
Academy, the Jedi Creed, the Jedi Temple (pictured below), and the Jedi of the New Millennium. By
the summer of 1999 the fire was in full bloom. It was the year that the Jedi Community grew into its
own entity. Not merely Star Wars fan sites or role-playing websites. While both of these elements were
very much present in all websites, they were not the defining factor. There was an honest and earnest
push to truly live life like a Jedi Knight. To embrace the philosophy, practices, and ideals of the Jedi
and emulate them in our daily lives.

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History of the Terminology
Now I could write an entire book on the history of our Community. The rise and fall of the five
giants alone would make for a decent sized book. The strengths, weaknesses, triumphs, and tragedies of
our various groups and individual leaders. How Jedi Culture was not prepared to face Internet Culture
and how that war wages on to this day. But how can I add to my book resume (look at me, I have
written two books! How awesome am I?) if I just include all that information here? Plus, history is not
for everyone and I don't want to bore the non-Jedi-Consulars. However I think it is very important to
know where the term Jediism came from. As this is something that will be asked of just about any Jedi
if they find themselves in a in-depth conversation about the path. This won't be as long, as it is a rather
short story to tell.
We can skip the who said it first elements here. Was it coined in 1977 to mirror the Eastern
views of Buddhism and Taoism? Maybe, but it didn't stick. In the early days of the Jedi Community
1995-2000 there was no mention of the term Jediism. It simply did not exist in our explorations at the
time. It wasn't until the Census of 2001 in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia that the
term began to circulate. Our fire here has the elements of - Star Wars, a e-mail chain letter joke/protest,
and the ever reliable Media (news outlets).
Simply put when the census came out someone somewhere thought it would be great to list Jedi
as their religion on the census. They sent an e-mail letter stating that if enough people did it that the
government will be forced to recognize Jedi as an official religion just like Christianity and Hinduism.
That was not true of course; that is right dear reader, fake news existed on the internet for as long as the
internet has existed. But just like today, if you read it online it must be true, right? So many people
believed this and decided to take part in it. The media interviewed several people who were vocal about
putting Jedi as their religion. Some did it because they thought it was funny, some were simply fans
who wanted to say Jedi was their religion, others were protesting the government collecting statistics
on the people. But let us not discount the many people who felt truly inspired and touched by Star Wars
and did feel that Jedi could be their religion.
The media grabbed onto the word Jediism and used it in all of its reports. So as word got around
Jediism became the buzz word. But there were no Jediism websites on the internet prior to this
moment. As mentioned the word wasn't used in our community, so when people went searching for
Jediism not a lot of results came back. This created a slight problem in the online Jedi Community. For
a few years the Jedi had been steadily growing and evolving through various trial and errors as well as
real life experience trying to be Jedi in everyday life. So there was a significant amount of progress that
took place during those years. Yet when people inspired by the news reports didn't find any Jediism
groups, they decided to create their own from scratch. Which meant they were starting at square one,
where all other sites had learned the tough lessons of organization building online over the years. Lets
do a side-by-side (or rather top-by-bottom) of a popular 2001 Jedi website and the first Jediism
website.

Jediism Explained 10
11
 And since the text is all sorts of messed up due to the reformatting that probably didn't show
you much. Mainly it is just nice to see the beginnings of things, at least for me. In any case Jediism was
starting its journey into trying to be recognized as an official religion. Over the years this goal has faced
some successes and some failures. In the United States the Temple of the Jedi Order is fully registered
as a 501c(3) giving them non-profit status which under that title includes religious organizations.
However in 2016 the United Kingdom ruled against Jediism being recognized as a religion, refusing
their non-profit status under a similar code as their U.S. Counterparts.
This goal was not and is not shared by all who live as Jedi. This created a division in the
community which saw more “isms” pop up to help separate the goals, ambitions, and experience of the
different Jedi groups. The older groups viewed Jediism as the new kids who had failed to learn and
respect relevant history. They felt they had a better grasp on this thing called Jedi and didn't deserve the
backlash that was coming with the bad publicity due to Jediism. So to be seen as different the term Jedi
Realism was coined. Jediism viewed most Jedi Realists as pretenders who weren't committed enough to
declare Jedi their religion. Simply role-players pretending to be Jedi online. Lines were drawn in the
sand between the various leaders and everyone picked their favorite little tribe and stayed loyal to their
ism.
Of course people tend to be rather intelligent when you give them the chance. And since the Jedi
Path encourages knowledge, exploration, and growth it wasn't long until people started to question
these glass walls. It is a rather big jump from questioning to tearing down however. Acceptance can be
a tough thing to come to terms with. These days you may still see references to the old divisions. Places
like the Church of Jediism and the Institute for Jedi Realist Studies still wave the banner of their
origins. While the media continues to use the term Jediism, I assume for the purpose of easily
separating it from the fictional Jedi, most in the Jedi Community simply call themselves Jedi who
follow the Jedi Lifestyle. You are free to use whatever terminology you want. Labels aren't as important
as how you actually live your life. Religion or not is irrelevant to how you approach everyday life.

Jediism Explained 12
Development of Jedi Philosophy
In the early days of the Jedi Community there was not a whole lot of Jedi Philosophy to be
found. You had the general Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi quotes from the movies and their novelizations.
The mid to late Ninties was also when the Expand Universe was starting to blossom. People found a
few good nuggets of inspiration in those various works as well. Mainly a lot of would-be Jedi simply
did what the older generation had done, which is seek to fill in the gaps of philosophical thought with
already established traditions. This created a stagnation in ethical and philosophical growth for the Jedi
Path. Due to the origins of the Jedi, authors using various inspirations to create and add to the fictional
Jedi collective, the philosophy mirrored a lot of well-known schools of thought.
This created a bit of a vacuum for original Jedi material and thought. It also gave preference to
those who knew more about Eastern Religions. Quickly earning those who could recite 365 Zen nifty
titles like Jedi Master. One piece of Jedi ideology that was central to every Jedi training program and
website was the Jedi Code. This single piece gave a starting point for many Jedi to grow from. Created
in 1987 by Greg Costikyan for the West End Games Star Wars Role-Playing guide[1], the Jedi Code
became the central teaching. Originally published as follows:
There is no emotion; there is peace.
There is no ignorance; there is knowledge.
There is no passion; there is serenity.
There is no death; there is the Force.
This simple four line text meant to help a person play a Jedi for entertainment purposes inspired
many people to live by the tenets in real life. To truly embrace this Jedi philosophy, but even this core
Jedi text was said to be influenced by Mahāyāna Buddhism's Heart Sutra. Particularly this part:
There is no ignorance,
and no end to ignorance.
There is no old age and death,
and no end to old age and death.
There is no suffering, no cause of suffering,
no end to suffering, no path to follow.
There is no attainment of wisdom,
and no wisdom to attain.
So it became normal for all Jedi of that time to spend a great deal of time studying Eastern
philosophy over studying Jedi philosophy. After all, what was there to study? Movie quotes? Fictional
characters? Turns out, yes, precisely that. While we can see the similarities, we must remember that
there rarely is simply one side to a story. Creating something for Star Wars, one can speculate that a
person would look to Star Wars. This next part will give a look at how the young Jedi began to develop
their own philosophy from the fiction. How we looked at the inspiration, dug into it, and then sought to
apply it. Repeating the process with the knowledge gained from our own experiences.
The first thing Jedi have these days is a little test that I like to call the APBP Test. A little
exercise we developed at Jedi Living which requires us to ask – Is this Applicable, Practical,
Beneficial, and Positive to my everyday life? When we come across Jedi quotes and actions from the
Star Wars franchise (especially with new movies, books, and video games coming out) we look to
apply the APBP test in order to determine its value in our ever growing and expanding lifestyle. So we
are going to apply this to the text above and see what we come up with.
Looking at the Jedi Code we can go one of two ways with it, take it literally or look at it more
like a mantra or zen koan. Something to be reflected upon to help guide us to our own understanding. If

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we take it literally then right away we can dismiss the Jedi Code as per fiction. It does not pass our
APBP test because we do have emotions, ignorance, passions, and death is certainly a reality. To deny
these things is to create an imbalance and unhealthy lifestyle which would not work well for anyone.
However if we look at the Jedi Code and consider the Star Wars inspiration behind it rather than the
Buddhist inspiration we might see something a little different. Lets take this line by line so we can
continue to show an example of how we cut into our inspiration and developed our own philosophy
from it.
The first line states there is no emotion; there is peace. When thinking of the Empire Strikes
Back this line might bring forth memories of Yoda and Luke running through the swamps of Dagobah.
Yoda instructs Luke, “Yes, a Jedi’s strength flows from the Force. But beware of the dark side. Anger,
fear, aggression; the dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If
once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, as it did
Obi-Wan’s apprentice.” Here we see a warning of over-powering emotions and allowing them to
dominate our consciousness. It mirrors an old saying, 'don't make decisions when you are angry, don't
make promises when you are happy.' Most of us know well how our emotions can blind us and our
knee-jerk reactions can lead to poor decision making. You can probably recall an example of this in
your own life. So looking at this, we can surmise that the idea behind “there is no emotion” isn't a
denial of emotion, but rather the warning of allowing emotions to dictate our decision-making.
The second part of the first line may also conjure up another Yoda quote from that wonderful
movie. “You will know, when you are calm, at peace, passive.” This still ties into our first look at the
line. Decision-making, our ability to make choices and judgment calls is best when we are in a much
more relaxed and at peace state of mind. When we are not overly worrying or stressed out, we are find
we are very capable people. Hindsight being 20/20 we can often look back and see that had we just
been a bit more patient, a bit more calm, we would have made a better decision. In this we start to see
the value and meaning of the Jedi Code. Not a list of commandments to be followed precisely, but a
reminder of our inspiration. A suggestion of how to approach life as a Jedi.
The second line of the Code again reinforces our literal translation as a poor way of looking at
it. There is no ignorance? Oh, I am sure we all know someone who defies that. For me I can think of
the perfect person – myself. I am ignorant on a whole bunch of stuff, writing and English grammar
being a great example. The amount of things I actually know is embarrassingly small, especially
considering all the many things there are to learn in this world. It would be like comparing a glass of
water to the ocean. So indeed, we are very aware ignorance is a very real thing. While there are some
quotes we can look at (especially if we extend into the prequels), I think the character of Luke
Skywalker serves the best reflection of ignorance. There was a lot he assumed and did not know. He
went to Dagobah ignorant of a lot of things. He had to unlearn a few things and learn to accept that his
world wouldn't be the same.
The second part of this line is easy enough to tie into the movies. “A Jedi uses the Force for
knowledge and defense, never for attack.” Knowledge, training, studying, practice, all of these are seen
within Luke's journey. That is the flip-side of ignorance, we get the opportunity to learn new things. To
explore new areas of our world and ourselves. We get to expand our horizons and use knowledge as a
way to light our path forward. It is in this brief examining that we see that a literal translation doesn't
work for us. Instead we tie back to what is the message behind the words. What is the idea being
conveyed? That ignorance is blinding and limits our sight, but that knowledge and information
illuminate our way through tough situations.
The third line often gets a tsk tsk tsk from new people. Serenity is the same as peace and
passion is the same as emotion. As such some feel this line is repetitive and unnecessary. Passion I don't
classify as an emotion, but the dictionary tends to disagree with me. So we really have to look at this

Jediism Explained 14
line in its entirety. “There is no passion; there is serenity.” I like to point to Yoda's first protest, “All his
life has he looked away... to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he
was doing. Hmph! Adventure. Heh! Excitement. Heh! A Jedi craves not these things. You are reckless!”
Recklessness seems to be a great way to talk about passion. Passion in life is certainly something we all
tend to have. If I were not passionate about the Jedi Path this book would not exist. But having that
deep, strong love for something does require us to be mindful. We cannot allow our passions to blind
us. We don't want to get so focused on what could be or what we wish would happen that we forget to
keep our concentration on the moment.
Serenity often defined as calm and peaceful, either definition which supports the repetition
argument. Though I feel it is less a state of mind and more a state of being. It is about approaching
things in moderation. It is about understanding haste makes waste, as they say. It is about approaching
our passions with a clear understanding that we still have a whole life outside them. It is great to be
passionate about Star Wars, but life is so much more. It is important that we manage our time
accordingly. “Told you did I. Reckless he is. Now matters are worse.” The last caution from Yoda in the
Empire Strikes Back. To make the best decisions possible, we need to practice a clear and objective
mind. “Decide you must, how to serve them best.”
The last line in this version of the Jedi Code sates, “There is no death; there is the Force.” Now
at first we can simply write this off as referring to the blue force ghosties we see Obi-Wan, Yoda, and
Anakin turn into after they die. An idea that one lives on through the Force after death. However I think
there is a more powerful message in the line, which again we can turn to a Yoda quote for. “Ah, strong
am I with the Force, but not that strong. Twilight is upon me, and soon, night must fall. That is the way
of things. The way of the Force.” Here Yoda is talking about how life and death are a part of one
another. If you are a Disney fan we can think of another movie reference, the Circle of Life within the
Lion King. Death is a natural state of things. It is a part of the universe and not something to be feared,
shunned, or denied. This concept would be further explored in the prequels, but ultimately we can see
the idea of simply understanding the cycle of life. If we can accept death we can be at peace with it and
not live under its shadow.
Now eventually the Star Wars fiction would adjust the Jedi Code in 1996 making it a bit more
clear. This “Yet version” of the Jedi Code is often one that resonates with a lot of people. It also added
a fifth line. This version is as follows:
Emotion, yet peace.
Ignorance, yet knowledge.
Passion, yet serenity.
Chaos, yet Harmony.
Death, yet the Force.
I include it simply to help young students in their reflection of the Jedi Code. However the point
here has been fulfilled I think, an example of how we young Jedi first began to explore our inspiration
and find ways to apply it to everyday life. This is how we grew and eventually developed our own
understanding of the Jedi Philosophy. We explored the fiction as well as the inspiration behind the
fiction and applied our little APBP test. From there we spent years of trial and error. Refining the
concepts and ideas as the world, community, and ourselves grew with them. It is this process which has
helped form the next couple of pieces of information you are about to read. Born from our inspiration
they were written by Jedi for Jedi. Our experiences helped shaped the foundations of the Jedi Lifestyle.
If you want an exercise, pick your favorite Jedi quote from Star Wars (movie, video game, comic, tv
show, etc.). Then put it to the APBP test. Is it applicable to your daily life? Is it practical to apply to
your life? Is is beneficial to your life? Does it have a positive effect on you and those around you?

15
The Core of Jediism
The Core of Jediism is found in the various texts that have been created by (real) Jedi for (real)
Jedi over the years. Some of these are based upon our fictional inspiration. Some are based upon older
texts like the Code of Chivalry by the Duke of Burgundy. And some are based upon the personal
experiences of the author living as a Jedi in everyday life. There is no right or dominate or definitive
Jedi Philosophy Text created by Jedi for Jedi. Different Jedi groups use different texts that they have
found useful. Jedi Living teaches about them all, but uses the Jedi Circle, Jedi Precepts, and Jedi
Method as the main basis of their philosophy and core ideals. While places like Temple of the Jedi
Order and Temple of the Jedi Force prefer the 21 Jedi Maxims and The 16 Teachings of the Jedi (while
other places like the full 33 Teachings of the Jedi).
All of these texts are easily searchable and available online for free. With the various Jedi
groups presenting their preferred texts on their main website. So you will find different core ideals at
different places, yet there are Jedi concepts shared among them all. Meditation and a focus on The
Force. Ideas of Integrity, Accountability, and Responsibility. That all Jedi are in a state of Continual
Growth, Learning, and Training. There is encouragement in all of them to help and guide others along
the Path. All of the texts state that it requires a form of discipline and commitment to fully live this
lifestyle. No matter what text you look at the idea of study, of learning, of Knowledge is in them all.
Likewise each of them touch on the subject of defense and more specifically the idea of Defend Those
in Need. You'll find common themes of Service, Physical Wellness, Peace, Harmony, Patience, and a
Respect for all Life.
These are clear and easily identifiable cores to our Path. Things shared regardless of what Jedi
group you go to or belong too. I could offer the history and breakdown of each text here. Except I don't
have the rights to those Jedi texts. Only the Jedi Circle, Jedi Precepts, and other works that I have
specifically created. The Maxims, Creed, Teachings, and other such document found floating around
the online Jedi Community (easily found in a internet search) were developed by other Jedi and I
cannot put them fully in a book (without infringing upon their works, rights, and copyrights).
So that is the best I can give you in this section. That core ideals exist among the various Jedi
groups regardless of name, isms, or any other glass wall one can think of. It is worth noting that we will
touch on each of those subjects within this book. However this Core of Jediism is still good to single
out, because these are things that will be expected of you as a Jedi no matter where you go or what you
do. So make note of them. Seek to learn about them and how you can apply them to your everyday life.
In fact, why don't we do that right now? Ready for some Jedi Training?

Jediism Explained 16
Training
Before we even get into our normal spiel on training I want to address two clear limitations
here. The first being the most obvious which is present in all book and online learning. You will only
truly get out of it what you put in. It falls on you. I will repeat to death that you are your own Jedi
Master. So no matter the value (high or low) of the lessons here, what you make of them is what truly
matters. The second limitation is that I am not developing a full hands-on training program for this
book. It is much more of a summary and overview of Jedi ideas, concepts, and practices than a
structured training program. But it will offer a solid foundation to build off; especially if you chose to
follow an online training program as well. With that said, let's begin this process.
It can be difficult to explain Jedi Training in a way that properly prepares a student for what is
to come. We all come to the Jedi Path for our own reasons and with our own ideas in mind. As such
there can be a bit of learning curve as one embarks on their journey. So to help with this we are going
to get a bit metaphorical. We are going to step into the forge and build your lightsaber – You.
The lightsaber is consider a source of light, skill, and authority within the fictional Jedi. It is
something the Jedi build themselves when ready and symbolize their ability to be a Jedi Knight.
Similarly a Jedi is all of these things, the light in the darkness, the toolbox of many hone skills, and the
authority figure of their own life. So while lightsabers don't exist outside of Star Wars, in reality the
Jedi is the lightsaber. And that is what we will be focusing on building.
The second part of this metaphorical comparison is on the building process which we will label
the forge. Each Jedi starts out with their own materials within themselves. Things they have picked up
through life and various other studies. Some of these things may be very valuable, some may be
damaged through the experiences of life, and maybe you feel there is some core material missing from
what you already have. In any case, we are going to be taking this raw material and putting into the
forge to hammer out a Jedi. As time progresses we will add more material through our Jedi studies and
practices. We will add that to our product and continue our work through the forge.
This was a very …. interesting process back in the late 90s and early 00s. It was mostly trial and
error with no one really knowing the process and what makes good material and what spoils the efforts
being put in. Over time we have learned when to use the hammer, when to stoke the flames, and when
to cool down (slowly) and rinse off in the water. This is why Jedi Communities are important (whether
online or off) as they help us through this very involved and delicate process. Having the proper
experience, formula, and respect for the process of creation is critical to success. Something to keep in
mind as you begin this journey.
For this course we will mainly be using the Jedi Precepts as our mold. This will serve as the
general shape we will seek to take on as we study and apply the Jedi ideals to our life. The Jedi
Precepts were a document created to help define what it meant to be a Jedi in regards to a specific
website. They wanted this information within their By-Laws so they could properly hold Jedi
accountable. To fulfill this desire I created the Jedi Precepts using the Jedi Rules of Behavior from the
Power of the Jedi sourcebook as a source of inspiration. By March 2010 this document was refined into
the form we will be using. Remember that this is a process, a journey. So take your time, learn, apply,
and experience. Being a Jedi is about how you live, not a finish line to race towards.

17
Forging Process One – The Introduction
You do not define something by what it is not. However by eliminating certain misconceptions
and other possibilities you can paint a better picture of what something is. You probably have an idea of
what being a Jedi means. There is some inspiration or concept you have which has lead you here. So
there is already some ideal which you hold to being a Jedi. In this section we are going to brush a away
a lot of the misconceptions that have come with the Jedi name over the years. Some which are more
obvious than others, but certainly safer to offer an explanation than to leave things unsaid.
Before we start warming things up with what we are not, lets do a quick summary of what being
a Jedi means. A Jedi is someone who has chosen to live by the ideals and concepts of Jedi Philosophy.
That is to say a person who seek world-better through self-betterment wrapped up in Star Wars
inspiration and terminology. Okay, but really what does that mean? We can best sum this up by the Jedi
Circle. The Jedi lives by five practices, five tenets, five traits, five values, and five goals. These help
shape a Jedi's life.
Five Practices: Meditation, Physical Fitness, Diplomacy, Awareness, Self-Discipline.
Five Tenets: Peace, Knowledge, Serenity, Harmony, the Force
Five Traits: Patience, Empathy, Equity, Accountability, Decorum.
Five Values: Self-Honesty, Gratitude, Erudition, Guidance, Commitment.
Five Goals: Proficiency, Service, Defense, Create, Discover.
With this you can formulate a pretty good idea of how a Jedi lives. Some things in there
probably require a bit of explanation, especially for those brand new to the Path. However that is for
another time and place (book resume remember). For now it serves as our basis of core understanding.
Much like the Jedi Code this simply gives us something to look at as we do our best to live and grow as
a Jedi in our daily lives. This is a brief starting point to help frame our lives as we begin our forging
process. Let us heat the metal with some misconceptions of the Jedi Lifestyle.
Jedi are Not Star Wars Fanatics. This is more of an outward view that you will have to deal
with. But if you are new to the Jedi Path it is good to know that you do not need to know who directed
The Empire Strikes Back or that Harrison Ford was responsible for the line “I Know.” Heck you do not
even have to know who Harrison Ford is or what character he played. The Jedi Path is absolutely
inspired by the concepts and ideas presented by George Lucas (and other creators over the years)
within Star Wars. It is fair to say that without Star Wars the Jedi Path would not exist. But that does not
mean you have to know everything about it. You don't have to like it. You can like the video games and
not the movies. You can like the books and not the tv shows. It doesn't matter, because it is a small part
of who we are and what we do. Some Jedi are huge Star Wars fans and can answer a lot of useless trivia
questions on the subject. They enjoy the whole universe and have given a lot of their time to it. Cool.
Likewise there are Jedi who don't know much about Star Wars; they saw something in the Jedi and
were inspired. They took that and ran with it. Neither of these automatically make one a better or worse
Jedi. Enjoy Star Wars, but understand it is not our bible or required to be memorized.
Jedi are Not Arrogant or Over-Confident. Believe in yourself. You have survived to this point
and had a lot of life experiences. From the boring and mundane to the exciting and entertaining. But no
matter how much you train, study, and improve you will never be infallible. Mistakes can happen. We
can set ourselves to a task and fail. We can face setbacks and challenges which force us to admit how
much we don't know or our own limitations. All of that is okay. You can be great at something, it
doesn't make you above anyone, it just makes you different. Jedi train daily and by doing so we gain a
certain insight and understanding. Doesn't mean we are perfect, just means we have a different
perspective which tends to serve us well in life. But we can get things wrong. Remember, that no

Jediism Explained 18
matter what, you are human. We are not infallible, we do make mistakes. We must be prepared for
failures and setbacks and not discount such possibilities.
Jedi are Not Invasive. This concept was born out of the “conquer curiosity” rule in the Jedi
Rules of Behavior. The problem there is that Jedi tend to be naturally curious. They are encouraged to
ask questions, explore new concepts, and gain new experiences. The curiosity of the student is a thing
to be applauded, not warned against (though sometimes slowed down). The rule wasn't about that type
of curiosity though, it was more about invading personal privacy. Using your talents and skills as a Jedi
to uncover personal information to satisfy your own personal curiosity. That is the main idea here, to
respect personal boundaries. But also, especially with internet culture, to avoid gossip. Some people
enjoy creating and trading in rumors and gossip. This is not something Jedi do or encourage. We
respect privacy and do not indulge in personal curiosity.
Jedi are Not Defeatists. Previously we discussed how Jedi can and will make mistakes. This
reminds us to stay humble because failure is a possibility and no one is above it. But we cannot
excessively plan for failure. To always keep a negative view and expect failure is to defeat yourself
before you even begin. Luke displayed a defeatist attitude in Empire Strikes Back when trying to lift
his X-Wing from the swamp. “I don't believe it.” He said. “That is why you fail.” Yoda informed him.
Failure may be a possibility, but it should not be your main focus or your plan A. The possibility exists,
not its certainty. Keep your focus on all possibilities, but believe in yourself, your training, and those
around you. Remember, the only true failure is failing to get back up after one falls. We do not allow
failure, falls, and mistakes to control or define us. And we do not overly plan for failure or mistakes,
instead seeking a more positive and objective approach.
Jedi are Not Reckless. We covered this a bit in the previous chapter on Jedi Philosophy.
Empire Strikes Back was full of great quotes. Luke was scolded for his recklessness. A reminder for us
that haste makes waste. We are not about the knee-jerk reactions. Focus, direction, purpose. Jedi do not
act/react rashly. They observe, are patient, and act when action is necessary. Sometimes the best
response requires no action at all. Takes time and experience to learn that line, but that is why Jedi are
patient and train.
Jedi are Not Stubborn. Tenacious, committed, encourage perseverance, all of that, but not
stubborn. So what is the line there? When do we cross over from determined to stubborn? Great
question young Jedi. We must be able to see and admit our own short-comings and faults. In this a Jedi
must always be open to the possibility of being right or wrong or neither. There are many outcomes to
any given situation. When we pursuing something we want to be open to them. Keeping an eye on our
attachment to a specific outcome. Anakin Skywalker in Revenge of the Sith had a very specific
outcome/desire he wanted. He stubbornly held to it even as he was cautioned against it. You can be
tenacious in your fight to preserve something, but you must be willing to accept and allow for other
outcomes to take place. Be mindful and be ready to let go when it is necessary. How will you know?
With time and training.
Jedi Do Not Wear Jedi Costumes. For some people this is a no-brainer and for others it is a
huge disappointment. Sorry, we do not wear Jedi uniforms around to announce ourselves as Jedi. That
is an ego thing. The Jedi Robes in fiction were meant to be humble yet functional. Meant to blend in
with the every day traveler of the galaxy. As such we take that inspiration and apply it to our own lives.
Humble, yet functional. What style of clothing blends in with your every day? That will vary from jedi
to Jedi. However, I like to encourage adjusting your wardrobe for those that want a more Jedi-feel.
Maybe add some more earth-tones to your collection. Get that modern Jedi style going on. But outside
of charity events, conventions (e.g. Star Wars Celebration), or Halloween Jedi robes aren't a part of the
Jedi lifestyle. I have a couple costumes I wear for fun at said events, but they are not required and not a
part of my everyday life.

19
 Jedi Do Not Believe Yoda is Real. Some people find this unnecessary to list. Yet there have
been fringe groups which have worshiped Yoda as a real entity. Holding mass prayer meetings to the
little green muppet. Now I have heard some very interesting theories on parallel universes which state
that fictional universes are glimpses into an alternate universe. Which I find interesting, but also
irrelevant to this concept, because we have our own universe to live in and deal with. And within this
universe Yoda is a fictional character created by George Lucas and made famous by Frank Oz. So a
quick reminder to ground your expectations to this universe and remember Star Wars inspires, it is not
a religious and infallible source of reality.
Jedi Do Not Worship George Lucas. This piggybacks off the last point. Because again some
people over the years have sought to lift George Lucas up to Saint or deity status. Certainly we can
respect his creative abilities and the things he did create. We can be grateful and appreciative. But
George Lucas is simply a story-teller who has created many wonderful tales over the years. Strange
Magic, Indiana Jones, he has helped create some quality stories out there. And we can say a Special
Thanks for that, but it should never go beyond that. Though I still think he is secretly a Jedi.
Jedi Do Not Allow Emotions, Passions, and/or Bias to Interfere with their Judgment and
Duties. Well that is a super long one and basically says it all right? Okay, okay, I hear you. How? The
question is how. Mainly patience, meditation, and critical thinking. Understanding yourself, your
motives, your own bias, etc. these help you make better decisions. You learn more about yourself
through training; meditation, reflection, self-examination, awareness, and so on. Which we will get to, I
promise, but you have to understand the basis first. This is simply a starting point for you to grow as a
Jedi. Key reminders that allow you form your foundation. So Jedi aren't going to allow heartbreak to
interfere with their judgment and duties. So much easier said than done. But this often just means
acknowledging your emotional state and acting accordingly – such as removing yourself from a
situation. Or giving yourself some time off to heal and regain your composure. There is a reason
bereavement leave exists in most countries. You take time to heal and gain a clear head. This is the
same for Jedi. Remember this isn't saying a Jedi doesn't have or feel these things, simply that Jedi seek
to make decisions less influenced by these things.
Jedi Do Not Bully Others. Goes without saying right? Two things make this an unfortunately
necessary note. The first is internet culture. There are those in our community who like to act big and
tough on the internet. Bully people, shout, use logical fallacies, and gaslighting so they can feel like
they are special within the community. Such is the internet (since I have met some of these people in-
person and they are very quiet and apologetic when face-to-face). As such we offer the reminder, Jedi
are not bullies and if you see people running their mouth and badgering people online, that is not Jedi-
like behavior. The second reason we list this is because of self-righteousness. People sometimes get
into the wrong mindset of might makes right. They feel just because they are the “good guys” they can
act in any manner they want as along as the desired outcome happens. People who feel because they
hold a Jedi Master title they are allowed to bully people because they are doing so to restore order (or
whatever justification they wish to use). You can be a voice for the voiceless, defend those in need, all
without being a bully yourself. You can stand up to bullies without being on yourself.
Jedi Do Not Infringe on the Free Will of Others. You can drag a horse to water, but you
cannot make it drink. You can offer knowledge, but you cannot force someone to learn. Change and
growth is a choice. You cannot force people to do the right thing or be a good person. Forcing your help
upon someone rarely results in any good long term change. As Jedi we seek to respect the free-will of
others. There are stipulations to this of course, such as if it will harm the greater good. Example: A Jedi
will not force their opinion upon someone for their own good, this is the definition of a tyrant. However
if that person is planning on (or is) hurting several people, than it is a Jedi's duty to protect those other
people even though it infringes on the one person's free will/choice. To put it another way, "The needs

Jediism Explained 20
of the many out weight the needs of the few." As Spock was fond of saying in Star Trek. Education is
often the best form of change, but again some people will hold so tightly to their misconceptions and
misinformation. There isn't much you can do about that except be the example. “Be the change you
wish to see.” - Gandhi.
Process One Conclusion - So we have began to understand the shape of Jedi by removing
some of the impurities. We have removed some of the misconceptions that surround our path and given
a brief starting point. But again, we cannot really define something by what it is not. Our next section
will cover what Jedi are, what a lot of our traits are. Yet before we get into that why don't we do a little
exercise. That is right dear Jedi, homework time!
I am not going to give you a set time limit. If we were doing an online academy I'd probably
give this assignment a two week timeframe. Book medium is a bit different so we will have to adjust
this. I'll simply leave it to your best judgment, remember you are your own Jedi master. You will need
to consider what will work best for you. If you think you can do this in a weekend, fine. Though
consider, it isn't just about knowledge. There is a difference between knowing something and
experiencing something. Or as it is said in The Matrix, “there is a difference between knowing the path
and walking the path.”
So for the next two weeks or whatever I want you to do three things. First pick out some of your
favorite Jedi media. Video game, comics, movies, tv show, whatever Star Wars media that really
inspired you to pursue the Jedi lifestyle. Indulge in that for a bit. That is right Jedi, enjoying Star Wars
is homework. Take the time to just really enjoy the fiction. At the same time I want you to take notes. I
want you to look at the Jedi and write down what you feel are core traits they display. Courage?
Patience? What do you feel the Jedi are shown to be? What traits do they continually convey? After the
two weeks and you have compiled your notes, compare them to the Five Traits of the Jedi as listed in
the Jedi Circle. Also compare them to the next section, What Jedi Are. How does your list add up?
What are the differences? What are the similarities? Why do you think those exist? What in fiction
supports these lists?
Last piece for your homework assignment is to read over the Five Practices of the Jedi in the
Jedi Circle. Consider how you can accomplish those in your daily life. Are you doing so already? If so
how? If not, what ways can you begin a daily practice of them? Seek to set yourself a schedule over the
next two weeks, trial and error it and seek to improve it. After that time or whenever you feel ready
(and finished your list) move on to the next section.

21
Forging Process Two – Taking Shape
Now that we have gotten our misconceptions out of the way we can focus more on what we
actually are. This is the process in which we help determine the shape of the Jedi. Here we offer the
principles we follow. Like all of our material you should be able to see a clear connection, not only to
our fictional inspiration, but which element should pass the APBP test as well.
In exploring the shape of our path we are going to answer some fundamental questions. What is
a Jedi? What do we represent? What is the way in which we seek to live our lives? This is the basic
outline of the Jedi lifestyle. Virtues we seek to emulate within our daily lives. Like before we will offer
a brief overview of the main concepts and then provide some assignments to help apply these ideals.
Jedi are Patient. I don't think this comes as much of a surprise. Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi
advise patience to Luke Skywalker. “Patience. Use the Force. Think” Obi-Wan cautions a young
Anakin Skywalker. Patience is one of those ideals that people often have their own misconceptions
about. Many people when they hear patience think it means to sit down, shut up, and do nothing. But
patience isn't always a passive thing. Patience is best described as actively waiting. This is a
recognition that you cannot force an outcome.
Sometimes this means more passive patience, such as waiting in line at the DMV or an
Amusement Park. It is a recognition that you cannot make the line go faster, so getting upset, agitated,
or frustrated won't resolve the issue. At other times this is a more active process. Such as waiting for a
documentary to come out that you are a part of and choosing to fill the time by writing and self-
publishing a book. Or perhaps a more practical example we can go back to waiting in line at the DMV.
Without an appointment you know you have some time before your number is called. SO you can
passively sit there or you can meditate, study/read, write a bit in a book you are working on, whatver. It
is about making use of your time and not just sitting idly by waiting and hoping things magically
change for you. Patience is about understanding what is within your power to change and what is not.
You cannot make a DMV line go faster, but you can make use of the time. You can control the speed in
which you create something. Even in work and school projects, the time you put into it, the speed in
which you seek to complete the project. All of this plays a part in how long it takes and while patience
will be used, the length really depends on your own investment.
This is especially important to remember while studying, learning, and training to be a Jedi. You
are going to need to exercise some patience with yourself. You are going to have tests, setback,s
mistakes, and failures. You will have successes and triumphs along the way, but it requires time. Life is
a constant flow of patience; sometimes it is passive patience (can't become a Jedi Knight overnight)
and sometimes it is active patience (you can dedicate yourself to the training daily). So remember to
apply that famous Jedi patience not only to events and those around you, but to your own self and
growth as well.
Jedi are Respectful and Courteous. This is probably the easiest one to write about. It basically
boils down to one simple principle: Don't Be a Jerk. Exercise basic manners, please, thank you, excuse
me. Treat people with kindness. Maybe that means treating them as you would like to be treated. Or
perhaps it means treating them as they would like. After-all we all have different sensibilities. Direct
and blunt honesty works well for me, but some people prefer a gentler approach. So just seek to be a bit
kind.
Likewise we will flip this back at us. Even if you treat others how you'd like to be treated.
Remember to treat yourself how you would treat others. Or to put it another way – when you are
getting down on yourself consider what you would say and tell your best friend if they were going
through the same thing. If they were feeling down or worthless or lost, what would you tell them? How
would you treat them? Perhaps give a little of that respectful caring and understanding to yourself as

Jediism Explained 22
well, hmm?
Overall this is just about proper behavior. Consider Yoda and Mace Windu when dealing with
the Chancellor and the Senate in the movies. They were respectful, even when they disagreed on
direction. Consider Qui-Gon Jinn discussing Anakin's future with the Council. While direct and blunt,
both sides stayed respectful and courteous. Obi-Wan Kenobi wasn't rude or threatening when Dr.
Evazan started pushing around Luke Skywalker in the cantina bar. He politely offered a peaceful
solution. We have plenty of examples of Jedi showing basic courtesy and respect, so this should be an
easy one to emulate.
This isn't very difficult stuff. Don't cut in line. Don't demean or insult others. Don't go through
people's personal belongings. If you use someone's phone, don't go through it without express
permission. If someone buys you a cup of coffee or something, seek to return the favor as soon as you
can. If someone cooks for you, do the dishes and/or clean the kitchen in return. If you ask for help
moving be sure to feed your friends. Just little things to acknowledge a person for being there. A little
respect goes a long way. So practice your common courtesy and respect to all. General politeness may
surprise you on how much it is appreciated.
Jedi are Disciplined. Well, I mean this can take some time. Or at least it is still a work in
progress for me. Though I think discipline is one of those things that is continuous. Each day it resets
and doesn't matter if we were great or horrible with discipline the day before or our whole lives before.
Each day is a new day to focus on our goals and either hold ourselves to them or to neglect them. The
choice resting mainly on our own shoulders. This is an area where accountability comes into play.
Each of us have responsibilities in our lives. Things that we are committed to for one reason or
another. Whether school, work, family, pets (is that redundant?), or writing a book and meeting a
deadline, we all have things in our lives which we are responsible for. It falls to our own discipline to
see these things through. Well we often have help throughout our lives (parents waking us up for
school, significant other keeping us honest with our diet) it ultimately falls to us to follow through. This
doubles when it comes to personal projects, no one is responsible for the growth of your projects but
you. How far you get with it rests on your discipline and commitment to it.
This of course applies to the Jedi lifestyle and training. I have said it a million times and I'll say
it a million more, you are your own Jedi Master. Others can create websites, write books, make videos,
even move in with you and throw buckets of ice water on you when you are not training. But ultimately
the act of doing falls to you and you alone. And that means you are going to have to hold yourself
accountable. You are going to have to be disciplined and commit yourself to the path on a daily basis.
You are going to have to keep up with your life responsibilities as well. Remember, this resets each and
every day. Yes, you can be happy and even proud of having a long streak of disciplined days. Yes you
can be down about having a streak of no discipline. But each day is a new day for you to begin again.
To live the life you want to live. It takes time, patience Jedi, but each day you get the chance to work
towards your goals. Even if it is little by little, do what you can when you can. Keep to your studies,
training, and path, even when things get tough. Little by little, the easiest way to really accomplish this
is to accept and be okay with small victories. Instead of your normal hardcore workout, a quick ten
minute rising the heart rate workout still counts. Be disciplined, but adjust as you need.
Jedi are Calm. When people think of calm Jedi often Qui-Gon Jinn is the first many people
think of. His strong stoic presence is what many seek mimic. But this isn't a statement on emotions or
lack thereof. This isn't about being completely stoic in the face of a hectic situation. Jedi are not robots,
we are not emotionless creatures. We feel, often deeply, and with good reason. What we are talking
about here is cultivating a calm mind for decision-making. It is that cool under pressure concept we are
talking about. Think of your favorite Jedi and think about when they were under fire or in a tough
situation. They didn't become a unfeeling robot, but they also didn't curl into a ball of emotions on

23
ground. They faced the situation with a Jedi mind. Here, lets bring this intot he real world.
Think of a verbal argument you have gotten into. One that maybe didn't start out aggressive or
at least didn't have to, but an argument where things got heated and loud. Emotions maybe got the
better of one or both parties and things escalated because of that. Now emotions are informative
waypoints to navigate our view of the world and ourselves. They happen and they can lend a fire to our
words when we find ourselves in an argument we care deeply about. So something happened and I am
sure you found yourself in a verbal shouting match at some point in your life. How do you think it
would have gone if you would have remained calm and focused? How do you think it would have gone
if all parties involved had stayed calm and focused? Again, not emotionless, but direct, focused, on
topic, acknowledging their emotions without allowing their emotions to escalate things,
Generally speaking a calm demeanor can often resolve things much easier than when our
emotions start to run away from us. Retail managers experience this all the time and why they tend to
promote those who have a stable emotional demeanor (even if just outwardly). When a customer is
upset and yelling (by the way, another example of politeness and not being a jerk) how one responds to
that will dictate the direction of the conversation. Anyone who has worked in a call center will get how
easy it is for people to yell and get upset about the most inconsequential things.
What if I told you that you could calmly express your emotions? The explosiveness of many
emotions is due to build up. To pushing down or ignoring. What if I told you that you could be emotive
without being emotional? You can express yourself freely and openly without being at the mercy of
your emotions. And the key to that is understanding your emotions and feelings. Just being in touch
with yourself will allow you the awareness to know when to communicate your feelings. Sometimes
you deal with a tough situation and you just have to say afterwards, “Now that the situation is done, I
am going for a walk because I am upset.” Getting out and just breathing and reconnecting with the
world, grounding yourself to the life around you, this can do wonders. Self-Knowledge,
Communication, Honesty, and some good old fashion counting 10 deep breaths will help you develop
and keep that Jedi calm, without sacrificing your own emotional wellness.
Jedi are Strong. Strength comes in many forms and I think that is important to remind
ourselves right away. Strong is a word that tends to bring ideas of weight-lifters and superheroes to
mind. This isn't the type of strength we are talking about though. Jedi can be pillars of strength in many
ways, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, and yes physically. Strength of character is probably one
of the more important strengths a Jedi can have.
Jedi do have an eye toward physical wellness and for many this translate into a type of physical
strength. An example of this would be Jedi who run marathons, triathlons, or those mud obstacle
courses. For others physical wellness translate a bit differently, but that doesn't take away any strength
from that Jedi. We often hear about the strength of someone's heart. Talking about that sheer power of
will that people have within them. It is not measurable. There is no way to truly know the depth of it,
but each of us has that power within us. It is a strength to continue on even when we really do not want
to. This strength manifests in different ways at different times, but it keeps us going.
Luke hanging from the bottom of Cloud City. Broken, beaten, at his lowest point, but didn't just
give-in. Didn't just let go and follow his hand and lightsaber to oblivion. He reached out for help. There
are times it takes a lot of strength to ask for help. To admit that you need help. Luke showed that
strength. Jedi are strong, they can admit when they are wrong. They can admit when they have lost.
They can admit when they need help. None of these are weaknesses. They are starting points. They are
lessons. You are resilient, you have that strength, and it will see you through. Remember Jedi are the
lighthouse in the storm, sometimes that is shown physically, but mostly that is a strength of heart and
understanding. The strength to admit when we ourselves need help. This is best achieved by just being
honest with yourself and what you are able to handle in any given moment.

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 Jedi are Reliable. A person should be able to depend and rely on the Jedi. But lets be clear
here, this does not mean a person should expect a Jedi to drop everything and always be there to help
them out. Jedi are not doormats. We all have our own lives and responsibilities that we must attend to.
So there will be times you will have to prioritize your responsibilities. You might not be able to help
one person, because you already committed to fundraiser during that time. Or you might not be able to
help out at an event because you are working that day. Being reliable isn't about dropping everything
(prior commitments) just because someone asks.
When we say a Jedi is reliable, we are basically saying you can trust a Jedi to be a Jedi. Most
Jedi will gladly help out if they are able. But one should expect a Jedi to say no for a variety of reasons.
Sometimes a Jedi isn't qualified to help. Example, you should never ever ask me for help with your
math homework, you will fail. As such I'd decline to help because that is not something I am very good
at. Sometimes a Jedi just got done helping out in a very emotionally intense situation and is completely
drained. Jedi are not robots, we have to rest and recharge just like everyone else. So yes, Jedi will look
to be of service and help out in whatever way they can, but sometimes the best help they can give is by
not getting involved. SO when we say a Jedi is reliable we are not saying a Jedi will be there all the
time, 24/7. We are saying one can depend on the Jedi to be a Jedi.
In this you can trust in going to a Jedi. They tend to be there for others more often than not, but
more importantly they will tell you straight up if they can help or not. They will tell you yes or no
based upon what is currently going on in their life. As a Jedi you don't give people the run-around or
tell them “for sure” when you have no intention of doing so. A Jedi will be honest about their abilities
to help or not. In this a person can rely on the Jedi, they can ask, and feel comfortable knowing one
way or the other whether or not a Jedi might be able to help out. Applying this to your life is just like
strength. It is about being honest with yourself. Reflecting on where you are and what you can handle
in any given situation and day. Be a Jedi, that I sall anyone can ask of you.
Jedi are Objective. There is the age old debate in philosophy on whether one can ever be truly
objective. Our upbringing, our environments, the experiences we have in life all tend to color our view
of the world. This is why Jedi seek knowledge and experience. Why they encourage exploring new
places, cultures, and ideas. By broadening our understanding we can extend our ability to think outside
of the box we live in. But even with this are we every truly able to obtain pure objectivity? Probably
not. But what we can do through self-reflection and education is understand where our bias lies and
help adjust for our own views and ideals. This isn't true objectivity which would probably require a
complete detachment from all things. But this does allow us to see where our own beliefs are and how
they affect our decision-making and judgment.
Being objective for a Jedi is about seeking information and knowledge from all angles. We
cannot simply accept the one that sounds right to us. We see this in our society today with fake news
organizations. Stories and headlines on social media meant to incite our passions and cater to our
already established worldview. From feel good stories that are as fictional as Star Wars to political
stories (which ironically are bi-partisan since all political views get fake news stories). The way to
defeat these bias views is to ESCAPE. Evidence, Source, Context, Audience, Purpose, and Execution.
This helpful tool was presented by Newseum in an effort to educate people on how to handle media
literacy. It serves as a great way to explain Jedi objectivity as well. When we are presented with a
situation in our lives we need to quickly take the time to ask, what evidence do we have? What is the
source and how creditable is it? What is the context of this situation/story? Who is the audience, who is
this directed to? What is the purpose of this story and situation being shared? How is it being handled?
How is it being shared? As we put all of these puzzle pieces together we can get a better handle on
what is being presented to us and why. From there we can make a much more informed decision on
how to respond and/or react.

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 In an age of instant-gratification and now now now mentality, it is important we take the time to
truly understand how best to proceed. This is again where patience and discipline play a core part.
Discipline because often we are confronted with things that ignite our passions and speak to our strong
stance against injustice. So we want to react right away. “This is horrible! We must act now!” Because
this is the norm these days it is even more important that we as Jedi stand as an example of honest
reflection and information seeking. Gather what facts you can. Understand the difference between news
and opinion. Work from a basis of understanding and empathy, but allow yourself the time and ability
to seek out as much information as possible.
It is important to note that you can 100% be supportive of an idea and/or friend while still
seeking, wanting, and looking for more information on the situation. You can be that pillar of support
(emotionally, socially, spiritually, etc.) while at the same time not rushing to judgments and action until
you have concrete information. You don't have to dismiss anyone just because you don't have the
complete story yet. Likewise being supportive doesn't mean you have to stop gathering information and
just accept whatever side you have been given. Remember, a Jedi seeks to withhold bias, seeking all
sides and angles of a situation.
Jedi are Observant. Awareness is one of the five practices of the Jedi. This goes beyond simply
what you can see around you. It is about emotional, environmental, and situational awareness which
affect our daily lives. Of course the key component of awareness is observation. Taking the time to
notice what is not only going on around you, where you are at, but also what is going on within you.
A story that stuck with me from the police academy was our instructor talking about his first job
where he made deliveries to groceries stores. During his daily routine, he walked into a store he
delivered as usual and walked right into an armed robbery taking place. He mentioned how when he
looked back on it that there were signs of something being wrong. Little things like the normal like of
activity that is usually going on, but more than that if he had simply been more observant he would
have saw what was going on through the windows. Instead he was caught up in his routine and simply
walked in without any awareness.
This is an extreme example of why being observant is a wonderful trait for Jedi to practice and
hone, but it goes beyond just rare cases such as this. Simple observation can help lead you through
difficult situations and conversations. Noticing a person becoming uncomfortable, scared, and/or
agitated can help you navigate and adjust before a situation goes too far. Is an apology necessary? Did
you overstep? Or perhaps, not you but someone in your group of friends. Maybe you notice a friend
clearly uncomfortable and you can help them leave the situation. Just being aware of what is happening
around you and observing the attitudes and reactions of those nearby can really help you determine a
course forward in many situations.
Along with this we have to consider environmental awareness. This extends the obvious, our
impact on the environment, but applies very much to your environment. What type of environment are
you in on a daily basis? Clean? Messy? Aggressive? Calm? Stressful? Encouraging? This of course
can be applied to specific situations. What is the surrounding environment like? Is this encouraging to
the situation and desired outcome? Is it a warning of a potential issue? Take the time to really take
stock of what is going on around you. This is a wonderful tool in our Jedi Toolbox. So much
information (aka Knowledge) is readily available for those who are paying attention.
This of course applies to your own self. What are you feeling. What are you experiencing. What
are your motives, desires, and capabilities. Don't go through life blind to yourself and those around.
Don't willingly accept the blindfold of ignorance. Understand the environment you are in. Understand
your own feelings and limitations. Understand the world you are seeking to make better. These are all
first steps to making progress. You have to be willing to accept the reality of what is in front of you
before you can change it. Be aware, be observant, be mindful Jedi.

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 Jedi are Dedicated. Commitment. Dedication. Tenacity. Endurance. Whatever word you chose
to associate with more the concept is the same; the Jedi dedicate themselves to the Path. And while
many might feel it goes without saying. Or some might find it a little to cult-ish. The place I feel this
really comes into play is when we talk about the Jedi Way versus the Jedi Community. People often
join a Jedi group (whether online or offline or both) because they want to experience and share this
journey with other like-minded people who have a similar passion. So they find camaraderie and
friendship within the Jedi Community. But the community is a collection of people and people are
flawed. No one is a Jedi Master and so disappointment is bound to happen. I have seen a lot of good
people walk away from the Jedi Path because the Jedi Community disappointed them. So I offer this as
a reminder, a Jedi is dedicated to living the path daily and upholding its values. That doesn't require
loyalty to any group, website, and/or religion.
Dedication is tested the most by the community in my personal opinion. But that is because I
am still involved in the Jedi Community. For those much more focused on just learning and living the
Jedi Way (which I assume is mainly those who are reading this) then you'll find yourself tested in
different ways. You'll question whether or not this is for you. More than that, you'll ask yourself if you
are even capable of being a Jedi. Maybe you just aren't cut out for this right? I have said before that the
Jedi Path isn't for everyone and maybe you fall into that category. It is certainly a question that I have
faced more than once when looking into the mirror. Maybe I am just not Jedi material. Now I cannot
answer for you, but I can offer my own thoughts and why I have stayed dedicated to the path.
Being a Jedi is a choice. If you continually make that choice, in the face of mistakes, failure,
and even just boredom, then you are choosing to be a Jedi. Being a Jedi isn't about automatic success
and happily ever after. It is about learning and growing and improving. Growing pains are going to take
place. You are going to make mistakes and you are going to fail at being a Jedi at times. It is a process,
it is a journey. The question is not whether or not you are cut out to be a Jedi. The question is – do you
want to be a Jedi? If that answer is yes, then keep going. I am 97% sure I am not cut out to be a Jedi.
All that means is I am going ot have a tougher and more challenging ride as I go through the path. You
may be like me and you may not be Jedi-material (whatever the hell that is), but that doesn't mean you
cannot be a Jedi. All it means is that we will have a few more bumps and bruises as we make our way
along the path. And you want to know something? That is okay. Stay focused. Stay honest. Stay
dedicated. You will reach your goal, even if it takes a bit longer than others. Heck, I have been doing
this for over twenty years and I am still not there. You can definitely do better than that.
Process Two Conclusion – Homework time!! The most exciting part of Jedi training. So you
should still be seeking to live by the five practices. That is a continuous part of the lifestyle.
Meditation, Fitness, Diplomacy, Awareness, and following through. That is just a friendly reminder.
Though I want you to create a progress goal. Take note of where you are at now in your practices and
consider what small improvements you'd like to make by the the time you get to the next homework
assignment (again this assumes about two weeks or month or so). You can log that in an online or
offline journal to keep track of.
The main assignment for this section is to go through each section and consider how you are
currently fulfilling these aspects, if you are. Write down ways you can improve or begin t o implement
them in your life. Next I want you to use your understanding of fictional Jedi and see if you can think
of a time when a Jedi demonstrated these traits (individually, you don't have to think of a singular Jedi
who demonstrated all of these in a singular moment or film). Lastly go through each of these and apply
the APBP test and consider whether or not these are traits that fit within your life and how you want to
live. Once you have taken the proper time to really reflect on this, again at the very least two weeks,
ask yourself – does this fit with my concepts of the Jedi and is this who I want to become? If you are
still good with the lifestyle and direction then continue on.

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Forging Process Three – Slow Cooling
We have heated the metal, helped shape it, now we want to help preserve that shape by slowly
cooling it. So we are going to step out of the philosophy and ideological for a moment and instead
focus on what we do. Things that we can put into practice on a daily basis and help affirm our goals
and direction in life. Here we will examine five things that Jedi Do. These are things that can be found
in the Jedi Circle, both in the practices and the goals. So hopefully you have been keeping up those
endeavors and this will be an easy section for you.
As this is something we have spoken on and hinted at several times now I want you to consider
this section about reflection and implementation preparation. Consider what you have done, how you
can improve, and how to start putting that into practice. Slow steps are an important part of this
process. It is like setting “getting into shape” for a New Year's Resolution. You don't want to just up
into an hour long heavy duty workout. You'll burn yourself out and not want to continue. Instead you
slowly build a routine that eases you into a fitness regimen and gets you to the goals you want. If you
want to be able to run 5 miles you don't start by running five miles. That is the goal, not the starting
point. Keep this in mind when you are seeking to fulfill the five goals of the Jedi and when seekig to
implement these things that Jedi do.
Jedi Help Others. Now this is a multifaceted topic so don't go assuming anything here. We
need to make sure we understand what is being said here and what is not being said. For example, just
because Jedi help others doesn't mean that you are at the beckon call of everyone at all times. A Jedi is
not a doormat. Jedi are not about being used at the whims of others. Likewise we need to consider what
helping means and how one can best help. That isn't always as clear cut as some people first think.
There are many ways to help, sometimes just staying out of the way is the best help you can provide.
First lets consider some quick and easy ways you can help the world around you. You can
provide support. This might mean being an encouraging voice for a friend or family member. Being a
cheerleader for them as they tackle cancer for example. This could mean being a shoulder to cry on
when a person is going through a difficult time in life. This could mean helping a person move. Or
helping someone carrying heavy groceries into the house. It could mean supporting a leader of a group
project you are working on. Or supporting first responders as they deal with a hectic situation that you
are in. This could simply be by getting out of their way and encouraging others to do the same.
Support, we have talked about this under a different name. Jedi are pillars of support. Sometimes that is
physically, but mostly? Emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually. It doesn't cost any money to be kind
and supportive, and yet sometimes it is the greatest gift you may give.
Another way that Jedi tend to help is by rendering aid. Giving aid can happen in a lot of
different ways. This is most often looked at as giving money to charity groups or disaster relief. But
there are many ways to give. You can give blood, something that is always in short supply. You can
give plasma, some places even pay you to do so. You could give can goods, food, clothes, blankets, and
other items that people may need (both after a disaster and just if they fall on hard times). Probably the
most valuable commodity you can give is your time. Donating your time and energy to an organization
is an overlooked way to render aid. Many groups are low on manpower. You can pack up food. Fill
sandbags. Feed people. Clean animal cages at a local shelter. Read to and help teach people to read.
There are just so many ways you can aid those around you. Does running a Jedi Training Academy free
of charge count? Probably not, but I like to pretend it does. Seriously though, if you stop and think I am
sure you will notice ways you already aid the world around you. Just keep it up Jedi and if able, up
your efforts.
One of the things that is important is knowing when you have given all that you can. I don't

Jediism Explained 28
want to encourage anyone to go beyond their means. This is why personal and financial wellness are a
part of the Jedi Path as well. The better position you are in the better position you are in to help others.
This is why I continually say that Jedi are not the charity. It is why I dislike groups which have
donation buttons and are non-profit and request money from their members. Jedi are not the charity and
if one wants to donate then they should do so to an already well establish charity that is doing good
work. That said there are going to be times in life where you are not where you want to be and just not
in a position to help financially. And guess what? That's okay. Many ways for a Jedi to help out and be
of service. You don't have to do it all. You are part of a large community. It is together that we are
making a difference. It is together that we will improve the world. Start small, work outward. Self-
betterment to World-betterment. Know your limits. Know what you can give and what you cannot, and
most importantly stick to that.
I want you to know something vital – You can't save or help everyone. It is just not in your
power. I am sorry. Together we have a much broader reach, but even collectively the Jedi cannot
save/help everyone. So do what you can with what you have and be good with that. Know that you are
working on improving that reach, but ultimately you cannot say Yes to everyone. You need to take time
for you as well. Your own physical and emotional health is important. You can't help anyone if you
burn out trying to help everyone. So learn to say No. Sometimes that is truly the best help you can give.
Sometimes the best thing you can do is allow for a person to face a challenge on their own (not socially
or emotionally – remember, you can provide support). It can be tough, but allowing for people to grow
on their own can prove to be a better help than shouldering their burdens for them (especially
financially). This is something to keep in mind as you go through life as a Jedi. As some people will
expect you to just always be there to handle all their problems. You are a Jedi, but you are one Jedi with
limited resources. You only have so much time, money, and energy, so use and invest it wisely.
Jedi Defend Those in Need. This originally read Jedi Defend the Weak, but I find that to be
demeaning and doesn't fully encapsulate what we are talking about here. A Jedi defends those in need is
much more accurate. Another point here is to remember that there are many ways to defend someone or
something. Defense isn't necessarily about violence or martial arts. While most Jedi do practice a
martial art of self-defense of some kind, this isn't the main idea being put forth here. At Jedi Living I
have sought to develop a Jedi specific self-defense program. One of the core principles is “the best
defense is not to be there.” This was first created with the idea of instead of blocking a punch or kick,
that one should avoid it, side-step, move, etc. However this extends to self-defense in general. Avoiding
danger is the first way to defend yourself. Example being, avoid areas with high crime rate if possible.
The second step in defense is being vocal. Sometimes you can stop an action and/or defend
someone by just speaking up. You don't have to be aggressive or threatening or intimidating. Just being
a calm voice of reason can often be enough. Asking questions to get people to think for a second can
often be enough. If you live in a country where you can vote, that is speaking up. Recently an election
in my country for a local seat was decided by 12 votes. Those voices mattered and spoke to equality,
reason, and caring about the environment. In school there I was often presented with a chance to speak
up against people being mean and cruel to another student. At work I have stood up for co-workers.
Again, this isn't about being Gandulf and screaming you shall not pass. A simple, “Hey man, what are
you doing?” can be more than enough to stop a situation from getting worse. Pointing out where a
person is at, what they are doing, asking them why they are doing something. All of these can be used
as a way to communicate and stop a situation from worsening. “I am curious, why are to doing this?”
Enter reason here, perhaps after explaining why you care. “Wouldn't this be a better way to achieve
that?” Asking questions and providing an alternative for the desired goal can be one of the hardest
Defense Forms to master, but it is worth pursuing and working on. Verbal Judo is a good book to begin
this learning process; if you are looking for something more in-depth and better written than this.

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 From online harassment to dangerous situations which can occur suddenly in life a Jedi must be
prepared to defend themselves and others. Sometimes this can be as easy as banning a internet troll.
Sometimes this requires calling the proper authorities and being a good witness. And just sometimes it
can mean physically defending life. This is the rarity though. Jedi are not vigilantes. We do not go out
fighting crime. Jedi honor the systems in place to prevent criminal and harmful acts. Still, there is
nothing wrong with being prepared and capable of defending yourself. The good news is that is a very
large field. There are many different self-defense forms you can practice. From Aikido to Tai Chi there
are a lot of different ways you can hone your skills and develop self-defense skills. I won't be including
anything in this book. It falls to you Jedi to determine what fits your philosophical outlook as well as
your preference of physical involvement. Bowing and Krav Maga may be too demanding or brutal.
Qigong may be too soft. Tae Kwon Do may be too showy or may not fit your physical requirements.
All about doing your research and finding something that works for you. Just remember that physical
defense, violence, is the last of last resorts for a Jedi.
Jedi Meditate. Shocked? Surprised? Perhaps at how long it took to get here maybe. Meditation
is a core staple of the Jedi Lifestyle. It has been since the beginning and has been featured in just about
every story with fictional Jedi. Meditation absolutely passes our APBP Test, right? Applicable, certainly
and has been a practice of many different groups over the centuries. Practical in emotional health and
various studies in neuroscience suggest improvement in attention and memory. [2] Beneficial allowing
us a moment of reflection and calm in our daily lives. Which overall this has a positive effect on our
lives and the world around. us. So here it is on our list.
The purpose of meditation is a long one for Jedi. For a calming effect on our emotional and
mental state. We meditate to help us reflect and gain clarity. This can be for spiritual matters, life
choices, to get an better understanding of the Force and universe around us. Sometimes we meditate
simply because a few moments of focus is just a good thing to experience. The benefits of meditation
have been lectured on at length in most fields. Neuroscience is beginning to release studies that support
a lot of the claims of the benefits of calm inner focus. But I am not here to make a case for meditation.
Simply to share the plethora of ways you can bring this practice into your life.
Meditation is often portrayed or thought of as sitting still, eyes closed, and not doing anything
for a set period of time. However this popular idea is simply one way to meditate. Zazen is a specific
technique in which one assumes a specific position and clears their mind. Staring at a point on a wall or
with eyes closed. Emptying the mind and sitting quietly for a set period. And while I have enjoyed this
practiced, it isn't for everyone and not for all occasions. If I am at work and things get tense, I cannot
just take a seat and meditate. My job requires I stay engaged. So I need to use a different technique in
that situation. Likewise at night I have a very particular meditation that I enjoy which involves laying
down and getting a view of the stars. And sometimes I need to get away from it all and reconnect with
myself, with the source, the ineffable, the Force, whatever one wants to label just getting back in touch
our connection to the energy/universe around us. Yes, I am going to now bore you in detail about each
of those in the hopes of inspiring you to find your own meditation method that works for you.
First tip I can give you about meditation is simply to start today. Most people make meditation a
chore. It doesn't have to be that complex. Don't force a time upon yourself. If you have an extra ten
minutes then set a timer so you don't go over or are late to anything, but don't force yourself to sit for
the entire time. Meaning if you give yourself ten minutes, but find that after a couple minutes you just
aren't feeling it then stop. Not the practice, simply for that moment. Keep a daily routine going,
everyday, but for no set minimum. Everyday, little by little. Take a deep breath, begin your meditation
and stop when you are done. If that is only five minutes then it is only five minutes. Much like working
out you need to take steps to get to your goals. You aren't going to be able to jump off the couch and
run a marathon. It takes training and steps. Likewise meditation does take some time to get use to and

Jediism Explained 30
develop into a good habit with tangible results. You just have to be willing to work at it routinely. Now
lets look at some techniques you can explore and try. Or you can try out some meditation videos on
YouTube or something which can provide various techniques; from visualization meditations to
simple .
The first technique I think that gets overlooked a lot is a simple walking meditation. Meditation
itself isn't about stillness physically. It is about focusing and quieting the mind to allow it to reconnect
to the original state of reflection and calmness. Daily we are bombarded with information and
experiences which are minds seek to filter through. As we go through life we experience a plethora of
emotions and sensory input. Meditation allows the mind to filter through that and find its way back to a
still center. Walking meditation is a pretty simple endeavor. Pick a place to go for a walk. This can be a
local park, around your city block, hiking, on the beach, wherever you are able to roam. The practice is
simple, walk and observe. Pay attention. Focus. What is the weather like, feel the breeze on your skin.
Notice the birds chirping, the cars passing by, the ants on the ground. Take the time to really notice life
happening around you as you walk. The buildings, the different places to walk. Just walk and be an
active observer of the world around you. This doesn't require a time period. Once around the block, ten
minute lunch break, whatever, just get out there and enjoy.
Next technique we have is a 'I don't have time for that' meditation. Mainly this can be used
when you are in a situation and cannot get a moment to rest and regroup. This is usually a school or
work atmosphere. We are in the moment, dealing with a lot of outside noise, and don't have the chance
to seek a quiet place and simply get our meditation on. So what can we do when faced with a situation
that is testing our Jedi Calm? Deep breath. Repeat the Jedi Code in your mind. Or the first line. Or the
most applicable line. If you are working retail on a holiday sale then “there is no peace; there is peace”
and “there is no chaos; there is harmony” will probably be your go-to. Likewise if you are working on a
group project then you might find yourself repeating “there is no ignorance; there is knowledge” a few
times in your head. Remember, focus is one of the main factors that help bring about peace. A deep
breath and a few line repetitions won't bring enlightenment, but they can keep that famed Jedi patience
and calm intact as you deal with trying situations.
The last technique I am going to offer is one I like to do at night before bed. Where my bed is
currently I can see out the window and into the night sky. But this is a great one to do if you are
outside, especially while camping. First you get lie down and get comfortable. Take a few deep breaths
to really just unwind from the day and enjoy the sky above you. Then as you are looking up at the sky
allow yourself to pick a star. It doesn't have to be specific, just let your attention fall and rest on a star.
Continue to look at it for awhile giving it your full attention. Then close your eyes and picture the star
in the sky just as it was. Picture it growing brighter and brighter illuminating the night sky as if
growing bigger or perhaps coming closer. Imagine the light of the start showering down upon you.
Bathing you in starlight. Imagine your body being like a vacuum gathering all that light within your
body until the night sky returns to normal. Lastly notice the star within yourself. Still shining bright
within body. And wherever you go you carry the light of that star within you.
Remember meditation is just about helps you focus your mind and spirit. Establishing a nice
rhythm within yourself and creating a calm center to work from. Self-reflection at night is a wonderful
way to help as you progress as well. In busy times a quick mantra, a reminder, is all that we need to
grab onto that center and continue forward with the Jedi mindset. So just find what works for you and
keep up your practices.
Jedi Use Diplomacy. I think this one goes without saying, but often times when we think of
examples of Jedi diplomacy within the fiction we think of Jedi Mind Tricks. Obi-Wan tricking a
Stromtrooper, Qui-Gon tricking Boss Nass, but it is perhaps better to say that these show conflict
avoidance rather than Jedi diplomacy. The options were limited in the circumstances and the potential

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for a much more violent outcome was high. So the Jedi resorted to an ethically ambiguous trick in
order to move forward with the least amount of conflict. This is fortunately not a ethical debate we
need to have since waving our hand and overriding someone's free will is not an ability we possess.
However, often times in life we do find ourselves in situations which can be classified as hostile.
Whether at work, school, home, or just out and about with friends, we can all think of a time where
things got very heated, very fast.
Aggressive negotiations isn't actually a thing, despite Anakin's example. That is actually just
failed diplomacy. And that will happen from time to time. Depending on the situation it can be very
hard to use your words to deescalate a situation. When people get upset and emotions begin to override
sense, people tend to tune out. They just aren't listening anymore. That is why the very first part of Jedi
Diplomacy is to Know Your Audience. Beware of who you are talking to and what you know about
them. Diplomacy starts with knowledge, yourself, the situation, and absolutely the people you are
dealing with. This specifically comes into play with a person starts to tune out. A little knowledge here
can help you refocus the person. Maybe when an argument between you and your significant other gets
too heated you take a selfie of you both as a way to break the moment and lighten the mood. Allowing
for both of you to reassess your position and words.
This boils down to simply listening and paying attention. Active listening is often the term used.
Really paying attention to what is being said. Ask questions. Rather then waiting for your turn to talk or
instead of focusing on what your rebuttal is going to be, take the time to really listen to what the person
is seeking to convey. This might also provide a way to snap the person's attention back should things
start to get too aggressive and/or emotional. By paying attention to the person we are talking with we
can build a core understanding of their position and viewpoints.
Which brings us to the next step, which is to gather information. We do this by listening, but
also by asking questions. Seek as much clarification as possible. This is not only a great way to stay
active and engaged, but it also allows the other side a chance to really explore their own position. It
also might help in gaining knowledge on how to keep things light and help remind the person of that
should things start to get emotional. Information is your friend, your ally, it is the bridge to
understanding. So make a point of acquiring as much as possible. You might be surprised how many
“arguments” you can win by simply asking the right questions.
Part of asking questions is to get input from all parties. Having this information helps build a
consensus. One of the more practical ways to move forward in any conflict resolution situation is to
build a solid consensus. It is important that everyone involved feels heard. In order to do this you have
to make sure no one, including yourself, is bullying someone into silence. Removing judgmental and
negative language and allowing people to express their ideas openly. In this you can gain the best
picture and as many options as possible. You may find you need to steer the conversation, ask
questions, and so on, but this doesn't mean you have to dominate the conversation. Instead build a
platform that allows each person to speak equally and express themselves openly.
The best way to help this is simply to approach everyone respectfully. Respecting a person goes
a very long way in getting them to listen and speak openly. Showing respect helps build the right
atmosphere for the situation and can ease tensions. A lot of frustration and conflict often arises because
people feel they are being ignored and disrespected as a person. By helping to alleviate that feeling you
can create an environment of open exchange.
In the end you are just one person. We are not Obi-Wan Kenobi. We do not have magic mind
tricks to help solve a tense situation. All we have is our self-control, our openness, and our desire to
help avoid physical conflict. You are not all powerful. As such there are going to be times when you
have done all you can. Said all that can be said. You find yourself repeating the same points over and
over. Trying the same diplomacy over and over. You have to be aware of this and realize that are our

Jediism Explained 32
times when you simply have to walk away. You have to let the situation go. You have to check your
own ego at the door and recognize that you did all you could and it is time to move on. Walk away, let
go, and readjust your focus on what is important. That is rarely easy as we want to help, but there are
times when you simply cannot. And you don't want to sacrifice yourself in a failing cause when you
can be so benefit elsewhere. So learn to let go and walk away.
All this said and done Jedi Diplomacy is super simple, it echos the entirety of our path. Just be
kind, have some empathy, and don't pick fights. Jedi Cabur Sennar once said, “no one is entitled to a
fight.” I found that profound. You don't have to oblige anyone seeking conflict. How much do you
really know about their situation anyhow? So when conflict arises, be a Jedi. Be kind, seek peace, and
walk away when necessary.
Jedi Guide Others. Would you be surprised to learn that this is a multi-faceted concept within
the Jedi Path? The most obvious way a Jedi can guide is by being an example. Of course many assume
this topic means to take on a student or twenty as a Jedi Master. And while certainly this does
encourage passing on what you have learned as a Jedi mentor, that is not the main idea behind it.
Simply because the Jedi Path is not for everyone. Yet there are many great and harmonious paths which
exist in our world that a person can follow, if they so choose. This really what I want to focus on, but
lets address the other stuff first.
Being an example is the most simplistic. Just be a Jedi. Okay, so it isn't always that easy, but
really that is all this boils down to. Follow your path, keep to your ideals, live as a Jedi. Allow your
actions and words to set the example you'd like to encourage in others. Patience, understanding, critical
thinking, ethical decision making, etc. You don't have to hide who you are and what you are seeking to
become. You don't have to wave a Jedi banner around, but you can very much allow your actions to
speak for you. Adhering to your practices and goals daily.
Eventually, after so many years training and living as a Jedi you may find yourself in a position
to help pass on the lessons you have learned. Someone may seek you out or perhaps someone had
already been taking notice of your example and decided to get a bit more direct tutelage. Maybe you
join a Jedi website and just click with a new member and feel you have some valuable experience to
pass on. Remember that it is guidance. Don't give a road map, but merely suggested sign posts. Be a
sounding board for them. You are a Mentor, not a Master. You are there to encourage self-reliance, self-
learning, and self-growth. They are not to be mini-you, but rather people who could use the thoughts of
a Jedi who has lived the path. Encourage exploration, don't seek to provide an/your answer sheet.
Lastly a Jedi isn't about just offering guidance to other fellow Jedi. There are many people in
this world and some will seek out a Jedi's two pennies. Reasons will vary, maybe it is just a friend who
has come to trust your opinion. Doesn't really matter the why as much as how you respond. And one of
the most important things to remember is that each person has their own path to follow in life. What
works for one person may easily be a horrible option for another. You have to be willing to allow for
people to find their own answers and way forward. Which may in fact not really be a Jedi answer.
Fortunately there are many great paths, ideals, and concepts in this world. Many solutions which can
lead to positive and beneficial outcomes for an individual which are not necessarily Jedi. So seek to
encourage individuals to find their own path in life, at the same time as encouraging and supporting
paths that are more harmonious and helpful with the world and the people around them - seeking to
guide them to peaceful and nurturing solutions.
Process Three Conclusion – Homework time!!! I just like giving homework. I think have been
doing this Jedi instructor thing a little too long. Might be time for retirement soon. But before that we
have a book to finish and a lifestyle to explore. So we have explored our fiction in the first assignment.
We have examined the traits in relation to that and our actual lives in the second assignment. Now it is
time to simply do. So lets set-up a basic practice outline and goals.

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 First I want to you consider your areas of wellness. We will split this up into physical,
emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and community. I want you to take some time and consider what goals
you have for these areas. I'll offer an example with my current goals:
Physical Wellness Goal – Cut all soda out of my diet. Be able to run 3 miles. Be able to do five press-
ups (handstand push-ups).
Emotional Wellness Goal – Establish a daily zazen routine. Move pass heartache and move on from my
ex.
Intellectual Wellness Goal – Learn ASL to the best of my ability. Read ten new books this year.
Spiritual Wellness Goal – Explore and solidify my views on life after death which fits with my
definition of the Force.
Community Service Goal – Get a routine with my Little and look to get 100 hours of community
service in.
Now that we have our goals we can use this to help build our daily practices. If I want zazen to
be a solid routine, then I need to make a daily reminder on my phone. Practice zazen for 10 minutes
and set that to remind me every night after dinner. I will also adjust my work-outs so that they help me
build the right balance and muscles for working on press-ups. I'll also set aside 15 minutes each day to
work on ASL learning. I'll add in some new books which explore spiritual concepts so I can work on
two of my goals at the same time. And I'll look to set aside a day a week for the Big Brother program to
help with my community service goal.
The idea here is simply to set some pretty straight forward and obtainable goals for yourself
with about a year time-frame. Things that you may already be working on and towards. These should
be in-line with your Jedi practices. Meditation, fitness, diplomacy, study so on. Remember that your
Jedi practices should be a daily thing. It helps build a solid foundation for you so that when life gets
tough you have the Jedi Way to help you move forward. For the sake of this assignment I want you to
think more immediate future rather than long-term goals. Lets get some easy wins in first before we run
off to save the world. One step at a time Jedi. Remember, world-betterment through self-betterment.
Start within and work outward. Make it easy on yourself at first. You have the rest of your life to adjust
your goals and make them gradually tougher.

Jediism Explained 34
Forging Process Four – Grinding
We have taken the time to establish our path by looking at our inspiration and how that works
within our lives. We have set-up some basic guides to help integrate our path into our daily lives with
some clear goals and practices. Now we want to start working on those core tenets and traits which
exemplify the core of the Jedi. We have heated the metal, hammered out a basic shape, and helped
solidify it. Now we are going to grind the metal and really define the shape. That is done through
experience. Getting out there and really holding ourselves to main concepts of the Jedi Way. Consider
the Jedi Code as the first step, peace, knowledge, serenity, harmony, and the Force. We will explore
these concepts individually and applied them to how we approach our daily lives.
Jedi Seek Peace. The fictional Sith Code, made for the popular BioWare Knights of the
Republic[3], states that “Peace is a Lie”. A Sith I once knew use to tell me he believed that line was a
core truth in our world. But as I am sure you know dear Jedi, this concept is multi-faceted. So while
maybe one concept of peace is indeed a lie, which is still debatable, the overall ideal behind it is not.
Peace is something you can obtain in varying degrees in different ways. We are not simply talking
about the end of war.
Peace of mind, being at peace, end of conflict (physical or otherwise), these are all elements to
the Tenet of Peace. But since we get to explore some elements of the word Peace through the concept
of Serenity, its look at the most common definition of peace, the end of conflict. This goes beyond the
cession of war or armed conflict. Every single day we are presented with little conflicts often within
ourselves. The conflict of hitting the snooze button or just calling it a sick day might be a more familiar
example. So how do we find peace within the daily struggle of need versus want?
There is a process I recommend in dealing with our emotions which works in building peace
when faced with conflict. This is a four step process. The first thing we must do is acknowledge. And I
mean as soon as possible. It has to become habit. So when conflict or strong emotions arise – you
acknowledge, identify. The next step is to Determine / Explore that – find the Why. Accept the
conclusion. Proceed Forward. For some people this may be enough, but lets break this down and really
show an example of the process.
First we need to acknowledge. Do this by consciously calling yourself out. Anger! Identify what
it is you are feeling. Joy! Grief! Frustration! Conflict! Often when we feel things it is our primal base
nature and that can cloud our conscious mind. So we have to claim ourselves and the best way to do
that is to identify what exactly we are feeling. And that may not be 100% clear in the moment, but even
that gets the mind working and allows us to gain some measure of control. What is this I'm feeling?
Anger? Pain? Hunger? Remember it isn't about controlling what you feel – no one can do that. It is
about controlling what you do thereafter. Or as Qui-Gon Jinn once said, “We cannot control how we
feel. Only how we choose to handle our feelings.” So make it a practice to identify first.
Second we need to explore that acknowledgment. Find the why of it. Because it isn't always
what we think. Conflict! Okay, why? Well because I don't want to go into work today? Okay, why is
that? Because I am tired. Okay, why are you tired? Because I stayed up late last night playing a video
game. Okay, so you are tired due to poor planning and being a bit irresponsible. Is being more
irresponsible the answer and proper resolution? No. So the conflict is merely a temporary feeling that
can be resolved with better time management? Yes. So what is the proper course of action? Go to work,
do my best to enjoy the day, and work out a better schedule so I can enjoy my hobbies without it
interfering with my job.
The next step is easy to say, but a bit harder to really accomplish. Accept the Conclusion. Work
through it. Grief, anger, frustration, allow your self-honesty to guide you to the root of the problem.

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That in itself will often present you with a way forward. A solution will often become much more clear
once we get to the heart of the matter. Of course none of that matters if we aren't willing to accept the
process and conclusions. This isn't always an easy thing. We often want to argue with ourselves. Make
things more complicated than they actually are instead of just accepting what is in front of us. So once
you go through the identification, the why, make the mental note – accepted. Got it! Because this leads
us to our last step.
Do it! Or maybe a little less Chancellor Palpatine. Move forward, get it done, aye aye captain,
whatever verbage you want to use to designate moving on. You have acknowledged, you have found
understanding, you have accepted, now it is time to put that conclusion into practice. Now this may be
a right away thing, something to be done within that moment. Or you might that this is a long term
action which will require a bit more time and effort. Jedi is found in the doing. We can pontificate and
philosophize all day, but in the end it is all about Living as a Jedi. Over time this practice becomes
quicker and we can eventually form it into a quick habit. Happy! Why? Because someone I respect
acknowledge my hard work and effort. A bit difficult to accept, but I trust their judgment. Next step is
to continue to improve, it is great to feel acknowledged and accomplished, but this isn't the end. I will
enjoy this moment and this feeling, but won't allow it to make me complacent. Deep breath. Peace.
Jedi Seek and Encourage Knowledge. One of the major factors that I just thoroughly enjoy
about the Jedi is the love for knowledge. More than that the diversity of knowledge. Every Jedi has
things that interest them and grab their attention and it varies from person to person. This allows me
access to all sorts of information and knowledge from all over the globe. I often have often picked the
brains of my fellow Jedi who live in other countries to get a better sense of how their government
works and the general thoughts of the common citizen. One of the beauties of the information age,
being connected globally.
Of course knowledge also applies to a Jedi's own journey and training. Hence this book. Jedi
tend to be eternal students or certainly approach life with that sort of mindset. The beginner's mind, not
allowing the illusion of knowledge to mask ignorance. At Jedi Gatherings there are often workshops on
general practices. Someone may hold a class on meditation for example. Well I have been meditating
for most of my life. I have read many different books, taken different classes, and tried a variety of
techniques in order to maximize practice. So of course I tend the workshop bright eyed and ready to
learn. You never know what experience or viewpoint a person may have that might just blow you mind
leaving you with a sense of clarity and understanding. Or maybe you simply reaffirm things you had
learned before, but it was presented in a new way. Maybe you learn a new way of teaching rather than a
new technique. Whatever the case may be, unless you open yourself up to the experience and
possibility of learning something new you are going to be stuck with what you already know.
Knowledge is a valuable tool that helps us throughout life and doesn't have any boundaries.
Knowing how to change a tire is valuable under the right circumstances and unless at all other times.
This applies to knowing that Endor is a gas giant with nine moons and that the Forest Moon of Endor,
often shortened to just Endor, is also known as the Sanctuary Moon. Pretty useless knowledge until
Star Wars trivia night comes around. The point here is something Sherlock Holmes was once written to
have said, “all knowledge comes useful to the detective.” You cannot possibly know everything, but
you can be open to learning new things, even about subjects you already know about. This is the
essence of science, allowing for new information to help form and impact previously known concepts.
Knowing what you do not know is often considered the path of the wise. This simply means
acknowledging your ignorance. I know nothing about running an auto repair shop. Likewise I know
very little in the field of accounting. I am very ignorant when it comes to the game of Cricket. The
world if filled with many amazing things. The universe is this crazy and complex mix of wonders and it
is just impossible to know everything. But that singular acknowledgment open the doors for us to learn

Jediism Explained 36
so much. When we accept the limitations of our knowledge our curiosity can take over and we can
allow that to guide us to new knowledge and experiences.
Of this another application of knowledge that seems core to the Jedi Path is that of education.
Passing on what you have learned. The imparting of experience, facts, and general tips and tricks (or
life-hacks the term is these days) that have helped you survive and thrive in life. For Jedi this often
takes the form of apprenticeship or academy training programs or just friendship with a side of -avoid
this pitfall of the Jedi community-. It takes time to get to a position of mentorship. There is a lot of
responsibility there and should definitely be considered in the things you may think you know, but don't
really. To train another is a huge responsibility and it is much better to allow yourself the time and
experience of living as a Jedi before looking to pass on your knowledge. Think of it this way – you
may be wise and knowledgeable now, but how much more will you be in another five years?
We do what we can to save our knowledge in this way. By passing it on we help ensure its
survival beyond ourselves. This is why we take part in online websites and share our thoughts,
experiences, and ideas with one another. This is why have written several training programs. It is all
about preserving our knowledge, our history, and giving a foundation for the next generation of Jedi
(you) the ability to grow from it. Not venerate it, not follow it without question, not worship it, but to
grow beyond it. To take it, reach that level, and then take the next step. Then it will fall to you to
stabilize that next level, make sure it has a stable foundation, and allow the next Jedi to grow beyond
that. Knowledge isn't an end, it is the platform for new beginnings.
Jedi Seek Serenity. Alright lets discuss the elephant in the room. Is peace and serenity the same
thing? They can be synonymous depending on how the word is used. But within the Jedi Path they are
often describing two different things; even in their multi-faceted use. In this book we looked at peace
more in relation to the end of conflict, whether emotional or physical. Violence isn't peace and a core
part of avoiding violence is a deep feeling of serenity. We looked at this a bit in the section about Jedi
Calm. So I won't repeat what we talked about there. We have already explored the importance of
meditation, emotional exploration, and acceptance. Instead for this section we are going to see if we
can gain some serenity; without repeating any of those things.
When I was looking to shorten my view of the Jedi Code, make it as simple as possible, I
described the line on serenity as find serenity through your passion. The idea that when you do what
you love you are going to find bliss. When we take the time to focus on the things we love and enjoy
we get a sense of serenity. It is a mixture of focus, purpose, and satisfaction that helps create this.
As we discussed conflict can happen on many levels and inner conflict often happens when we
are fighting against ourselves. This often speaks on an imbalance. This is another core part of serenity,
finding the right balance between our responsibilities and our own self-care. While our passions can
bring us to a place of calm, if we focus on nothing else we create a conflict between what we want to
do and what we need to do. School, job, sometimes these are things that we just don't want to do. We
would rather play video games or go swimming or whatever passion we may have. Balance between
our needs and wants is the core to this. Setting up our overall well-being rather than just chasing a
singular dream with no real plan or direction outside of, 'I really want to do this.'
Acceptance is Peace, a core mantra I have. To develop inner peace we need to be willing to
accept the universe, people, events, and ourselves as they are. From there we can adjust accordingly
and adapt to the various changes in our lives and our goals. Security is Serenity would be the mantra I
offer for this topic. Serenity is found when you are secure in yourself, in the Force, in the path your
have chosen to walk. By that I mean being secure in the direction you have chosen to live your life.
Doesn't mean it will be easy or without challenges, but knowing that you have chosen your path in life
and are working realistically and with commit towards it. This security in ourselves allows us to
approach change with confidence and calmness. Circumstances change, the best laid plans can go awry,

37
but Jedi approach these with serenity because they are secure in their abilities to handle whatever the
universe offers. Go with the flow, sure, but don't forget you have a paddle as well.
Jedi Seek and Encourage Harmony. What thgim seem citoahc might ylpmis be a nrettap that
ew haven't dezingocer yet. Chaos is often considered the opposite of harmony. Though most of us are
familiar with the saying, there is method to madness. And “what might seem chaotic might simply be a
pattern that we haven't recognized yet.” Just because we can't see the connecting dots doesn't mean that
it is random nonsense with no discernible connection. Understanding the pattern is not a requirement
for the pattern to exist.
When I was exploring the Jedi Code in a round-table discussion on our YouTube channel a Jedi
by the name of L. Christopher Bird said an apprentice of his described the line, “there is no chaos; there
is harmony” as 'a single note cannot harmonize with itself.' And we both found that to be very
profound. None of us are an island, this universe is not an island, there are many forces in play that we
cannot see for a plethora of reasons. We see car accidents as random events, especially when they
happen to us, but there is always a line of actions that lead up to it.
To be clear this isn't about assigning blame. The blame game has fingers pointing at everyone. It
can be passed anywhere. It is a pointless endeavor that only leaves unsatisfied feelings. Blame cures
nothing. We must deal with what is and find a way to move forward from that. We all have our parts to
play, we all made decisions (whether good or bad in hindsight or not) that lead to this moment. The
question isn't so much – what led to this? Though it is great to seek understanding so we can learn from
the past, but the more important question is – what do I do now?
This where we double-down on our concept of balance. So-called Grey and Shadow “Jedi” like
to think they came up with this idea of balance, but it has been a full on Jedi concepts since the
beginning. This plays out a lot of ways within the Jedi Path. Balance of mind, body, spirit, but also
between nature and technology. Balance in our passions and our responsibilities. Balance in our diet,
most health diets have cheat days. There are good moments in life and painful moments in life. There is
a flow to the universe and we balance ourselves as best we can within it. We are not alone, we are not
an island, we are one piece of a much larger whole.
We balance our desire to know and understand with an acceptance of what has been. It is
important to remember that we don't have a time machine. Our linear lives don't allow us to restart and
try again. All we can do is learn from our mistakes in an effort not to repeat them. In this we add to the
over all pattern, to the other notes of the universe. As Jedi we seek to find a balance within this overall
melody of the universe. And encourage the flow with the tune we find ourselves in. Jazz can seem
chaotic, but each musician has their part to play, each note is a part of a larger whole. As one of my
favorite composers once said, “Life is a lot like jazz, it's best when you improvise.” - George Gershwin
Be willing to go with the flow, but don't forget that you have a paddle. Find the balance to
adjusting and adapting. Seek to learn when to fight the current and when to let go. Anakin Skywalker
fought the circumstances around him, always seeking to control the outcomes and events. Qui-Gon Jinn
on the other-hand, while he had goals in mind, he adapted to the ever-changing circumstances. Trying
to control things that are not in your ability to control is the quickest way to drive yourself insane. Seek
balance, seek harmony, adjust as needed.
Jedi Seek the Force. We are going to be exploring this topic a little bit more later on in the
book. Especially since the Force is probably the biggest draw to the religious side of Jediism. Since we
discussing that in that section, I want to simply talk about how Jedi seek the Force. Jedi explore the
various concepts associated with the Force. In this we can draw from our own experiences, past and
present. And from that we can begin to develop our own definition of the Force.
Since the early 00's I have personally defined the Force as Ineffable. I find this to be the most
complete view for me. It sums up my thoughts and allows an open platform for exploration and

Jediism Explained 38
experience. The Force itself finds many names and ideas being attached to it. Ultimately that is for each
Jedi to decide for themselves. The question we want to address is how do we begin that search?
The beauty of this aspect is that we have already discuss the tools that will fulfill this concept.
Knowledge, Meditation, and Awareness play the biggest parts. Knowledge is simply about information.
It means pick up some books. Explore some metaphysical concepts. Dig into your beliefs and perhaps
even challenge them with learning about new ideas and beliefs that exist out there. It is about
establishing a base level of understanding while you explore through more personal means.
Exploration is about meditation and reflection. It is about looking at your life and your
experiences and how that lines up with your beliefs. We take that to explore, experience, grow, and
define the ineffable source which we call the Force. Certain meditations might be more effective than
others. It all depends on your preference and style. Mainly we encourage something which just helps
quiet the mind and allows you to focus on what you feel. The wind on your skin, the sounds in the air,
just existing and feeling the sensations of the world around.
The idea here is to get in touch with the mystical, the spiritual, even if that ultimately boils
down to science. In the movie Thor they have a line that goes, “magic is just science we haven't figured
out yet.” Maybe this becomes your mantra. Maybe you find the Force is found in the natural energies
we can measure with current scientific instruments. Maybe you find a more Eastern approach fits your
experiences and viewpoint better with Western analogies, such as the flow of the Force being similar to
the currents of the ocean. The key here is to explore. Write down your thoughts. Meditation,
experience, study, challenge your own preconceived notions and beliefs. What other beliefs might share
similarities? How do those concepts fit in with your own ideas? How does all of that fit in with what
you have experienced within your life? As I said, we explore this more later on, but really allow
yourself the time to explore this concept with an open mind.
Jedi Seek and Encourage Honesty. One of the foundational pillars of any good relationship
(romantic, professional, apprentice, etc.) is open and honest communication (the other two being trust
and respect). There are some stipulations to this concept of honesty though; loopholes both within our
fictional inspiration and our own experiences. And you'll have to really develop your own ethical
decision on how far to take this idea of honesty within your life. However the main idea behind this is
Self-Honesty. No addendum, no loopholes, just the reminder that Self-Honesty is the bedrock for
personal growth.
For Jedi we rely on self-knowledge, we face the darkest corners of ourselves so that ignorance
does not cloud our judgment. The dark side is only present when we refuse to shine light into the deep
corners of our being. Or less poetically – in order for us to truly grow and become the people we want
to be, we must we honest with ourselves. You cannot grow if you are unable acknowledge where you
are starting from. Understand where you are at now, your limitations, your short-comings, your
strengths, and your weaknesses. Only by being honest with yourself can you truly understand yourself.
And once you know who you are – there are no limitations to your journey. So take the time now and
throughout your practice to be truly and brutally honest with yourself.
Another important disclaimer for the Jedi concept of honesty is this idea of honesty is not carte
blanche to be a jerk. It does not allow internet troll as a part of Jedi behavior. “What? I was just being
honest.” Is not a valid excuse. There is a difference between being honest and being an a-hole. You can
be honest and still be tactful about it. If you continually find that “people just can't handle my brand of
honesty” then the problem isn't with the other people. Lets remember that diplomacy, communication,
and conflict resolution (or conflict avoidance) all have a place within the Jedi Path. So if you find your
being honest continues to cause problems then you will want to examine why exactly. Again, you can
be open and honest without being a jerk about it.
As previously mentioned this multi-faceted aspect allows some leeway for a Jedi in this

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concept. The Jedi Rules of Behavior[4] state “a Jedi can allow others to believe incorrectly, lead others
to incorrect conclusions by playing on their suppositions, or stretch the truth if the situation demands
it.” A Jedi is allowed to use subterfuge if they so desire. Of course most Jedi take issue with these
allowances and prefer just to be upfront and talk with people directly. Most Jedi prefer to minimize
misunderstanding by minimizing miscommunication. This falls into that ethical area where Jedi find
that just because certain things are allowed doesn't mean they have to follow them. Likewise no actual
Jedi deals in lies and spreading false rumors about others. Those just do not work within our path and
are often very telling of what path a person truly follows. Of course the number of fictional examples
of Jedi being less an honest is pretty high.
The best course here is pretty simple. Be honest with yourself, your motivations, your
thoughts,and be accepting of yourself, the process, and your goals. Be open with others, but don't feel
you have to overshare and disclose information you are not comfortable sharing. Don't deal in gossip,
but seek information and remember every story has a side for very person involved plus the truth. Feel
free to be a bit more blunt with your fellow a Jedi. Remember Jedi honor truth and respect honesty. It is
how we grow, by being honest with ourselves and surrounding ourselves with people who will be
honest with us.
I am going to be honest about something here to help illustrate this point. This book was
planned to be released January 2018. But as I was really digging into the book I was hit with a lot life
events. A break-up with a girl I loved for over 15 years. My dog dislocated both of his front legs. My
Dad went into the hospital, his cancer taking a surprising turn for the worse, and he eventually died
from it that year. I needed to get a second job to stay afloat financially. Just many things that cut into
focus, time, and commitment to finishing the book. And eventually I stopped even pretending I was
going to get it done. And I was very disappointed in myself for that. Not because – oh life got in the
way. But because when things calmed down and I was in a place I could start writing again I was
playing video games with that time instead. I allowed those events to become excuses. And while the
book would have been delayed, for sure, it shouldn't have taken this long. But I allowed myself to focus
on personal time over the projects I had planned. There is some leeway there, but in the end I got lazy
and didn't push myself forward. It required a helping push, because when a person keeps asking how is
the book going and you haven't done anything you cringe inside. That person filled that role which my
Dad left vacant (Thanks Alexandria). Sometimes you need a honest kick in the pants by your friends,
family, and/or fellow Jedi.

Process Four Conclusion: The Daily Grind. One of the most overlooked parts of the Jedi
Lifestyle is the simple repetition of it all. Doing the little things day in and day out. No reward, no
finishline, just how we live and approach life on a daily basis. What is it you do daily as a Jedi? What
do you do daily because of the Jedi Lifestyle? Meditation? Working out? Community Service? The
homework here is to sort of put together a daily schedule. I'll give an example from when I worked a
personal driver job.
5a – 5:20a: Wake-up, Morning Routine, Leave.
5:20a – 9a: Work.
9a – 11a: Jedi Media (Social Media, Journals, etc.).
11a – 12:30p: Work-out, Walk Dog, Lunch.
12:30p – 3p: Personal Projects (Jedi, Books, Community Work, etc.). Career Search. Chores (Dishes,
Laundry, Cleaning, etc.).
3p – 4p: Meditation.
4p – 8:30p: Work.
8:30p – 10p: Dinner. Relax, Evening Routine (Jedi Reflection, Checklist, etc.).

Jediism Explained 40
10p – 5a: Bed, Sleep.
This worked as my most basic schedule during a brief time in my life. While there is a structure
here, it is clearly very open and flexible to what is needed from day-to-day. And this basically what I'd
like you to do, if you haven't already. Feel free to get very detailed with it. You want to plan it out to the
minute, you can do that. 5:11am Brush Teeth. But mainly this is just about putting a general and loose
structure around your day and putting it on paper so you can see it and make adjustments as needed.
Then all you have to do is hold yourself to it as best as possible. Make room and time for your Jedi
practices and goals. Make a schedule for your work day and your weekends. Find the time to really put
your Jedi life into practice. Check-in with yourself daily. Look in the mirror before bed, did you
complete your practices? Your goals? Why or why not? What is the approach for tomorrow? After a
couple weeks of living that write out your thoughts, experiences, expectations vs. reality. Report back
with how that played out. Adjustments you made and any differences you noticed from start to finish.

41
Forging Process Five – Hardening
The next step in our metaphorical forge is the hardening process. Here this means we are going
to seek to push some limits and then chill for a bit. We'll talk more on that when it comes to homework
time. The concepts we will be looking at within this section are what Jedi Honor. These are really the
last shaping efforts of the Jedi Precepts. After this we have a solid idea of what it means to be and live
as a Jedi. We certainly aren't done in our little introduction training program, but this is the last stretch
of the Jedi Lifestyle Outline.
In this section we are going to discuss our personal pursuits, our personal paths, the Jedi
organizations, the laws in which society itself has put into place, and the different sides of the
student/teacher relationship. If I were only allowed a singular sentence to advise in each of these
elements it would be simple; Be a Jedi. You should have a decent understanding of what that means by
now. When in doubt take a deep breath and simply be a Jedi. But since I am not restricted by a singular
sentence I get to ramble on these elements within our Path at length. Not too long though I want to
keep the printing cost of this book as low as possible. But I digress, lets begin!
Jedi Honor Personal Pursuits. All of us have a variety of hobbies and enjoyments that we
make time for. We may find some of these pursuits share certain traits with our Jedi Path. Many people
inspired by the Jedi seek out careers in specific fields that they feel align with Jedi ideals. People have
pursued careers in law enforcement, teaching martial arts, becoming a nurse or doctor, all because they
felt this was the best way to really live being a Jedi daily. Likewise people have sought out energy
healing or games such as Go which they feel encourage and support Jedi concepts. And of course the
Jedi Way, the Jedi Organization, Jediism, however you want to look at it, supports these personal
pursuits.
The important note here is that these are personal. Meaning they are not necessarily Jedi. You
don't have to be a Police Officer to be a Jedi and being a Peace Officer doesn't give you Jedi Bonus
Points. Same with Psychology, Reiki, Chess, Knitting, Lightsaber Building, Aikido Master, and so on.
You don't get Jedi credit for these other enjoyments and hobbies you have. They are a part of you, a
part of your story, a part of your path. They give you specific knowledge and insight, but they don't
make you a Jedi.
I very much love to run Spartan Races and other Obstacle Mud Runs. I find they really connect
me to my path. I get that Luke on Dagobah feeling when I participate in them. And I encourage them
for all Jedi really and non-Jedi and really just anyone I meet. The point being that as much as I find
inspiration and enjoyment in them running Spartan Races do not make me a Jedi. They do not give me
Jedi points. It doesn't make me a Jedi, but I find it does make me (personally) a better Jedi (on my
path). Other Jedi have tried them and been like Nope! No thank you. Never again. Does that make them
less of a Jedi? Of course not. It just means it doesn't add to their Path.
Some people think to think that because they have trained in a Martial Art for so many years
they should get some sort of Jedi Credit. “I have done Tae Kwon Do and Reiki for ten years, you
should give me the Jedi Knight title.” But mud runs, energy healing, martial arts, these are all just
personal pursuits that we find add to our own personal journey. They add to our path, but they are not
the Jedi Path. So love what you do. Embrace your additions. Take note how they reflect the Jedi Way
and vice versa. Just remember that there is a difference between your path and the path.
Jedi Honor Personal Paths. This is really just a continuation from the previous point. More
expanding into Religion and Belief. While many view Jediism as a religion there are certain elements
which could counter that viewpoint. We will get into that later on in the book, for now we will simply
say that there are many Jedi with many different beliefs. I have met Jedi who are Christian. Jedi who

Jediism Explained 42
are Buddhist. Jedi who are Atheist. Spiritual wellness is a core part of the Jedi Path, but there is no set
answer. So your personal path in that regards is completely open to your own experiences and beliefs.
Like the previous topic this doesn't give you any special Jedi points. Being a Buddhist Monk for
twenty years doesn't make one a Jedi. It doesn't make one more of a Jedi than someone who isn't. It is
simply a faith and practice that a person personally finds to have value and fits their own view of the
universe. Likewise I imagine that one would find it inline with the Jedi Path and feel they coexist well
together. And that is all there really is to say on this topic. Combined with what we included above we
can sum up with: Find Your Answers. Live Your Life. Be a Jedi. Your religious views and your personal
hobbies can be of great value to you as a Jedi, but they don't make you a Jedi. As Jedi we honor
individuality and the many different Jedi which walk our Path.
Jedi Honor Society's Laws. If I had to make a rough guess I'd say 99% of Jedi who encounter
this precept disagree with it at face value. Of course I think by this point there might be an
understanding that Jedi ideals tend to be multifaceted and not always so black and white. Still there are
many countries around the world that have laws that we might feel are unjust. This is the big secret
people seem to be forgetting more and more these days – just because you don't agree with something
doesn't mean you have to be disrespectful about it. Lets look at two examples, one fictional and one
real.
The fictional example is of slavery. In The Phantom Menace Qui-Gon Jinn says, “I didn't
actually come here to free slaves.” This is explained a bit in the Power of the Jedi sourcebook under the
Defend the Weak section [4]. The Hutts allow slavery. Tattooine is a Hutt controlled world. Jedi are
members of the Republic and represent the Republic Senate. For a Jedi to openly free slaves on a Hutt
controlled world would be seen as an act of Aggression (if not War) by the Republic against the Hutt
Empire. Jedi do not condone slavery, they do not agree with it, but they cannot act against it in a way
that might lead to war between two governments. However Qui-Gon does manage to free Anakin and
tried to free his Mother within the confines of Hutt law. He worked within the system to reach the
outcome he wanted. Allowing and Agreeing are two different things when the bigger picture is looked
at. Though it is generally accepted that if the Republic had ever decided to use force to end slavery in
the galaxy the Jedi would be right there with them leading the charge.
I have seen a number of laws and policies starting to change in my own country. Some of these
seem to directly infringe upon the freedom and well-being of fellow citizens. Working to silence voices
or out right remove them by force. It is not something I am good with, agree with, or encourage. So,
like many Jedi, I have sought to fight against the tide of racism and bigotry. Not with violence or
threats, but with voting, education, appeals, supporting lobbyists and organizations that are fighting for
the same ideals and concepts. It is about working within the system to enact change. You'll never
change a person's mind with violence. So you have to make an effort to change things using the system
involved. Which takes time, energy, and resources. It will test Jedi patience, calm, and understanding.
Now there be a time or place where you as a Jedi find yourself in a very corrupt and broken
place. You may even find yourself in a almost lawless place. It is then that your own moral and ethical
code will have to guide you. The best advice I can give for this is use the Jedi Method (a few pages
further in the book) to find your way forward. As Qui-Gon said, “I will do what I feel I must.” That isn't
an excuse for you to throw around, you still have to work within the Jedi Box, but it is a reminder that
Jedi may find themselves at odds with the world; and they should be willing to risk themselves for the
greater good. Again – grain of salt, individual situation, be smart about this.
In the end all this section is saying is that you should, as a Jedi, honor the laws of the location
you are at. Work within them. Yes, you may find yourself faced with some very challenging situations,
but this is where the Jedi Path earns its keep. You don't throw out Jedi Philosophy just because it is
easier to ignore it. When things get tough that is when you need to be the Jedi. Use the Jedi Method,

43
adhere to the Code, find a way to solve the problem without directly breaking the laws of the place you
are in. Work for change. Educate the next generation of voters so they know the value of their voice
and how people try to silence it. Honor Society's Laws and change them if you need to.
Jedi Honor Their Students. This jumps right off of the last point, Education. It is a vital and
core part of growth and change. It is an important position to be in, as a teacher, mentor, and/or role-
model. It is also a very challenging one. We can sometimes forget to pay the proper respects to the next
generation. A Jedi should respect the young, whether in age, knowledge, or mentality. Respect doesn't
mean over-allowance or unnecessary praise. It is about listening, addressing them on an equal level,
being fair and thorough, and providing guidance.
I have had students who were older than me, they were kids on the Jedi Path though. Young in
their Jedi Knowledge and yet they had insight and wisdom worth listening to and sharing. I have had
Jedi students barely entering high school. Young in life and experience, yet their fresh eyes offered new
ideas and new approaches. It is a cliché to say that Jedi Training is a two-way street, but it is one that is
true. I grow through my interactions with various students. I listen to them and enjoy hearing their
thoughts, views, and experiences as they grow as a Jedi.
There is an old topic in the Jedi Community called Asked a Million Times. It references how
there are certain core questions and ideas that are always brought up by newer members of the Jedi
Community. Things like Jedi Temples or Jedi Unity or a “new” way of looking at the Jedi Code.
Subjects which have been explored since the beginning. And the main point of the topic is to approach
each new person and each question as if it was the first, because to the student asking – is it the first
time. Just because you have been asked a million times before should only mean you are well practiced
in exploring the question. That you have the patience to discuss again with someone new. Because you
may never know what a new person might bring to the table. And that is what honoring your students is
about. Taking the time to listen and explore questions that have been asked a million times. To
encourage them to ask questions, new, old, doesn't matter. Have a question? Ask! Honor the learning
process. Honor the students. That voice to support might just be the voice that changes the Jedi for the
better.
It is disrespectful to treat your students like minions. It is disrespectful to promote your students
because of your own shortcomings and laziness. It is disrespectful to spread rumors and lies about your
students. It is disrespectful to think your students should be carbon copies of yourself and do exactly as
you tell them to do. Jedi are free thinking individuals who value knowledge and growth. They are not
props for self-indulgence or trying to feel better about one's worth. Respect that these people have
come to you because they believe you can help them in their journey. You are not there to give them the
answers. Respect them enough to be a guide, a signpost. Be the example, don't be an answer sheet.
Honor Your Students by encouraging them to discover their own way forward within the confines of
the Jedi Way. Give them the time, energy, effort, and resources they deserve. Nurture the next
generation of Jedi so that they may stand on our shoulders and reach new heights.
Jedi Honor Their Teachers. I never really found that Master/Apprentice relationship I was
looking for when I first joined the Jedi Community. That Yoda and Luke or Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan
experience in which a wiser and more experienced Jedi helped show me the Jedi Path. I searched a long
time for it and accepted some very poor mentors because of it. Though even the absolute worse
“mentor” I had taught me valuable lessons in what not do or become. Still I could never find that true
mentorship that I really could have used.
Yet here I am as a long standing member of the Jedi Community. Owner of the Jedi Living
website, creator of the Jedi Academy Online Training Program, and author of a couple books which
offer some thoughts on how to live as a Jedi in everyday life. That didn't come out of thin air. Even if I
accept trial and error as the major teacher there are many other elements that deserve credit. The

Jediism Explained 44
countless training programs I went through in the community allowed me information to grow from.
Those required the time and effort of several people. Older Jedi offered their experiences so that I could
learn from them whether I agreed with them or not. I may have never found that one Jedi Mentor, but
instead I found an entire community that helped shape my understanding of what it means to be a Jedi.
All of that required people to invest their time and energy into providing a place of exploration and
growth.
This of course goes far beyond just the Jedi Path. From workplace instructors to school teachers
to parents. Throughout our lives we meet people who give their time, energy, and resources to helping
us learn and grow as human beings. Sometimes those lessons are lacking and we take away what not to
do. Sometimes those lessons are so profound we want to run out to the rooftops shouting them for all to
learn from. But all of them require the time, effort, and resources of another person. And without that
initial investment none of us would be where we are today.
The easiest way to honor a teacher is simply to give your attention. Ask questions, blind
acceptance and adherence is not honor. Seek to understand what they are saying. Active listening,
active participation, getting involved in the material, getting elbow deep in the lessons, these are ways
you can honor people who have invested their time, energy, and resources into helping others learn and
grow. Or you can buy a book from a pretentious windbag who likes to ramble on and on about Jedi
stuff. Though I suppose if you are this far along, you already did? Honoring a teacher also means
laughing at their horrible jokes (that is also a joke).
Jedi Honor the Organization(s). This is going to be a fun one, because I will fight with most
Jedi Organizations. One more than one occasion I have had people call me a hypocrite because they
feel I am being disrespectful and dishonoring the groups I have challenged. But respect, honor, as we
mentioned before these aren't about blind obedience. If you honor something you want to see it grow.
You want to see it do better, be better. And that rarely happens by simply nodding our heads and
clapping at underachievement.
Honor is about being real and honest. It is accountability and integrity. If we want to honor the
organizations that have help us grow as Jedi then we need to be willing to put in to the time and effort
to improve them. The Jedi Community is very young (mid-twenties at best), to think we have reached
the pinnacle is to do a disservice to our community and those who will join it later. To try and be the
Jedi Organizations from the fiction is a disservice as those groups still had thousands of years of history
and they were fictional. We need to keep our eyes open. You can be respectful to the time and effort
while still acknowledging that we are not done yet and have a long way to go.
The major fallback to the first Jedi groups was that they believed they were building for
themselves. They created groups to prop up the current staff instead of realizing that we are building
for the future. We aren't the pinnacle (nor should we try to be), we are the foundation. We are the
building blocks future generations will use to build something even better. That should be the focus.
You are a Jedi for you, for the world around you, but what you add to the community, to the path, that
should be for the next generation of Jedi; not to mimic, but to improve upon.
This is how I honor the Jedi Organizations. I challenge groups to be better. I point at flaws and
missteps and offer up the history of our community that I have recorded that highlight the folly. That
has and will always ruffle the ego of those in-charge. They will react as all emotional creatures do.
They will lash out, lie, berate, but if I allowed that to hide the truth or reality of the situation, would I
be honoring the Jedi Organizations? Does silence solve anything? Is silence the best way to honor
them?
With that said none of us would be here without those few who found the Jedi worth investing
in. Running a Jedi group (whether online or off) takes money, time, effort, and energy (emotional,
mental, physical). It is an investment in the structure and future of our Path. And that is worth

45
acknowledging and honoring.
Jedi Honor the Path. This is the easiest and most difficult to accomplish. Easy because to
honor the Path you need only follow it. Difficult because following the Jedi Way isn't always an easy
thing. We humans can be a bit rebellious when it comes to working within the confines of a specific
path. Not to mention our own ego that often wants to break the rules when they become inconvenient to
our emotional desires. Really this precept comes down to one thing – Personal Accountability.
Simply put we honor the Jedi Path by living the Jedi Way. Words can be very powerful tools,
but ideals don't mean much if they aren't put into action. If we do not hold ourselves to the ideals of the
Path no else is going to. It is not the responsibility of those around us to make sure we live as Jedi. This
is a Path we have chosen of our own free will. As such it falls on us to properly honor the Jedi Way by
living it. As said before, you are your own Jedi Master. So it is time to put on your Jedi Robes
(metaphorically speaking) and go live it.
That is why this is the last section of the Jedi Precepts. There is nothing left to say. You have
read through these concepts. Applied certain practices and concepts to your life. Now it is just about
continuing to do that day in and day out until you are either dead or no longer want to be a Jedi. The
rest of the training isn't about my rambling at you. It is about applying and living it. Bring Honor to the
Path young Jedi. I look forward to your accomplishments and you surpassing me.

Process Five Conclusion: Last assignment we had the daily grind. This was meant to go along
with the grinding process. Whether you think of that is terms of metalwork or in terms of gaming
(because who doesn't like dailies?) the idea was the same; to establish daily activity as a Jedi. For this
homework assignment we are going to go overload mode. This is going to be an on-off-on-off type set-
up. Meaning we are going to have one week of heavy work, a week of rest, a week of heavy work, and
then a week of getting back to our regular schedule.
The idea here is hopefully enforce and encourage the concept of balance and proper time
management. Fact is you are most likely going to fail miserably during the “hell weeks”. You can seek
to prove me wrong though and I hope you do (sort of), but ultimately this should be a real challenge for
you. And by the end you should have a nice tiny bundle of experience to understand why Jedi (teachers
and organizations) have time-frames and structured programs and request things be done at a certain
pace (Digression: which should always have some fluidity to it by the way. Everyone's life is different
so even the most structured programs should have options for when life varies or just outright changes).
First Week Assignment – Double Your Practice Times. Oh, you are an awesome Jedi who does
an hour of Meditation a day? Excellent – two hours now. You workout 20 minutes everyday? Excellent.
40 minutes now. How? Where will the time come from? You'll need to figure that out Jedi. I guess for a
week you won't get to binge watch Netflix or finish that book. Seriously do your best to really hold
yourself to this. It is tough. It will require sacrifice, but it will be a nice reminder on pacing yourself
and not rushing your training in the future. Disclaimer, be smart. Don't hurt yourself. Don't over-exert
yourself. If you need a break, a rest, if something starts hurting, take the necessary steps to be safe and
healthy. Remember that Jedi Well-Being is about improving, not hurting yourself for the sake of
advancement.
Second Week Assignment – No Jedi Work. At All. That is right. Full rights to stop being a Jedi.
No meditation. No working out. You are given free reign to use your week as you see fit. Do whatever
you want. Eat all the pizza. No restrictions. No requirements. Take a week off of Jedi. If you are part of
a Jedi Group (online or off) stay away for a week. I want you to do your best to stay away from all
things Jedi for a week. Now this isn't an excuse to become an internet troll or a week or just be a
complete jerk for a week. That is not what is being said. Just hands-off all Jedi stuff, practices, etc. for a
week.

Jediism Explained 46
 Third Week Assignment – Jump back in! We are going to go with resuming normal activities.
As you were. Back to the Jedi life. I won't advise being too lazy here, but do what you need to get back
into the swing of things. All practices, training, learning, and goals resumed.
Final Week Assignment – Double-time!! Back to the first week. Double up on everything. In
fact I recommend adding in other Jedi lessons. Go online, look at old Jedi Archives and seek out old
Jedi lectures and lessons and just fill your time with them. Bury yourself in Jedi. Many young Jedi
overload themselves with training. They get excited and want to do ALL the training! At once! Well.
Lets give it a shot for a week huh? So really just drench yourself in all things Jedi. After that week,
back to normal.
At the end of each week write down your observations. What was your experience? How do
you feel it helped or hindered? What did you learn from it? What insights were gained? How did you
feel at the start of the week versus the end of the week. How did that compare to other week? Was
double-time harder than a week off? Did it impact your personal relationships? Really take the time to
take stock of the experience and how it impacts your outlook on the path and how you balance it with
your life. And maybe adjust your practices and schedule to better align with your life and needs.

47
Forging Process Six – Tempering
The homework I am going to give for this section is similar to what we did Process Four. It is
going to be a daily look at a couple different checklists. Did I accomplish this, did I put time towards
that. And we'll get to that, but what I really want to do for this section is temper out the understanding
of the path itself. Just sort of iron out some basics. The beauty of this is that we are going to skip ahead
some. What I want you to do is read the additional lectures section in this book. Hold on! Not just yet.
Now some of you will no doubt be able to breeze through those lectures in a day. Heck probably
in an hour or two. Others it will take a little longer. For all of you I would prefer if you take the time to
really dig into it. So I recommend using a highlighter or something when you begin to read through
them. Highlight points that speak to you and points you may disagree with. Don't rush through them,
allow the lesson to be weighed fully against your experiences and viewpoints. And since this will
hopefully slow you down enough, lets review the rest of this process so that you do complete the
homework each day while you work through those lectures.
The assignment for the section is simple. I am going to give you a checklist based on precepts
we just learned about in the previous processes. I am going to give you the 2017 version of the Jedi
Circle to use as a checklist. And lastly we are going to add in the Mirror test to round out the checklists
to give you plenty to reflect on and consider.
The reason for this is because this process is considered the tempering section. This is where we
allow things to settle and start putting things into a final form. So this is just about that relaxing into the
daily reminders and daily life of a Jedi. Really getting an appreciation for the things we do daily as Jedi
and just as human beings. Life is beautiful and wondrous, but it can also be challenging and tiring. We
can lose sight of the daily beauty and satisfaction in the direction we have chosen to walk. And this
section is just that cool reminder of all that we do and that it is okay we aren't perfect. We won't be a
model Jedi every single day of our lives. We will struggle at times, but the reminders are there. The
path is there for us to fall back on and just sort of take refuge in. A deep breath as we seek to give it
another shot tomorrow. But for today – let's see how we measure up?
For (at least) the next two weeks I want you to use the three checklists below on a daily basis.
Check off what you feel you exercised today. If you were patient today, check it off. Empathize with
anyone? Check. Meditation? Check. If you have a journal feel free to add in some thoughts here.
Example, I had a Defeatist attitude during a work project, which is a minus, but I overcame it
eventually with Jedi patience, objectivity, and discipline. Some might be shared, meditation and
Seeking the Force may be one and the same. So check them both off. Okay. Let's begin.
Did Not Bully Others _________________________________________________________________
Patient _____________________________________________________________________________
Respectful and Courteous _____________________________________________________________
Disciplined _________________________________________________________________________
Calm ______________________________________________________________________________
Strong _____________________________________________________________________________
Reliable ___________________________________________________________________________
Objective __________________________________________________________________________
Observant __________________________________________________________________________
Dedicated __________________________________________________________________________
Helped Others ______________________________________________________________________
Defended Those in Need ______________________________________________________________
Meditation _________________________________________________________________________

Jediism Explained 48
Used Diplomacy _____________________________________________________________________
Guided Others ______________________________________________________________________
Sought Peace _______________________________________________________________________
Sought and Encourage Knowledge ______________________________________________________
Sought Serenity _____________________________________________________________________
Sought Harmony ____________________________________________________________________
Sought The Force ____________________________________________________________________
Sought Honesty _____________________________________________________________________
Personal Pursuits ____________________________________________________________________
Honored Students ____________________________________________________________________
Honored Teachers/Elders ______________________________________________________________
Honored Society's Laws _______________________________________________________________
Honored the Path ____________________________________________________________________

Next we are going to look at the Jedi Circle. I am going to just leave this in its normal form.
And I want you to just read it over and check off what you felt you accomplished today. Again, some of
these may repeat and crossover into other areas. That is perfectly fine. This is just sort of a Jedi
reminder. How well did you measure up to the Circle?
The Five Practices:
Diplomacy - Resolving conflict before it begins.
Physical Fitness - Stay Active and Healthy.
Self-Discipline - You are your own Jedi Master.
Awareness - Be diligent and mindful.
Meditation - Cultivate Calm.
The Five Tenets:
Peace - Acceptance is Peace. Peace is Acceptance.
Knowledge - Combat ignorance, seek knowledge.
Serenity - Enjoy the journey.
Harmony - A single note cannot harmonize with itself.
The Force - Know your sacred, find your bliss.
The Five Traits:
Equity - Treat all fairly.
Accountability - Hold yourself responsible for your words and deeds.
Patience - The active process of following through step by step.
Decorum - Adhere to proper action.
Empathy - Seek understanding.
The Five Values:
Gratitude - Appreciate the things you do have.
Self-Honesty - Self-knowledge begins with being honest with ourselves.
Erudition - As in you had you learn what this word means.
Guidance - Share your experience and knowledge with others.
Commitment - Persevering to the end, crossing the finish line regardless of time or obstacles.
The Five Goals:
Service - Support, Aid, help others to help themselves.
Defense - Be a voice for the voice less. Defend those in need.
Proficiency - Be capable of fulfilling the duties of a Jedi.
Create - Build something to leave behind.

49
Discover - Life, the Universe, the Force, Your Purpose, Your Bliss.

Lastly we are going to use a non-Jedi self-assessment to see how we measure up. Sow e are
going to administer the The Rooney Mirror Test (You can google that for more information if you like).
It is simple. At the end of the day, while looking yourself in the eye in a mirror, ask yourself the
following 5 questions:
1. Did I exercise and develop my body today?
2. Did I eat well today?
3. Did I learn something new today?
4. Did I make someone feel better today?
5. Did I take a positive step toward a major goal today?
And that is the end of this section and process. It should be two weeks later, at the very least,
before you move on. Of course you can continue and simply add in this practice from now on. You can
adjust it. Use like the 21 Maxims of Jediism if you so desire. Whatever helps you keep a daily
inventory of your life as a Jedi. If you feel you want to just continue this for a bit before moving on,
you are absolutely welcome to do so.

Jediism Explained 50
Forging Process Seven – Completion
I wish we could say we are at the end, but Jedi training doesn't really have an end. As I have
mentioned before the “training” in this book is simply a very brief introduction into our philosophy and
lifestyle. This isn't Five Steps to Become a Jedi Knight. This isn't a guide to Jedi Mastery. This is
simply a way for you to explore the Jedi concepts and help discover how you can apply the Jedi ideals
in your everyday life.
If you are looking for more study and training to help form your path as a Jedi you can check
one of the many Jedi websites that exist. Explore the various groups and determine which one fits best
you and where you are at in life (e.g. some training programs can be more time-demanding than
others). The main thing is not to feel you have reached an end or a conclusion, but rather have just
began a much larger journey. In the spirit of that I want to offer one last assignment. Something to be
done both immediately and to reflect on and come back to in a year's time.
The essence of these questions should help you build a nice foundation for your journey. As
well as allow you to have a better understanding of what you are looking for should you join a Jedi
group. While the Jedi has a core structure there is a lot of personal variation that can take place within
it. As I like to say, the Jedi Way is box, it is a rather big box, but it is still a box. So now that we have
the basic shape of the Jedi Path in mind, it is time we add your personal flavor to it. The adornments on
the lightsaber if you will. So take the time to not only answer these questions now (if you can), but
allow them to be fluid and continually come back to them. Ultimately these add up to one singular
question, what does your Jedi Life look like?
1.) What is Your Meditation Style, preferred Technique, Schedule?
2.) How Would You Help Another Find Their Meditation Zone?
3.) What is Your Fitness Routine, Style, Schedule?
4.) How Would You Help Another Find Their Fitness Routine?
5.) What are You Creating?
6.) How do you fulfill the goal of Service?
7.) How Would You Help Another Find Their Fulfillment in Service?
8.) What Do You View as Essential to a Jedi? (Jedi Traits, Do, Seek, Honor, Aren't)
9.) What is Your Spiritual Outlook and Practices?
10.) How Would You Help Another to Find Their Spiritual Answers?
11.) What Does Your Training Program Look Like?

51
Addition Lectures
The Jedi Method
Ethical decision-making is a core part of the Jedi Path. Too often this falls into the “goes
without saying” category and as such never gets discussed. Yet one of the more popular questions starts
out with, “how does a handle (insert dilemma here)?” Over the years no singular answer can be given.
Each situation requires its own attention. There are simply too many variables to give a generic answer
to cover all problems a Jedi will face in their daily life.
As I have made mention of, I have failed as a Jedi a few times in my life. Alright, maybe more
than a few, but point being that I have faced my share of failure. In reflection of one of my more
eventful tumbles off the path I kept asking myself – why didn't respond as a Jedi? I found that through
my training and various studies that I didn't really have a method in place for holding myself
accountable. I had just barely created the Jedi Circle at the time and hadn't develop the habit of making
it my daily checklist. Even with it being a constant in my life however I still missed a core element to
bring it fully in my daily use.
What I concluded was that I needed a simple way to make sure I was responding and acting as a
Jedi in all things. From simple daily routines to facing bigger much more difficult to crisis. But how do
you distill the entirety of the Jedi Path in an easy to remember formula for practical daily use? What
could be created to hold a Jedi accountable for each and every decision they made, form buying milk to
determining if they should give the homeless person the hundred dollar bill in their pocket? Obviously I
settled on what I call the Jedi Method (some prefer the Jedi Formula, whatever tickles your fancy).
Jedi Intent + Jedi Action = Jedi Outcome. This is a look at ethical decision-making. Most ethics
deal with one of these three things. Your intention in doing something, how you do something, and the
outcome of whatever you did. Some take a hard stance on one of these angles and use it as a basis for
moral decision-making. Example being Consequentialism holds that the outcome of your action
determines whether it is good or bad. If the outcome was good, then it was the morally right action.
Another way to view this ethical line of thought is, the ends justify the means. Something not many
Jedi would agree with, but if we change it a bit and say; “the greatest good to the greatest number of
people” means an action was morally right, then we have walked into ethics called Utilitarianism. The
idea that any action is morally right or wrong based upon the amount of benefit it caused and to how
many. This is something many Jedi would agree with, but again this only focuses on the outcome.
Ethics of Intention state that if your intentions were good, then it is a moral/good action. Of
course this only deals with intention and I think we can all think of a time where our intentions were
great and our actions and/or the outcome were horrible. Good intentions can pave the road to hell. They
also make for a very unreliable way to judge moral actions of others. We never truly know the
intentions of someone else. Ultimately it makes ethics useless in general. Well we often give “an A for
effort” we acknowledge that intentions alone don't really amount to a whole lot in the grand scheme of
things.
Mainly most people use actions to judge. But what standard do we judge our actions by?
Deontological ethics say they judge it by our duty. A more specific example of this is W.D. Ross' Prima
Facie Principles which hold a person to fidelity, reparation, gratitude, justice, beneficence, self-
improvement, and non-injury. If a person acts within the confines of these seven principles/duties then
the action is considered morally right. Again this is something I think many Jedi could look at and
adopt. But I feel this still leaves us with only part of the picture. As Jedi we hold ourselves to a higher
standard of accountability. Which brings us back to the Jedi Method.
I hold that each of us can easy hold ourselves ethically accountable as Jedi from the smallest

Jediism Explained 52
decision to the biggest if we simply look at our process with the Jedi Method. Jedi Intent + Jedi Action
= Jedi Outcome. Each equally important to the Jedi. But what does it mean exactly? How do we judge
this based upon what we know (from only this book)? Seems unfair to hold the entirety of the Path
upon you. So looking solely at this book how can be inform the Jedi Method?
Jedi Intention is something we can boil down to the Training Sections Two, Four, and Five.
What Jedi Are, What Jedi Seek, and What Jedi Honor. Peace, Serenity, Harmony, these are things that
inform our intentions. What we would like to see happen. We want things to be good and beneficial,
and positive for all involved. This is our Utilitarianism. We want the greatest good for the greatest
amount of living creatures. That is our intention. Helping Others, Growth, Guidance, Protection. Peace,
these are all things that tend to fall in our intentions. So if you need a refresher really zero in on
sections Four and Five.
Jedi Action is a bit more straight forward. Patience, Knowledge, Calm, Empathy, Fairness, this
is about how we act. How we respond says a lot about us and our path. In this book we took at look at
action in the Training section Three, What Jedi Do. What we do, how we do it, this is important to
others and plays a big part in how we are seen. This is where our Deontological Ethics come into play.
Holding yourself to the Duties of a Jedi. We can see these in the Five Goals of a Jedi, Service, Defense,
Proficiency, Create, and Discover. But also in how we do these things. Does it matter that you protected
your loved one if you did so in a black-out of rage and violence? If the ends justify the means, sure, but
we as Jedi hold that how we do something is just as important as why we do it. Is it okay to kill five
people to save one? This is often called the Trolley Dilemma or Trolley Problem in ethics. As Jedi we
hold action and intention are both equally important, so what about outcome?
Jedi Outcome ties into all of the above, our goals, our tenets, our values. However I must warn
that you can do everything right and still have a poor outcome. You are a human being and can only
control so much. Well, realistically speaking you can only control yourself. One of my favorite quotes
from Mass Effect goes, “you can't predict how people will act, but you can control how you'll respond.”
This highlights an important lesson for the outcome section, it may not go as planned, but if you
followed Jedi Intent with Jedi Action you should get a Jedi Outcome, even if that outcome isn't exactly
what you were wanting or hoping for. Now this doesn't excuse the outcome at all. It is still important
that we seek our utilitarian outcome, but we cannot focus everything on it. Besides it doesn't always
work out that way. Sometimes Jedi Intent and Jedi Action leads us directly into Self-Care and focusing
on our own training and wellness. This is just as valid, necessary, and good. The outcome matters, we
are not absolved if things go badly. Sometimes we will have to own up and apologize, but as a Jedi we
do not sacrifice who we are and who we wish to be simply in hopes of the best possible outcome.
Now ethics can get confusing and boring and GAH!!! So that is why we have it very simple.
Jedi Intent + Jedi Action = Jedi Outcome. As you live as a Jedi intent and action becomes much more
clear and concrete. You understand the path better and what that fully entails. For now you have a good
basis to work from. You have this book which gives you the Jedi Precepts and the Jedi Circle to start
that foundation. Not to mention you have no doubt seen a few Jedi in Star Wars and have an idea of
what they stand for. So as you grow and live as a Jedi simply apply the Jedi Method to your decision-
making. And of course it doesn't hurt to add in the APBP Test – is it Applicable, Practical, Beneficial,
Positive? You got this Jedi.

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Robes, Lightsabers, and Temples – Oh My.
One of the bigger hopes many new people have with Jediism is about robes, temples and
lightsabers. These are core parts of the fictional Jedi and they lend themselves to the inspiration, but
these things are mostly kept to the fiction. “Being Jedi is what we are. It's not the power we wield or
the weapons we carry.” - Luke Skywalker. As we have discussed Jedi Robes are about honoring the
original concept and idea behind them; humble, yet functional clothing designed to blended in with the
everyday. This is the idea we like to encourage because it allows personal comfort and functionality
with personal style to create a unique Jedi look.
Likewise Jedi Temples are about making where you are your temple. If you wish to bring that
home even further you can go with the old concept that your body is your temple. The place you
cultivate calm and center yourself. A place to be respected, a place of learning, training, and peaceful
reflection. Some people have set aside a room in their house for this. Others consider their whole living
area to be their Jedi Temple. Regardless of what stance you take, developing the concept of your own
Jedi Temple is much more realistic than creating some place in the middle of nowhere far removed
from civilization. It is also much more useful to those around you. Being a Jedi is about being a Jedi
where you are in this moment. While a retreat would be nice, living as a Jedi is done in our everyday
lives. Besides, you always have Jedi Gatherings you can eventually go to.
Lightsabers are probably one of the coolest weapons in fiction and because of that we see a lot
of similar devices throughout fiction. I know when I first started one of the things I looked for first was
real lightsabers. And why not? It was 1977 when they were first seen on-screen, surely someone
somewhere had figured out a way to make them real. But decades later and several tv specials hosted
by renown scientists later, we know that the physics of a lightsaber are just not within our grasp as of
yet. Which is ultimately for the best because we haven't perfected our artificial limbs yet to the standard
of Star Wars either. We are much more closer with that however. Still I don't think our society could
handle the influx of missing limbs should lightsabers ever become real and available to anyone. There
have been some similar devices out there. High powered lasers, which are very dangerous. Single use
plasma torches for military and first responder use. All designed to mimic the look of a lightsaber hilt.
So outside of the dueling lightsabers and the plastic toys there is no real lightsaber for you to obtained.
A shame, not as cool, I know, but much safer and more practical for us anyhow. Instead we are the
lightsaber. The light in the darkness that cuts away at the evil in this world. Or something like that.
It is important that you understand what being a Jedi is truly about. It isn't the fancy force
powers, temples, robes, or lightsabers. It is about living as a Jedi in your everyday life. Even the
fictional Jedi noted that lightsabers and temples didn't make them Jedi. Being a Jedi is about how you
live your life. How you make your decisions and what you do when faced with a difficult situation.
Remember that there were other Force Users, even ones that used used lightsabers, in Star Wars. What
separated them was how they lived, the philosophy they followed. In Knights of the Old Republic II,
the galaxy at large called the conflict between Jedi and Sith the Jedi Civil War. To them, lightsaber +
Force powers = Jedi. They didn't know the philosophical differences were two completely different
groups. Or that the Sith got all the cool fashion designers. But that is the line, that is what matters the
most, the ideals that you live by. The ethics you enforce upon yourself and how you handle the good
and bad times in your life. That is what will define you as a Jedi.

Jediism Explained 54
The Dark Side
I was reading a book about Jediism and the Dark Side. The whole build up to the topic the
person is talking about how emotions are part of the human experience and that they are not inherently
negative or positive. Three paragraphs later it is talking about how the Dark Side is seductive, it is fear,
anger, and aggression. It is negative emotions. This flip-flop of emotions and the Dark Side is
something that happens a lot, unfortunately, in the Jedi Community. This is due to our inspiration
naming fear, anger, aggression, hate, suffering, as core parts of the Dark Side. Yet as human beings we
know these are things we feel in our lives and adding shame and regret on top of them is not healthy.
So lets clear up a few things about what the dark side is. First it is not fear or anger that are of
the dark side, it is what we do with them as justifications. It is our actions and our willingness to blame
“negative” emotions for our own poor decision-making. It is okay to feel fear, to be scared is not evil or
dark, but allowing it to lead you lashing out without thinking is not okay. Anger is an indicator of your
own sense of moral compass. When we see someone abuse a child or animal and we feel anger – that is
okay. What is not okay is allowing that anger to lead you to violent actions.
The Light Side is not love and joy and feeling good. Just as the Dark Side is not depression,
anger, and fear. These are contrasts of feeling. Things we prefer over one another. We would all rather
be happy than sad. But sadness is an indicator, it is telling us something about ourselves and what we
would like to see in the world. This can help guide us in standing up for great causes and
acknowledging and remembering the passing of a friend. Our actions are a core determining factor of
how people will perceive us. Remember the Jedi Method, Jedi Intent + Jedi Action = Jedi Outcome. It
is an acknowledgment that each part is equally important to achieving the our goal of world-betterment.
Emotions, of any kind, are not the Dark Side. If we are going to label anything the Dark Side
than I submit that we label ignorance. Not because it is evil, but because it can hide evil. Consider it to
be an analogy of actual darkness. Imagination yourself in a small room. Within the room there is
knives, broken glass on the floor, pitfalls, and swinging blades from the ceiling. Yet also in the room is
safe places to walk, a bag full of money, a beautiful zen garden. Now imagination the room is pitch
black. There is no light anywhere and you are nowhere near the door. This darkness is the Dark Side. It
keeps you fumbling around in a very dangerous situation. Knowledge, patience, these are things that
help you. They are glow sticks you can use to help illuminate the dark. This soft light allows you to
navigate the dangers of the room, see the beauty as well as the traps, and even find the door out.
This is the light side and the dark side. Not good vs evil, but ignorance vs knowledge. Patience
vs rushing. Listening vs stubbornness. As a Jedi you can going to feel a lot of different emotions
throughout your life. You can going to find yourself facing a lot of very tough situations. Loss of a
loved one, financial hardship, physical limitations, failed dreams, bigotry. These things happen, but it is
in how we deal with them that ultimately defines who we are as a person. Whether we chose to follow a
path of Light or Darkness. When faced with the challenges of life will you stand in the dark cursing it?
Or will you slowly make your way forward with what light you can find? Not just to navigate forward,
but to see the wonder and beauty around you as well.
This is the battle we all face within ourselves. It is not a battle of emotions, but a battle of focus.
What direction will you take? What things can help you navigate these difficult times better? Is there a
book? A philosophy? A song? A park? A person? What can help you illuminate your path so that you
might heal and move forward in life? “The shroud of the Dark Side has fallen.” - Yoda (Attack of the
Clones). “The Dark Side clouds everything.” - Yoda. Fight the darkness with patience, understanding,
and knowledge. Illuminate your path in life by seeking new information and learning from the
experiences of others. Obviously this is this something you want to do as evidenced by the fact you are
reading this book. Just have to apply that to all facets of life.

55
Discovering the Force
Outside of lightsabers the Force is one of the biggest drawing points for people. Many come to
the Jedi Community looking to learn Force Powers. Now I am not going to cover Force Powers here.
But I will say you can drop any notion of moving cars with your mind. That is not what the Jedi is
about and that is not what you'll be learning as a Jedi. But that doesn't mean the Force doesn't exist. The
real question before we can talk about any kind of “powers” is to ask, what is the Force? The absolute
beauty of the Jedi Path is that you get to discover that answer for yourself. No one can tell you what the
Force is; they can only tell you what the Force is to them.
So this is about discovering the Force for yourself. There have been many answers to this
question over the years. Some see the Force as merely the blanket term for that great ineffable that all
of humanity seems to experience, but labels in different ways. Will of God, Mana, Prana, Ki, Qi, Holy
Spirit, Tao, Gaia, Magick, and many others. Of course there are other ways to view the Force, some
which look to our own wondrous bodies and that big squishy computer we call a brain. When you look
at the amount of information we process and the things we pick up on daily, it can be pretty amazing.
Often what gets labeled gut reactions are our own brains picking up on signals and signs that we aren't
picking up on consciously. Dreams are another way we process the overload of information that
bombards us on a daily basis and during this sorting of information our brain may rely that information
through our dreams. It is not supernatural or divine messages, but simply our own abilities speaking to
us when we finally have quieted ourselves enough to listen. Or perhaps you are a fan of the
Midichlorians is Mitochondria theory. That the powerhouse of the cells is in fact energy connecting
source that allows us to tap into something beyond our normal five senses.
These are all examples of various theories with more more left to your own discovery or
imagination. You can always join a Jedi website and simply ask them what the Force is and watch as
hundreds of opinions get offered. These are a fun way to learn about new ideas and existing
philosophies and even spiritual concepts. It is a way to more a door to a much larger world, which I am
sure Obi-Wan would be okay with. But all of that is academic. It doesn't really help you in your day-to-
day. What is core to you is your own spiritual wellness and the Force will often play into that aspect. So
in the end it is merely a matter of what the Force is to you. Spoiler Alert, that may change over the
course of your studies and life.
The question of course is how does one discover the Force for themselves? Study, Exploration,
and Experience is the recipe that tends to work for all Jedi. Study the fictional concepts of the Force.
This idea of energy and how it connects to all living things. What does that mean exactly to you? What
do you define as a living thing? Plants? Rocks? Microscopic organisms? How far does your define
extend? How does that relate to the Force and energy and daily life? How does that fit within your own
spiritual beliefs? Once you have established this baseline concept, now you get to start exploring it.
How does that vibe with other ideas of the Force? How does that fit with other concepts which are
similar to the Force such as Tao, Chi, Quantum Mechanics, etc.? How does that fit with your current
life experiences? How does all of this fit in with your current training practices and experiences? This
of course leads into experience. As you train you will be doing daily meditation, observation, and
reflection. All of this will help shape you general feelings and outlook on your life and the world
around you. Through your daily experiences of just living life as a Jedi you'll be able to hold your
concepts of the Force up to it. Again, this might mean you'll have to make adjustments, but as your
progress through this you'll finally begin to settle on a core concept you feel comfortable with.
This is a path of discovery. Like the Jedi Way it is something to be done for the rest of your life.
You may find an answer and way of defining the Force which simply sticks with you for the rest of
your life, but you are just as likely to find that your view ebbs and flows over the years. It is a journey

Jediism Explained 56
and a fun way to explore the mysteries of the universe all around you. Enjoy the experience of learning
and growing as a Jedi and finding your own view of the Force. Feel free to run over to the Jedi Living
forums and share your insights. I'd love to read your views on the Force. It only helps me grow as a
Jedi as well.

57
Religion
Religion is just one of those topics that is touchy in and of itself. The Jedi Community is a very
open group that has had members from a lot of different religious beliefs. From Atheists to Zionists the
Jedi have been able to learn a lot about different cultures and beliefs through members who have direct
knowledge and experience. It has helped develop a very open and accepting atmosphere within the Jedi
Community. And side note, if you do not experience that – RUN – obviously you are at a bad group.
Whether or not Jediism is an actual religion has been debated for years. Each side having valid
points and the debate having no real conclusion. As such I am not going to get into it because it is
irrelevant. Whether or not the Jedi is an official religion is a pointless question. The real question is
whether or not Jedi is a religion to you. To be absolutely clear, there is no right answer. If you say Jedi
is a lifestyle, more a philosophy, that is perfectly acceptable. That doesn't diminish you or disqualify
you from living as a Jedi in everyday life. Likewise if you feel Jedi is your religion that is perfectly
acceptable and does not disqualify you from the Jedi Path or diminish you as a person.
There are some answers you will have to address. What is a Jedi's stance on life-after-death?
Organizationally and communally speaking there is no set belief. This is why a Jedi can easily follow
other religions, such as Christianity, without issue. This also applies to the concept of a godhead. How
you define the Force is largely left to you as the individual Jedi. We certainly explore many theories,
ideas, and concepts, but ultimately your own experiences and beliefs will shape your answer on the
question. Some Jedi view the Force in a very physiological way and don't have any spiritual
connotations tied to it at all. And guess what? Perfectly acceptable and they are still wonderful Jedi.
Creation of the universe, life, our world, again these are left for you to come to your own conclusions.
And don't forget that “I don't know” is very much an accepted answer. Allowing for all possibilities is
something that just resonates with some Jedi and that is okay.
No one in the Jedi Community has a right to tell you what to believe. Or that “you must follow
the Jedi Religion or you are not a real Jedi.” That is all complete nonsense. No one can tell you what
the Force is – only what they believe it to be. There is no governing Religious body of the Jedi Path, of
Jediism, regardless of people trying to throw their name at the top. There is no founder of Jediism or
the Jedi religion. No “Jedi bible” or unwavering doctrine. There are websites and individual
organizations which have set beliefs and ruling bodies which oversee that specific group's ideals and
practices. The Temple of the Jedi Order which modeled its content after Catholicism has a very tight
group which oversees the content, lessons, and practices of its members. However their ability to set
rules, structure, and practices stops at their door. For example they have no ability to affect The
Institute of Jedi Realist Studies. Now there are discussions and dialogues that happen between
organizational leadership, but ultimately there is no governing or ruling body and most likely won't be
one for years to come, if ever (thankfully, in my opinion).
When approaching this topic don't feel you need to make a decision right away. Feel free to
explore the Jedi ideals and concepts. Experience what living as a Jedi is about for you and then you can
make a more grounded decision on whether or not you view Jedi as your religion. Remember young
Jedi, whatever you decide is for you. It won't really affect your life as a Jedi, it is more to help solidify
your own spiritual well-being. It is for you and you alone – and that is the truth about Jediism and the
Jedi Religion.
May the Force Be With You....

Jediism Explained 58
Resources and Acknowledgments
Author Acknowledgments
I wanted to take this moment to offer some gratitude to some specific people. First has to go to my
parents Dennis and Carolyn. Your support (in multiple ways) while I chase my dreams has been beyond
compare. And without you I have serious doubts I would have accomplished much in this area, let
alone have the time, resources, or courage to publish anything.
To Jaden, my little brother. You have taught me a lot. Proving once again that mentorship is a two-way
street. I look forward to making more youtube videos with you. Keep your heart and mind open and
continue to be the nice and fair person that you are.
To my departed friend Joshua. You helped me many times. I'll continue to pursue our goals. One more
checked off the list.
To my literary agent Maryann, thank you for giving me the opportunity to pursue my dream and taking
a chance on a kid with an over-active imagination. You taught me a lot and inspired me along the way.
You have been invaluable to my journey. I apologize for not being better at this writing thing.
To my dog, Kitsune, who finds new ways to test my adherence to the Jedi Way. And at the same time is
a constant source of warmth, trust, and love. And for keeping me company (and my feet warm) as I
write.
To the Jedi Community, there are many of you specifically, who have taken this journey with me and
added your insights and flavor to our path. Alexandria, Brandel, Demetrius, Destiny, Gekkensei, Jaden,
Joshua, Kai-An, Marta, Morken, SkyGuyPat, Reliah, Saan, Sammy, Sirius, Starr, Tara, Tionne, Tzall,
WarBeauty, WinterHeart. And to the Jedi-Adjacent, especially Aubrey and Bradan, for keeping the Jedi
strong and accountable. And the many other Jedi which have been there along the way. Sorry I didn't
list you by name, but I do see you and notice you and appreciate your support. I sought to name those
with seniority the closest to me. Maybe next time I won't be lazy and write your names, especially my
loyal YouTube Subscribers (love you digital Jedi).
And of course what Jedi book would be complete without a big thank you to George Lucas and all the
creative authors, artists, and production crews of Lucasfilm which brought Star Wars to life. Obviously
without you all we would not have the inspiration to aspire to. So thank you muchly.

59
Online Resources for further studies of the Jedi Lifestyle
Jedi Living – jediliving.com
The Jedi Archives hosted at Jedi Living – jediliving.com/jediarchive/
California Jedi – californiajedi.org
The Jedi Path – facebook.com/JediPath/
Temple of the Jedi Order – templeofthejediorder.org
Temple of the Jedi Force – templeofthejediforce.org/
Institute of Jedi Realist Studies – instituteforjedirealiststudies.org/

Documentary on Jedi Practitioners:

American Jedi (documentary) – facebook.com/AmericanJediMovie (Available to watch or own on
iTunes, Amazon, Tribeca Shortlist, YouTube Movies, DISH Network, Hoopla, FandangoNOW).

Citations:
[1] - Costikyan, Greg. (1987) Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game. New York, NY: West End Games. pp.
148.
[2] - What does Neuroscience know about Meditation? By Marissa Fessenden
(https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-neuroscience-does-know-about-meditation-
180956435/)
[3] – Karpyshyn, Drew. (2003) Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. BioWare.
[4] - J. D. Wiker, Michael Mikaelian, Jeff Grubb, Owen K.C. Stephens, James Maliszewski. (2002)
Power of the Jedi Sourcebook. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast. pp. 160.

Jediism Explained 60
Legal
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E-Mail: [email protected]

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Every effort has been made to ensure that this book is free from error or omissions. However, the Publisher, the Author, the
Editor or their respective employees or agents, shall not accept responsibility for injury, loss or damage occasioned to any
person acting or refraining from action as a result of material in this book whether or not such injury, loss or damage is in
any way due to any negligent act or omission, breach of duty or default on the part of the Publisher, the Author, the Editor or
their respective employees or agents.

George Lucas and Lucasfilm LTD. - All Star Wars related material Copyright and Trademark of Lucasfilm LTD. and Disney
All Rights Reserved.
All Star Wars related material used without permission for educational and reference purposes only. This book is not
endorsed or affiliated with LucasFilm or Disney Inc. in any way. All material used under Fair Use Act for educational
purposes.
Power of the Jedi Sourcebook – Copyright 2002 Lucasfilm LTD. All Rights Reserved.
Star Wars Roleplaying Guide 2nd Edition – Copyright 1996 Lucasfilm LTD. All Rights Reserved.
Jedi Apprentice Series - Jude Watson. Copyright Lucasfilm LTD. All Rights Reserved.
Jedi Academy Online – Copyright 2007-2013

Author: Opie Macleod / K.S. Trout

Title: Jediism Explained

ISBN-13: 978-1979629188
ISBN-10: 1979629188

Editor: Opie Macleod / K.S. Trout

Cover Design: Kevin Trout © 2018
Page Design: Kevin Trout © 2018
Printed and Bound: CreateSpace and Amazon.com

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