"Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
Reviewed by Joy Ramos Davis

Synopsis: It's thirty years after the events in "Return of the Jedi."  Replacing the Evil Empire is The First Order under the rule of Kylo Ren (son of Han Solo and General Leia Organa).  Luke Skywalker is missing and information of his whereabouts were placed within the droid, BB-8 by resistance fighter pilot Poe Dameron.  An orphaned, scavenging youth named Rey on a desert planet happens to meet the droid while Poe crosses paths with Finn, a runaway Stormtrooper with conscience.  They join forces with allies like Han Solo for a "galactic fight" against the growing Dark Forces of The First Order to take them down and their Starkiller Base.

*Warning: Contains Spoilers

May the Force Be with You

The Force in the "Star Wars" films is usually associated with unique individuals where "The Force" is strong - an indicator that they are candidates for Jedi knighthood to work with this mystical power.  It was once mentioned in a pre-quel that having the Force is biological.

Is it really true "The Force" can be found only in select individuals?  No, absolutely not.

In China, "The Force" is called Qi (pronounced "chee") and is abundantly given to each and every person at birth and decreases with age.  It can be supplemented through good foods and energetic healing practices like Tai Qi and Qigong.  There are hundreds of styles of these bio-energetic  exercises, oftentimes involving breath, visualization, and slow movement to gather Qi from Nature (within the Earth's ground, the trees, air, even planets) and course that energy through a network of acupuncture points to areas where it's deficient or stagnant in the body for health and well-being.  Spontaneous healings have occurred from the practice of Tai Qi and Qigong by many worldwide.

Throughout East Asia, the Hara is recognized as an energy center, similar to a chakra, and serves as a gateway to your ocean of Qi (Life Force).  Also called the "Seat of Power," it is located just two inches below the naval.  When attuned to your Hara, you can grow in courage, rootedness and groundedness    

Becoming One Mind

Stormtrooper Finn (code name FN-2187) committed treason by not following the orders given by Captain Phasma and Kylo Ren to kill civilians, then flees after being shocked by their cruelty.  

Like other Stormtroopers, he was conscripted at a young age and mentally conditioned for loyal service to the First Order.

Finn's resistance is a great example of how life finds a way for Soul to express its individuality by breaking away from the constraints of social consciousness.  It's similar to being in a family or tribe that is invested in keeping you the same as them to maintain the collective's culture and mindset.

The internet is another example of how the masses participating in it become One Mind, but not One Heart, just like the Stormtroopers.  By giving up technology to immerse yourself in the forces of Nature, you can be re-balanced and made whole again.

Good vs. Evil

Like his grandfather, Darth Vader, Kylo Ren chose the Dark Side.  His affiliation with Snoke, the Supreme Leader of the First Order began in his youth when he was made to live away from his parents, causing General Leia Organa great regret for having made that decision.

The Dark Force can be seductively attractive, especially to youths who are seeking power.

Love and Logic Parenting teaches that power struggles happen in parent-child relations because the parent exert power over the child and doesn't share power with him, so his energies are spent trying to take it away from Mom and Dad.  Sharing power is done by giving the child choices over little things, starting at an early age.

The Millennials and Generation 9-11s of today are examples of a disturbing trend that has been happening for several decades now: many are breaking away from their parental and elder influence at a much younger age to follow the herd mentality of their peers.  A case of  children raising children - thanks to mass media and the internet.  This also leaves them prey to radicalization (by the Dark Force).

As a mother, General Leia's sentimentality about saving her son Ben (Kylo Ren) got in the way, costing Han Solo his life.  She hoped that whatever light is left within Ben would be enough for him to turn away from the Dark Force.  For this to happen, Ben would need a rehabilitation of his heart and mind to safely return to the family fold. 

The saying, "power takes and love gives," can apply to the differences between the Dark Force vs. Spiritual Force.  Evil through Black (even White) Magic manipulates the energies of God for personal gain.  The Dark Force is a path of introversion and self-destruction.  It has a vampire-like quality that has to constantly feed off of others, weakening them.  The spiritual force's power feeds and nurtures you.  You can grow from it.

Kylo Ren met his match in the outdoor battle with Rey on planet D'Qar.  Both are still young initiates working with opposing forces, progressing into mastership.  This is a good example of how light and dark are mutually attracted to each other.  Like them, someone can come along that is a perfect "shadow" to match your inner light.

When the Student is Ready, the Master Appears

On the planet Takadona, Rey was strangely drawn to a lightsaber found in a vault that was entrusted to Maz Kanata, the cantina owner for safekeeping.  It was previously owned by Luke Skywalker and his father before him.  Passed on to Rey, the weapon evoked disturbing visions in her.

Through a mix of destiny and synchronicity, Rey was being readied since childhood to meet her Master-teacher, Luke Skywalker.

When the glorious meeting does happens, it is often a leap of faith for the student to follow the Master.  Great self-discipline is required to quiet the chattering mind and ego and allow for the Force to flow through, unhindered.  The tests given are for you to build a strong belief in yourself.  And, a true Master trains the student to gain in mastery and even exceed him because he can selflessly step aside to allow this.

Spiritual Mastery

When Rey discovered she can use the Force, she managed to escape her cell within the Starkiller Base using the Jedi Mind Trick.

Some of the supernatural abilities that can be gained from working with the God Force are levitation, clairvoyance, knowingness, mind reading, energetic healing, telekinesis, alchemy, changing the weather, prophecy, and direct projection (Soul Travel).   

When working with the divine energies, being a channel for it requires the highest level of ethics.  You can use it to serve others for good or wreak havoc for evil. 

Spiritual Freedom

Jedi Knights are trained to study and work with the Force to help and protect those in need.

Few in this world ever achieve true, spiritual freedom in their lifetime.  It requires an all-consuming desire and exhaustive effort to break free from the grasp of negative forces that want to keep you trapped in the lower planes of God. 

Part of the struggle is in having to master your lower natures of anger, greed, fear, lust, apathy, and pride. 

You've probably noticed that even though our basic nature is happiness, feeling positive and maintaining it can be very difficult.  This is because negative emotions are much easier to conjure up.  It doesn't take much energy to allow ourselves to feel crappy.  On the other hand, staying positive can take effort, but gets easier with practice.