Star Wars: Lightsaber, Midichlorians

Dear Readers,

Thanks to the support I received from my first Star Wars post, about The Force, I have decided to write a follow up post about lightsabers and midichlorians.

image link

Firstly, Obi-Wan said to Luke concerning his first lightsaber, "Your father's lightsaber. This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster; an elegant weapon for a more civilized age." (Star Wars IV: A New Hope)

We can gain quite a bit of insight from this, first I will compare lightsabers to medieval swords. In ancient kingdoms, knights were the warriors that protected cities and lead armies. The use a sword that was forged, if not by them, for them specifically. The would train with it, get to know it, and almost become one with it. Indeed they would name their swords, like King Arthur's Excalibur.

A weapon such as this, in the hands of one who has been trained and has proficiency, it not clumsy but is precise. It can indeed be called an "elegant weapon".

image link

Now that I have pointed out that connection, what is a lightsaber?

A lightsaber is a hand held device that produces a controlled plasma beam. The beam resembles a sword or blade, and also produces light.

image link

Like lasers today, the energy is optimized and condensed. However, instead of using mirrors, lightsabers use crystals. Now, I realize this cross-section is not technically cannon, but in theory and practicality, the concept is valid. That being said, the primary crystal is filled with the energy from the diatium power cell. This crystal then acts like a plasma light bulb, emitting the energy into the focusing crystals, condensing the beam. That beam enters the energy channel, and can be released out the blade emitter. Due to the magnetic stabilizing ring, the polarized energy's shape is controlled and, of course, stable. The length and density, or power, can be adjusted to the user's preferences or needs.

image link

Thus, a lightsaber is an energy weapon, but why does that differ from a blaster? Yes, a blade can be controlled better, but a marksman with a blaster could attack from a distance with incredible precision. I believe the difference in in the crystals.

image link

Not only do the crystals give the blade its color, but the crystal is also imbued with The Force of the Jedi who created it. This makes it a Force weapon.

image link

According to Wookieepedia Lightsaber Legends, The creator of the lightsaber meditates and puts their force into the crystal, which also makes it glow. This substantiates my conclusion from my post about The Force, that The Force is raw intelligence, or the light of truth. Because of this, the lightsaber contains knowledge or part of the individual's psyche within. Not only that, but with repeated use, that intelligence grows, added to by Force users who touch and use it.

This explains Rey's Force vision in Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens, when she touches the lightsaber. Though I do not completely agree with what Mainstream Geek! has to say on the subject, I do believe that, because of the intelligence given to it, it is telling its story.

image link

Now, does this mean that only Force user's can use a lightsaber? No. As shown in the Clone Wars Television series, which has been deemed as cannon, Pre Vizsla, who is not a Force user, is able to use a lightsaber, or rather, a darksaber.

image link

Also, General Grievous, who exhibits no indications of being able to use The Force, at least in the movie Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith, is able to use four lightsabers at once.

Thus, it is my theory that, though lightsabers can be used by non Force users, the true capabilities can only be unlocked by someone who uses The Force.

Now that we have discussed why Jedi and Sith use lightsabers, what about the midichlorians that Qui Gon Jinn talks about in Star Wars I: The Phantom Meanace?

Qui Gon said, that "Without the midichlorians, life could not exist, and we would have no knowledge of the Force. They continually speak to us, telling us the will of the Force. When you learn to quiet your mind, you'll hear them speaking to you."

A gentleman once said to me, concerning intelligences, that they are just waiting to be organized by a being, especially one with a body. Now, I know of no doctrine that completely condones this, however, with the knowledge that Satan, as a spirit being, had intelligences and light of truth, and that we too have them. God the Father especially has them. Then it is a likely hood that the intelligence's will is, "Use us" or "Give us purpose".

Again, it is important to note that intelligences are not the Holy Ghost, for the Spirit of God tells us good things to do. Yet, the Force can be used for evil and darkness. Thus, it is ultimately up to what the individual decides to do with the power the intelligences give them.

image link

The midichlorians are described by Qui Gon as being "... a microscopic life-form that reside within all living cells and communicates with the Force." (Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace)

Now, as far as I know, we do not have midichlorians, thus the statement about them being "within all living cells" is false. However, this misunderstanding could be due to their presence withing all beings within the Star Wars Galaxy. Thus, every cell ever tested by the Jedi or Sith would have the midichlorians. It is almost as thought they spread like bacteria, a contagion throughout their galaxy.

Now, these midichlorians are also mentioned to be a means of Anakin Skywalker's unusual birth. "It was possible that he was conceived by the midichlorians." (Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace) This means that the midichlorians have DNA, like most single celled organisms, though they reside inside of cells.

image link

This bears striking resemblance to mitochondria, which are "organelles" that many scientists theorize were single celled organisms that developed into perfect symbiosis with most living cells. These, too, have DNA.

image link

However, as far as science has discovered, mitochondria's main purpose is breaking down bonds to create usable energy for the cell in which it resides. Though, there are other organelles that single celled organisms can have. For example, the magnetospirillum has organelles called magnetosomes. These organelles respond to magnetic polarity, like a built in compass.

In a similar fashion, midichlorians closely resemble mitochondria but with some kind of organelle that responds to, or can sense, the intelligences or light of truth. It is with these organisms that people in the Star Wars galaxy are able to communicate and use The Force. The more midichlorians the individual has, for example Yoda or Anakin, the stronger they can use The Force. Though, because cells can replicate, even midichlorians, then an individual can grow more midichlorians, or higher percentages, within the cells. Thus, not only are they becoming more experienced with using the force, their power and ability to influence it increases.

Finally, though we, in the Milky Way galaxy or simply on Earth, do not have midichlorians, we can still feel the light of truth, or the light of Christ with our spirits. This may not enable us to be Force users, but we are able to discern truth and grown in knowledge. Consider the this gift from God as a test to determine what kind of person you will be, good or evil. Then, when this trial is over, we will receive according to that which we have embraced. Be wise in your decisions.

As always, feel free to leave any comments, ideas, or criticism below.

Love,
Jacobugoth

Previous Post: Star Wars: The Force