This article contains spoilers for Star Wars: The High Republic #8.
That Jedi are beacons of light in the war of stars Franchise – but increasingly it looks like her temples are universally strong, even on the dark side. The Force is one, but every person in the galaxy must choose their allegiance – whether to join the light side of the Force or the dark side.
Since the dawn of time, Jedi and Sith alike have built their temples on the verge of power – places naturally rich in one aspect or another of power. Star Wars: The Last Jedi established the first Jedi Temple on the distant and remote planet Ahch-To in the depths of the Unknown Regions. Meanwhile, Lucasfilms Star Wars: The High Republic The transmedia initiative introduced an abundance of new temples some 200 years before the events of. were built on the Outer Rim Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. And gradually it becomes clear that there is a dark secret about the temples of the Jedi.
It seems increasingly that all Jedi temples are strong in the dark side of the force. The Jedi Temple on Coruscant was built on top of an ancient Sith shrine, with the Jedi actually using the vergence of the dark side to perform purification rituals. The temple on Ahch-To contained a similar vergence that Rey was drawn to – much to Luke Skywalker’s concern. And after Star Wars: The High Republic # 8 by Cavan Scott and Ario Anindito, even the temple built at Starlight Beacon was designed with a Bogan Vault, a repository for the dark side.
In a way, this is natural; the Jedi and the Sith may be adversaries, but the Force is one and it exists in equilibrium. Where the light side is strong there will always be a shadow; Where the darkness is strong there will be a ray of light. The Jedi used this principle when they built their temple on Coruscant and tried to overwhelm the Nexus of the dark side with the flood of their light and find a way to use it by purifying relics of the dark side. Master Yoda would apply it to Dagobah, the darkness of the cave hiding its light from the Emperor. But they seem to have been blind to the effects.
The light cannot exist without the dark and vice versa. Hence the antagonistic relationship between the two different aspects of power is foolish, for they are supposed to live in equilibrium. The first Jedi understood this truth because the early Jedi were servants of balance and not solely tied to the light side. They became afraid of the dark side after some of their members fell, became Proto-Sith, and subscribed to just one aspect of the Force. That schism, that unnatural rift, might well have been the balance the Chosen One was supposed to restore – for when the battle between the Jedi and Sith was finally over, Rey learned from ancient Jedi texts that may have faced the schism. It is quite possible the new Jedi Order will build them up in future installments of war of stars will be one who understands the balance of power better than the prequel-era Jedi.
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