Collected Poems, Prayers, and Meditations on the Force

[Lilla Syrin]

“Where do you go when you meditate?”
“To a state of mind and body, where I reacquaint myself with simplicity.”
― Jedi Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi

Lilla had a favourite reference journal in the Jedi library. It was called ‘The Collected Poems, Prayers, and Meditations on the Force’.

It was a set of writings collected and edited by Kozem Pel, a Disciple of the Whills. The collection contained writings by a number of spiritual figures, along with the Guardian’s Mantra, the Jedi Code, the Code of the Sith, and the Coxixian Prayer for the Departed.

For Lilla had found both an affinity for meditation, but also – she believed – an unpopular, yet profoundly useful, source of a Jedi’s development. Meditation, she was learning, was leading to so many Force abilities. So she dedicated herself to learning about as many as she could, so that she could one day pass them on.

The following represents a lifetime of learning, information gathered along the way and only truly reflective of Lilla’s learning when viewed retrospectively – perhaps as the musings of a Jedi worthy of a new volume of work…’Collected Views of Meditation and the Force’.

 

[Lilla Syrin]

In simple terms, meditation was a mental technique practiced by Force-sensitives and non-Force-sensitives alike, by which one attempted to get beyond the reflexive, thinking mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness.

The Jedi used meditation for enhancing emotional control over self and for better connection to the Force. It was common to build meditation chambers in which outside disturbances could be muted and shut out to provide a more conducive atmosphere for deep meditation – but Lilla preferred to develop her skills with the background noise of life. But she saw the benefit of such a construction and suspected that one day she’d have a ship with one built in.

But right now she was a Padawan and starting out in her life as a Jedi.

 

[Lilla Syrin]

And while meditation could be attained without any outside means, some individuals chose to meditate with the assistance of a rare, naturally occurring meditation crystal. These were available to the Jedi of the Republic Remnant, but again, Lilla eschewed the use of any such assistance – and that went for meditation bracelets too.

Meditation within the Jedi Order was considered paramount to mastering oneself and the Third Pillar of the Jedi Path: Self-Discipline.

Without self-mastery, Jedi have argued that achieving mastery over the Force would be impossible.

To the Jedi, meditation allows a practitioner to achieve inner peace, harmony, and serenity; three of the core principles of the Jedi Code. Due to the importance on meditation, when Lilla first joined the Order, she was timetabled a five-sessions-a-day meditation regimen. Whereas other Padawans felt this got in the way of ‘real learning’, Lilla embraced the opportunity and believed her development benefitted as a result.

Lilla did not need encouragement to meditate whenever she had a spare moment, seeking deeper meditation during private time.

 

[Lilla Syrin]

One day, when scouring the library for tomes less-well read, Lilla came across the Findsmen.

An organization of Gand operating on their homeworld, the Findsmen worshiped the mists of their home, attributing the mysteries of the Force to this shroud of fog. Among the Findsmen individual meditations were kept private and secret, with rituals lasting for an uninterrupted three hours.

Through such rituals the Gand opened themselves up to the Force, drawing on energies which could be focused into other abilities, such as battlemind or farsight. Knowledge gained through Findsmen meditations was said to have a statistically high accuracy rate; the notorious Findsmen Zuckuss was calculated to have a high accuracy rate of 91.33725.

Lilla continued to research the Findsmen, keen to learn whatever she could from their technique. Finally, she tracked down three references and pieced together a fuller picture.

 

[Lilla Syrin]

A Findsman’s meditation session typically began with the regulation of the respiration rate, allowing the practitioner to slowly enter a calm state where the mists of Gand could easily swirl about their mind.

As the vision presented itself, the mists would recede and information could be read. A unique quality of the Findsmen meditations was dependent on where the ritual took place. Those who meditated within a crowded city were said to become mindful of the actions of those around them.

In contrast, meditation in planetary orbit granted the practitioner the ability to have foreknowledge of planetary cultures and customs. Some rituals took place during trips through hyperspace. Findsmen claimed that these rituals allowed them to sense the underlying feelings motivating the galaxy’s countless sentients.

Lilla had already experienced a little of this ability that was akin to Farsight, when employing Center of Being – and so she practised this extensively, although had nowhere near the success of Findsmen Zuckuss. Although she did predict rice pudding for dessert one day – and given she did not like the consistency of the food, ate a larger than usual lunch to compensate.

 

[Lilla Syrin]

One day, Lilla was fortunate enough to stumble across references to the Nightsisters of Dathomir.

They were a secluded group of Force witches who focused their studies on the Force through their meditations on the green spirits. This thin veil of green mist which permeated Nightsister temples and convents aided them when preforming such feats as the Surge of the Brier.

Whereas the technique was essentially Plant Surge or Consitor Sato, a casual observer might have dismissed this as nothing more. But Lilla continued to read.

The user would meditate and reach into the spirit realm and grip the essence of a sessile plant. The technique’s wielder could twist and shape the plant into a form of their choosing, and by doing so could wrap an enemy in vines, or impale them with thorns.

What caught Lilla’s attention was the reference that the invocation of ‘green spirits’ could also generate a ‘calming aura of meditation’ and more importantly break down poisons that had infected the bloodstream.

Lilla decided to investigate this further – but at a later juncture, when she had more time.

 

[Lilla Syrin]

“The stillness of Empty Meditation allows Jedi to center themselves and achieve deep inner peace.”
―Jedi Master Skarch Vaunk

Lilla had heard the term ‘Meditation of Emptiness’ in passing and decided to investigate in the library.

She found it was a technique employed by Jedi, and was recommended to students as a means to centre oneself and find deep inner peace and purge negative emotions.

She was surprised and equally pleased to find that the technique to establish an emotional anchor was extensively used by Master Kenobi.

According to the Holocron, the technique involved emptying yourself of feelings and opening yourself to the Force. This shedding of emotions and feelings allowed you to centre yourself in simple power as well as the strength of the Force. Master Kenobi explained that this act was like finding an eye of calm within the centre of one’s storm of emotions.

He described that, through this act, all memories as well as thoughts and feelings were ignored or treated as if they were shadows which allowed a Jedi to find a place where there was nothing else but peace.

He also taught her that Meditation of Emptiness was an effective technique for a Jedi to use to combat external mental influence or attack, such as the Jedi mind trick.

She resolved to work with her Holocron to develop this technique – especially on long journeys.

 

[Lilla Syrin]

Lilla never believed she had all of the answers, or the best answer. So even when she came across a reference to something she was well versed in, she took the time to read on, knowing she would either be vindicated in her understanding, or be enlightened.

One day, when a footnote to an article linked to Empty Meditation, she followed it – and was glad she did.

A similar technique was developed by Grand Master Luke Skywalker after the reformation of the Order. It was called heji tal. Drawing on all three fundamental skills of the Jedi teachings: control, sense, and alter, heji tal saw these skills focused upon in ever-changing patterns. Like Empty Meditation, heji tal brought inner peace, knowledge, and serenity.

 

[Lilla Syrin]

“There are others who may achieve this in occupying the mind, in achieving a moving meditation where operating on machinery achieves a similar effect.”
― Kreia

Lilla’s next discovery was something she was already familiar with, but used in an entirely different way.

She was used to using the art of Moving Meditation as part of her Soresu use. But she found a number of tomes that described it as a technique practised in a state of wakefulness at which time a practitioner quieted all external distractions consciously by performing an activity involving movement coupled with concentration.

Which made sense, given how Lilla used it. But she now understood that Moving Meditation could manifest itself in many different ways, awakening a feeling in the user that they could complete any task they were faced with.

Typical applications included repairing equipment or similar task that the user could already do, but in this state, required no concentration to carry out. Lilla duly incorporated this technique in her everyday life, when performing chores that were repetitive. It allowed her to use the time to think, as opposed to solely focus on the task.

 

[Lilla Syrin]

Lilla’s researching of Moving Meditation uncovered a related discipline.

It seems a more refined and personal form of Moving Meditation originated at Stav Kesh on Tython during the time before the founding of the Galactic Republic or the Jedi Order.

Known as Alchaka, this deeply complex exercise involved endless repetitions of intense stances which left the practitioner exhausted. The purpose was to clear the mind and attune the body to the strength of the Force, and was considered an advanced form of Moving Meditation.

Lilla was interested to read that, once again, Master Kenobi took the meditations very seriously. Once more, she knew she had an excellent reference source when she travelled and wished to develop this technique.

 

[Lilla Syrin]

The next meditative technique that Lilla researched was the art of Floating or Rising Meditation.

This, she understood, was a rare technique for students of the Force to achieve. Attainable only once deeply submerged in the Force, this form of meditation allowed practitioners to rise several metres off the ground.

Lilla could not see any practical application of the technique over and above any other, but practised the form until she was competent enough to float a handful of centimetres above the floor.

 

[Lilla Syrin]

“Must relax…reach out with my mind…reach inside…through the pain…to touch the Force! Knit bones…mend flesh…renew!”
― Ki-Adi-Mundi

Unlike Floating Meditation, Healing Meditation appeared to have significant benefits.

Healing Meditation – or perhaps better described as a healing trance – was a method of healing ones own injuries with the Force. Lilla discovered that some species, such as Whiphids, had a natural affinity for healing themselves through trances.

Lilla had no desire to beak her own arm to practise but regularly meditated in this technique after sparring lessons, to help repair bruises or muscle strains.

 

[Lilla Syrin]

It was funny how the Force worked. No sooner had Lilla learned how to heal with the Force when she found a need to use it.

For she’d discovered Arch Pose. This was a meditative stretching exercise. With hands and feet placed firmly on the ground, a Jedi then arched their body into a rounded shape, with the buttocks as high as they could go.

Healing Meditation was a welcome boon to resolve the strained muscles that Arch Pose initially created.

 

[Lilla Syrin]

The next form of meditation Lilla encountered was Battlemind. This was a Force power wherein one’s morale and fighting spirit was augmented through sheer focus, giving the Jedi the drive to fight through even the hardest of conflicts.

Apparently, one could overcome the disabilities of old age and even fading stamina this way. Users of Battlemind could find themselves fighting with a great deal more fiery and controlled passion, thus it was not common or promoted among the more orthodox fighting styles of the Jedi.

The research showed that those who couldn’t effectively resist the pull of the dark side would find this ability pushing them closer to it. Lilla noted that the most notable practitioner of Battlemind was Mace Windu, who relied on its use to help in the creation of the Vaapad fighting style.

Despite her academic interest, this was not a technique Lilla decided to pursue.

 

[Lilla Syrin]

“I wouldn’t trust Jedi farsight all that much if I were you. The Emperor did a lot of that, too. It didn’t help him much in the end…”
― Mara Jade

Lilla was already familiar with Farsight through her Soresu practise. Also called far sight or farseeing, this was the ability to gain vague impressions of events happening in other places or times using the Force. These visions focused on strong imagery and emotions.

She was mindful of the caution Jedi attached to Farsight…the future is always in motion, however, and is thus subject to change.

Once skilled in this technique, a Jedi would be capable of detecting when friends, examining details of past events, and predicting the probable outcome of a stated course of action.

Farsight could also be applied to combat, allowing the practitioner to glimpse moves his opponent may make, as well as outside forces that might affect the battle. This was specifically what Lilla experienced.

Sometimes, if the Jedi was in meditation for long enough, in Farsight, it was said their spirit could leave their body for a limited amount of time, making their spirit able to go where they please. Lilla found little evidence to substantiate this view however.

 

[Lilla Syrin]

The next technique that Lilla encountered was the Ooriffi meditation ritual. Little was written about its practical application other than instructions that an individual should fidget with a small object in order to relieve stress.

Lilla suspected that straightforward meditation would be a better use of time.

 

[Lilla Syrin]

In pursuing less well-known techniques, she came across Bardottan Meditation. It was apparently a system of meditative exercises that was practiced by the Force-sensitive species Phuii that hailed from Bardotta, around the time of the Clone Wars.

It seems that Queen Julia and the Gungan Jar Jar Binks at one point practiced this form of meditation in order to discover the truth behind the disappearance of the Dagoyan Masters. With the meditation, the monarch was able to learn of the kidnapping plot, but was kidnapped herself before she could reveal it to Binks.

Given this was the only recorded incident of the use of the technique, Lilla decided it should remain a footnote in the history of meditation.

 

[Lilla Syrin]

Perhaps not precisely a meditation technique, Tidal Breathing was a relaxation method taught to the Jedi Padawan Barriss Offee by her master Luminara Unduli. The latter seemed particularly interested in meditation.

The way it worked was that, by concentrating on exhaling deeply, relaxing and drawing a deep breath, then repeating the actions, a Jedi could shed mental burdens and reach a deeper, more receptive state of mind. This allowed them to make an intense connection to the Force, becoming a conduit for its power.

 

[Lilla Syrin]

“Eyes half closed, tongue curled up to just touch the roof of the mouth: the Force running in a wheel from the top of one’s head, spilling down through one’s spine, then the marrow of one’s thighbones, then draining from the pressure point in the soles of the feet to discharge.”
― Yoda describing silent meditation

Silent Meditation was one of the many meditative techniques found in the Jedi Order at the time of the Clone Wars; other forms included the common seven-second relaxation technique – which Lilla had researched.

Taught to young pupils by Grand Master Yoda, the centering exercise was used by countless Jedi, often while embroiled in dangerous situations, such as when trapped on a hostile planet or shrouded by the dark side of the Force.

 

[Lilla Syrin]

“Cade! How…”
“Jedi hibernation trance. Old school. Good thing I didn’t cut that class.”
― Deliah Blue, and Cade Skywalker

Jedi Hibernation, Force Trance, or Recovery Trance was an ability that allowed Force-users to go into a very deep hibernation state. Lilla was slow to pick up on these techniques as they were typically listed as abilities, as opposed to meditation, but research showed the obvious link between the two.

In essence, Lilla learned that the trance slowed the user’s metabolism and breathing to a standstill, causing the individual to only use one tenth of the air of a normal individual.

To all outward appearances, the individual appears to be dead; only thorough testing would determine that they were alive. Individuals using stethoscopes would be able to detect a faint heartbeat if they listened intently enough, and life sensors would register a slight flicker. Other Force users with training in the Sense skill would be able to sense the hibernating individual in the Force and know they were not dead.

A fully trained Force-user could stay in this state for up to one week in a dry climate or one month in a wet climate before dying from dehydration. By hooking themselves up to an intravenous water drip, they could extend the duration. Individuals could hibernate for up to three months before dying of starvation; the application of an intravenous sugar-solution drip could extend the hibernation period to a year.

What was especially interesting to Lilla was that trained force-users could also use a similar technique to place others in a hibernation trance. The target had to be a willing ally though. The force-user touched the ally to place him into the trance. The ally would then benefit from the effects of the hibernation trance. The ally could not emerge from the trance on his own; he relied on the force-user to bring him out of it.