Ancient Wisdom Star Wars
George Lucas film Star Wars is over 37 years old yet with its sequels and pre sequels remains popular in many cultures around the world. This article will explore this phenomenon in the context of a future where battles are fought with an ancient weapon the sword, all be it the iconic ‘lightsaber’. Can the practice of using the traditional Tai Chi sabre (Doa) be applied to wielding a lightsaber?
Field (2015) and Dimitropoulos (2024) suggest that George Lucas drew on many universal themes for his film citing a similarity between ‘the Force’ and the Tao of Chinese thought.
Giles (2023) and Bortolin (2005) explore a connection between the story in the film and a deeper Eastern wisdom including the influence of Buddhist teaching. In fact Lucas interest in the common themes found in myth and storytelling across many cultures may suggest a reason for Star Wars enduring appeal. Lucas cites an interest (Lucas 2007) in myth and anthropology found in work of Joseph Campbell (2008). Campbell’s ‘monomyth’ particularly in relation to what C G Jung described as unconscious archetypes (Jung 1968 p.8) may well suggest this wider public interest including that of a fascination with lightsabers.
In fact the sword is also a key theme in Western culture. The mythical sword ‘Excalibur’ is another enduring popular example suggested in John Boormans film of the same name (Toczyski 2024). The Grail stories talk about a ‘sword of lightening’ (Ashley 2005 p.409). Campbell (2008 p.289) exploring myth and dreams suggests ‘the sword edge of the hero-warrior flashes with the energy of the creative Source’. No wonder perhaps that the modern Star Wars myth should include the wielding of a flashing ‘lightsaber’.
From a somatic Embodied Tai Chi perspective it may be possible to build on an unconscious attraction to wielding a lightsaber. Through using a Star Wars lightsaber in place of the traditional Chinese sabre (Doa) practice it may indeed be possible to develop or as Johnson (2000) suggests ‘cultivate’ a wider consciousness of our self, others and our environment. Playing with a lightsaber ‘toy’ could also be a first step into exploring why we are unconsciously so fascinated with the Star Wars franchise. A doorway perhaps towards a deeper exploration of ancient wisdom.
Reference
Ashley Mike (2005) The Mammoth Book of King Arthur; London, Robinson
Bortolin Matthew (2005) The Dharma of Star Wars; Somerville, Wisdom Press
Campbell Joseph (2008) The Hero with a Thousand Faces; California, New World Library
Dimitropoulos Panos (2024) Star Wars; The Marketing Society blog, https://marketingsociety.com/the-library/star-wars-china-cultural-context#:~:text=So%20it%20is%20perhaps%20no,and%20the%20Jedi%20(Taoism). , accessed 4th November 2024, Doc; Lightsaber
Field Andrew D., Ph.D. (2015) Is Star Wars a Chinese Story? ; https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/star-wars-chinese-story-andrew-david-field-ph-d- , accessed 4th November 2024, Doc; Lightsaber
Giles Alexander (2023) Editorial: Celebrating Chinese New Year – Influences of Chinese Culture on the ‘Star Wars’ Universe and Vice Versa; https://www.starwarsnewsnet.com/2023/01/editorial-celebrating-chinese-new-year-influences-of-chinese-culture-on-the-star-wars-universe-and-vice-versa.html , accessed 4th November 2024, Doc; Lightsaber
Johnson Don H. (2000) Body Practices and Consciousness: A Neglected Link; https://www.academia.edu/29399503/Body_Practices_and_Consciousness_A_Neglected_Link?auto=download&email_work_card=download-paper , accessed 4th November 2024, Doc; Lightsaber
Jung C. G. (1968) Aion, Researchs into the Phenomenology of the Self; London, Routledge
Lucas George (2007) Project Happiness interview; Video Produced by Ward Mailliard, Edited by Devin Kumar, Filmed by John Sorensen, Devin Kumar, David Goulding, Directed by John Sorensen,
https://www.devinkumar.com/interview-with-george-lucas/ ,
accessed 5th November 2024
Toczyski Piotr (2024) John Boorman’s “Excalibur” as a Quasi-Jungian and Eclectic Story of Arthurian Psyche; International Journal of Jungian Studies (2024) 1–20, Published online 4 July 2024
