The Light Aspect
Light blurb here.
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Welcome to the Light Aspect
The Light Council will introduce themselves here shortly.
Getting Started with the Light Jedi
Welcome to this step on your heroic journey! We look forward to learning with you, and hearing all the questions and wisdom that you have brought to our academy. We are a gathering of people of many ages and from many countries who have come together to explore what it means to be a Light Jedi in today's world. We find inspiration in the world of fiction, but we are real people who share our true ideas and experiences. This website is not a place to pretend to be characters from a movie, but a place where we work out our thoughts, and learn from each other, so we can put what we learn to work in our lives.
In order to create a more lasting space for our conversation, we have found it useful to build certain structures. Among these are 'Paths'. You are strongly encouraged to learn what you can about each path, and to take your time choosing which, if any, you would want to follow. Each path has its own ranking system and training program. You do not ever need to join one, but in time you may find it to be a good way to advance your training.
We are the Light Side. We are the good guys, but that doesn't mean the other paths are evil. They are not the opposite of us. In fact, much of what they teach overlaps with our views perfectly. We are not on the other side of an argument from them. We are just looking at things from a different perspective. All of us are united in striving to understand ourselves. There is no one right way to do that. We all seek self knowledge, but perhaps what sets us apart from the other paths is the reason we seek it. We of the Light Side are dedicated to creating positive change in the world around us. We seek self mastery so that we can better serve. We promote and channel energy, gather knowledge, and take determined action, not for selfish purposes, but to be better healers, defenders, teachers, and friends. We see ourselves as parts of a much larger whole.
Another structure we have chosen is that of 'Ranks'. At the Light Side we know that we are all teachers, and we are also always learning. Each of us is a perfect Master, and a beginning student. The words Student, Knight, and Master have many philosophical meanings, but here we sometimes use them in a specific way to indicate what role the person fills in our online community.
When a person enters our training program, they become entitled to use the blue circular symbol that has written on it the words "the Force" in a single line of Aurabesh. There are several ways to enter the training program. The most common is to learn on your own for a time, and then when a new semester is ready to begin, a sign up sheet will be posted in the Light Discussion area. Sometimes, when a Knight or Master builds a special working relationship with a Student, the Student will be invited to enter a dedicated one on one training program. When in this training the Student is sometimes referred to as the Knight's 'Padawan' but they may choose to label it differently.
Later, when the Light Jedi Council has determined that they consistently display the traits and knowledge that one needs to be an officially recognized teacher, they are given the title of Knight, and they wear the blue symbol with two lines of Aurabesh that reads, "With the Force". These Knights are the members of the Light community who have dedicated their time and energy to maintain and direct the activities here. If you have any questions about the site or Light Side philosophy, always feel free to contact them.
Occasionally, the Knights will choose to honor and elevate one of their ranks to the position of Master. These few wear the three lined symbol, that says in Aurabesh, "At one with the Force". They have not received this honor lightly, and it may be worth your time to listen carefully to their words and discover why they have. At the same time do not make the mistake that Luke made in the movie when he met Yoda. There are times when the greatest of people appear to be the most simple. If you are wise, you will find the wisdom that every person and situation brings you. Listen from the heart to all people regardless of rank or symbol.
Administrative decisions for the Light Side are made by the Light Jedi Council. Membership on the council is open to Knights and Masters, and the current member list can be found in the "Welcome, Start Here!" conference. This council has duties that include operating the training programs, promoting members, and appointing the Light Side representatives to the Inner Council that oversees the operation of the site as a whole.
As with each of the Paths, we ask you to contribute openly and often. Be tolerant of the views of others, and be unafraid to voice your own. If you choose to join us on the Light Side please remain centered and polite on the boards, in the chat room, and in all your other interactions. Above all have fun! This website is a resource for your growth. When it becomes a stress or a burden, it may be time to do something else for a while.
We will end this with the Jedi Code. It is not really a set of rules to follow, but it is a place to start thinking about the Light Side, and a good place to return whenever you seek deeper and deeper truths.
The Jedi Code:
There is no emotion. There is peace.
There is no passion. There is serenity.
There is no ignorance. There is knowledge.
There is no death. There is the Force.
Training Program
Semesters
Each Training Program Semester takes place in its own private forum on this webboard. Community members who enroll in a semester are given access to the particular forum, which will then appear on the list of conferences to the left of their screen. When that happens, they become a Student of the Light Aspect, and are entitled to use the blue circular symbol that has written on it the words "the Force" in a single line of Aurabesh.
A training semester serves as a space for personal development in a directed, but casual, environment of classes and discussions, allowing community members to personally explore Light philosophy as maintained and developed by the Light Aspect at the Force Academy.
There are several ways to enter the training program. The most common is to learn on your own for a time, developing ideas of what being a Light Jedi means to you. Then, when a new semester is ready to begin, a sign up sheet will be posted in the Light Discussion area.
While the purpose of a Semester is training, its goal is not Knighthood. We do not use grading or give points--there are no passes, nor fails. People are rewarded by what they put in and get out of the experience; they are rewarded by development of their being, and having interactively aided others in this by what you contribute. Sometimes, when a Knight or Master builds a special working relationship with a Semester Student, the Student will be invited to enter a dedicated one-on-one training partnership. If this happens, the Student is sometimes referred to as the Knight's 'Padawan' or 'Apprentice.' However, the training forum is not a place for making requests for these.
The Training Program is part of the Light Aspect Education Department, coordinated by the Director of Education and the Light Jedi Council. The role of the director is to make sure there is an agenda of classes, someone to lead them, and that Students and all, get to the end as a team.
A Semester Class is guided by a designated lecturer--who are usually a Knight or Master of the Light Aspect, but we do engage other established members of the Force Academy community who are welcome to contribute by escorting a topic they wish to bring with them and add to the tapestry of the Program.
We are not a cloistered program. Students are encouraged to not restrain themselves within the walls of a webboard, and so the training forum serves as a kind of base where we can share our ideas and experiences in response to what you are being asked to consider. Be mindful in your investigations, in your daily travels and opportunities, and you will find the wisdom that every person and situation brings. Each student has an input to the Program, so what makes a semester rich is not only what a lecturer supplies, but also what Students bring with them. You may be expected to explore other resources, in conjunction with the Semester Classes, because there can always be more than what is being seen, and bring more can only bring greater varieties of insight.
The length of each semester varies. The average is about nine months, but they will last for as long as needs be. The pace is subject to the influence of all things, including peoples (both students and lecturers) responsibilities and priorities offline.
We don't have due-dates for assignments to be completed. We aren't here to race you through your learning, because that wouldn't allow personal development at all, but there is encouragement to continue training. On the other hand, you are also welcome to leave the program at anytime, as we understand that lifes events can call for us to spend more time somewhere else. If this happens, you have not failed in your training because, as stated before, the opportunity to train is in every situation we find and put ourselves in, and does not rest only in a webboard.
Training is not restricted to a private forum; there are many opportunities. You do not need to join a semester right away, but in time, you may find it to be a worthwhile undertaking. In the meantime, there are always interesting developments in the public domain. The Light Jedi Council looks forward to seeing you become involved and contribute to the community in the best way you can.
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