Why do you want to be a Jedi?
“Why must you become Jedi, hmm?” —Yoda, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
This is the first question that it is crucial to answer—because your focus determines your reality. Think about what it means to be a Jedi for you, how you want to improve yourself and make your community better, and why you’re feeling the pull to this specific path. And it is a specific path! Although being a Jedi is a large box that can contain many ideas, practices, and feelings, it is still a box, and there are some things about this path that can’t be ignored, such as following the code, fighting for justice, seeking knowledge, and defending those who need it.
Read the links in the section, journal, discuss your goals with a trusted friend, and discover why you want to be a Jedi.
How do you want to train?
“Do, or do not. There is no try.” —Yoda, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Now you have your Jedi goals, how are you going to achieve them? First, start reading. We’ve got resources here on meditation, active listening, physical fitness, debate, community service, social wellness, and more. Go exploring and see what you find out about your path and the way forward.
If you’re looking to get back to basics or starting on this path for the first time, the best way to lay a strong foundation is to train at one of several active online training academies. They offer core training for Jedi of all levels and knowledge, and will ground you in the basics of Jedi philosophy, habits, and abilities. Whether you choose to train at Temple of the Jedi Order, JediLiving, the Institute for Jedi Realist Studies, or elsewhere, each academy offers something slightly different, with different takes on the path. Obviously you can train at more than one of them, but I do suggest picking one and finishing the introductory course of study first so you can really focus in on your early training.
Take this quiz to see which academy you are best suited to!
But above all, remember: training to be a Jedi is a real-life, offline activity. If you’re not applying what you learn in your every day life, Jedi up and start!
Who is your community?
“All mentors have a way of seeing more of our faults than we would like. It’s the only way we grow.” —Padme Amidala, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
Whether you are training offline alone, with an established offline group in your area or state, at an online academy, or some combo of the above, Jedi community is key—but it also requires careful choice.
Fundamentally, the Jedi path is one you walk alone—you are the only person responsible for your growth and choices. But you don’t have to walk it in the dark: there are resources available, and one of them is other Jedi. The community can be a complex place; humans are humans, they make mistakes, get distracted, and are learning themselves. But finding a group of Jedi, online or off, that you can trust to hold you to a higher standard, to support you when the going is rough, who instinctively understand your path and your goals as shared ones, can make all the difference in your growth and life.
Just keep going.
“Strength, mastery, hmm… but weakness, folly, failure also. Yes: failure, most of all. The greatest teacher, failure is.”—Yoda, Star Wars: The Last Jedi
There will be times as you proceed on this path that you fail, that it’s hard, that you feel like you can’t go on or overcome what’s happened. That you don’t have time for the path. You might even be reading this article because you had to step away for a while for some reason—I know I have done the same thing before. And although sometimes people do walk away from the Jedi path for excellent reasons, most of the time, when the going gets touch, you’ve got to just keep swimming, and find your way forward back to the light. Rely on your training, rely on your friends, your family, both Jedi and otherwise. Journal, meditate, exercise, see a therapist—whatever it takes for you to grow will be worth it. The hardest times teach us the most about what we are capable of, and you are more worthy and more accomplished than you might imagine.
I am interested in getting involved in the Jedi community in California. I live in a town about an hour north of Santa Barbara, and am interested in getting together with others that may be in my area here in the central coast.
I have been in the Force Realist community since 2008 and in recent years have sought out more in person engagement. I have spoken with a few here in the past and thought I would reach out and see if I could make some connections.
Looking forward to meeting people.
Hi Miles, welcome! If you request to join the California Jedi Facebook Group, I can approve you and you can introduce yourself. :) https://www.facebook.com/groups/332348686845209/
This is great, I finally found one in California.