What is this feeling?

Feeling the Force

Most people, upon hearing that there are people who believe in the Force, would ask for proof. That's actually very simple. Obi-wan Kenobi describes the Force as an energy field that permeates all things. Ask any scientist what we are made of at an atomic level, and he or she will say “Energy”. All physical objects, alive or otherwise, are made of energy.

Luke Skywalker's teachers, Obi-wan and Yoda, both speak about “feeling” the Force. This chapter is designed to provide you with proof that the Force does exist, and that it is currently flowing through your body right now. The 7 steps I've designed to feel the Force have a basis in Taoist “chi” exercises, and have been tested by many Jedi, and most, if not all, have successfully felt the Force course through their body.

Step 1: Comprehension

The first step in learning to feel the Force is understanding what exactly you are about to do. The Force is something that is always in you, and you can, by force of will, move it in different directions through your body. The feeling itself can be described as a rush, or more to the point, like falling in love. You will feel light. You might say, you feel "enlightened". The method is about raising energy up through you, and therefore raising your senses to a higher level.

Step 2: Breathing

Breathing is important in many spiritual endeavors. Martial arts, meditation, etc. Here you will apply breathing to filling yourself with energy. First, sit comfortably, with your back straight and perpendicular to the floor. Rest your hands in your lap, one cupped inside the other. Now, taking deep breaths, inhale through your nose and imagine light and energy flowing into yo and filling you up. Exhale out your mouth and imagine darkness or empty space
coming out of you.

Repeat that step until you can see in your mind's eye that your body is filled with light energy.

Step 3: Focus

Imagine all the energy that has filled your body starting to gravitate toward the base of your spine. See it collect there and concentrate itself into a small point of focused energy. Take as much time as you need to do this step and the one before it.

Step 4: Elevation

Allow the point of energy to begin rising up through your body along your spine. This is where the feeling of flowing energy will manifest itself. As it travels up through you, you may begin to have a sense of elation. If not, take your time, repeating the first 3 steps. You may not feel anything yet, but with practice you will.

Step 5: Release

The energy will rise to the top of your head. Next you must allow it to break free from your body. Allow the energy to flow out of you, like a river fed by the point of energy at the base of your spine. Also allow that point of energy to be fed by the Force around you, so that an infinite continuous stream of energy is flowing up through you and out.

Step 6: Relaxation

By now, if you have been successful, you will understand why I described it as feeling like falling in love. Now that you have achieved this feeling, it's time to relax and let go of it.

Allow the flow of the energy to slow, gradually. Take deep breaths. Allow the flow to stop. Move your body a little at a time. Because the experience can sometimes be so powerful, moving too quickly can be disorienting. Allow yourself to ease out of the experience, getting up only when you feel normal again.

Step 7: Practice

You may or may not have been successful in feeling the Force. Most are able to feel something on their first try, but for some, including myself, it took many practice sessions before being able to truly feel the rush. In time, you may even have the ability to experience this flow at will, even during daily activities.