Promise I won't take too much of your time here, but I'm curious. How's your jedi training like? What do you do everyday? Anything you really like about it? Do you have one of those long glow sticks?
Oh, that’s quite alright—take up as much of my time as you’d like! It’s fun getting to share about my life. :)
My years at Luke’s school were such a sweet time for me, and I look back very fondly on them. I was there from the time I was eight years old, up until age nineteen. (I am twenty-two now—my goodness, how time has flown!)
I lived at Luke’s academy, and grew up there. Not every student does. It tends to be those with difficult family backgrounds, or, perhaps, no family at all. I would go back to Ryloth to visit my family a few times during the year, and I did miss my mother and sisters often…but, I think Luke’s school was a much better environment for me to develop.
Thus, Luke’s school was indeed school, but, for me, it was also my home, and my family. Oh goodness, the friends I had there—Meliko, my mentor, so sweet and wise; Rakkhi, who was also Twi’leki, but a much different sort of man from my father and my half-brothers—Char, who was always so silly and a troublemaker, but has since matured so incredibly that I am shocked whenever I see him—Luz, what a sweetheart—and Deirak…oh, Deirak…
Oh dear, I’m rambling; let me get back on track!
Our training consisted of a few different components: group lessons with Master Luke, one-on-one lessons with Master Luke, mentor-apprentice relationships among ourselves, and times of individual meditation and reflection. These were scheduled throughout the week, and we had recreational time on weekends. We also ate meals together, and we were each responsible for preparing meals (as well as other duties, like cleaning communal spaces) on a daily rotation. Sometimes, there were days when the kitchen team ended up being all boys. I love my brothers in the Force—but, I’m afraid the food did tend to be worse then.
What does it mean to be a Jedi? Mind, spirit, heart, body. All of these must be attuned to the Force. Our involuntary emotions are tied to the light and dark side of the Force, as are each of our conscious thoughts, decisions, and actions. The Force flows through our bodies—through our flesh and blood. We learned to still our minds, to observe our emotions and let them go, to feel compassion and love for others and to love ourselves in humility, to practice physical discipline and experience balance and wholeness in the body. The dark side of the Force comes naturally; the light must be cultivated. Nurtured. Learned, and encouraged. In the most difficult of internal struggles, it must simply be chosen out of obedience. It must be chosen out of the knowledge of what is right, rather than caving to one’s deepest desires.
This is what it means to be a Jedi.
I think what I liked most about Jedi training was how much it transformed me for the better. I always knew the Force was there when I was young, even if I didn’t have the words for it. But when I was a child, I was angry and volatile and determined to fight. Yet, with time, the light altered me—made me a new person, so to speak. And, though I still struggle at times, I am so different now—peace, gentleness, and compassion live at my core.
A long glow stick! Well, that’s certainly one way to describe a lightsaber! Yes, I do have one. I built it when I was fourteen. My kyber crystal is pale blue. I have rarely found myself in combat, but I do carry it with me wherever I go. Sometimes, I ignite it during meditation, and hold it upright in my hands, and listen to the low hum, feel the subtle vibration of the hilt… It’s soothing to me. Yes, it is a weapon, but it is also something else—a sort of…talisman, I suppose.
Now that I am no longer a student at Luke’s school, it is a little harder to be a Jedi, I think. The Jedi of old remained closely connected to the Jedi Temple and the Jedi Order their entire lives, even after completing their training. I do go back to Luke’s school monthly, and I remain close with my classmates and with Master Luke. But here on Ryloth, I feel alone a lot. My colleagues at the anti-slavery organization I work at share my passion for justice and freedom for Twi’leki women. They know I am a Jedi, and often they say “may the Force be with you” to me, to be polite. But…they do not really understand, which is difficult.
…Ben does not really understand, either. I have been struggling with this. But, that is a separate topic, and one I’ve not been able to think through very clearly.
Sweet friend, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to reminisce! I am always happy to answer questions, and I apologize for how extremely late my answer has come to you. I do hope you are doing well, wherever you may be!
