What is the Force?

"The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds the galaxy together."

―Obi-Wan Kenobi

"The Force is a river from which many can drink, and the training of the Jedi is not the only cup which can catch it."

―Luke Skywalker

 

The Force is a metaphysical, binding, and ubiquitous power that hold enormous importance for both the Jedi and non Jedi alike. The Force is viewed in many different aspects, including, but not limited to, the light side, the Dark Side, the Unifying Force, and the Living Force. The first two aspects are concerned with the moral compass of the Force, as manifested by the conduct and emotions of living creatures who are themselves part of the fabric of the Force. The light side of the Force is the facet aligned with compassion, selflessness, self-knowledge and enlightenment, healing, mercy and benevolence, while the dark side of the Force is the element aligned with hatred, fear, covetousness, anger, aggression, jealousy and malevolence. The latter two aspects are defined by prominent Jedi philosophies: The Unifying Force essentially embraces space and time in its entirety while the Living Force deals with the energy of living things. Though the Force is categorized in this way, there are no specific abilities or powers that are only usable by a follower of a different path of the Force; the Force partially exists inside the life forms that use it, and draws energy from their emotions.
Some beings, believe that the dark side of the Force is more powerful than the light, though it was possible that the dark side is just more tempting to those who use it (or desire to use it). Others think of the Force as an entity capable of intelligent thought, almost as a sort of deity.

Though the Force is thought to flow through every living thing, its power can only be harnessed by beings described as "Force-Sensitive". Force-sensitive beings are able to tap into the Force to perform acts of great skill and agility as well as control and shape the world around them. Sometimes this ability was described as having a strong Force "aura".
  
The Living Force
"The ways of the Living Force are beyond our understanding... But fear not. You are in the hands of something much greater and much better than you can imagine."

-Qui Gon Jinn

The Living Force is a view on the Force, accepted by the majority of Jedi. The Living Force is thought to be present in all living organisms, surrounding and penetrating them, thus making all living things connected by it. The Jedi believing in the Living Force rely on their instincts and are attuned to other living beings around them. They are mindful of the future and the possible consequences of their actions, but remained focused on the present. The Living Force is viewed as having both the light and the dark side. The Jedi always have to be mindful of their actions to avoid the temptations of the dark side. Proponents of the Living Force view, espoused a philosophy of "living in the moment," relied heavily on their instincts and concentrated more on sensitivity to living things, rather than fulfilling destiny, which was one of the main tenets of the Unifying Force philosophy.

The Unifying Force

"Jedi refer to the ‘light side’ and the ‘dark side’, but really, these are only words, and the Force is beyond words. It is not evil, just as it isn’t good—it's simply what it is."

―Barriss Offee

The concept of the Unifying Force finds fewer supporters within the Jedi Order than the Living Force. The concept of the Unifying Force is that the Force is a single entity and has neither a light nor the dark side. Some view the Unifying Force as a deity that neither has sides nor chooses them, treating all beings equally. Followers of the Unifying Force always keep their eyes open for future possibilities. In the end, it often results in them trying to fulfill a destiny rather than focusing on here and now, as the Living Force supporter would do. Visions of the future are of particular significance to Unifying Force supporters. Many of the Jedi hold a philosophy focused on the flow of time as a whole, ignoring primary use of the Living Force: The Present. Some claim that there was only one Force: the only difference worthy of note was that those on the Dark Side saw the Force as a means to an end while the Jedi saw it as an end in itself. This view was also supported the philosophy "the Force was everything, and everything was the Force"; that the Force did not have sides and never took sides.

Potentium
The Potentium view of the Force, not to be confused with the Unifying Force, is considered heresy by the Jedi Order . While similar to the Unifying Force, which suggests that there is only one Force that did not take sides, the Potentium view states that the Force and the galaxy in general are inherently good. According to this belief, the so-called dark side is not made up of specific "parts" or "abilities" of the Force: as espoused by the Light Side, it exists inside the life form which uses it, made from their emotions. By that standard, and unlike the Light Side, all Potentium followers can perform any action and use the Force in any way the see fit, as long as the intention behind it is good. In contrast, the Old Jedi Order acknowledged the existence of Potentium, but made it clear that it was subverting of the Jedi teaching and a way to misguide people to the dark side, or a means to serve it. 

 The Light Side of the Force
The light side of the Force, also commonly known as the Ashla or simply the Force, was the side of the Force aligned with honesty, compassion, mercy, self-sacrifice, and other positive emotions. For the most part, the Jedi simply referred to this as the Force.

1 Definition 2 Nature of the light side 3 Known light side Force powers and techniques 4 Characteristics of light side users 5 The Chosen One 6 Light side organizations 7 Notable light side users 8 Behind the scenes 9 Appearances 10 Sources 11 See also

Definition

"It is simple enough to know the light. A Jedi must feel the tension between the two sides of the Force; in himself, and in the universe."

―Thon

"Attachment is forbidden; possession is forbidden. Compassion, which I would define as unconditional love, is essential to a Jedi's life."

―Anakin Skywalker

The light side of the Force is aligned with happiness, joy, love, and benevolence, which some believe nurtures the light side and provides insight into its ethical uses. It is generally concerned with the ideas of good, generosity, healing, and wisdom, as opposed to evil, harm, and hasty judgment. In order to achieve harmony with the light side of the Force, its practitioners will often meditate to clear themselves of emotion; particularly negative emotions such as aggression, anger, and hatred, since these were shown to open a Jedi to the possibility of acceptance of the dark side.
Strangely enough, and despite obvious contradictions, the light side is treated as both a semi-intelligent entity with definite intentions and a non-sentient essence of good. Which view is embraced is a personal decision. According to the self-aware interpretation, the light side is held to actively influence events to the degree that some Jedi think of themselves as mere "tools" of the Force. Though this implies a lack of choice regarding an individual's fate, the Jedi, as leading proponents of the light side, insist that it is, rather, "the ultimate free will." This they explain as being because the Force (at least the light side) does not compel anyone. A destiny can be accepted or spurned. And all choices along the way are free to make.
Since Ashla is also the name of the Force itself, before referring only to the light side, it could mean that the light side is also the "normal" nature of the Force.

Characteristics of light side users

"How am I to know the good side from the bad?" "You will know, when you are calm. At peace, passive."

―Luke Skywalker and Yoda

Most beings who have used the light side of the Force have known its calming abilities. The Jedi try to maintain calm at all times, even in situations which would normally cause intense stress. They have the ability to calm animals, including people, and increase morale using only their minds. Almost every lightsider feels the tempting call of the dark side of the Force at some time or another, but most use the light side's abilities to restore their normal tranquility.

Dark side of the Force

"Evil began in a time before recorded history, when magicians made themselves into kings…and gods…using the powers of the dark side of the Force. The weak-minded have ever been ready to obey one who wields great power. Those who learned the powers of the dark side were quick to exploit this weakness—to make war. Again and again the dark side has surged forth, like a storm…devouring whole nations and the entire world. Those who mastered dark power became dark power. They unleashed destruction, for no other reason for selfish gain. They despoiled nations…destroyed whole civilizations. Some of them, I am ashamed to say, were Jedi."

-Ood Gnar

 

The Dark Side is the antithesis of the Light.  I will not expound more on this, for one needs only look at the state of the world to know many have embraced the Dark Side.