Star Wars Chat Pack: How can you be more like a Jedi?

It’s time for another Star Wars Chat Pack question!

Star Wars Chat Pack, written by Kelly Knox.

Today’s question: What are some ways that you can be more like a Jedi in real life?

Well, a lot, lol. But I try. I’d like to think I’m patient, kind, helpful to others (most of the time). In tough situations, I try to ask myself, instead of What Would Jesus Do? (which, by the way, is also a good question to ask), What Would a Jedi Do?

I struggle with fear, anger, doubt, just like any other person. Just like a Jedi, too. One way a Jedi deals with these negative emotions is through meditation. To quiet their mind and touch the Force. I’ve tried meditation many times over the years, without succeeding in a consistent practice. So much for patience!

Rey meditating. And floating herself and rocks. I’d be happy just to get the meditating down.

But I’d really like to keep trying. I’m not only inspired by the Jedi but was encouraged to try it decades ago when I was into yoga (and I failed to make that a practice, too, lol). These days, I’ve been reading a lot of self-help books like Jen Sincero’s Badass books and others, and they all, every one of them, recommend meditation to really make a difference in your life. Not only to help with things like mindset (change your mind, change your life) but just to touch the Source. Not to get all hokey here (remember Han’s comment about “hokey religions”? yeah) but since becoming re-obsessed with Star Wars, I’ve come to be more cognizant of George Lucas’ inspirations for the Jedi and the Force. The Force is simply another variation of the Source, the Creator, a Higher Power, God. And midi-chlorians, like quantum physics, brings science into it all.

Anyway, all this to say that I’d like to meditate more and make it a regular practice. I was doing it for a while when I was working on the Jedi Journal posts. Which I’d also like to get back to, lol. (Hint to self: less scrolling through Facebook will free up more time–imagine that!).

I’ll keep trying. In the meantime, let me know how you would like to be more like a Jedi in real life. Meditation? Lightsaber lessons? (I would totally do that if I didn’t think I’d pull a muscle or seriously injure my old-ass self, lol). Let me know in the comments and we’ll talk about it!

Star Wars Chat Pack: What one Force ability would you choose and why?

First of all, Happy New Year friends! With the new year, I have a slew of new plans, goals, and ideas, including post ideas for the blog. I’ll be blogging more and testing these ideas out, so stay tuned.

I thought I’d start with going back to the Star Wars Chat Pack and do a question once a month, just because it’s fun. Today’s question is: What one Force ability would you choose and why?

Hands down, my choice would be Force Healing. Maybe not as cool or sexy as lightsaber skills or telekinesis, but I can’t think of anything more satisfying than being able to heal someone’s injuries or illness or take away their pain. I think it’s a rare ability, but it would certainly be a valuable one.

Rey had healed a vexis, a monster snake in TROS. It’s a bit of foreshadowing, as she calls Kylo Ren a “snake” and then heals him later in the film as well.

I feel like we don’t see too many examples of this ability before Rey in the Sequel trilogy. Maybe in Clone Wars or some Legends books here and there, but when I saw Rey heal that big snake, I thought, Wow, Jedi can do that? Now we see Grogu with the ability. But it makes total sense. The Force is life energy itself. Why shouldn’t someone who can influence the Force be able to transfer some to an injured or sick being?

There’s nothing worse than watching someone you love (or just anybody, really) suffer in pain and not be able to do anything about it. So that’s why I’d choose Force Healing as my Jedi ability.

What about you? What one Force ability would you choose? Let me know in the comments and we’ll talk about it!

Star Wars Chat Pack: How would a droid help you?

Hey, we made it! Welcome to Day 30 of my NaBloPoMo Challenge, where I randomly pick a card from the Star Wars Chat Pack.

Today’s question is: You’re given a droid in real life. What would you like them to help you with?

Heck yeah, this would be great!

My first thought was: car repair, please god, car repair. We’ve been having some car troubles, and I’m sick of dealing with it. An astromech or droid that deals with mechanical repairs would be most welcome.

We could have used this guy’s help today installing a car battery.

But that’s only an occasional need (usually), and I’m thinking something I could use every day. I’m often exclaiming to my husband, “I need a secretary!”

So my droid would be a protocol droid that’s a personal assistant. This droid would make the phone calls that I hate making: scheduling doctor appointments, or any appointments for that matter, dealing with health insurance issues, ordering medical supplies for my daughter.

Perhaps not Threepio himself, but a similar protocol droid.

This droid could also keep track of things I need to buy, be it food or other products, keep lists, keep track of finances (such as they are), and pay bills. Basically the usual stuff of running a household that takes up my time when I’d rather be reading or writing, lol.

Of course, some light housekeeping would be in order: dishes, laundry, dusting, sweeping, cleaning the bathroom, etc. My spouse helps with this stuff, naturally, but we’ll give him a break too!

The droid could also help me take care of my elderly father, maybe even watch over him when I’m not there. It would probably freak him out, though. Hey, he’s eighty-eight, what can I say?

I just thought of something else: a cooking droid!

As long as he just cuts vegetables with those knives, this guy could live in our kitchen.

I’m not much of a cook. My husband knew that when he married me, but I still feel bad making him do most of it, lol. A cook droid would be a welcome addition. I still think I’d take the protocol droid, though.

What about you? What kind of droid would you like to help you in your life? Let me know in the comments and we’ll talk about it!

So this is the last Chat Pack post for this challenge. It’s been a lot of fun, and it made me think about Star Wars in ways I never have before, but I’m ready to move on to other things. However, I’ve only used 30 cards out of 100, so there’s 70 more to explore in the future! Maybe I’ll do a Chat Pack post once a month or so.

I want to thank everyone who took part in the challenge and answered the questions along with me, particularly Tim from the Canon Padawan (seriously, check out his site, especially if you love clones) and For Tyeth from FTsabersite (awesome lightsaber designs!). Thanks guys, for making this so much fun!

Star Wars Chat Pack: Whose closet would you raid?

Welcome to Day 26 of my NaBloPoMo Challenge, in which I randomly pick a card from the Star Wars Chat Pack.

Today’s question is: You get to raid the closet of a Star Wars character. Whose wardrobe do you pick?

Fun! I’m not much of a fashion maven myself, preferring simple things like jeans and hiking boots, but I can appreciate nice clothes when I see them.

My first thought would be Padme Amidala. Certainly not her Queen of Naboo outfits, as impressive as those are, but they’re way over the top. They did serve a purpose, however, as described in the Padme novels by E.K. Johnston. No, I’m talking about her “civilian” outfits, which are impressive in their own right, and downright beautiful. That girl had an outfit for every occasion. I did a blog post a while back about Padme’s outfits, I was so impressed with them.

All of Padme’s outfits are stunning, but perhaps a bit too fancy for me. Also, they’re made for a much younger person, lol.

Perhaps Qi’ra from Solo? We don’t see too many outfits for her in the movie, but what I do see, I like a lot. For a scrumrat from Corellia who wore rags as a child and teen, Crimson Dawn definitely cleaned her up and leveled up her fashion.

No nonsense mission attire, but still stylish.

More formal party garb, stylish yet understated.

I wish I could have seen more outfits for her, but she’s very close to being my closet pick.

However, I have to go with Leia Organa, because she truly dresses appropriately for every occasion. The only outfit I actively dislike is the white sheet wrapped around her in A New Hope. Her ceremony dress at the end is lovely, however.

Even as a general, she’s lovely and stylish.

Perhaps a bit dark, but for a mature woman, this outfit radiates power.

Even the more casual outfits–the Hoth whites, the Endor greens, the Ewok dress–she’s always lovely. In the books, particularly Leia: Princess of Alderaan and Bloodline, both by Claudia Gray, Leia is shown to know that fashion can be armor, or a weapon, or a distraction. She’s more like her mother than she knows in this. We’re not gonna talk about the bikini, though, lol. (Even though she rocks it).

What about you? Whose closet would you raid? For you gentleman, are you more a Han Solo or a Lando Calrissian? Or maybe you prefer the Jedi robes? Let me know in the comments and we’ll talk about it!

Star Wars Chat Pack: Which two characters should meet each other?

Welcome to Day 20 of my NaBloPoMo Challenge, where I randomly draw a card from the Star Wars Chat Pack.

Today’s question is: Choose two Star Wars characters who have never met. How would their first meeting go? Why would you want them to meet?

I want Luke and Ezra to meet. They’re the same age (both born on Empire Day), are both Jedi trained after Order 66, and both knew Obi-Wan (and Ezra met Yoda’s Force ghost). I’d love to see them meet and swap stories about their masters, what it was like to grow up under the Empire, being trained in the wild without the Order (Baylan’s “bokken” Jedi), their philosophies about the Force, etc. Maybe Ezra could help Luke with his school, or help him find Force-sensitives to train.

I think they’d like each other, though they have very different personalities. Ezra’s definitely goofier, while Luke has grown more calm and serious. I want Luke to have a Jedi friend, lol. Ezra at least had Ahsoka for a time, and had Kanan longer than Luke had either Obi-Wan or Yoda.

They could talk about their brushes with the dark side–not just in another person, but within themselves. I wonder if Luke would confide that Darth Vader–who Ezra had the misfortune of meeting and fighting–was his father. It seems a deeply personal thing that he wouldn’t mention to just anybody, obviously, but maybe as a story about the possibility of redemption. I don’t know, I just want them to be friends and to know each other’s stories.

Maybe they’d clash a little bit at first–Luke chides Ezra to be more serious; Ezra complains that Luke should lighten up.

Of course we don’t know where Ezra’s story arc in Ahsoka/the Mandoverse will be going, and I doubt this meeting will take place. I could be wrong, though; Luke has made his appearances in the Mandoverse, and perhaps their paths will cross. I would like to see Ezra train Jacen. Neither Ezra nor Jacen is at the school at the time of its destruction, but that doesn’t mean they don’t spend time there at any point.

If they meet at all, I’m guessing it will be brief, perhaps in a time of crisis with no time to get to get to know each other at all. But in my perfect Star Wars world, they’re good friends. Ooh, I sense a fan-fic coming on! Well, maybe not; but if anyone else wants to write it, I’d definitely read it!

What do you think? Do you think these two would like each other?

What two Star Wars characters do you want to see meet, and why? Let me know in the comments and we’ll talk about it!

Star Wars Chat Pack: What’s your unexpected advantage?

Welcome to Day 17 of my NaBloPoMo Challenge, in which I randomly pick a card from the Star Wars Chat Pack.

Today’s question is: Each member of the Bad Batch has qualities that give the team an edge in the field. What’s something different or unique about you, your friends, or siblings, that gives you an unexpected advantage?

When I first pulled this card, at first I saw “Bad Batch,” and I thought, Yay! Finally, a Bad Batch question! And then I read the rest of it and thought, oh crap. Can’t we just talk about the boys and Omega? Because I can’t think of a single thing to answer this question.

Advantage in what? The battlefield? (Clearly, nothing). Work? (Good customer service voice?) Life? Certainly nothing unique (or I wouldn’t be a cashier at the age of 52). I have some decent reading and writing skills, but there’s nothing unique in that.

If I dig deep, deep, deep down, I guess I could say I’m a good listener. While everyone else is jabbering away, I’m listening, observing, coming to conclusions. Maybe seeing or hearing what others don’t. That’s what writers do. And I guess that gives me an advantage if I ever buckle down and decide to pursue writing fiction seriously. Right now I’m distracted by blogging and Star Wars and other people’s creations to focus on my own. I’m having too much fun, and writing fiction with any sense of getting somewhere with it is hard, lol. But maybe someday. Before I, you know, die.

And maybe I interpreted the question wrong and it means what’s your advantage in the Star Wars universe. In which case….still nothing, lol. I’d probably be a waitress in some Outer Rim cantina. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

But enough about me. What’s your unique advantage? Don’t be shy, sing your praises! Let me know in the comments and we’ll talk about it!

And because this question referenced the Bad Batch, and because I love them beyond reason, here’s a few images of our beloved crew:

Season Three can’t come soon enough!

Star Wars Chat Pack: Who inspires you?

Welcome to Day 7 of my NaBloPoMo Challenge, wherein I randomly choose a card from the Star Wars Chat Pack.

Today’s pick asks: Is there a Star Wars character who inspires you? How?

Even as a child, Leia is a sassy, tough little cookie.

I think I have to go with Princess/Senator/General Leia Organa Skywalker Solo. In all the phases of her life, in all of her incarnations, she is a strong woman who defends not only democracy, but those who can’t defend themselves. She meets every challenge head on, never gives up hope, and remains stalwart in her beliefs and principles to the very end.

Defiance against Darth Vader. Balls, that’s all I have to say.

In the Original Trilogy, she is the Princess from Alderaan and Rebel leader. She is captured by Darth Vader and tortured by him, but is strong enough not to break and and give him the information he wants. Even when threatened by the destruction of her home planet, she lies to Vader and Tarkin. When they destroy Alderaan anyway, she grieves, but continues on with the fight.

Girl with a gun, and she knows how to use it.

After the war, the went back to being a Senator in the New Republic. She briefly trained as a Jedi with Luke, but gave up the lightsaber. It’s not particularly clear why; Luke, in telling Rey the story, says that Leia gave up the training after sensing that her taking the Jedi path would lead to her son’s death. (Her son died anyway, so I don’t quite understand this). Some say she felt she was just doing it for Luke’s sake and not her own; others sources say she feared the power inside of her because of what happened to Anakin Skywalker. Whatever the reason, she went back to doing what she knew best: diplomacy and government.

But it was an uphill battle; over the years, remnants of the Empire gave rise to the First Order, and many younger Senators, who weren’t even alive during the Rebellion and tended to glamorize the Empire, as well as older Senators who had much to gain from a new tyranny, rotted the Senate from within. After it was revealed that Darth Vader had been her father, she was ostracized, and she left the New Republic Senate to lead the Resistance against the First Order. (Check out Claudia Grays’ book Bloodline for this story; it’s fantastic).

The General. Though she’ll always be royalty to me.

As a general, she led with the same bravery and tenacity as she did during the Rebellion, but with the wisdom of years under her belt. Her marriage to Han Solo disintegrated after their son, Ben, fell to the dark side. I can’t imagine anything more painful other than actual death to befall your child. Did it crush her heart? Yes. Did Han’s death at the hands of their own son bring her to her knees? Yes. Did her brother’s abandonment frustrate and hurt her? Yes. But she persevered. She threw herself into the fight that she always believed in. It’s all she had left.

Did her dedication to her job compromise her relationship with her son and husband? Possibly. But as we know, Palpatine was pulling the strings all along, whispering evil into her son’s young ears. So I don’t buy it that Han and Leia were bad parents. They were human, as we all are. Palps saw a weakness, a crack, and took advantage of it. As he does.

Her last act was to reach out to her son across the galaxy and bring him back to the light. As any mother would do.

So this woman has gone through a lot of sh*t that would have made me want to curl up in the fetal position and die. But Leia Organa, born with Skywalker blood, raised by the admirable Bail Organa, was made of sterner stuff.

And that’s why she’s my pick for most inspiring character in Star Wars.

Who in Star Wars inspires you? Let me know in the comments and we’ll talk about it!

Star Wars Chat Pack: Would you rather have a jetpack or an aqua breather?

Welcome to Day 6 of my NabloPoMo Challenge for November, where I randomly choose a card from the Star Wars Chat Pack.

So this is kind of a weird one; it came from the Star Wars Technology group of cards: Would you rather have a Mandalorian jetpack or a Jedi A99 aquata breather?

Oooh, we’re getting real nerdy here, lol.

Wheeee! Grogu has no qualms about flying.

The Mandalorian jetpack looks kind of fun, until I remember I don’t like heights. At all. You know how some people love dreams where they’re flying? “I feel so free!” Not me. I’m terrified the whole time, lol. So, no jetpack for me.

A few interesting jetpack facts from Wookieepedia:

There are three models: the JT-12 jetpack, the Z-6 jetpack, and, simply, rocket packs.
They are usually worn on the back and controlled by a wrist-mounted device.
Mandalorian tradition identified the jetpack as “the art of the Rising Phoenix.”

Obi-Wan with his aquata (or aqua) breather on Naboo.

So my answer is, obviously, the aquata breather. You never know when you might need to breathe underwater! They’d be good for exploring coral reefs or anywhere underwater. Definitely easier and lighter than scuba diving gear, with its clunky oxygen tank.

Here’s some fun Wookieepedia facts about the breather:

The A99 supplies up to 2 hours of oxygen.
The breather typically costs about 350 credits.
There is an antiox variant, supplying any other essential gas, which non-oxygen breathers can use. Plo Kloon, a Kel Dor, uses such a device.

So which would you prefer? The jetpack or the breather? Let me know in the comments and we’ll talk about it!

Star Wars Chat Pack: Spirited Advice

Welcome Day 5 of my NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) Challenge, in which I answer a question from the Star Wars Chat Pack every day of November.

The question that I pulled randomly for today is: Which Star Wars character would you want to appear and give you advice as a spirit?

So I’m going to make a few assumptions with this one. First, that the “spirit” referred to is a Force ghost of a former Jedi, and not just some random spirit (although I suppose it could be that; the question isn’t crystal clear. In which case, I’d want Padme’s ghost to come back and give me fashion advice–I’m hopeless–and just have some girl talk, lol).

Secondly, I’m going to assume that I’m training to be a Jedi as well. I suppose Jedi Force ghosts can appear to anyone they want and give random advice, but it just makes more sense they’d appear to those who need Jedi advice. I guess that’s what a Master is for, but let’s just say I need a bit of extracurricular insight.

Okay, so I’m training to be a Jedi and I need advice. Who do I want to appear? There are so many great possibilities here. But let’s get a few out of the way:

Not Anakin Skywalker. He was an amazing Jedi, but based on his appearance in Ahsoka, I don’t think his methods would work well with me. It’s perfect for his Padawan, Ahsoka, but I’d probably just cry, lol.

Not Mace Windu. I don’t like him. Again, it’s a matter of method and personality. Plus, there was a bit of darkness running through him (like Anakin, but in a different way), which he utilized in his lightsaber combat method, Vaapad. That makes me nervous. He’s not for me.

Other than those two, it could be any number of Jedi:

So true, Yoda. I ought to be a genius by now.

Yoda was a Master Jedi who lived for hundreds of years and had a vast amount of knowledge to impart. Of course, that left plenty of time to make mistakes too, but he owned up to them and learned from them. He can be a mischievous imp, so that would be fun. But there are others I’d like to consider.

That was a total burn on Maul, but the statement stands on its own.

Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of my favorite Jedi. He’s kind and wise, selfless and compassionate. He practiced Form 3 (“Soresu”) lightsaber combat, which is primarily defensive in nature. I like that. But he’s different than Yoda in that he loved deeply (Anakin, Satine) and had to learn to let go of his attachment to both. Or at least learn to live with it while he went about the business of being a Jedi. But he’s similar to Yoda in that he is very much a man of the Order. And that’s fine, but dogma can make one a bit inflexible. (Plus, I’m a little bit in love with Obi-Wan, so that would be a distraction).

Which brings me to Qui Gon Jinn, the Jedi Force ghost I would choose to get advice from. I think Qui Gon is the ideal Jedi. Not perfect by any means, but one who follows his intuition. He often questions the Council and their motivations. He’s seen as a bit of a maverick in the Order, but he’s more concerned with the Force than politics. With doing what is right, rather than what is expected. If he had lived–well, a lot of things might have been different–but I don’t think he would have become a Jedi general in the Clone Wars. I think he would have left the Order rather than take part in it. He would have been more of a Wayseeker (a Jedi working independently of the Order), as we see in the High Republic. He’s a man of principle, and he’s brave for standing by his principles, and standing up to the Council.

What would I ask him? Well, obviously I’m not really training as a Jedi, but short of a specific question I guess I’d ask him to talk about the Living Force versus the Cosmic Force. I’d ask him about the Jedi prophecies in the Archives, which he’d studied when he was younger and what he thought they meant. I’d ask him about his relationships with his Master, Dooku, and his Padawan, Obi-Wan, and what he’d learned from each. Stuff like that.

But whatever advice I sought, I know I’d get a thoughtful, honest response. Maybe a bit cryptic, sometimes, but he likes to make you think. And he’s just a nice guy.

Who would you choose for advice? Interpret the question any way you want. Let me know in the comments and we’ll talk about it!

Star Wars Chat Pack: Would you rather live on a city world or a rural planet?

Welcome to day 4 of my NaBloPloMo (National Blog Posting Month) Challenge, in which I post an answer every day in November to a question from the Star Wars Chat Pack.

Today’s question: Would you rather live on a planet that is one big city, like Coruscant, or a wild planet with only a few settlements, like Sorgan?

First, I had to look up the planet Sorgan (even though I got the gist of it); it’s the planet Din Djarin takes Grogu to hide out for awhile and lay low. They meet Cara Dune, and help the settlement there fend off some raiders. No major cities or even towns, no ports, just a few settlements. It also makes an appearance in the book Poe Dameron: Free Fall, by Alex Segura; the Spice Runners of Kajimi have a base there.

Okay, got it. I really don’t like having to choose between extremes; I’m from a big town (or small city, 20,000 people) with the biggest city in the area about 40 miles away. I like the in-between nature of it. My town is big enough to have several banks, a new beautiful library, a movie theater, several pharmacies and supermarkets (one of which I work at), a couple of bookstores, a hospital, a courthouse, etc. Everything you need for modern life. But if I want to get away from it all and go out into nature, it’s not far away. Right in town there’s a few hiking trails, or you can drive a half hour to more rural areas for hiking. It’s a beautiful place to live, actually, in Western Massachusetts. We’re in the middle of our New England autumn glory, though it’s a bit muted by a wet spring and summer. But I still love it. I’ve lived here all my life, and I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

Anyway, if I had to choose? Naboo, if I’m being honest, or Aldera on Alderaan (oh wait, that gets blown up. Nevermind). But that’s not the question. It’s a tough one, but I think I’d go with Coruscant. Only because, even though the planet is covered by city, you can find places that have nature in it, like Central Park in New York City. Arboretums, gardens, things like that. It’s not the same, but I need that sense of security, of being around, not only modern conveniences, but help if it’s needed. You know, like police and medical facilities. I also need libraries, or some sort of access to books, of course. Civilization, in other words. On Sorgan, the people of the krill village would have continued to suffer at the hands of the raiders if it wasn’t for Din just happening to show up. There’s freedom, but there’s no law, either. I prefer order over chaos (that sounds suspiciously like the Empire or the First Order, doesn’t it? Yikes, lol). For some people– the pioneers, the adventurers, the homesteaders, the nature-lovers–there would be no question. My husband, for instance, would choose Sorgan over Coruscant any day.

Of course, if you’re unlucky enough to be born into the undercity of Coruscant, that sucks. In which case, I guess I’d rather be on Sorgan. At least there, you could attempt to grow your own food and live off the land, rather than steal and beg to live. So again, it’s a matter of circumstances. There’s also corruption on Coruscant, and crime, and a LOT of traffic. Ugh. Oh, but during the Republic, there’s the Jedi Temple! I’d love that, even if I only caught glimpses of Jedi. But during the Empire, there’s fear and even more corruption. Circumstances. This is like one of those impossible “Would you rather…” questions I sometimes play with my daughter.

But my choice stands: Coruscant, for better or worse.

Where would you rather live? Let me know in the comments and we’ll talk about it!