Star Wars: The Force Evolves

Cindy Wigglesworth Aesthetic, Art & Creativity, Cognitive, Free, Perspectives, The Daily Evolver, Video 2 Comments

Star Wars is one of the most treasured film franchises in history, and one of the very few that is enjoyed by such a massive and cross-generational audience. The original trilogy is often collectively referred to as a pop culture masterpiece, and even the less-renowned prequel trilogy has earned its place in the hearts of fans around the world. Now we are in the midst of the third trilogy in the franchise, inspiring yet another generation of young padawans across the galaxy — well, across the planet at least.

Today Jeff is joined by Cindy Wigglesworth and Corey deVos, and together they dive deeply into the rich mythology and mysticism of the Star Wars universe — sharing their personal connection to Star Wars, their integral appreciation of its central themes and allegories, and their best guesses as to where the Force may be taking us next.

*SPOILER WARNING* Cindy, Corey, and Jeff get into some of the plot details of The Last Jedi, so enter at your own risk!

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Cindy Wigglesworth

About Cindy Wigglesworth

Cindy Wigglesworth, MA is the author of SQ21: The Twenty-One Skills of Spiritual Intelligence (SelectBooks, Oct.2012) and is the creator of the SQ21™ Spiritual Intelligence self-assessment. Cindy founded her business, now called Deep Change, in 2000 after working at ExxonMobil for 20 years in Human Resources management. She teaches leadership development and focuses on the multiple intelligences required for success in our personal and professional lives. She trains executive and life coaches, therapists and spiritual directors to use her SQ21 tool in their practices.

Corey deVos

About Corey deVos

Corey W. deVos is Editor-in-Chief of Integral Life, as well as Managing Editor of KenWilber.com. He has worked for Integral Institute/Integal Life since Spring of 2003, and has been a student of integral theory and practice since 1996. Corey is also a professional woodworker, and many of his artworks can be found in his VisionLogix art gallery.

Jeff Salzman

About Jeff Salzman

Jeff Salzman worked with Ken Wilber for several years in building the Integral Institute. He is a co-founder of Boulder Integral, the first bricks-and-mortar venue dedicated to the development of integral consciousness. These days Jeff provides integrally-inspired commentary on politics and culture on Integral Life and The Daily Evolver.

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Comments

  1. markallankaplan

    This is a great conversation about some of the deeper patterns in the Star Wars saga from an Integral perspective. Deep gratitude for your contribution to our understanding of this significant cinematic work.

    As part of my research into how to discern Integral patterns in cinematic works I have tested all the Star Wars films and the Star Wars saga when taken in its full span tests solidly in Integral. In addition to your spot-on reflections, I would throw in how the first six films can be seen as having a tetra-evolutionary story stream of the Anakin/Dark Vader Character, albeit with hardcore regressions into the “shadow”. And how the middle and now the third trilogy can be seen as having a similar tetra-evolutionary stream centered around Luke’s journey…also with major shadow regressions albeit very different from his fathers. Both make it to Integral-Kosmocentric level in their own way. One of the most discernible indicators of an Integral cinematic work is having a character arc that evolves vertically through multiple developmental levels (at least three levels) and the Star Wars saga indeed has it, along with another foundational indicator, the attempt to concretize a Kosmocentric perspective…and the Force is a great working example of this kind of attempt. And as you guys have touched upon here, this attempt at concretizing the Kosmocentric is especially powerful in THE LAST JEDI, which explores a more mature and complex notion of the Force that attempts to transcend the duality of Light and Dark toward the Non-Dual.

    I would also like to touch upon the varied and often extreme responses to THE LAST JEDI. I agree that many of the die-hard fans who are upset may be reacting to the attempt to move the center of gravity of the Star Wars universe beyond the mythic duality structure. In addition, because this film is attempting this type of major transition, there is a kind of psychophrenic nature of the work as it works with both old and new narrative and archetypal structures and streams, while attempting to deconstruct and rebirth numerous of these narrative and archetypal patterns on multiple levels.

    Another important issue that you guys touched upon was how the Star Wars sage in general and THE LAST JEDI specifically reflect and resonate with what is going on in the world…i.e., the struggle between democracy and authoritarianism, and here to, I believe some of the extreme reactions are related to the film sparking many viewers on a deep level and my be challenging some of our buried fears, etc.

    One other note I would like to add relates to the question of how much George Lucas was conscious of what he was creating here. This is tricky because Lucas himself has been elusive on this matter and has contradicted himself numerous times in public. But I happen to be privy to some inside information that I would like to share here. George Lucas spoke to my film class back in 1977 and said he had created outlines for three complete trilogies and spoke of his studies in anthropology and how he was consciously trying to rebirth mythic storytelling that integrated higher stages of development. Now he did not use any integral terminology but looking back on his talk to us I firmly believe that he was more conscious in his effort that he has been hinting at in the public sphere. All that said, I think he and the numerous co-creators in the Star Wars universe have also allowed for the story to tell itself in many ways…beautifully striking that balance between planning and listening…or shall we say co-creating with the universe.

    MAY THE iFORCE BE WITH US ALL…

  2. Cindy Wigglesworth Author

    Thanks for your fabulous feedback, Mark. I love the story about George Lucas back in 1977. How wonderful to have heard that explanation from him! And yes – may the iForce be with us all…and may we co-create with the Universe a future we can all evolve into and with – and may it be good, true and beautiful!

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