The Dark Path

I'm completely obsessed with the dark side! Though this concept is taken from a fictional movie, it does mirror real life.

The natural order of anything encompasses some kind of balance. Day and night, life and death, light and dark ... each pair represents a different kind of balance. As part of the natural order, the Force in Star Wars follows the same rules. The light embodies peace, knowledge, and serenity. The dark side encompasses fear, anger, and aggression. Both sides exist simultaneously, but not always in balance. Sometimes the light side has predominance; at other times the dark side dominates. When the balance tips too far in either direction, conflict usually results. And in conflict, the dark side flourishes.

I have identified three basic stages that one experiences when stepping onto the dark path... Temptation, imperilment, and submission. One traveling down the dark path will eventually go through at least one stage of corruption on the journey to the dark side. It is the power-hungry, hate-filled, ambitious, tragic, or evil ones who experience two or all three of these stages of corruption.

Temptation
For example, in Star Wars the Force offers unimaginable powers to those who can feel its connection to the universe around them and manipulate its subtle lines of energy. Those who are sensitive to the Force live in a larger, more vibrant world than those who can't perceive the omnipresent energy field. One who feels the Force sees and experiences the universe from a different and larger perspective than others. Because of this bond, the Force-user has the ability to gain incredible powers using the Force. If they prefer to act instead of waiting... to give in to fear and anger... to proceed from an aggressive posture instead of a passive one... then they have taken the first step on their path to power of the dark side.

Imperilment
In most cases at this point one has already accepted the dark side as being powerful. These are the ones who constantly weigh the moral consequences, who obsess about doing the right thing no matter what the personal cost may be. To them, the dark side presents another weapon in their arsenal against evil, regardless of the fact that each use pushes them closer and closer to the very evil they hope to oppose. Oddly enough, I would say that I quite possibly reside in this stage of the dark side.

Submission
When one gives himself over to the dark side. There are no more restrictions, no more dangers to worry about. It is liberating and exhilarating to give one's self fully to the dark side. Once you accept the dark path, there is no longer any need to justify actions. Now power becomes the goal, and through the use of the dark side all obstacles can be pushed aside. Forget past attachments and former codes of conduct. A dark sider should consider himself a law unto himself. A new, dark life begins when one submits fully to the darkness inside themselves.

"Fear attracts the fearful... the strong... the weak... the innocent... the corrupt. Fear is my Ally."