Lightsabers are definitely an extension of the person that wields them. To me that means that a lightsaber is not only a weapon but it is partially controlled by the wielder’s affinity with the force.

I haven’t read many books on Lightsabers but I’ve always been fascinated with the lightsaber since I am a huge fan of Medieval Knights and the Arthurian legends. To me, these futuristic warriors are simply Knights from a different time. They do very many of the same things that have been written about in thousands of books through the ages. Some are upholders of the peace and align themselves with those who have good intentions. Other Knights aligned themselves with forceful masters who were motivated by greed and other things akin to someone with malicious intent. And hence the dark side… and the light. Makes sense, right?

You might also be interested to know I have never owned a lightsaber in any form. While I do have an interest in them and their significance in the Star Wars universe, I have never actually owned one. And if I ever did, it would purely be for aesthetic reasons. I am not a cosplayer at all but I admire those people who bring life to the lightsabers they own.

Ben Solo’s Lightsaber

I’ve never seen Ben Solo’s lightsaber up close before so when I discovered this, I was quite happy to have stumbled upon it! So this image is from a book called Star Wars The Lightsaber Collection which you can pre-order from Amazon.

So anyone that has looked at Kylo Ren’s lightsaber before will instantly recognise this hilt because Ben Solo used it (with some modifications) to build his dark side lightsaber. But notice how understated it is? That is the first thing I noticed about it. In comparison to say, this:

And that is why, going back to my point about about lightsabers being an extension of the wielder, it’s obvious to me that the weapon embodies a lot more than meets the eye. When I look at Kylo Ren’s lightsaber, I see something crude and rough and kind of ugly, really. Not that Ben Solo was ugly, but perhaps when Ben became Kylo Ren, he felt a lot of unhappiness deep in his soul. Not only was he unhappy but he was torn in two different directions, making it impossible for him to feel stability in anything he did. This weapon embodies all of those things to me when I look at it.

If you want more of my opinion on Kylo Ren and his lightsaber, you can check that out right here.

Master Yoda’s Lightsaber

I see something small and powerful yet also, understated. That is the Jedi humbleness I think coming through in the design. A Jedi wouldn’t want to draw attention to themselves. They have no reason to. They simply exist and uphold their duties when needed or required. This lightsaber is Yoda through and through. It might be small but remember his quote:

“Judge me by my size, do you?”

– Master Yoda

No, Master Yoda, I do not. And the green blade is the icing on the cake! It looks functional, understated and powerful to me. And not only is it understated, but Yoda actually hides his lightsaber from view. Which gives me even more reason to believe that he really doesn’t want anyone knowing that he is a master of the force and can hold his own just fine should he ever find himself in a situation that required it.

Back when I was a student of martial arts (I started off in Karate but I also trained in various weapons) we were always told things just like you hear in movies like The Karate Kid. Honestly, it’s true! There is a very deep philosophy behind almost every martial art and it’s not just all about kicking ass and taking names. And I was often told by my Sensei’s at the time that you learn Karate for defending yourself. It should never be used for the wrong reasons. This makes me think of Yoda and the Jedi Knights who were keepers of peace and justice across the galaxy. But they could also fight if needed and that is what makes them so interesting.

Let me know what you think of this post in the comments. Do you have a favourite lightsaber? Do you own any lightsabers? Do you cosplay? I want to know it all so hit me up, friends!

And as always, please be safe out there and I’ll catch you tomorrow!

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