Journey of a Jedi
A Jedi’s journey in the Force is unique to each being. Light and dark, courage and fear, strength and power - these are but some of the influences that compel the choices one makes along the way.
The path ahead will not be easy. It requires endurance, mindfulness, and a deep connection with the Force. Tread carefully, as more than just the terrain can be rocky.
You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes.
- Grand Master Yoda
You begin your journey as a padawan, a Jedi trainee. Along the way, you will encounter choices that will test your strength and commitment to the light side of the Force. The way you follow will determine the difficulty of your final challenge - re-joining the Masters and unlocking your true destiny.
Always remember, your focus determines your reality.
- Master Qui-Gon Jinn
Beware - the dark side of the Force will tempt you to stray from the light. You may think you understand the quick and easy path to your destiny, but in the end you will be lost, blind to the answers a more worthy journey can reveal.
Anger, fear, aggression. The dark side are they. Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.
- Grand Master Yoda
The Beginning
Begin at the Jedi Temple. You will return here only after your journey is complete. Not long after you depart the Temple, you face your first choice. As you pause and consider, you feel the Force tug at you - lightness and calm toward the north, fear and temptation to the south. You are compelled to stay on the path of light.
Continue this way, taking in the healing sensations of the natural world. Beings both great and small are connected in the Force. You notice a series of shelters for the local avian creatures. As you progress, you take note of the information they present. As you approach the second shelter, you feel a slight chill - you have no idea what or why, but something here is significant. Record this shelter’s identifying numerical code as A1.
Continue on, past a natural oasis in the otherwise clear land and some ancient agricultural equipment. At the next fork, pause to consider the local history. The land on which you now stand was once tended by a pioneer. His son fought in the name of freedom in a particular group - record its numerical identifier as A2.
A = A1 / A2 + 2
Now, continue to the right. There is much ground to cover between here and the next artifact of significance on your journey. Along the way, you might encounter Huyang, who will have an additional lesson for you.
You will pass by two opportunities to stray from the light, but the time to choose is still to come. Continue ahead: along a rock wall, through a field, over a waterway, and up a hill until you reach a resting point with a view. Meditation and perspective are critical to a Jedi's resolve. Just before you reach the viewpoint, you will notice a marker along the path adorned with a symbol that some beings associate with luck.
In my experience, there’s no such thing as luck.
- Master Obi-Wan Kenobi
You sense a disturbance in the Force surrounding the symbol. You can’t be certain why, but you are compelled to note the number of fasteners affixing the symbol to its mount as B1, as well as the total number of other holes where fasteners might also go as B2.
B = B2 / B1
Huyang waits nearby with another lesson. Visit him if you wish.
The Three Paths
You have arrived at a critical juncture on your journey. Here, three separate paths branch before you. Choose wisely.
- You may become an apprentice to the Temple Librarian, continuing on your current path and observing the natural world.
- You might join an old Jedi General as he offers his guidance to Onderon, a planet currently experiencing a revolution.
- You could assist a search party on a recovery mission for a lost Republic transport carrying refugees from the Chandrila system. Huyang is departing soon for the area.
If you choose to learn from the Jedi Librarian:
You will continue along your current path and study the natural world. Follow the Rolling Meadows Trail. Early along this branch, you will encounter a second lucky symbol identical in appearance and in its strange Force aura to that which you noted earlier. This one includes a large, inverted numeral. The Force guides you to record this as well.
If this number is 4: Oh no! This is the wrong trail. Turn around and try again.
Otherwise, record the number as C1.
Further along the way, you should take the opportunity to divert from this trail and visit an observing area for traveling sky creatures. When you reach the clearing, enjoy a moment’s rest. You feel compelled to read the inscription below your seat. A former Padawan, now a Master named Nick, created a generous gift representing his final passage into the larger world. A Jedi can learn a lot from examples of such charity and leadership. You record his troop number as C2 to research later at the Temple library.
C = (C1 + C2 + 3) / 290
Your brief rest has prepared you for the final leg of your journey. Retrace your steps and when you reach the place where you diverted, continue in the same direction you were previously traveling. When you are next presented with a choice, your commlink lights up and you receive a message - meet up with the General's charge and the search and rescue group on its way back from Chandrila.
If you choose to follow the General:
You will learn much from the General’s tutelage and from guiding the rebels in forging their own destiny. Take Washington’s Ridge Trail.
Along your way, at the point where the trail curves sharply to the right and descends a single step, a white light emanates from a tree to your right. To your left, a tall, wizened old hermit with a distinctive mouth leans over the trail. Though he does not speak, the shape of the hermit's mouth conveys a message:
Square: 1
Heart: 2
Circle: 3
The Hermit has no mouth: 4
A long thin line: 5
Arc: Oh no! This is the wrong trail. Turn around and try again.
Otherwise, record this number as C1.
Continue along the path. You will reach a low point, traversing it over a raised walkway. You feel a disturbance here. Something about the construction of this walkway is significant to your journey. Count the number of complete boards - those that reach at least 2/3 of the way across the breadth of the walkway - and add one. Your answer should be oddly appropriate - record it as C2. (Confused? Scroll up…)
C = (C1 x C2 - 2) / 38
When you reach a decision point on the path, to your right you can see the Librarian’s apprentice making their way toward you. They pass along the message that you are to join up with the search and rescue team heading back from Chandrila.
If you choose to seek out the Lost Transport:
You are in for the most difficult trek of all. Take the Lost Mountain trail.
Ascending the path here is difficult work, though you know that it will pay dividends. You climb and climb, seemingly forever, until you reach a clearing. On either side of you are treelines. In one clear direction is a valley and some distant, ancient structures. In the other direction, an object rises above a fence line. Its color makes it very prominent - unusual compared to its natural surroundings. The Force calls out to you to observe it carefully.
Red: 1
Orange: 2
Yellow: 3
Green: 4
Blue: 5
Purple: 6
Black: Oh no! This is the wrong trail. Turn around and try again.
Otherwise, record this number as C1.
Return to the path, and the woods. Eventually, you find the high point, where Huyang has made a discovery. Stop and see it for yourself if you choose.
As you continue your trek, you will pass through an old barrier - a force field slowly being consumed by a tree. You examine the force field and note the tree's subtle cries in the Force. You can tell that it has been penetrated by the force field a number of times. Record that number as C2.
C = (C2 x 3 - C1) / 6
Now you've discovered all there is for you here, but you are only halfway to your destination. Continue along the trail. The Force will give you the energy you need to complete the journey. You will reach the place where the Masters await you before your path converges with the Librarian's apprentice and the General's charge. You will need to be extra vigilant in your search for the Masters, but you can always turn back and try again.
When your paths converge again:
A pair of old, wizened Masters await you on the Lost Mountain trail. They rest in an area where the path appears to have been scarred by ancient battles, and are attended by a pair of guardians in yellow.
As you approach from the paths taken by the Librarian's apprentice and the General's charge, you will pass three such scars. At the fourth scar, the Masters rest just off the path to the left, awaiting your arrival.
If you are returning with the rescue party, you, too, should seek out the scarred terrain. Your altered perspective will place the Masters on the right side of the trail adjacent to a scar, just before a curve. Again, the pair of yellow guardians stand sentry. If you reach the path followed by the General’s charge, turn back and heed the paragraph above.
The Masters
The Masters guard that which you seek. When you have found it, you face one final challenge. You already possess most of the information you need. Perhaps a Jedi's greatest strength is their intuition - use yours and unlock your destiny.
Start with the theme of today's entire lesson: the PATH. Now turn to what the Force and your eyes have shown you. If you do it the right way, you can count on reaching another word.
The answer, the Masters inform you, is that which you still must learn.
Congratulations, you have taken your first steps into a larger world! However, a Jedi's journey toward the light is never complete. Go forth and carry the lessons you have learned on this adventure to your next path, wherever it may lead.
Return to the Jedi Temple to rest and reflect. Huyang has a special parting request for you as you make your way back.
May the Force be with you!
PLEASE NOTE
Cache placed with permission from Sky Meadows State Park. No night caching, please! There is a $10 per vehicle fee to enter any section of the park.
This cache is part of the Northern Virginia Geocaching Organization's '25 Fall Series, Our Favorite Things. The goal of the series is to get to know some of our geocaching friends a little better by finding caches that showcase their favorite things—aside from geocaching, of course.
Feel free to find as many caches in the series as you'd like, and don't forget to enter 10 of the code words to help you discover the coordinates for the bonus cache. Enjoy the adventure!
