Denari found a message left by Master Dhahlee in her quarters:

Denari would know that Master Dhahlee could usually be found in a quiet section of the gardens, not too far from the central fountain. And though Unity - as a rogue planet - did not have a sunrise, the hour she started was known to be well before most Padawans even got out of bed.

Being quite the energetic youth, Denari was also known to slip oit in the early hours to burn some energy before classes. Master Dhahlee was however consequently earlier still, so Denari decided to set an alarm, just to be sure.

Denari quietly entered the section of the garden wgere the Master could usually be found. She had covered the ground there with a calm acrobatic routine, because she wantwd to be able to focus on something else than keeping her breath under control.

She would be surprised if Master Dhahlee would mot be there yet, but regardless of presence, Denari would start meditating to arrange her thoughts again, instead of just blurting out words.

This would also create some space for Master Dhahlee to be the first to start speaking, should she want to.

In the mean time, Denari’s thoughts were meandering between the importance of connection and leaving something behind to fulfill a destiny.

Master Dhahlee was indeed already present when Denari arrived, though the Padawan was reasonably sure she'd not been waiting very long.

She remained quiet for a while as they both meditated. When she finally spoke up, her voice was soft but strong, warm yet with a bit of distance, as might be expected of a Jedi Master speaking to a Padawan.

"Master Crular told me you had some interesting realizations on Highmons." she noted, pausing a moment. "It is a world that has a great level of spirituality to it."

Denari was reasonably sure that Master Dhahlee was well aware that her epiphany had not been regarding the Highmonian religion. Even so, she turned her eyes towards Denari, waiting to gauge her reaction and let her speak.

(( Sorry for the late reply ))

Denari considered the choice of words of Master Dhahlee before speaking.

"Well, the planet certainly lends itself for spirituality. The nature is so vibrant, strong and obviously present that it is easy to believe there is more than can be observed with physical senses. Something omnipresent and timeless perhaps, because such ecosystems are not easily disturbed by single actors.

"In contrast life on Unity seems much more volatile. The actions of one or a few people can have a significant impact on their environment. At least for a short time."

Denari, still looking straight ahead, paused for a moment to consider how to continue, but quickly found her words.

"In both cases there is a connection. It can be explained objectively of course; I depend on my environment to survive, and likewise others depend on my actions to be helped or harmed. All actions and choices by anyone influence each other and will amount to something. But I think there is more than that. The same way some of my choices can't be explained by logic or emotion, even though they were not mindless.

"When I concentrate I can feel a connection beyond those basics, like the Living Force philosophy teaches there is. However I also feel that if this is the Force, it is one and the same, both on Unity and Highmons. One entity that embodies everything, like the Unifying Force philosophy teaches us. So here is my reservation about declaring the Living Force as my philosophy: I don't feel a difference between Living and Unifying, and I can't explain why the two teach to focus on either the present or the future."

She turned to Master, hopeful that she understood what she meant and could help her untie that knot in her mind.

She nodded, considering Denari's question carefully before answering.

"The Force on Highmons and the Force on Unity are the same force, even if they feel different in these different places." she confirmed Denari's observations. "And as you say, it is still one and the same. The Living Force and the Unifying Force both agree on this."

She took a moment to let that settle.

"I cannot tell you what is the truth about the Force. That will be for you to figure out yourself.

As you know though, I follow the philosophy of the Living Force, and I can tell you how I understand the Force from that perspective." she explained. "Perhaps that will help, though I encourage you to ask questions, both now and in general."

She smiled

"The Force is the energy that connects all living things. In the philosophy of the Living Force, the Force is shaped by the life it connects just as that life is shaped by it in turn.

When we listen to the Force, we seek to live in harmony with it, and as a result, in harmony with other life in the universe." she continued. "That harmony is, as you say, something to find in the present. We do not seek to one day be in harmony with the world. We seek to be in harmony now, and trust that this will bring about the future we hope for."

"Those who follow the Unifying Force also seek harmony, but go about it in a different way. They seek to find harmony in the future and listen to the Force for guidance as to how to reach that harmony. It is a goal they continuously move towards, not a state of being they try to continuously be in."

She glanced at Denari to see if she was still with her. She had more to say on the subject, of course, but did not want to overwhelm the Padawan by diving too deeply too quickly. She did ask one question though:

"When you listen to the Force, how do you find the answers you seek?"

It was a bit of a vague question, but chosen to be so quite deliberately.

Denari listened attentively and seemed to be able to follow the Master quite well. From the perspective of harmony, the approaches made sense. She did wonder how one could achieve harmony in the future, if one didn’t know how to recognize or achieve it in the now or immediate future. That, however, was a question for later, as Dhahlee’s question made Denari aware of a more pressing concern.

“I haven’t really sought answers to complex questions often, but I do know that I get the help I need when I listen to the Force. Quite clearly, obviously and often immediately. Continuously as well, for I’d be practically blind without the Force. Literally blinded by by my own light.” She added with a smile.

“I feel like I may have missed answers or opportunities, because I rushed past things that were calling to me: barely paying them enough attention to get to a desired result, but not taking the time to listen to their stories when time allows…”

Master Dhahlee smiled a moment when Denari described how she experienced the Force and how it guided her, nodding carefully when she raised her worry about missing answers.

"The galaxy is very large." she noted, motioning up towards the sky, where the skies of Unity was lit by countless stars. "Even if we all lived as long as Master Crular, we would not be able to visit even a fraction of the worlds out there." she paused a moment

"The Force has shown you answers when you seek them. It is part of you, and like your light, it illuminates the path before you." she smiled "You can trust that if you missed an important answer or opportunity, and you later realize that it may have been important, a new opportunity will present itself eventually."

"Of course, sometimes it may require some effort on your part to seek it out..." she noted. "In fact, one of the younglings I train said something wise on that topic yesterday, based off a popular adage:"

"When the universe closes a door, you can always open it again. It is a door. That is how they work."

She stayed quiet a moment after that, giving Denari an opportunity to share her own thoughts on the matter.

Denari smiled widely at the door analogy and looked at the stars a little longer.

“I’d almost forgotten that the world works quite simply most of the time… Doors can be opened and closed usually, and be repaired otherwise. Paths cross, converge, diverge and do it all over again, so there is usually more than one path to get or end up somewhere.

“I’ll thrust that opportunities will come again and will work to create them, if only to be able to recognize an opportunity when it arises.”

She paused a moment to let the pledge sink in, still looking at the stars.

“I’d like to go back to Highmons one day, to reopen some doors again, but I don’t feel ready yet, so I’ll practice closer to home.”

She lowered her gaze from the stars and repositioned herself so that she was sitting to face the Master directly.

“If I may make a request, Master Dhahlee, may I meditate on the holocron we brought back from the junkyard?”

"The holocron from the junkyard?" she thought a moment. "Hmm, yes, I recall that mission. It is interesting how you came to it." She smiled, as if making a connection in her mind.

"If I remember correctly, you came to me after capturing a large number of rats from the Temple Cellar, and took them to the junkyard to set them free, where you were given the Holocron by the proprietor."

She nodded

"That find may actually be a good demonstration of the question you posed earlier." she looked straight at Denari, red eyes meeting her green ones.

"Why did you decide to spare the rats?" she inquired, though in a way that indicated she did not seek an immediate answer, but was instead coming to a point.

"Nobody could have predicted you would find the Holocron as a result of your decision, no matter how long they meditated on the matter. As a Master of the Living Force, I would argue that its recovery was a result of finding harmony with the Force." she explained. "Though no doubt other Masters have their own view on this." she added - though the Living Force and Unifying Force were not her way, she clearly respected the other philosophies.

"It seems to me therefore that it is most appropriate for you to study it and meditate on it."

Denari Thanked the Master and habitually looked to the stars to guess the time.

“I guess there is still some time before breakfast and the first classes, so if you don’t mind me leaving, I’ll fetch the holocron and make a start with it.

“Thank you again for the talk, I feel like it helped me ahead.”

(( This probably concludes the talk. How do we continue from here? ))