Pipes seem synonymous with wisdom. J.R. Tolkien’s wizard Gandalf the Grey, puffing away on his pipe-weed, has permanently left the world visualizing the same archetype wizard/wise man. Old, grey, steeped in thought, few but profound words—all the while surrounded by a majestic cloud of smoke. What smoke, exactly, may be debatable, but there seems to be some unspoken connection between inhalation and genius.
Think about it.
Sherlock Holmes? Pipe.
Freud? Pipe.
Einstein? Pipe.
Any movie’s kung fu masters or wise Indian chief? Long pipes.
With the release of the seventh episode of the Star Wars franchise (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) coming out this week, one must wonder—what about Yoda?
Did the old “Jedi Master” use the force in conjunction with a high? He certainly fits the mold; eyes unfocused, high-pitched Grover-Muppet voice, creepy laugh…
It’s no wonder the internet has already filled in the comedic blanks to bring this vision to life.
But there may be more to it than just laughs.
When Luke Skywalker first meets Yoda, the old wizard certainly comes off as a zany stoner. He’s weird, he’s giggly, he speaks backwards, talks incessantly about getting food—heck, he even hits R2-D2 with a stick.
Already shrouded in the misty smoke of the foggy swamps of Dagobah, Yoda finally reveals his true identity to Luke, and suddenly the wizard’s voice changes to that of a deep philosophical one, teaching Skywalker that ultimately, “size matters not” in the ways of the Force.
This is essentially the most cosmic effect of smoking: funny one second, deep in thought the next. The transformative nature of seeing everything at one point hysterical, whimsical, wacky…and in a moment’s notice, everything in the universe becomes crystal clear, transparent, illuminated, and yes, even profound.
This is what smoking does to serious men of wisdom—supplying that moment of laughter, of relaxation—to unlock undiscovered brilliance.
By Isaac Galena | @isaacgalena
