The fifth episode of Ahsoka featured a variety of shocking moments, from flashbacks to the Clone Wars to a quick cameo of the beloved Captain Rex to a slightly disturbing look at what Ahsoka’s ears look like under her headband. With all of the excitement, the importance of one of Ahsoka’s new abilities may have been overlooked. In order to track down her enemies and learn Sabine’s fate, Ahsoka taps into the Force to see the memories around the destroyed star map.
This ability, known as psychometry or a Force echo, has only been seen a few other times in the canon. Although we may never know how Ahsoka came to possess her new power, this hasn’t stopped fans from speculating. Here are a few theories for how Ahsoka gained psychometry.
Cal Kestis
An article from Gamesradar reported a popular theory that Ahsoka may have learned this gift from Cal Kestis, from the Star Wars Jedi game series. In the games, Cal is well-known for his psychometric abilities, as they are a common feature of gameplay. Although Cal is younger than Ahsoka, they could have met as early as their time at the Jedi Temple before the end of the war. However, it is more likely that their paths would have crossed at some point between the end of Star Wars Rebels and the beginning of Ahsoka when Ahsoka was searching for Ezra. As the video game series is not yet complete, there is no way to know Cal’s fate by that point, but his skill with psychometry makes him a great candidate for passing along this knowledge.
Quinlan Vos
One of the first times fans saw psychometry was with Quinlan Vos. In The Clone Wars season three, Quinlan made his debut as an unpredictable Jedi and expert tracker, using his psychometry to track down criminals, such as those in the Hutt crime family. As shown in Obi-Wan Kenobi, he survived Order 66 and was involved in helping surviving Force users evade the Empire, but his exact whereabouts are unknown. During his work to protect his fellow Jedi, he may have discovered Ahsoka, who also had a role in the Rebellion as an informant called Fulcrum. With her ties to contacts across the galaxy, it is possible that someone in her network connected her with Quinlan, allowing her to see Force echoes in action.
Jedi Temple
The Jedi were wary of the power of Force echoes, especially when used on weapons. Items that have been involved in violent acts may expose a Force user to the Dark Side and put them at risk. It is unlikely that the Jedi would actively teach psychometry to their younglings and Padawans. However, if one of Ahsoka’s fellow students were naturally skilled with the ability, she may have picked up knowledge about its use, later honing it after she left the Order.
The Force
Finally, there is a chance that Ahsoka learned psychometry on her own, through a deepening connection to the Force. In her time searching for Ezra and Thrawn, she may have begun to unlock the Force echo through her meditation. Both Cal and Quinlan used this power instinctively, without needing explicit instructions. Possibly, the ability to see these memories is not taught but forged through a connection to the Force. As Ahsoka gets older, she will doubtless continue to unlock new perspectives on the Force, and this ability could be part of that process.
All episodes of Ahsoka season 1 are currently streaming on Disney+.