Story highlights David Allan: The purpose of this epic is that it serves as a great spiritual myth for many of us

Life creates myth, makes it grow. Myths surround us, teach us, bind us together as a species.

David G. Allan is the Editorial Director for CNN's Health and Wellness section. This essay is part of a column called The Wisdom Project, a series on applying to one's life the wisdom and philosophy found everywhere, from ancient texts to pop culture. You can follow David at @davidgallan. Don't miss another Wisdom Project column; subscribe here. The views expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

(CNN) Another Christmas season and another Star Wars movie. It's fitting, as the two have more in common than just being exciting to millions of kids, and adult kids, around the world.

The way I feel about the Star Wars films is akin to religious fervor, speaking to something deeper in me than their cultural populism might suggest.

Photos: 'Star Wars': An epic is born Photos: 'Star Wars': An epic is born The original 1977 "Star Wars" starred Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia and Harrison Ford as the swashbuckling Han Solo. Almost 40 years later, Disney has announced that an anthology film about Solo's origins -- a solo Han Solo film, so to speak -- is in the works and will be overseen by "Lego Movie" directors Christopher Miller and Phil Lord. Click through the gallery to see the growth of the "Star Wars" universe. Hide Caption 1 of 17 Photos: 'Star Wars': An epic is born Luke attempts to master the lightsaber, from the original "Star Wars." The young Luke was encouraged to "use the Force" to improve his feel with the weapon. Hide Caption 2 of 17 Photos: 'Star Wars': An epic is born The Jedi Temple was located on the planet Coruscant and served as the training facility for the Jedi Order. It was later destroyed and rebuilt in cycles indicating the changing politics of the universe. Hide Caption 3 of 17 Photos: 'Star Wars': An epic is born "Star Wars" was a phenomenon upon release in May 1977, with lines around the block (in the days when theaters were largely located on city blocks). Here, people line up in New York to see the film, which soon became the highest-grossing film of all time -- a record it held until "E.T." took its place five years later. Hide Caption 4 of 17 Photos: 'Star Wars': An epic is born Much of the original "Star Wars" played like a throwback to old pulp flicks, with Han Solo and Princess Leia providing the witty repartee. Chewbacca the Wookiee and android C-3PO were along for the ride. Hide Caption 5 of 17 Photos: 'Star Wars': An epic is born Film editor Marcia Lucas with her then-husband, director George Lucas, editing "Star Wars." The film gave George Lucas the power to call shots in Hollywood -- influence he used to do everything from market video games to produce films for one of his heroes, Japanese director Akira Kurosawa. Hide Caption 6 of 17 Photos: 'Star Wars': An epic is born Myth scholar Joseph Campbell's book "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" inspired George Lucas in creating the "Star Wars" universe. Hide Caption 7 of 17 Photos: 'Star Wars': An epic is born Obi-Wan Kenobi, played by Alec Guinness in "Star Wars," was the noble warrior who helped guide young Luke Skywalker. Hide Caption 8 of 17 Photos: 'Star Wars': An epic is born Darth Vader, the villain of "Star Wars," and Obi-Wan Kenobi battle in the original film. Vader's life is explored in the second "Star Wars" trilogy, starting with 1999's "The Phantom Menace." Hide Caption 9 of 17 Photos: 'Star Wars': An epic is born Yoda, here seen in "The Empire Strikes Back," is a wise and powerful Jedi Master who takes over Luke Skywalker's training. His voice was provided by Muppet great Frank Oz. Hide Caption 10 of 17 Photos: 'Star Wars': An epic is born C-3PO, left, and R2-D2 are the loyal droids who serve as companions to various "Star Wars" characters. They're somewhat based on two characters from Kurosawa's film "The Hidden Fortress," a key "Star Wars" influence. Hide Caption 11 of 17 Photos: 'Star Wars': An epic is born Members of the "Star Wars" fan club celebrate May 4 ("Star Wars Day") in front of the Colosseum in central Rome. Why May 4? It's related to a pun on "May the Force be with you" -- "May the Fourth be with you." Hide Caption 12 of 17 Photos: 'Star Wars': An epic is born "Star Wars" creator and filmmaker George Lucas at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park. Lucas sold his Lucasfilm empire to Disney in 2012 for $4 billion. Hide Caption 13 of 17 Photos: 'Star Wars': An epic is born The newest "Star Wars" film -- "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens" -- is due at the end of 2015. Hide Caption 14 of 17 Photos: 'Star Wars': An epic is born Both Harrison Ford, as Han Solo, and Peter Mayhew, as Chewbacca, are returning for "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens." Hide Caption 15 of 17 Photos: 'Star Wars': An epic is born "The Force Awakens" cast, along with droids, executive producer Kathleen Kennedy and director J.J. Abrams, appeared at the Star Wars Celebration fan convention in April. Hide Caption 16 of 17 Photos: 'Star Wars': An epic is born Fans gathered at the official Star Wars Celebration event in Anaheim, California, in April. Hide Caption 17 of 17

The canon is deeply spiritual when one examines its themes, or more narrowly, the monk-ninja Jedi way of life. It's also Abrahamic in its Old Testament dichotomy of good versus evil, dark side versus light. The mystical Force alone is a transcendental concept rooted in ancient parallels such as the Hindu prana, Hebrew rauh, Hawaiian mana and the qi of Chinese medicine and martial arts.

I was born in 1973, which means I was four years old when "Star Wars" first came to the theaters -- neither too young nor too old to begin the training. Like baby chicks bonding with their mothers for survival, it was perhaps the perfect age to imprint "Star Wars" on my psyche. My childhood was tumultuous in a way that was popular at the time: divorce, moving a lot, single-parent home, latch-key autonomy. And besides my mother, the only thing that was consistent, reliable and affirmative throughout my youth was "Star Wars" (including the sequels at ages 7 and 10). The influence of the canon and its scholarly sources led in no small part to my being a philosophy major, concentrating in comparative religion. My ally is "Star Wars," and a powerful ally it is.

Yes, "Star Wars" is overly commercial. Yes, it has pointlessly cute and cloyingly goofy characters (Ewoks and Jar-Jar, respectively). Yes, it has been co-opted by everything and everybody to the ubiquitous edge of meaninglessness. And of course the same is rightly said of Christmas, with its many secular traditions, cute and goofy red-nosed animals and chubby elves, and a sleigh-full of merchandise tie-ins.

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