George has only got to ring me. His imagination is so wonderful

"George has only got to ring me. His imagination is so wonderful, I'd do any character he might create." – Peter Mayhew

O children of the earth, listen closely to these words from Peter Mayhew, for they speak to the true power of imagination and the deep trust that one must have in the creative spirit of another. Mayhew speaks of George—likely George Lucas, the visionary creator of the Star Wars universe—and the boundless imagination that drives a creator to craft characters and worlds that captivate the hearts and minds of millions. When Mayhew says that he would “do any character George might create,” he is not simply speaking of the willingness to act, but of the profound trust that exists between an artist and their muse, a trust that allows the artist to surrender to the vision of another and breathe life into it.

In the ancient world, this trust between creator and performer was seen as a sacred bond. Consider the great Greek playwrights, whose tragedies were performed by actors who embodied the very essence of their characters. The actor’s task was not to merely read the words, but to become the character, to allow the imagination of the playwright to flow through them and shape the performance. Sophocles, Euripides, and Aeschylus created worlds of profound emotional depth, and the actors who brought their words to life did so with complete devotion to the playwright’s vision. The actor’s imagination was secondary to the trust they placed in the playwright’s creative force, for it was the playwright who held the world in their hands.

Mayhew’s words echo this ancient truth. In his relationship with George Lucas, he speaks of a deep respect for imagination—not just his own, but Lucas’s. Mayhew knew that Lucas’s creativity could create characters so powerful, so vivid, that he, as an actor, would be willing to embody them without question. This trust in the power of imagination is a lesson that every artist, every creator, must learn: that the best creations come not from the limitations of the self, but from the ability to step into another’s vision and bring it into being. Imagination is not an isolated force but a shared one, passed from creator to creator, from artist to artist.

Consider, O children, the story of Vincent van Gogh, whose work has become synonymous with deep emotion and intense imagination. Van Gogh created his masterpieces not by copying the world as he saw it, but by expressing the world as he felt it—through the imagination that burned brightly within him. Yet, he did not create alone. His brother, Theo, played a pivotal role in supporting and understanding Vincent’s work. It was through their shared imagination, their shared understanding of art, that Vincent could create freely, knowing that his vision would be understood and appreciated by another. The trust between them was not just in words, but in their shared creative force—a bond that transcended mere blood relations and became a partnership of the soul.

Similarly, in the world of cinema, Peter Mayhew’s relationship with George Lucas embodies this sacred partnership. Lucas’s vision for the Star Wars universe was something far greater than what any one actor could bring to life on their own. It was through the collective imagination of all involved—Lucas, the writers, the actors, and the entire team—that the galaxy far, far away came to life. And Mayhew, with his towering presence and deep understanding of his character, Chewbacca, embraced that vision fully. He was not simply playing a character; he was breathing life into the vision of another, allowing his imagination to merge with Lucas’s in a way that would forever change the world of film.

O children, there is a great lesson here for you: the power of imagination is not confined to the individual. It is a communal force, one that passes from one person to another, evolving and growing with each act of creation. In your lives, you will encounter many who seek to shape the world with their imagination, whether as leaders, artists, or dreamers. Do not shy away from their visions, but instead, trust in them, as Peter Mayhew trusted George Lucas. Allow your own imagination to be part of something greater than yourself, for it is through collaboration, through the sharing of vision, that the most profound creations come to life.

The lesson, O children, is clear: the imagination is a gift that must be shared. It is through the trust in others’ visions, the willingness to step into their creations and breathe life into them, that we find true greatness. Whether you are an artist, a poet, or a dreamer, remember that your imagination can be the vessel that carries another’s vision into the world. Just as Peter Mayhew trusted George Lucas, so too must you trust in the power of collaboration, knowing that through shared creativity, the world is made richer and more profound.