Listening to Others and Listening to Yourself

The Espers were, all things considered, rather curious beings.

Their history, spanning several tens of thousands of years, had led them, not without difficulties, to control their planet, to the point of being capable of impacting its global ecosystem.

The discovery and use of magic had accelerated the evolution of their civilization, but they also made a paradox increasingly clear: listening, though at the very heart of the bonds that united them, was gradually disappearing.

Listening to others, first of all, as the notions of freedom and individualism took on an increasingly important place in society, sometimes putting an end to dialogue and to discussions that were nevertheless important.

For magic had already altered the global environment of their planet, and its consequences were beginning to become increasingly visible.

The other creatures of the planet, once numerous and diverse, were disappearing, the lush forests had been cleared, and glaciers throughout the world were beginning to melt.

Discussions about the future of their own species, while a new technology, both promising but above all potentially dangerous, was emerging, did not exist in the public sphere.

For perhaps even more important than listening to others, few were still capable of listening to themselves and hearing their inner voice, the voice of their Shadow…

A Shadow which, if left untamed, listens to the Shadow of their civilization as a whole…

Learning to listen to yourself is therefore also learning to see the world as it truly is.


Our latest tales

  • A common world

    A common world

    The presence of Atma, the Shape of Balance, made it easy for the Espers to remember the importance of maintaining equilibrium across their entire planet. Because they understood that they all shared the same common world, it became evident to them that they should cherish the land that provided their food and the natural Aether…

    Read more

  • Grief

    Grief

    Losing a loved one may be the most tragic event you ever experience. Naturally, the closer the person, the more devastating the loss. It can feel as though the world has ended, and your thoughts will revolve entirely around the fact that the one you love is gone. Because of how the brain works, time…

    Read more

  • Mother’s Milk

    Mother’s Milk

    If every individual on this Earth is unique, then to us, our mother is even more unique. A natural bond is formed during pregnancy and through breastfeeding, a period when, as newborns, we are entirely dependent on our parents’ care and love. How we feel about our parents will naturally change with time and circumstances.…

    Read more

  • Put into Practice

    Put into Practice

    Faya, the Shape of Willpower and the Element of Fire, liked to put into practice the very principles she taught at the Great Library of Esperia. Even before learning about the StarDust—and that it required the harmonious combination of all Elements to eventually take shape through a radiant Aether Flow—Faya had always understood that practice…

    Read more

  • Healthy Food

    Healthy Food

    This may sound obvious, but as you eat healthier, you become healthier. Yet, when we look at what is consumed in the wealthiest countries on our planet, it simply doesn’t make sense. Companies earning millions of dollars sell sugar-filled foods and drinks—because they sell. Why? Because adding sugar makes the product addictive, and your brain…

    Read more

  • Wake up

    Wake up

    Eklea, the Shape of Awareness, pondered where to begin if a civilization had no knowledge of the Seven Shapes. Surely, neither harmony nor peace could exist in such a world. There was so much to unpack—especially for the youngest ones, who would have to absorb so much and try to discern what truly makes sense…

    Read more

  • A Good Sleep for a Good Mood

    A Good Sleep for a Good Mood

    Gurumin, the Shape of Empathy and Compassion, loved to sleep. Yet sometimes, when bedtime arrived, she wanted to stay awake just a little longer to enjoy the day. But studies on sleep by Vati, the Shape of Wisdom, showed that getting proper rest each day is one of the key ingredients for maintaining a good…

    Read more

  • The Values That Matter

    The Values That Matter

    At the end of one’s life, what will we regret not having done more of in our own unique journey? For many, in the modern societies of the richest nations ruling this planet—and mostly destroying its nature and our only living habitat called Earth—the regret won’t be about money, time spent working, or the possessions…

    Read more