The Freedom to Act

Developing the element of Fire within one’s StarDust is certainly one of the most counterintuitive things to do.

Why?

Because it requires us to do things that frustrate us or that we simply do not feel like doing.

It means holding back from eating or drinking too much, even during a truly delicious meal.

It means pushing ourselves to exercise, even though it would feel so much nicer to sink into the comfort of the sofa.

It means taking the time to read a book instead of letting ourselves be distracted by whatever the algorithms choose to show us.

It means thinking about the future of the generations to come and trying to leave them the very best that is still within our power to offer.

But this also comes at a cost, because, like all the elements, it has its own balance.

Trying to develop the element of Fire too much can also become counterproductive.

By “wearing ourselves out” with constant effort, we may lose sight of what truly matters, set aside the time we spend with those we love, or ignore the present, which also deserves our attention.

So, doesn’t enjoying our freedom also mean accepting our responsibilities?

Many of us still have that freedom.

The freedom to act.


Our latest tales

  • At Ease with Habits

    At Ease with Habits

    In Esperia, caring for one’s StarDust soon became one of the most important duties an Esper received from the youngest age. Why? Simply because the Seven Shapes understood that with healthy habits came the ease of accomplishing good things without needing much effort or attention. They also knew that with the existence of magic, Espers…

    Read more

  • The Eternal Flame

    The Eternal Flame

    The end of the Chaos War and the awakening of the Elemental Shapes brought forth the creation of the Five Legendary Elemental Artifacts. For the Element of Fire, it took the form of the Eternal Flame—a symbol of willpower that never fades, even in the face of adversity or during difficult times. While the Eternal…

    Read more

  • The Element of Earth

    The Element of Earth

    Kenko was the Shape of Health, and also the Element of Earth. She understood better than anyone the importance of nature for life in Esperia. Through her connection with the planet, she could sense the need to protect it—not only for the beauty of the countless life forms that lived upon its surface, but also…

    Read more

  • Before our Eyes

    Before our Eyes

    Eklea, the Shape of Awareness and Element of Lightning, always reminded her students that understanding simple facts was the beginning of mastering more complicated concepts. “We can only see what is before our eyes.” The young Espers laughed at such an obvious statement. Eklea smiled and added: “When we don’t see things or people for…

    Read more

  • My Heart Will Go On

    My Heart Will Go On

    Gurumin, the Shape of Empathy, understood more than anyone else the power of sound and music to soothe minds. It was soon discovered that music held a mysterious ability: to create a harmonious resonance among all the StarDusts who heard the same song. Gurumin naturally loved to hum sweet melodies which, as the Element of…

    Read more

  • The StarDust and the Shadow

    The StarDust and the Shadow

    Vati, the Shape of Wisdom, stumbled upon the discovery of not only the StarDust, but also the Shadow. Every living creature possessed a Shadow that could be revealed only when its own StarDust was finally unlocked. Plants and animals held a natural balance between their StarDust and Shadow, but the Espers did not. This became…

    Read more

  • Unstable Balance

    Unstable Balance

    For many systems, there exists both a stable and an unstable balance.A stable balance will return to its original state even if some conditions change.An unstable one will not. What can we say about the climate change we now face, born from decades of an indecent ideal of a society built on “more”? We are…

    Read more

  • To Wipe the Slate Clean

    To Wipe the Slate Clean

    This concept was understood to be crucial for the development of harmony in Esperia. Shala, in particular, was the initiator of this, for she knew that if time was not taken to reflect on the past and to move forward, grudges and resentments would always linger in the Shadow of every Esper— even in the…

    Read more