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

  • Finding Yourself Through Love

    Finding Yourself Through Love

    Does this title sound cliché? I guess so. But is it true? Absolutely. Of course, the word love carries as many meanings as there are human beings on our shared planet. For most of us, the first love we experience is that of our mother, who carries us for months and cares for us by…

    Read more

  • The “Modern World”

    The “Modern World”

    Cha Cha, our platypus friend, was thinking about what the “Modern World” had become—and how paradoxical it was. Thanks to new technologies that turned machines into the world’s new servants, life had become easier for some of the richest countries. But this comfort came at the cost of irreversible damage to the environment—damage that was…

    Read more

  • Moderation

    Moderation

    Before the end of the Chaos War, the concept of moderation scarcely existed among the Espers. They preferred to spend their time wielding magic and battling one another, unaware of the consequences. The birth of Atma, the Shape of Balance, transformed life in Esperia. The Seven Shapes placed moderation as a core principle in the…

    Read more

  • Slowing Down

    Slowing Down

    Esperia was built and envisioned so that harmony and peace would be its foundations. Nature and all the creatures living within it created a virtuous circle, and the Espers — the magical beings — finally understood that the restriction on their use of magic served a greater purpose on their interconnected and limited planet. This…

    Read more

  • Values

    Values

    What we come to see as “good” values and the proper behaviors to follow are learned throughout our lives. As children, we naturally mimic the actions and thoughts we observe — through the words and gestures of our parents, siblings, teachers, or friends we play with. When we are still very young, we hold no…

    Read more

  • A Limit to Willpower

    A Limit to Willpower

    Faya, the Shape of Willpower, often used comparisons to explain the principles she had to teach. For willpower, her element of fire offered an easy image to grasp—one that clearly showed how willpower has its limits. To keep a fire alive, you need the right amount of fuel. If the fire burns too fiercely, it…

    Read more

  • A Pillar for Life

    A Pillar for Life

    Since the collective consciousness of all Espers had finally been reached, health as a pillar of life was naturally embraced as the path to follow. The realization of the existence of both the StarDust and the Shadow within each of them brought about a profound and lasting change across Esperia. Health now stood at the…

    Read more

  • Collective Consciousness

    Collective Consciousness

    Eklea was reflecting on how Esperia had radically changed since the end of the Chaos War and the discovery of StarDust. “This created a collective consciousness,” she whispered. Indeed, the different elemental Espers had never thought of Esperia as a whole before this event. She believed that even if a few Espers were aware of…

    Read more