The Earth was drowning in darkness. The beings inhabiting her were becoming consumed by ignorance and confusion. The beautiful green planet was torn by separation — all had forgotten that it was one. Earth’s children turned against their mother. She cried, her lament echoing throughout the Universe.

Other galaxies heard the Earth’s cry and felt her pain as their own. The galactic family loved their gorgeous sister, who stood out among them like a green gem. They called a gathering of the Ones That Hold Wisdom. After light-years of deliberation, a decision was made: five of the brightest stars would be sent to Earth to take on the role of keepers of light.

One of them was the brightest star of her constellation. Her home was a magnificent galaxy, sparkling with blues and purples in the vastness of space. She was timeless and did not remember her beginning. It seemed she had existed forever, forever shining, reflecting the light and love of the Sun. Now she was gifted with a special purpose: to spread the light and save the Earth from being consumed by darkness.

Her descent had to be carefully planned. She could not come down as a star; her light would be too bright. Instead of guiding, it would blind. It was decided she would walk among humans, emitting a steady glow, helping others keep their course through the dark.

The day the star was born onto Earth was not easy. She felt limitless, and yet had to fit into a tiny human body. Something vast and spacious had to allow itself to be constrained by boundaries made of flesh. She also had to leave behind the remembering of who she truly was. That memory was far too large to be carried into the material world.

She grew up not knowing how unique she was. Still, there were signs — something within her always searched for the bright side of things. She could find a tiny sparkle of light even in the darkest of souls. Without realising it, she became a human lighthouse, quietly showing others the way back to their forgotten true nature.

Through the years, the star learned many important lessons from the Earth. As a star, she had been used to shining constantly. Now she learned that when light is not constant, it is not a failure — it’s a rhythm. The Earth breathes in rhythms: day and night, the turning of seasons. Darkness, too, has its place, offering rest and restoration.

In space, nothing holds you. On Earth, she learned that gravity is a form of love. Being pulled toward people and places does not mean losing freedom; it creates belonging. Love without grounding cannot endure.

Darkness hurt her more than it did others, but with time she learned that pain is not the opposite of light. Sometimes suffering carries meaning. Sometimes compassion is born from pain. Pain has the power to shatter hearts — but it can also crack them open. Only when met with care does it allow more light in, rather than extinguishing it.

She learned the value of companionship and closeness. Guidance did not mean shining in solitude — it meant walking beside someone, listening, holding a hand. It meant not hovering above life, but living inside it. Light without love is cold; light mixed with love comforts, embraces, and creates life.

Not all the light she carried was visible from afar. Sometimes it could be felt more than seen. Whenever someone brought her something they were unsure about — a drawing, a poem — she always seemed to know what to say. Her voice, full of warmth and softness, loosened the grip of doubt. Even though she could not protect them from the world’s judgement, her pure joy and appreciation lit the way ahead, encouraging the explorer to keep going and take further steps on their journey.

Finally, she learned the lesson of impermanence, and how it makes love more precious. Stars are eternal; on Earth, nothing lasts forever. This taught her to treasure, to hold gratitude, and to love without guarantee. Allowing herself to be broken by grief was the hardest lesson of all. Sometimes holding the light meant turning away from what she could not carry.

She realised that guidance is a reciprocal process. What you guide is also guiding you. We all save one another in many unseen ways, and the light itself is changed by what it illuminates.

She did not save the Earth from darkness. The darkness remained. The lighthouse cannot stop the storm or argue with the waves — it unwaveringly stays where it is and points into the right direction. The keeper of light simply holds the torch for anyone who wishes to follow.

In the darkest of nights, we always have stars to guide us. Some of them are far closer than we imagine. Some walk among us, and only those who pay attention can recognise them. Watch for falling stars — one day, your path may cross with one of them.