Here's a little something for all of you who've stood by me for this long. 

I actually did 800ish paper stars in the span of a few days cause of a really bad situation. At first, I wanted to use it to make a wish for the bad situation, but I then realised it felt selfish, so I'm giving 366 paper stars to two Christian institutes each (update: I ended up giving it to an orphanage that was Christian-run so I guess that counts?), then the rest I'll be making charms for my friends I guess. 

But it also inspired me to make this. It's a Youkai concept, but I hope it speaks to you all as it did me. I hope that somehow, this paper star Youkai can bless everyone I love and care for, and all those beyond, be it those who I may never met, who I could met, who I've had falling-outs with, and those who I've hurt and vice versa. May 2024 be a fresh start for all of us, and for me to take the steps needed to reach out to others as much as I can to help, not to harm or hurt.

This is actually based off the idea of origami lucky stars. Japanese legend goes that a girl named Hoshi would make paper stars for every star that fell from the sky, and Chinese belief has it that folding a thousand stars and giving them to someone or yourself (I think) can lead you to grant a wish. Since I had also watched Wish before coming back to my hometown, I decided to bring this concept to life. 

Hozhigami (from Hoshi/star, zhezhi and origami, which mean the same thing but in different languages) or Moravish (from Moravian star, in the same family or origami technique as Chinese lucky stars, and wish) of the Heartful/Pokapoka tribe inspirits others to help them through dark times. Mayhaps, there were times when you were really down, heck, there were times when you really, really just wanted to give up. 

But something stopped you. Call it DETERMINATION, call it hope, call it whatever you want, but it's a spark in your heart, something that keeps you going. Perhaps this Youkai has had a hand in it, indeed... 

This Youkai actually started out similar to the girl in the legend. She loved stars, oh, she did. She would watch the stars every night, admiring them while lying on the grass. Just like the legend, she grew sad when they started to fall in what we know now as a meteor shower, and proceeded to start the tradition of making them to replace the lost stars. 

But one's story never truly ends there, does it? Her soul resonated so much with the stars, when she passed on, old and weary, she became a Youkai to continue to help others beyond the grave. Of course, there were days when she herself would struggle to move forward, the concept of burnout still foreign to the people in her time. But she would push forward, taking her time and slowly coming to understand the importance of caring for oneself. Even now, perhaps the spark will encourage you to be the best you can be, even when you feel like you can't do it. Mayhaps it is a sign from above, telling you that the light at the end of the tunnel is no illusion?