For every star in the sky, there is a dream to give it life. And for every dream, there is a wanderer. A builder. A thinker. A dreamer. Those who dare to create, to imagine, to seek out more than what lies in front of them. Those who fight to amend past mistakes. Those who work tirelessly to add something fulfilling and long-lasting to an already astonishing landscape. Such inquisitive individuals understand that like the stars, dreams are immeasurable. Innumerous. Priceless.
As well, much like the stars above, dreams are filled with what is perhaps the greatest power of all: the power to invoke change. A mind full of dreams, a mind that blissfully gazes outward, can change the world in ways no ordinary mind ever could. And certainly, change can come from anyone, anywhere, and anything, as it is the energy living inside everyone, everywhere, and everything. Change urges life forward. Change is, without question, the purest biproduct of the purest dreamer.
But then what are dreams? What is it to dream? Are dreams nothing more than the scattered fantasies of curious minds? Is the act of dreaming as simple as resting one’s head at night, falling out of consciousness, and wandering into oblivion? Yes. And no.
Dreams come in many forms. The ones that guide sleeping souls. The ones that shape entire lives. The ones that teach children to yearn for something new and exciting. The ones that help the wizened find peace at their end of days. Curious and mystifying. Beguiling and not always trustworthy. Weaved from all manner of possibility and improbability. Premonitions of events that never have and maybe never will come to pass. Remembrances of days gone by, full of glory and sin. Machinations of the mind meant to guide and heal wounded souls. Memories of better times. Dreams are all of these things and more.
Dreaming can indeed be as simple as falling asleep and letting the mind wander, but for those willing to look beyond their midnight musings, there is something far more enriching. To dream—to truly dream—is to grasp the idea, the notion, that not everything is stable. Not everything must remain the way it seems. After all, such is the nature of change. To dream is to challenge reality. It is to look upon the world and say, “I will make a change.” Not all change is good. Not all change is bad. But all change begins with a dream.
I was there when the stars seeded the world with their power. I was there when the first soul looked upon those stars and dared to dream. I was there when that first dreamer changed the world.
He was a quiet soul. Calm. Collected. Unassuming. He travelled the world and discovered its wonders a day at a time. But one evening, he decided to stop and settle in a field beneath the starlit sky. And there, he slept. He dreamt. I visited his dreams that night, and what I saw filled my heart with joy. As I stepped with him through his blissful mindscape, I saw hope. Passion. A future to fight for. I had found a heart seeking to change the world for the better.
His idea was a simple one. He wanted to lay foundations, to build something new. But as I knew from the beginning, even the simplest ideas can have an impressive impact.
I christened this young elven man the Dreamcatcher, as I had never found someone so brimming with energy and enthusiasm to create change, a soul so willing to latch onto and fight for his dreams. In time, he came to know me as the Dreamweaver, for he believed I was to thank for his beautiful visions of the future. I corrected him, of course, saying his dreams and his potential to create change were all his own, born from his imagination and understanding of the stars above, but still, he vowed to follow what teachings I had to offer.
And so, I guided him. I showed him places where his dreams could become reality. I led him to other wanderers who might join him. I protected his mind from those who sought to corrupt it. I brought comfort and assurance when the path became unruly. Whenever he needed me, I was there.
It began with a dream. And in time, the dream took shape. From the placement of the first stone grew a city, the first the world had ever seen. The founders called it Rodenheim, paying homage to the Dreamcatcher’s true name. He had not forsaken it by any means, but he had grown far more accustomed to his new title. Where once the elf had kept to himself, he was now a leader in his own right. He followed my teachings, just as he promised he would, and shared them with others. He brought everyone together. He showed them the potential of the stars. He helped them achieve their dreams. He changed the world.
I wonder who will change the world next…
After all these years, many mortals still believe I am the one who brings them their dreams, that I push the stars through the heavens, that I bring all the change in the world. This is far from the truth. One might instead think of me as a steady hand, aiding those who need it. It is my children, my dreamers, who spread the light of the stars, so that all may fulfill their dreams, so that the world may be gifted with the greatest of changes.
But who am I, in truth?
I am Celestia, Goddess of the Stars, Dreams, and Change. My followers know me as the Dreamweaver. And this is my decree, for all who would hear it:
Harness the stars. Dare to dream. Change the world.