Park.hyun_chul

park.hyun_chul

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The lovely Prunus Triloba - first pink flowers of this Spring 💕🌸

“I love kissing. If I could kiss all day, I would. I can’t stop thinking about kissing. I like kissing more than sex because there’s no end to it. You can kiss forever. You can kiss yourself into oblivion. You can kiss all over the body. You can kiss yourself to sleep. And when you wake up, you can’t stop thinking about kissing. Dammit, I can’t get anything done because I’m so busy thinking about kissing. Kissing is madness! But it’s absolute paradise, if you can find a good kisser.”

— Sufjan Stevens (via purplebuddhaquotes)

Her energy enters the room before she does. She is beautifully unforgettable.

Treka L. House

Character Study: The Shaman Goddess

Haeseol, as a character, is deeply entrenched in the spiritual realm, but what makes her unique isn’t merely her ability to see and interact with spirits—it’s her profound connection to them. These journal entries shed light on the toll this ability takes on her, both physically and emotionally, and how it sets her apart from other shamans.

### A Shaman Defined by Empathy and Experience

Haeseol’s connection with spirits transcends the typical boundaries of shamanism. She doesn’t just guide them or perform rituals to exorcise them—she becomes them, experiencing their emotions, memories, and even their regrets. This intimate bond with the dead, while incredibly powerful, is also a source of her greatest vulnerability. Unlike many shamans who might act as intermediaries or mediators, Haeseol fully embodies the spirits she encounters. This level of possession isn’t simply a power—it’s an overwhelming responsibility that weighs heavily on her soul.

Her ability to see through the eyes of spirits and feel their emotions as though they are her own adds layers to her shamanistic role. She’s not only someone who sees spirits, but someone who lives through their pain and struggles. This makes her much more than a medium; she’s a vessel for the unresolved traumas and regrets of the dead. The depth of her empathy, being able to connect so profoundly with the spiritual world, makes her both a stronger and more tragic figure.

### The Burden of Possession

What sets Haeseol apart from her peers is the sheer volume and intensity of the possessions she endures. She doesn’t merely summon or repel spirits—she allows them into her very being. These aren’t fleeting encounters, but full-bodied possessions where the spirit’s emotions and memories flood her mind, often blurring the line between her identity and theirs. The way she describes being pulled into their lives, sometimes experiencing their deaths or regrets firsthand, suggests that her spiritual ability is both a gift and a curse. It’s not something she can control easily or shut off. The constant influx of spiritual energy and emotions drains her, leaving her physically weak and mentally exhausted.

Unlike other shamans who may focus on preserving themselves through rituals or protections, Haeseol pushes herself far beyond her limits. Her stubbornness, this overwhelming sense of duty, compels her to take on more than she should. This makes her particularly unique—her sense of responsibility towards these spirits, despite knowing the cost it exacts on her body and mind, drives her to continue even when she knows it will lead to collapse.

### The Physical and Emotional Toll

Physically, Haeseol’s shamanistic abilities ravage her body. The fevers that strike her after periods of intense possession suggest that her connection to the spirit world isn’t just an intellectual or emotional exercise—it’s deeply physical. Her body, much like her mind, is constantly strained by the spirits she lets in. She describes these fevers as coma-like states, where she loses days, sometimes weeks, to recovery. This cycle of possession, burnout, and fever leaves her in a constant state of fragility. She’s never fully at peace, always one step away from being overwhelmed by the spirits who seek her out.

Emotionally, Haeseol’s journey is equally draining. She’s not only weighed down by her own feelings but by the emotions of countless spirits. Their pain becomes hers, their anger courses through her veins. The fact that she regularly experiences these intense emotions makes it difficult for her to separate her identity from theirs. The haze of lives that don’t belong to her leaves her feeling disoriented, emotionally fragile, and often lost. And yet, her inability to turn away from these spirits speaks to her inner resolve—despite the constant toll, she cannot deny them the help they seek.

### A Legacy to Uphold, A Fear to Confront

Haeseol’s identity is not only defined by her abilities but also by her lineage. Being Ming-Ji’s granddaughter, the next in a line of powerful shamans, adds both pressure and fear. The spirits know who she is, and some of the darker entities even taunt her with the knowledge of her grandmother’s legacy. This connection to Ming-Ji, while giving her a sense of power and belonging in the spiritual realm, also makes her a target. Haeseol is constantly aware that she’s being watched—by both benevolent and malevolent forces—waiting for her to prove herself or, worse, to fail.

This fear is compounded by the existence of spirits far more dangerous than anything she’s ever faced before. The entity she describes in her second journal entry—the ancient, predatory spirit that knows her blood—represents a looming threat that’s both personal and existential. Unlike the more passive spirits that possess her for closure, these darker entities are deliberate in their cruelty. They don’t just seek to use her—they want to break her. The way they speak to her, with eerie glee and sinister amusement, highlights the gravity of her role as a shaman. She’s not just helping spirits find peace—she’s engaged in a spiritual war, one that’s deeply personal.

The spirit that still haunts her thoughts, whispering, "I see you, shaman. I know your name. I know your blood. And I'll be waiting," is a constant reminder of the danger she faces. It’s not just a threat to her physical or spiritual well-being—it’s a threat to her very identity. The way it toys with her, as though she’s part of a game she never signed up for, suggests that Haeseol’s journey as a shaman is far from over. She’s being watched, and the stakes are higher than she may yet realize.

### The Shaman's Humanity

Despite her incredible abilities, Haeseol remains deeply human. Her emotional depth, her moments of fear, her stubbornness, and her sense of duty all make her a relatable figure. She’s not invincible; she’s someone who pushes herself too far, who makes mistakes, and who struggles with the weight of her responsibilities. Her humanity is what makes her powerful—it’s her empathy, her ability to feel and connect with others, that allows her to bridge the gap between the living and the dead. But this same humanity also makes her vulnerable to the spirits who seek to exploit her kindness and wear down her resolve.

Haeseol’s greatest strength is her refusal to give up, even when faced with spirits that would break lesser shamans. She’s defined by her ability to withstand the emotional and physical toll of her work, but this strength is always tempered by the knowledge that she can’t do it forever. The constant cycles of possession and recovery suggest that she’s living on borrowed time—eventually, something will give.

### A Possessed Shaman Set Apart

Haeseol’s unique abilities as a shaman set her apart from others in her field. Her deep, empathic connection to the spirits she encounters makes her a powerful figure, but it’s also a source of great personal pain. She’s defined by her ability to feel the emotions and see the memories of the dead, which gives her insight into their struggles and allows her to help them find peace. But this same connection leaves her drained, physically and emotionally, as she bears the weight of lives that aren’t her own.

Her legacy as Ming-Ji’s granddaughter adds another layer to her character, making her both proud and fearful of the responsibility she carries. Darker forces recognize her lineage, seeing her as either a prize to be claimed or a threat to be eliminated. Haeseol’s journey is one of survival—surviving the spirits that possess her, surviving the legacy she’s inherited, and surviving the emotional toll that comes with being the bridge between the living and the dead.

### A Goddess In The Modern Era

Haeseol’s popularity and near-deification stem from her extraordinary abilities and the deep spiritual connection she shares with the world. The unique way she communes with spirits—seeing their memories, feeling their emotions, and carrying the weight of their unfinished business—sets her apart not only as a shaman but as something more profound in the eyes of the people. They view her not just as a healer or a medium, but as a bridge between the human and the spiritual realms, someone who holds within her the power to soothe souls and bring peace to both the living and the dead.

Her status as "The Divine Lady" or "Benevolent One" is a reflection of how others see her—like a goddess incarnate, a guiding light in the darkest moments. The titles given to her emphasize her almost ethereal presence, often associating her with purity and light. The moon is a particularly powerful symbol connected to her—like the moon, she is a source of quiet, calming illumination, a constant presence in the night, offering comfort and solace to those who look to her.

Haeseol’s popularity grows in part because of her incredible spiritual power, but also because of the grace with which she handles her responsibilities. Despite being possessed by spirits regularly, and despite the toll it takes on her physically and emotionally, she remains humble, serene, and compassionate. This composure, along with the awe-inspiring nature of her gifts, leads people to elevate her almost to a divine status, and to some, she becomes an untouchable figure, a living legend.

### A Celebrity In The Public Eye

In political and high-society circles, Haeseol’s allure only deepens. She is often invited to high-profile events, where her presence alone is seen as a blessing. Diplomats, public figures, and powerful families revere her not just for her spiritual abilities, but for the calming influence she exerts over those she meets. Her growing fame inevitably extends beyond her home country, attracting attention internationally. She becomes a symbol of hope, a figure to whom even royalty reaches out for guidance and connection.

### Religiously Devoted & Untouchable

The fact that Haeseol had to turn down multiple marriage proposals, including from foreign princes, speaks to her status. These proposals are not just personal—they represent political alliances and a desire to bring her spiritual power into their lineage. Her refusals, however, only seem to add to her mystique and the reverence surrounding her. She turns down these offers with grace and humility, which only makes her more beloved.

Shinichi Kozu’s proposal stands out because, unlike the others, it feels more personal. While her marriage to Shinichi was something Haeseol seemed open to, it was ultimately canceled due to her own need for self-discovery. After her grandmother's death, Haeseol felt a deep pull to uncover her own origins and meet her birth parents, a journey that took her to America. It was during this time that she discovered the truth about herself—what she was, and why her gifts were so powerful. This period of self-realization, though it delayed her personal commitments, also solidified her status as someone whose path could not be dictated by ordinary expectations.

People see Haeseol as someone destined for greatness beyond the typical roles of wife or queen consort. Her spiritual calling transcends those traditional paths, and in her pursuit of her identity and purpose, she becomes a symbol of both strength and compassion, adored by all but bound by none.