would keep out the wolves. ‘Gather up these supplies, my little piglets – airylavender from the east, fiery cinnamon from the south, a water lily from the west,salt of the northern earth, and a blessing to the Goddess by your door.’ With the
reminder, the piglets set out to build their new homes. Each with a plan.”
Hesitating, I looked at Gram. When she nodded for me to go on, I took a deep breath and, focusing, I continued, “The oldest pig laughed at their grandmother's advice and decided his home would be made of sturdy brick. The
middle pig went searching for the items his grandmother said he would need, but
he gave up after only gathering lavender and salt for the stable wood home he
built. However, the youngest pig spent many days gathering all of the suppliesthat the grandmother had told him were necessary. It had taken him so muchtime to find everything that he only had time to gather nearby straw to build his
home.
“As the last piece of hay was added, the small pig joyously danced aroundhis new home in a circle, sweeping a small broom as he sang: ‘Goddess, I ask
for your guidance on this night and ask you to aid in invoking the elements that
guide. I place this lavender from the east, and I call upon you, Air, to blow awaymy fear and those who wish me harm. I place this cinnamon from the south, and
I call upon you, Fire, to burn away all fear I have and burn away those feelingsthat harm. I place this lily from the west, and I call upon you, Water, and ask youto wash away my fears and cleanse those who wish to harm. I place this saltfrom the north, and I call upon you, Earth, and ask you to ground me ingoodness and strengthen me. Goddess, my request is complete. Thank you for the
blessings you have bestowed upon my home.’”
As I finished the little pig's song, I felt all of the elements dancing around me. The smells and sounds that invaded my senses overwhelmed me. I closed
my eyes and took one last breath before I continued, “When the older pigs visited their brother's home, they snorted. ‘Your home will never keep out the wolves. You will become their breakfast before the sun rises.’ Laughing, they danced away to their homes.
“When night fell, and all three little pigs were tucked into their beds in their
new homes, the oldest pig heard wolves howling and banging at the front door of
his brick house. The force was so strong that the wood door began to splinter.
Afraid, he quickly ran out the back door of his home and straight to his middle
brother.
“Inside the wooden home, the two brothers huddled together, afraid to sleep.
Again, the howling of wolves began banging at the front door. Just as the door
fell down, the brother pigs escaped out the back door and ran down the road to
their little brother's straw house.
“Inside the straw home, the three pigs sat around the kitchen table. Thehowling began outside the door, and the oldest brother cried out, ‘This housewill not keep them out, we must leave now.’ Realizing that the straw house didn't
have another exit, the middle brother began to cry. ”
A soft voice beside me began to speak. “The little pig said, ‘Don't fear brothers, I have made this home in honor of the Air of the east, the Fire of the
south, the Water of the west, the Earth of the north, and with a request of theblessing of the Goddess. We'll be safe.’ As he spoke these words, the howling of
wolves began to softly fade away.”
In unison, the little voice beside me, and I finished the story, “And in the end,
everything was all right because the little pig listened to his grandmother.”
Laughing, I pulled my sister into a hug. “How long have you been eavesdropping, Meg?”
Meg pulled away and gave me a stern look. “You can't blame me. You keep
calling all of my friends down here. You interrupted our tea party. If you're through telling stories, we can go play again.” With that, she turned on her heel
and stomped away in a huff.
"I'll leave you both to talk. I want to see what this party is all about." Cole winked at us and followed after my little sister.
I stood up and began to follow her, but a hand clamped on my shoulder. “Let
her go back to her friends. I can answer all of your questions."
"No, Mae we can handle this. We'll –" a familiar woman's voice called from
behind me.
An intense feeling overwhelmed me. My vision blurred. As everything
