Welcome to the Things To Think About Podcast where we use fables and fairy tales to come to deeper truths about our subconscious world. I’m Stacy Casson and today’s tale explores how to deal with cruelty. We will explore this topic in a tale I call, Not By The Hair of My Chinny Chin Chin. And now, get comfortable and relax. Take a Deep Breathe in and exhale. A Deep Breath in, and exhale. Deep breath in and exhale. And if you'd like, you can slowly...close...your eyes.
Once upon a time, there was a wolf with a very discerning eye. The forest had a variety of flowers and thus there was always a myriad of butterflies. They teased the wolf with their beauty fluttering just out of reach of its jaws. The wolf liked pretty things and had studied the arcane arts. Sadly the wolf mistook power for authority and used its talent to capture the beautiful butterflies. They were suspended in time by its powerful spell and though it extended their life, they never again enjoyed the freedom of flitting from flower to flower. Power had corrupted the wolf and changed its nature. The wolf was never satisfied and roamed the forest looking for other butterflies to add to its macabre collection.
One day, three pig brothers were looking for magic beans to help them build their houses. They had heard that this forest was known for strange and wondrous happenings, so they tried their luck. Something sparkled and caught their eyes. They wandered over and saw all of the beautiful, captured butterflies. At first, they were delighted, and then when they noticed the unnatural stillness, a deep unease settled in their bones. “You must find the beans.” The pig brothers looked at each other in fright. “Did you hear that?” The pigs looked closer at the butterflies. “The wolf is blinded by his power! He hunts for more of our kind. Soon there will be no butterflies in this forest. Find the beans, grind them to a fine powder and have the wolf inhale them. They are red and shiny. You will know them by how they sing. Hurry pigs! We have little time.”
The pigs were deeply disturbed. One brother decided that they should leave and find a different forest. The other countered that no forest was safe with the wolf about. The third one was scared and wanted to build a fortress. The pigs found a still pool and took a deep drink and jumped back. Under the water was a ghostly figure. It looked at them forlornly and pointed upward then brought its fingers to its lips. The pigs heard a strange sonorous tune and slowly looked up. The beans glistened with promise above their heads. They enlisted some cardinals to gather them up and got to work. “How will we get the wolf to inhale the powder?” The eldest pig brother had an idea. The animals of the forest helped them to gather the straw, sticks, and mud for their plan.
The wolf returned and found a house of straw. It sniffed at the air and licked its lips in anticipation of a delicious pig dinner. “Little pig, little pig, let me in!” The pig responded, “Pound sand, wolf!” The wolf huffed and puffed and blew the house in. The pig had already slipped out through the back and hoofed it to his brother’s house. The wolf followed its nose and found a house of sticks. “Let me in!” it snarled viciously. Not a sound came from the house. Once again the wolf huffed and puffed and found nothing in the pile of sticks. The pigs were huddled in the house of bricks. They looked through a giant black funnel lodged in an opening at the entrance. The eldest pig had carefully lined it with the finely ground bean powder. It glistened and sparkled with an otherworldly glow though the song was now sad and quiet. “I smell you and I will have you!” the wolf growled. “Not by the hair of our chinny chin chins.’ The wolf huffed and all the pigs fanned the funnel expelling the powder. The wolf started coughing and then there was silence. The pigs looked out through the opening and saw the wolf was laid out on its back surrounded by a curious red glow. Did the spell work? Should they leave? Slowly they opened the door. The wolf was staring at them.
That ends our story for today. Did the spell work? That is up to you to decide. The little pigs showed courage against the wolf’s cruelty. Will your brick walls protect you? And now, you can take a deep breath in and exhale. A deep breath in and exhale. Deep breath in, and exhale. And when you're ready, wiggle your toes, wiggle your fingers, and slowly open your eyes. If you are enjoying this podcast, please subscribe and never miss an episode.
