Joy the Great Goddess Bear
“Joy is the matriarch of the whole family of emotions, and she will not enter a home where her children are not welcome.” - Joe Hudson
High up in the mountains there stood three noble houses.
Word had spread to the heads of each house of a Great Bear. A powerful feminine goddess named Joy.
The legend told that any house that this divine mother entered would be blessed beyond measure for a minimum of two millenia.
They each sent invitations hoping to bring good fortune to their families.
So Joy decided to visit each of the three houses in turn.
After receiving the first invitation, The Goddess Joy traveled high up into the mountains with all of her children: Peace, Gratitude, Love, Anger, Sadness and Fear.
Looking eager to enter the home herself, she sent her children in before her.
The head of The First House smiled as Peace glided into his home like a cool summer breeze, Gratitude like honey moving through warm water, and Love like a flower petal floating down from a tree.
Then without warning, Anger defecated on the front door landing, screaming.
The head of the house took a stick and started batting Anger away saying, "Shoo you filthy animal!"
Offended, the Great Mama Bear called the rest of the children out, and they left.
Traversing the mountain to The Second House, she stopped before its great door.
Looking eager to enter the home herself, she sent her children in before her.
The head of the house smiled as Peace glided into his home like a cool summer breeze, Gratitude like honey moving through warm water, and Love like a flower petal floating down from a tree.
Then the head of the house heard weeping and found Sadness curled up into a little furry ball just around the corner.
"This is a most important day for my family! Stop your crying and come inside."
The little bear cried harder still.
Disgusted at the treatment of her little one, the Goddess left with her children once again.
Climbing east to the pinnacle of the mountain, they reached The Third House.
Looking eager to enter the home herself, she sent her children in before her.
The head of the house smiled as Peace glided into his home like a cool summer breeze, Gratitude like honey moving through warm water, and Love like a flower petal floating down from a tree.
Anger stood several steps back from the door, protecting his little sisters. Sadness weeping on the ground. Through Anger's legs, the head of the house could make out the outline of Fear sitting on the ground with head in shaking hands.
The head of the house sat down in front of the three.
“I lost a daughter of my own once," he said. "Unable to cope with the loss of my most precious, I raged for months. When I burned myself out in anger I was then crippled by a deadening sadness. I didn't leave my house for months longer.
“And now," gesturing towards Fear, "looking into your face, I see a reflection of the fear that has inhabited me all of the days since. 'To love again is to open myself up to the same hurt that I just went through,' I've thought."
The man sat there in silence for a moment.
"But you're just a sweet child like my lost little lady."
Without moving its head, the little eyes looked up at the man.
"Let us sit while you tell me what you're so afraid of."
One by one, Fear, Sadness and then Anger told their stories. Quenched by the attention the man had paid them, they entered the man's home followed by their mother.