Pele is one of the few goddesses still living in the belief of her people as a metaphysical reality. Offerings are still made to her when volcanic eruptions threaten Hawaii's towns.
A bright daughter of the earth goddess Haumea, Pele spent her girlhood watching fires and learning how to make them, thus revealing her temperament early. This did not please the sea goddess Namaka, who prophesied an unpleasant future for the fire-loving girl. Ple did cause a conflagration in her mother's homeland once, toying with underworld fires.
Her mother thought it was time for Pele to find a home of her own, so she set off in a canoe with several siblings including her sister Hiiaka ("cloudy one"). Pele used a divining rod to locate places to build islands, then caused them to be born in tempestuous eruptions from undersea volcanoes.
Namaka trailed her sister, furious at the destruction Pele had wrought in their original homeland. Ocean and fire met in a terrific brawl, and Ple got the worst of it, rising like a steamy spirit from the fray. No longer embodied, she disappeared into the volcanoes, especially in the fiery part of the crater of Kilauea called Halemaumau, said today to be one of her favorite haunts.
There she was honored by the Hawaiian people as the essence of earthly fire. Into her craters offerings were cast--cut hair, sugar cane, flowers (especially hibiscus), white birds, money and strawberries. Some say human beings were also tossed into the lava; others deny this, claiming there is no evidence.
There is a famous legend, however, that suggests that some were, if not sacrificed literally, at least consecrated to the goddess. This is the tale of the young Hawaiian man named Lohiau. Pele, it was said, sometimes dozed in her crater, sending herspirit wandering through the islands. One night, hearing the sweet melodies of flutes, she followed the sound until she came upon a group of sacred hula dancers.
Among them was Lohiau. Instantly attracted to him, Pele embodied herself into a beautiful woman and seduced him. They spent three days making love before she decided it was time to return to her mountain. Promising to send for him, Pele disappeared, awakening far away on Kilauea.
Pele endowed her sister Hiiaka with magic and sent her off to fetch Lohiau. Hiiaka was a kindly goddess, given to singing with the poet goddess Hopoe and to picking blossoms from the tropical trees. Hiiaka set off, first making Pele promise to tend her gardens.
Passing through many trials, often relying on magic to defeat threatening monsters, Hiiaka reached Lohiau's home just as he died, pining away for his lover, Pele. But Hiiaka caught his soul and pushed it back into his body, reviving him . Then they set off to Kilauea.
Although touched by the man's beauty, Hiiaka intended to fulfill her task. However, Pele was a jealous spirit and soon began to burn.
Even though challenged for possession of the man by a sorceress (Pele in disguise), and even though Lohiau told Hiiaka he loved her more than Pele, the goddess would not betray her sister. She returned however, only to find Pele did not keep her end of the bargain. In jealous fury, Ple killed the poet and scorched Hiiaka's gardens.
Right then and there Hiiaka made love to Lohaiu. In fury, Ple burned him to death but could not destroy her siter. Hiiaka descended to the underworld to free the man's soul. She realized at the deepest point in the underworld where two rivers met, that flooding the entire world would thoroughly extinguish Pele and her wrath.
Her conscience kept her from such folly. She was determined to demand her lover from Pele. The lustful angry goddess would not have given in except that Lohaiu's comrade Paoa arrived in time to satisfy the goddess' heat. Hiiaka was reunited with Lohaiu, and they returned to his country. Pele found herself a god, the hog god Kamapua'a, the inventor of agriculture, whose idea of courting a goddess included all but dousing her flames with heavy rain and stampeding pigs across her craters. To this day, their turbulent affair continues on the islands of Hawaii.
The following invocation can be used when working with the Hawaiian goddess Pele. Her sacred berries are the 0'helo berries, but cranberries make an acceptable substitute. Always offer them to her first, then eat some yourself.
Invocation
Aloha Pele! I call you from across the miles! Hear me, E Pele! Madame Pele, Mistress of Volcanoes and Fire. Pele-honua-mea! Woman of the sacred earth! Come to me from across the mighty ocean. I have your sacred (o'helo) berries. First I offer to you, then some I also eat. Pele, be with us. Aloha.
Devocation
Pele, you have been with us in circle. We are grateful for your presence and bid you Mahalo. You have shared your mana with usand we will remember. Return to Kilauea if you must and think of us. Again, Mahalo and Aloha.
Tropical Fire Oil
1/4 oz. almond oil
1 drop lavendar oil
5 drops nutmeg oil
4 drops oakmoss oil
3 drops thyme oil
3 drops violet oil
4 drops narcissus oil
7 drops jasmine oil
9 drops dragon's blood oil
10 drops new mown hay oil
5 drops lemongrass oil
16 drops ylang-ylang oil
4 drops primrose oil
flower: jasmine
gems: garnet, olivine or carnelian A complex oil to make, but the result will "sweep you into the tropics".
Sources: The New Book of Goddesses and Heroines by Patricia Monaghan Embracing the Moon by Yasmine Galenorn
