My Encounter with Madame Pele
I first became aware of Madame Pele the Goddess of the Volcano when I first visited Hawaii, attending a Hawaiian Huna workshop back in 2002.
The morning before leaving for Kauai, I woke up early and took a walk on the beach in Waikiki in Oahu. As I was walking I suddenly looked up at the impressive Diamond Head Volcano and then my eyes immediately shifted to a church on Kalakaua Ave. For a moment I felt in bliss. I wasn’t sure the dept of the meaning behind the feeling but intuitively knew there was some connection to the fire Goddess. In the workshop I learned the name of this powerful goddess, Madame Pele.
When I relocated to the Bid Island in October 2003, while meditating, I intuitively received a message to befriend Madame Pele for she will not hurt me.”
A few days later I decided to visit Volcano National park. As I was driving, I felt a strong , powerful energy, and an overwhelming desire to just surrender, but I thought it isn’t such a good idea letting go and surrender at 40 miles an hour. This experience reinforced that there was deep connection with Madame Pele.
The image I got was to design a flyer, offering my professional skills to help the people of Hawaii cope with domestic violence and substance abuse. I knew if I was to be of service to the community, I would first have to gain there trust. A process I continually work toward.
The next profound experience I had with Madame Pele was when my closest friends from the east coast were visiting me in Feb. 2004. We decided to explore Kaumana cave out side of Hilo.
As we started to enter the cave, fear over came me. I didn’t want to continue. The thoughts that were running through my mind were overwhelming. All the what ifs consumed me. I new I had to go past my comfort level to overcome the fear.
I said a pray: "I am a child of God so please don’t hurt me. I come in peace." All of a sudden the fear subsided and I was able to continue to go deeper into the cave.
I always had a fear of the dark. Over the years I have been able to confront that fear but I guess I still had some residual fear left.
After crawling and walking for a while, I decided to sit down and just feel my feelings. I wanted to give an offering to the cave. At first I didn’t know that to give. After thinking about it for a while I decided to give the puka necklace I was wearing. I really liked that necklace. It was given to me by a life guard some time ago. The life guard told me she found it that morning and felt it was meant for me. Knowing this, I new it was important to give something that had meaning to me.
After placing it in one of the lava grooves, I looked up and on the wall of the cave; I saw what looked look a large outline of an eye. I didn’t know the significance of the eye until one day when I was reading a book about Madame Pele and saw a picture of her eye that was exactly the same eye I saw in the cave. I new at that moment Madame Pele was in the cave with me that day.
Can I prove it? No, and I have learned I do not have to. It was my experience. I was able to go pass my comfort level, face my fear and walk through it. This is how I am slowly empowering my world.
In July, 2004, a great friend of mine, and I went to Volcano National Park to see the lava flowing in the ocean.
Just before starting our long hike over the lava to the ocean, I looked down and on the road was a puka necklace just like the one I gave Madame Pele in the cave. I intuitively new the necklace was meant for me. I picked it up and put it around my neck.
As of this writing I wear my puka shell necklace with honor and grace.
I took this photo at Volcanoes National Park when the lava was flowing into the ocean. If you look closely, you can see a figure dressed in a hula skirt.