Pele Reproduction on Canvas

Pele, Hawaiian Goddess of creation via destruction.

Pele, Hawaiian goddess of the volcano was born in Tahiti to Haumea (an earth goddess) and Kane Milohai (creator of the sky and earth). She had six brothers and six sisters whom she was close to but had to leave because of fighting with one of her sisters, Namakaokahai (a Sea Goddess) for the love of the same man. Pele left Tahiti with the help of her brother, Kamohoali’i (the shark god). During the perilous journey, Pele carefully carried as precious cargo her favorite little sister, Hi’iaka (Hi’iaka i ka poli o Pele – Hi’iaka in the bosom of Pele) in egg-form all the way to the Hawaiian islands where she was born as Pele settled in to create land and volcanoes. Pele now dwells in the Halemaumau crater where the Hawaiian people pay respects and honor her as “Madame Pele” or more lovingly “Tutu Pele.” She is a catalyst for change, for clearing everything with aggressive fire in order to make fertile land for new life..

She comes spewing forth her deadly lava as a celebration of creation as the volcano is seen as her womb and the lava the birthing of new land as new life grows from the fertile minerals of the molten lava left behind. She creates new life out of death and destruction and as thus she is the goddess whom we can call upon when all seems futile, when you have hit rock bottom and things are awry, when you are in the midst of the fire. Trust that out of the mayhem and stripping away of all that was, peace and victory will come soon. Pele’s energy is one of purification by fire. She destroys to bring forth something new and hopeful as she helps change the landscape of our lives into more beauty, more peace and love.