#23 Face and Goddess # 12

This week's pick for 13 Goddesses challenge is from Australian or Polynesian culture. I chose Hawaiian Goddess Pele. She is the goddess of fire, lightning, wind, and volcanoes known as the Earth-Eating Woman and also as She-Who-Shapes-The-Sacred-Land.

According to Hawaiian historian David Malo in his book "Hawaiian Antiquities," in old Hawai'i, some gods and goddesses, including Pele, were believed to be akua noho, gods who talked. They could take possession of an earthly being, who became the god's kahu.

Malo writes, "The kahu of the Pele deities also were in the habit of dressing their hair in such a way as to make it stand out at great length, then, having inflamed and reddened their eyes, they went about begging for any articles they took a fancy to, making the threat, 'If you don't grant this request, Pele will devour you.' Many people were imposed upon in this manner, fearing Pele might actually consume them."
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And I'm combining this goddess with 29 Faces challenge.


My Cotton Candy Girls On-line Workshop is now open and running. Registration will be open until end of May, so you still have time to join us. :)
 

#23 Face and Goddess # 12