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Cinderlight Embers ~ Handmade Candle inspired by Pele for Wildfire Relief
‘Cinderlight Embers’: A Wildfire Relief Candle Inspired by Pele, Goddess of Fire and Transformation
She who burns with fury and births the sacred earth.
Cinderlight Embers is a tribute to the fierce, untamed spirit of Pele ~ a goddess of volcanic fury, creation, and relentless transformation. It opens with a blaze of orange peel, peppercorn, and cardamom, crackling like embers dancing in the night. At its heart, the fire deepens with ginger, anise, and nutmeg, an intoxicating fusion of heat and spice, evoking the raw power of lava surging through the land. As the scent settles, the grounding warmth of fir, cinnamon, and honey lingers ~ a reminder that even in destruction, there is sweetness, renewal, and the promise of rebirth.
Cinderlight Embers honors Pele’s unyielding presence ~ a force that carves new earth from molten depths, shaping the land with every breath of fire. A portion of proceeds will support wildfire relief efforts, aiding communities in rising from the ashes, rebuilding with resilience, and standing strong in the face of nature’s ever-changing landscape.
Curious about how the layers of scent unfold? Learn more about scent profiles ~ top, heart, and base notes at this blog post: Scent Profiles, Top, Heart, and Base Notes.
Our candles are lovingly handcrafted in our home studio, Nimue’s Lair, nestled in Walnut Creek, CA. Each one begins with a luxurious blend of coconut-apricot wax, carefully infused with premium fragrance oils. Poured by hand into elegant glass vessels and amber jars, they’re finished with hand-cut labels and enchanted final touches. Every candle is a small ritual, infused with magick, intention, and the quiet glow of story.
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Scent Notes:
Top: Orange Peel, Peppercorn, Cardamom
Heart: Ginger, Anise, Nutmeg
Base: Fir, Cinnamon, Honey
Essential oils: Orange Peel, Cassia Leaf, and Ginger Root
Seasonal Resonance: Autumn’s Ember 🍂🔥
A fragrance shaped by warmth and transformation, where the glow of embers lingers in the crisp autumn air, and the earth hums with quiet intensity. Spiced and grounding, this scent carries the essence of flickering flames, golden light, and the ever-present dance of creation and renewal.
🔥 Primary Category: Spicy & Warm
Cardamom, ginger, anise, nutmeg, and cinnamon infuse a rich, aromatic warmth, evoking the slow burn of embers, the spice of autumn air, and the quiet power of smoldering fire.
🌿 Secondary Category: Woody & Earthy
Fir and honey bring a grounding depth, softening the heat with a golden, resinous sweetness, like the scent of sun-warmed earth, and the whisper of flames fading into the night.
A scent that mirrors autumn’s quiet fire ~ warm, luminous, and pulsing with the essence of transformation. 🔥🍁
Please visit this blog post for more information on Scent Profiles, Top, Heart, and Base Notes.
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12 oz Deluxe – Aura Glass · Coco Apricot Wax
Burn Time: 60+ hours
Bold and enduring, this candle fills your space with myth and memory. Crafted for spacious sanctuaries, this candle shines in wide-open living rooms, high-ceilinged studios, and sacred hearths ~ places where scent is free to roam and the flame becomes a luminous companion to stillness and story.8 oz Classic – Amber Jar · Coco Apricot Wax
Burn Time: 50–60 hours
A perfect size for quiet corners and thoughtful pauses. Let it warm your reading nook, home office, or bedside altar, where its flame flickers like a whisper of intention.4 oz Petite – Amber Jar · Coco Apricot Wax
Burn Time: 20–25 hours
Small in size, rich in presence. This candle is ideal for travel, gifting, or sanctifying intimate spaces - guest rooms, personal altars, or quiet corners where scent and flame are invited to linger with intention. -
For detailed information about our waxes, wicks, fragrance blends, and vessels, please see our Ingredients & Materials Guide.
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For guidance on how to tend your flame with care, ensuring the cleanest, safest, and most enchanting burn, please visit our Candle Care Guide.
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Please visit the Shipping and Returns Information page for details.
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All photographs, images, and written content on this website are original works of Hekate's Torch Apothecary, LLC (doing business as Hekate’s Flame Apothecary) and are protected by copyright. They may not be used, altered, shared, or reposted on any platform without explicit written consent. All label designs, photos, images, and content are the exclusive property of Hekate's Torch Apothecary, LLC.
For inquiries regarding the use of our content, please contact: care@hekatesflame.com
© 2025 Hekate's Torch Apothecary, LLC. All rights reserved.
Content Warning:
This post explores ancient myths that include themes of violence, including assault and warfare, which may be sensitive for some readers. Please proceed with care and be mindful of your well-being while engaging with these stories.
Pele, Goddess of Fire and Creation: Keeper of Volcanic Fury and Wild Renewal
A land of fire and ash, where the earth trembles and the sky glows with molten gold. Here, the bones of the earth crack open, spilling rivers of molten light that carve their path through darkness. Smoke rises in great plumes, curling into the heavens, carrying the scent of transformation. This is Pele’s domain, where destruction and creation waltz in an eternal embrace, shaping the land anew with each fiery breath. She is creator and destroyer, molding the Hawaiian Islands with her relentless power. Her molten rivers carve new earth, her breath rises from the caldera, carried by the winds, and her presence endures in the ever-changing landscapes of the islands.
To the Hawaiian people, Pele is not just a legend but a living force. Her fiery temperament and sacred spirit are entwined into the land. Fire, in all its raw beauty, mirrors Pele’s nature, both a force of destruction and renewal. Just as Pele’s eruptions forge new land, fire in the modern world ravages forests and communities, leaving behind devastation yet also paving the way for regeneration. Honoring Pele is acknowledging the power of fire, not only in mythology but in the real world, where respect, preparedness, and support for those affected by its fury are vital.
The Birth of a Flame: Pele’s Origins and Mythology
Pele’s origins stretch across the vast Pacific and echoed throughout Polynesian mythology. According to one legend, she was born in Honua-Mea, a distant land, often identified with Tahiti, to Haumea, an ancient Earth goddess, and Kane Milohai, the creator of the sky, earth, and heavens. From the moment of her birth, fire danced in her eyes, marking her as a child of flame and sealing her fate as a goddess of volcanic power.
Pele was a force of nature ~ passionate, powerful, and fiercely determined. Some versions of her myth describe her leaving her homeland after conflicts with her family, whether due to her extraordinary command over fire or a deep and personal betrayal. One tale speaks of Pele’s love for the husband of her sister, Namakaokahai, the goddess of the sea. Overcome with fury and heartbreak, Namakaokahai pursued Pele with relentless waves, driving her across the ocean in a clash of elemental power.
Gifted a mighty canoe by her brother Kamohoali’i, the shark god, Pele embarked on a perilous voyage across the Pacific, seeking a place where her flames could burn undisturbed. But the journey was not hers alone. Within her bosom, she carried an egg ~ her beloved youngest sister, Hi’iaka, who would later become the goddess of hula and healing.
Pele’s journey mirrored the formation of the Hawaiian Islands themselves. Each place she landed, she drove her digging stick, Pāoa, into the earth, attempting to carve a fiery home. First, she struck Kauai, but before she could settle, Namakaokahai found her, summoning towering waves that drowned Pele’s newborn fires. Forced to flee, she traveled to Oahu, Molokai, and then Maui, each time igniting the land with molten flame, only to be driven back by her sister’s relentless waters.
At last, on the Big Island of Hawaii, Pele found her sanctuary. In the mighty Kīlauea volcano, she dug deep into the earth, creating Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, her eternal fire pit. But her battle with Namakaokahai reached its climax on the island’s rugged terrain. In their final confrontation, the sea goddess tore Pele’s mortal body apart, scattering her remains across the land. Yet Pele was not defeated. Instead, she was transformed, transcending flesh and taking her place as an immortal deity, forever residing in the molten heart of Kīlauea.
Even in her divine form, Pele remained an active presence. Her fiery veins pulse beneath the island, her eruptions shape the land, and her spirit lingers in the glowing embers illuminating the night sky. To this day, her story is written in the earth itself, a saga of exile, struggle, and ultimate triumph, reflected in the living fire of Hawaii’s volcanic landscapes.
Pele’s Dominion: Goddess of Volcanoes, Fire, and Transformation
Pele’s presence extends beyond myth, embodied in the raw, untamed power of Kīlauea. Her molten breath rises in plumes of smoke and ember, a testament to the ceaseless transformation she brings to the land. As one of the most active volcanoes in the world, Kīlauea stands as a living reflection of Pele’s essence, its eruptions both revered and acknowledged as a force of continual change.
The paradox of her nature, both destructive and creative, defines her sacred role. Each eruption reshapes the islands, forging new land from molten rock while consuming forests and villages in its path. Hawaiians honor this process not as mere devastation but as a necessary force of renewal, a cyclical transformation where destruction makes way for rebirth.
The landscape of her domain is fearsome and sacred. The strands of volcanic glass known as Pele’s Hair, formed when molten lava is stretched into fine threads by the wind, are said to be remnants of her spirit. The blackened lava fields left in her wake are not seen as desolation but sacred grounds awaiting renewal.
Her influence extends beyond the land itself. The fiery glow of her eruptions ignites the clouds, casting the sky in brilliant shades of crimson, while her lava collides with the ocean in an explosive fusion of elements.
This meeting of fire and water, symbolizing the legendary struggle between Pele and Namakaokahai, continues to shape Hawaii’s shores, expanding the islands even as the waves crash upon them.
Even in her most violent moments, Pele is a force of reverence. Hawaiians honor her with chants, offerings, and dances, recognizing that while she is fierce and unpredictable, she is also the giver of land, the mother of the islands. Her legend reminds those who dwell in her shadow that nature is not to be conquered but respected, for Pele’s fire is an unrelenting heartbeat beneath the surface of Hawaii.
The Power and Presence of Pele: Stories of Love, Rivalry, and Divine Will
Pele’s fiery spirit is as intense as her creative force. She is not a distant or passive deity; her love burns as brightly as her molten rivers, and her conflicts shape the very foundation of the islands.
Pele and Lohiau: A Love That Defied Fate
One of the most well-known stories of Pele speaks of her connection to Lohiʻau, a mortal chief of Kauai. Pele first encountered him in a dream, drawn to his presence, and sent her sister Hiʻiaka to bring him to her. The journey was long and filled with challenges, and Hiʻiaka, though devoted to her sister, was bound by Pele’s conditions: she was not to grow close to Lohiʻau beyond the task she had been given.
When Hiʻiaka arrived, she found that Lohiʻau had passed away. Refusing to accept this fate, she called upon her divine power to restore him to life, ensuring he could return with her to Pele. However, as they journeyed back, a deep bond formed between them. When Pele, watching from afar, saw Hiʻiaka holding Lohiʻau, she responded with a surge of fiery energy, reshaping the land around them. Hiʻiaka, standing firm in her power, defied expectations and embraced the man she had saved, affirming that love follows its own path. Eventually, Lohiʻau was revived once more, and he chose to remain with Hiʻiaka while Pele continued her journey as a force of creation and transformation.
Fire and Ice: Pele’s Rivalry with Poliʻahu
Among Pele’s many legendary encounters, one of the most striking is her rivalry with Poliʻahu, the goddess of snow. The two deities embodied opposing but equally powerful forces, Pele, ruler of fire and molten rock, and Poliʻahu, guardian of ice and snow on Mauna Kea.
Their legendary clash occurred during a sled race on Mauna Kea, where Pele, disguised as a mortal, joined the festivities. At first, she laughed and raced alongside Poliʻahu, but as the competition intensified, Pele revealed her true form, sending waves of fire down the slopes. Poliʻahu, undeterred, cast her snow across the land, cooling the molten rock and holding her ground. Their struggle is said to shape the island’s contrasting landscapes, Mauna Kea’s snow-covered summit standing in eternal balance with the fiery depths of Kīlauea.
Sacred Offerings and the Spirit of Pele in Hawaiian Culture
For generations, Hawaiians have honored Pele not just as a goddess, but as a living presence woven into the land. Her fire breathes beneath the islands, her presence felt in every tremor of the earth, every eruption that reshapes the land. To recognize Pele is to respect the untamed power of nature, and with that recognition comes the tradition of offerings, rituals, and reverence.
Honoring Pele with Chants, Dance, and Gifts
Pele’s followers have long sought her favor through chants, prayers, and hula, an art form deeply tied to storytelling and the rhythms of the natural world. Hula is not just a dance but a sacred ritual, a movement that mirrors the shifting flow of lava, the breath of fire, and the land's heartbeat. Dancers perform in Pele’s honor, their bodies embodying the rolling waves of molten rock as they offer their movements in tribute.
Offerings to Pele vary, ranging from traditional gifts of flowers, food, and leis to more personal tributes, such as locks of hair, sugarcane, and sacred plants. Some offer gin or brandy, spirits thought to appeal to Pele’s fiery nature. These gifts are left at volcanic sites, often accompanied by whispered prayers for protection, renewal, or mercy.
The Taboos of Pele: Cursed Lava and the Wrath of the Goddess
Among the many stories that surround Pele, few are as enduring as the legend of the cursed lava rocks. Visitors to Hawaii, unaware or dismissive of local traditions, sometimes collect pieces of volcanic rock as souvenirs. But the land of Pele is not to be taken lightly. Those who remove lava from her domain often find themselves afflicted with misfortune, such as sudden illness, accidents, financial ruin, or inexplicable bad luck.
Hawaiian park rangers and post offices regularly receive packages filled with lava rocks, mailed back by regretful tourists who believe they have angered Pele. These letters, often filled with stories of hardship and remorse, serve as a testament to the power of belief, and the weight of cultural respect. Whether one views it as divine punishment or the force of karma, the warning remains clear: to take from Pele without permission is to invite her wrath.
Pele’s Presence in Modern Times: Signs, Sightings, and Folklore
Even in the modern world, Pele is not confined to the pages of legend. She walks among the people, her presence felt in both the fiery heart of the land and the quiet moments of human encounter. She is a goddess who wanders the islands in disguise, appearing at the crossroads of fate to test the kindness of those who cross her path.
The Wandering Goddess: Pele’s Encounters with Mortals
Yet Pele is more than a goddess of creation and rivalry. She is also a divine wanderer, moving unseen among humans. Many Hawaiian legends tell of her appearing in disguise, often as a woman in red or as an elder with a white dog, testing the kindness of those she encounters. Those who act with generosity and respect are blessed, while those who respond with indifference or scorn often find themselves facing the unpredictable nature of the land.
Those who meet her often find her in moments of need: a lost soul hitchhiking along a desolate road, a frail figure asking for food or water, a stranger inquiring about the direction to Kīlauea. Those who stop to help, showing kindness and generosity, are later said to experience blessings or unexpected good fortune.
But those who turn her away, acting with cruelty or indifference, often meet with misfortune, such as a car breaking down moments later, a home mysteriously damaged, or a sense of dread that lingers long after the encounter.
The legend of Pele as a wandering spirit remind us of the values embedded in Hawaiian culture ~ generosity, humility, and reverence for the land. Those who honor these principles are rewarded, while those who disrespect them face the consequences of their actions.
Fire, Fury, and Wild Renewal: Pele and the Lessons of Wildfire
Pele’s fire is both feared and revered and a force of destruction that is, paradoxically, also a source of creation. Her molten rivers consume forests, engulf fields, and reshape the land in ways that inspire awe and demand respect. Yet, the impact of such fires extends beyond the landscape, profoundly affecting the lives of those in their path.
Wildfires, too, hold this dual nature ~ capable of both devastation and renewal. While they leave behind scorched earth and profound loss, the land is not lifeless forever; over time, new growth emerges, nourished by the ashes of what once stood. Still, this process does not erase the hardship of those who must rebuild. The cycle of fire and renewal is a powerful force that calls for both reverence and compassion, recognizing the resilience of the land and the people who call it home.
Fire has long been a natural agent of renewal, clearing dead vegetation, releasing seeds, and fostering new growth in many ecosystems. From the towering redwoods of California to the vast grasslands of the Australian Outback, it has played a vital role in maintaining ecological balance. However, human activity has disrupted this cycle, altering fire’s role from a natural process to a crisis.
Driven by climate change, deforestation, and land mismanagement, today’s wildfires burn hotter, spread faster, and consume more than nature ever intended. What was once a process of renewal has, in many places, become an unchecked force, threatening landscapes, wildlife, and communities alike.
In Pele’s mythology, the land she creates is meant to endure, shaped by fire but never exploited. Yet, in the modern world, human interference has thrown this delicate balance into disarray. Instead of clearing the way for renewal, many fires now leave behind destruction so severe that recovery takes decades, if it comes at all.
Lessons from Pele: Respecting Fire’s Power
Pele’s myths teach a lesson that remains vital today: fire is neither good nor evil. It is a force to be respected. Just as Hawaiians honor Pele’s domain and approach her volcanic landscapes with reverence, we, too, must learn to respect fire’s role in the natural world. By understanding its ecological function, mitigating its destructive potential, and supporting recovery efforts, we uphold the principles of balance and renewal that Pele’s stories embody.
To honor Pele is to cherish the land and to recognize that destruction and rebirth are intertwined and that maintaining harmony is essential. In Hawaiian tradition, offerings are left as gestures of respect, acknowledging Pele’s power. In a broader sense, respecting the forces that shape the earth means taking responsibility for the landscapes we inhabit, working to prevent avoidable destruction, and restoring what has been lost.
Honoring Pele: A Portion of Proceeds Donated to Wildfire Relief
Just as Pele’s fire renews, Cinderlight Embers at Hekate’s Flame Apothecary supports Direct Relief, a fierce and reliable force in wildfire response far beyond California.
Rooted in California: From the Sierra foothills to the coastal canyons, Direct Relief provides N95 masks, emergency medicine, and grant funding to clinics and first responders throughout wildfire-stricken regions of the state, ensuring help reaches those most affected by smoke, displacement, and loss.
Blazing Across Borders: Direct Relief extends this mission globally, responding to wildfire crises in places like Australia, where they’ve delivered respirators and treatment supplies to protect frontline workers and vulnerable communities facing severe smoke and heat.
Wherever Fire Touches Earth: Their aid doesn’t end with fire. When volcanoes erupted in Guatemala and Hawai‘i, or hurricanes devastated the Caribbean, Direct Relief mobilized swiftly, bringing pharmaceutical aid, emergency supplies, and on-the-ground support to those caught in catastrophe.
Pele, Guardian of Fire and Renewal
A force both feared and revered, Pele is the fire at the heart of Hawaii, the goddess who carves the earth with molten hands, shaping land from liquid rock.
Her story is of destruction and creation, an eternal dance of fury and rebirth.
To honor Pele is to understand fire’s dual nature: it consumes, yet it clears the way for new life. Her eruptions are not just acts of devastation but of transformation, mirroring the cycle of wildfires that destroy and renew the land.
Picture the glow of the Cinderlight Embers candle, burning in remembrance of Pele’s sacred fire ~ a flame that speaks of loss, resilience, and regeneration. With each flicker, we honor the land’s renewal, support those affected by wildfire, and recognize that from even the profound destruction, life will rise again.
From the molten depths of Kīlauea to the wildfire-scorched lands of today, Pele’s lesson remains: fire does not merely destroy; it transforms. And from the ashes, life always rises. Like the islands forged in her embrace, we endure, we rebuild, and we honor the dance of flame and earth, knowing that creation and destruction are but two sides of the same eternal force.it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
References:
Big Island Guide. (n.d.). Legends of Pele. Big Island Guide. Retrieved March 2, 2025, from https://bigislandguide.com/legends-of-pele#:~:text=An%20ancient%20Hawaiian%20deity%20that,of%20all%20the%20Hawaiian%20Islands
Dhar, R. (2024, October 31). Pele: Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes. History Cooperative. Retrieved March 2, 2025, from https://historycooperative.org/pele-goddess-of-fire-and-volcanoes/
Illes, J. (2010). Encyclopedia of spirits: The ultimate guide to the magic of fairies, genies, demons, ghosts, gods & goddesses. Harper Collins.
Launiu, S. N. (2024, August 7). Pele: Hawaiian volcano goddess of power. Hawaii Volcano Expeditions. Retrieved March 2, 2025, from https://hawaiivolcanoexpeditions.com/pele-hawaiian-volcano-goddess-power/
Littleton, C. S. (2002). Mythology: the illustrated anthology of world myth & storytelling. Duncan Baird.
Monaghan, P. (2014). Encyclopedia of goddesses and heroines. New World Library.
Roberts Hawaii. (n.d.). The legend behind Hawaii’s goddess of fire. Roberts Hawaii. Retrieved March 2, 2025, from https://www.robertshawaii.com/blog/legend-behind-hawaiis-goddess-fire/
