As Day Three started, I woke up thinking about the evocation the night before. I couldn’t feel Pele, Belial, or Abaddon. This had me doubting myself a little, but I resolved that I was following the lessons to be learned. Still, things felt a little off as we climbed into the car and I couldn’t feel anything but local spirits around.
Surrounded by my family, it was a lonely drive to Volcanoes National Park. They were having a great time, but my head was on the evocation the night before. I could reach out and feel the landscape, feel the life everywhere in this landscape teeming with nature. Yet, I couldn’t feel those larger forces I’d become accustomed to – those demonized Deities I could simply reach out for and feel at this point.
After driving for a while, we got out for the Iridescent Fissure and Ice Cream Cone Walk hike. One thing about living on Oahu for over a year prior to going to the Big Island was that you appreciate, but aren’t amazed by, some of the same sights you’d see on Oahu. When we set off onto the dirt trail leading to the hike, I figured it wouldn’t be too different from things we’d seen back home. I clearly hadn’t looked at pictures of the hike.
“Holy Hell, Madame Pele…” I whispered as we emerged onto a barren wasteland that looked more like a lunar landscape than the tropical paradise one expects from Hawaii. The flaky, dry ground was dotted with different types of formations, each unique in its design, that had been created in the 1969 eruption. “Well done”.
“I’m glad you like it.” I heard her say and hadn’t realized she was right beside me. She was clearly pleased that I was so taken aback. She had also noticeably softened her demeanor, for which I was thankful. It was at this point that our interactions started to change, becoming more familiar, more conversational, and answers started coming from even mundane questions. I did engage her based on her myths and legends, while waiting for some indication that they weren’t important.
“Is there any particular reason why this area was chosen for this eruption? Did it have some significance that I’m not aware of?” She shrugged and continued looking out over the landscape.
“Sometimes, I guess you just have to clear off the table”, I remarked. She was amused.
