By Lorraine R. Freedle
with Foreword by Don Kalsched and Afterword by Martin Kalff
When a Goddess Erupts explores the living mythology of Pele–where myth, nature, and the psyche intertwine in a timeless dance of creation, destruction, and renewal. This heartfelt and multilayered book is rooted in Hawaiian culture, firsthand experiences with Pele’s fiery eruptions, and decades of psychotherapy practice. Through masterful storytelling and vibrant photographs, Dr. Freedle takes readers into her therapy room where images of Pele emerge during Sandplay Therapy to help her clients transform their lives–inspiring us to kindle our own inner fires.
Pele: A Living Goddess
Pele, Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes, is alive in the ‘āina (land) and Hawaiian people. An ever-present archetypal force accessible to all, she takes many forms. Her story is one of trauma, exile, self-discovery, and spiritual rebirth. Respecting and harnessing her potent energies allows people to navigate life’s complexities with passion, authenticity, and purpose.
Dr. Freedle describes Hawai’i’s volcanic fury and her community’s resilience during the devastating 2018 Kīlauea eruption. She recounts personal encounters with Pele–both tragic and blessed, and shares stories of women who meet Pele in their psychotherapeutic work. These narratives illuminate themes of cyclical change and profound connections between life, death, and rebirth.
The Healing Power of Sandplay
Dr. Freedle specializes in Sandplay Therapy, an expressive modality developed by Dora Kalff and inspired by C.G. Jung’s theories. In this mindful practice, clients use sand and figurines to create scenes and activate the healing capacity of the unconscious. Freedle explains seven key principles of sandplay and shares vivid images made during sessions as the process unfolds. No prior sandplay experience is required; languages of archetype and image are universal.
Stories of Transformation: Five Remarkable Journeys
Inspiring journeys of five women, guided by Pele’s archetypal energies as they navigate life’s challenges:
- Lehua, a Native Hawaiian girl draws upon Pele’s lessons to face anxiety amidst community crises–from a major eruption to the global pandemic.
- Ginger, an environmental activist, confronts burnout and perfectionism, finding strength to embrace the unknown through surrender to Pele’s wisdom.
- Maile, a Native Hawaiian career woman and mother, taps into Pele’s elemental energies to confront childhood trauma, channeling her anger into an inner sanctuary of peace and empowerment.
- Daisy, a young gay Christian woman, discovers self-acceptance in a world of conflicted identities, with Pele and the Black Madonna as her guides.
- Puahone, a Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner, releases pain from personal and ancestral trauma to reclaim a sense of self and collective healing, as Pele appears in many forms.
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It Takes a Village: Contributors
Dr. Freedle’s seminal work is supported and ensconced in the wisdom of depth psychology and indigenous philosophy.
- Blessing and original mele (song) by Kekuhi Kealiʻikanakaʻole, written for this book in honor of Lehua (Chapter 4) describes how Pele dances, carrying the beloved to each of the treasured landmarks lost in the 2018 eruption.
- Foreword by Donald Kalsched, Jungian Analyst explores Pele’s trauma story, post-traumatic dissociative defenses, and how sandplay facilitates healing.
- Kumu Hula Ryan McCormack shares Pele and Hiʻiaka stories in Hawaiʻi’s oral tradition and discusses them with the author.
- Afterword by Martin Kalff, esteemed sandplay teacher connects Pele’s mythology to Jung’s Red Book, Tibetan Buddhism, and universal themes of resilience. His global perspective reinforces the relevance of Pele’s lessons in today’s fractured world, offering hope and healing.
- Additional Hawai’i Cultural Practitioners
- Kahu Kauila Clark†
- Kahu Lawrence Kidder
- Kumu Hula and Professor Taupōuri Tangarō
- Hawaiʻi Artists
- Nelson Makua (cover image)
- Linda Rowell Stevens (paintings of the Pele myth)
- Don Hurzeler (lava photography)
Citation: Freedle, L. R. (2025). When a Goddess Erupts: Pele in the psyche of women. Analytical Psychology Press.