"Waking the Witch" by Rachel Burge is a novel that explores themes of witchcraft and the supernatural. The story follows protagonist Mia as she discovers her own powers as a witch and navigates the mysterious world of magic. As a teenager, Mia is drawn to the occult and begins experimenting with spells and rituals. However, her interest in witchcraft soon leads her to uncover a dark secret about her family's past and the role of witches in society. The novel delves into the history and mythology surrounding witches, exploring their real-life persecution in the past and their continued presence in modern culture. Burge skillfully weaves together elements of fantasy and realism, creating a world where the supernatural coexists with the everyday.
We appreciate anyone's interest regarding this matter, however, it is our policy to "NOT" participate in any commercial TV production projects and /or magazine or newspaper articles about Lava Rock Return and the commercialization of such, no exception.
If you like you can send your story via email to us, so posting it will make it much easier for our volunteers and we don t have to type it from a handwritten letter. You may believe this , or you may not, there is no scientific proof, but many people believe that lava rocks that have wrongfully been taken from Hawaii should be returned by the person who took them.
Burge skillfully weaves together elements of fantasy and realism, creating a world where the supernatural coexists with the everyday. Through Mia's journey, the author also touches on themes of identity and empowerment. As Mia learns to embrace her powers and understand her place in the world, she also grapples with questions of morality and the consequences of using magic.
Hawaii's 'Cursed' Lava Rocks Are Driving National Park Staff Insane
Few places are as steeped in mythology as the Hawaiian Islands. And as an archipelago literally borne out of fire, one of Hawaiʻi's most famous legends is that of Pele, or Pelehonuamea, the charismatic volcano goddess.
Sometime during 20th century, a false but pervasive superstition regarding Pele's "cursed rocks" began to creep around Hawaiʻi's national parks, especially those with active volcanoes. The story goes that if a rock, or even grain of sand, is taken from Pele's domain, a curse will fall upon you. As a result, hundreds of stolen items are allegedly returned to the National Park Service each year by people frightened of Pele's comeuppance.
AdvertisementHawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea Caldera, Halema'uma'u Crater Vent. Image: Flickr/Jeff Moore
Over the last several decades, Pele's name has been corrupted by the tourism industry, according to National Park Service records obtained by Motherboard through a Freedom of Information Act request.
"There is NO 'Curse of the Rocks,'" a cultural interpreter for the National Park Service wrote in a document that was circulated internally. "Many believe that the idea of lava rocks being cursed gained traction in the 1940s or 1950s when tour guides grew tired of cleaning their vehicles of lava and/or black sand after tours to Kalapana [a popular destination on the island of Hawaiʻi for viewing active lava flows]."
While the cautionary tale might seem harmless—even staving off klepto behavior (I grew up in Hawaiʻi and remember being warned about Pele's intolerance for thieves)—some residents loathe the myth for being culturally appropriative—an "ethnic" story that fits with outsiders' desires to test the will of gods with whom they have no connection. As such, National Park Service staff seem eager to put out the fire, so to speak.
"You know, in Native Hawaiian oli [chants], hula, or mele [songs], there's no saying that Pele would curse you if you took a rock from Kilauea or anywhere else," Jessica Ferracane, a public affairs specialist for Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, told me.
In an email to a USA Today reporter regarding a story on Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Ferracane referred to the superstition as "deeply offensive" to the islands' indigenous community.
AdvertisementThe senior director of communications at the Hawaiʻi Visitors and Convention Bureau, Darlene Morikawa, later wrote to Ferracane that she's heard the tale so often, she's become "numb" to reading about it.
It's true that Native Hawaiian history makes no mention of Pele's penchant for punishing pilferers. While there are many parables about her mercurial ways—according to legend, she once killed the friend of her sister Hiʻiaka for taking too long to run an errand—the goddess never had it out for greedy tourists.
Still, taking items or artifacts from national parks is against the law. "There are actual federal laws not to remove, tamper with, or destroy natural resources," Ferracane said.
Curiously, cursed rocks aren't unique to Hawaiʻi, either. A similar phenomenon has been plaguing Arizona's Petrified Forest National Park for decades, according to Ryan Thompson and Phil Orr who wrote Bad Luck, Hot Rocks: Conscience Letters and Photographs From the Petrified Forest. Sifting through the national park's archives, Thompson and Orr discovered letters from hundreds of apologetic visitors, desperate to rid themselves of the contraband that supposedly caused the death of their cat, their broken down car, or a trip to the emergency room.
There's some speculation among National Park Service staff that "tabloid" stories are responsible for keeping the myth alive. (Just last week, dozens of outlets wrote about Jennifer Lawrence's unfortunate desecration of sacred, "cursed" stones while filming The Hunger Games: Catching Fire on Maui.)
AdvertisementThe remains of a lava flow on the Big Island. Image: Flickr/Roger Meyer
While it's probably a good idea to send rocks back to where they came from, some online citizens offer an intermediary return service (for a voluntary donation), proudly publishing customers' remorseful stories on their website.
As a result, Hawaiʻi's national parks are constantly fielding returned items and guilty consciences. Letters addressed to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park are received daily, while repatriated rocks arrive at least once per week, according to Ferrante. Even local post offices receive stolen stones, sometimes simply addressed to "postmaster."
In 2015, the Hawaiian Islands saw 8.6 million visitors, according to the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority. The fierce splendor of Hawaiʻi's still-active volcanoes attracted 1.6 million visitors to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park in 2013, generating some $113,376,400 in revenue for surrounding business.
Ultimately, the apocryphal story of Pele's curse is unlikely to go away anytime soon. But if there's one thing that people like Ferracane want, it's for tourists to explore the authentic side of Native Hawaiian culture.
"[The superstition] wasn't started in a mean way. But here, people are told that taking pohaku [stones] is a sign of disrespect. You wouldn't take something that doesn't belong to you from somebody's house," she added.
That's just good manners.
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Burge presents a nuanced depiction of witchcraft, showing that it is not inherently good or evil, but rather a tool that can be used for both positive and negative purposes. The prose in "Waking the Witch" is evocative and atmospheric, immersing the reader in a world of spells, curses, and ancient rituals. Burge's vivid descriptions bring the setting to life, whether it's a cozy cottage where Mia practices her magic or a mist-covered forest where supernatural beings lurk. Overall, "Waking the Witch" is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that explores the themes of witchcraft, identity, and empowerment. Through Mia's journey, readers are invited to reconsider their perceptions of witchcraft and to question the role of magic in their own lives. With its rich world-building and compelling story, this novel is a must-read for fans of the supernatural genre..
Reviews for "The Art of Divination: Rachel Burge's Insights into Witchcraft Practices"
1. Amy - 2 stars - I really wanted to like "Waking the Witch" by Rachel Burge, but I found it to be quite underwhelming. The pacing was extremely slow and the story lacked tension and suspense. The main character felt flat and I struggled to connect with her and care about what was happening. Overall, I was disappointed with this novel and wouldn't recommend it to others looking for a gripping and compelling witch-themed story.
2. David - 1 star - "Waking the Witch" was a huge letdown for me. The writing style felt amateurish and lacked depth. The plot was predictable and uninspiring, failing to hold my interest throughout. The world-building was minimal and left me wanting more. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked development. Overall, this book felt like a wasted opportunity and I regret reading it.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Waking the Witch" as I'm a fan of the witch genre, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The story was filled with clichés and lacked originality. The twists and turns were predictable and I found myself losing interest. The romance aspect felt forced and detracted from the overall plot. While it had potential, the execution fell flat and I'm unable to recommend it to others.
4. Mark - 1 star - "Waking the Witch" by Rachel Burge was a complete disappointment. The writing was mediocre at best, with clunky dialogue and awkward pacing. The characters were uninteresting and lacked depth, making it hard to care about their fates. The plot was predictable and failed to provide any surprises or intrigue. Overall, I found this book to be a lackluster addition to the witch genre and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.