[This part and the forthcoming sequels are an elaborated version of the original article entitled “The Norse Goddesses behind the Asir Veil: The Vanir Mothers in Continental Scandinavia—a late Shamanistic Branch of the Old European Civilization?” by Märta-Lena Bergstedt & Kirsten Brunsgaard Clausen, included in Goddesses in Myth, History and Culture (Mago Books, 2018) Edited by Mary Ann Beavis and Helen Hye-Sook Hwang.]
RAN, Mother of the Sea—and Her Nine Daughters
Mother Earth, När has a sister-friend, Ran. She is a Mater (Stella) Maris icon. She is called the Völva/Vala of the Sea and Mother Sea.[1] The number of two, the twin or double phenomenon, is an old symbol signifying abundance and wealth.[2] The Terra Mater (the classical Mother Earth icon) is portrayed nurturing two wild beasts at her breasts. The female on the När stone is spreading her two legs to the sides, her life-giving womb in the center (Fig. 29, 30, 31), and likewise does the classic two-tailed mer-mother hold out her two fish-tails to either side, one in each hand, allowing all creatures of the Oceans to be born from her holy watery womb.[3] Indeed, an image far away from today´s sterile, one-fish-tailed mer-maid of the fairytales.
Also, like her Earth-sister När, Ran also has nine sea-daughters.[4] Their names identify nine different types of sea-surfaces and waves: Himingläva, (Mirroring-the-Clear-Sky, the totally calm surface of the sea), Duva (Gentle-Rippels), Blodughadda (Foamy-Waves, Tempered-Waves?),[5] Hefring (Heaving), Unn (Preferable wave for sailing?)[6], Rönn(“Rännil”, Running Wave), Bylgja (Big wave), Båra/Bára (Stormy-Waves), and Kolga (Uncontrollable Monster Waves).[7]
The old fishermen in Kirsten’s family along the rough Danish west coast, life-long committed to Ran through daily observings of her and her daughters, would note, “Well, She is in a cranky mood today!”, and take their precautions, when leaving the harbor. They never wanted to learn to swim for the sake of falling overboard, for, as they said: “She gives us fishes and food every day of our life. When pay-back time comes, one should not hesitate to go!” Among fishermen, Ran was never understood as any kind of goddess, displaying willed and deliberate intentions. She could not be prayed to, nor be moved to fulfill wishes on condition. Rather, Mother Ran and her daughters may signal personifications of the natural forces that one has to learn to deal with. The fishermen never made sacrifices, but shared their gifts. Sharing went both ways.
Ran or Rån correspond with rå and rådaren/rån, meaning the mother-guardian of the Sea – still known in Sweden as the sjö-rå, guardian of lakes.
(To be Continued)
(Meet Mago Contributor) Kirsten Brunsgaard Clausen.
[1] Johansson, (Skáldskaparmál), Cap. 61.
[2] Vicki Noble, The Double Goddess, (Rochester/Vermont: Bear & Company, 2003).
[3] Jean Adhemar, Influences Antiques dans l´art du Moyen Age Francais (London: The Warburg Institute, 1937), 197-98.
[4] Johansson, (Skáldskaparmál), Cap. 25.
[5] Blood = temperament. Projekt Runeberg. http://runeberg.org
[6] Lone Mogensen, Himlasagor, 179 (unn, unna, ynnest)
[7] Båra or Bára like the modern Danish bør, sharp wind (pronounced “bheur”) corresponding to the Gaelic icon, Cailleach Bheur/ Bheurr/ Bhearra (Mother of the Tempest).
Johansson, (Skáldskparmál), Cap. 25, 61. Brunsgaard Clausen, Scandinavian Cailleach, 2.
[8] Photo from book: Adhemar, J. 1937XIV. Images of Mare Mater, La Mere is familiar all over Europe.