Galina Krasskova’s Account:
Fuensanta and I have honored the Nine Daughters of Ran and Aegir regularly for over a year now.
She introduced me to Them and every time I visit her, we go to one of the less-populated beaches on the
shores of the Pacific and make offerings. Because of this and because I recently finished compiling a
devotional that included a substantial section for the Nine Daughters, it seemed particularly fitting to
create an altar to Them as part of this on-going meditation/project that Krei suggested.
We were very, very careful about what we chose to include in the altar, as we wanted to be sure
everything was biodegradable and that nothing would harm the ecosystem. This, to us, seemed only respectful
especially since the altar would be left on the beach for the waves and birds and bugs to devour. The altar
itself was constructed out of a mass of seaweed and kelp that we found on the beach. I had also brought a
large leaf from a vase of lilies that Fuensanta had earlier gotten for her home. I had two abalone shell
bracelets that had been given to us free after a purchase at a local shop and which I wished to return to
the sea, since I find the way most shells are harvested to be both damaging and disrespectful to ocean life,
which is also disrespectful to the Deities of the sea.
Additionally, we brought cherries for the Nine Daughters and orange slices and small bits of bread
for Aegir. A large container of sea salt was poured out in a small mound as an offering to Ran. I scoured
the beach for pretty stones, bits of red kelp, and pods of kelp, with which I also decorated the shrine.
I also added some pretty yellow flowers that I picked prior to going down onto the sand. Fuensanta and
I had earlier in the day, cooked up a lovely glazed salmon, locally caught. She saved the skin and leavings
from the salmon and we placed that on the altar, returning it to the sea and Her animals.
Immediately, a very pugnacious seagull began stalking us. He was very determined and came with back up.
He “cased” the perimeter drawing ever closer and eventually he and his friend had a wonderful meal of salmon skin.
We both felt that he was sent by Unn, especially since he preceded us from the moment we entered the beach proper
and essentially pointed out where we should lay the altar. On our way to and from the beach itself, as an additional
offering, we picked up a lot of garbage that we found on the sand. We offered prayers to the Nine and though there
were a few people milling about, no one bothered us. As we left, it seemed that the waves were coming up to claim
the altar itself, even though it had been created well out of water’s way. Before we left, Fuensanta took the two
abalone shell bracelets and cast them into the sea so that no one else would pocket them.
--May 21, 2007
Galina Krasskova
New York City
Fuensanta Plaza’s Account:
That was a lovely, if short-lived shrine. And maybe it was all the lovelier for being short-lived.
I found that being forced to think of the biodegradable factors, of not harming the wildlife, of not leaving
anything behind that would be an intrusion in Ran’s domain made it a special offering, one that felt even more
careful and respectful than usual.
I loved the flowers that Galina picked right on the edge of the road to the beach. They were perfect
because they were native plants, because they grew right there, despite the salt spray and the sand – or maybe
because of them. I loved the thought of giving back to the ocean the abalone shells that were given to us at
the store for free with our purchase. I loved the idea of bringing back the skin and scraps of the locally
caught salmon we had eaten that day, so that no part of it would be thrown disrespectfully into the trash
(Unn’s seagulls loved that idea best of all, I’m sure). This is one thing I shall continue to do. It strikes
me that the concept of restitution permeated the shrine. I hope They found it to Their liking.
--May 19, 2007
Fuensanta Plaza
Carmel, CA
