Handfasting Ritual

Handfasting

(This was done as a renewal of vows, using matching bracelets for tokens.)

Gathering the Circle

HPS takes broom and sweeps area (as music plays). She sets the broom to one side of the altar. She lights the bride and groom candles on either side of the union candle. She rings a bell three times.

The Wedding Procession

Four Elements are carried by four family members/friends; Bride and Groom follow them, with HPS behind holding athame aloft.

Entire group walks the circle once, and HPS casts circle as she follows all others. The Four Elements will take cardinal compass points around the couple, and HPS then moves in front of North.

HPS: In this sacred circle of Light, We gather in perfect love and perfect trust. O’ Goddess of divine love, I ask thee to bless this couple, their love and their marriage for as long as they shall live in love together. May they each enjoy a healthy life, filled with joy, stability and fertility.

Calling the Quarters and Invocations

(All Elements will be held out to the couple, who hold hands over them)

[East/Air:]

Hail to the East, Powers of Air, Isis and Hermes who shine with the dawn; Stand witness to our rite, lend us your understanding and bring with you clear vision and hope for a bright future. By the wind that is our breath, Hail, and Blessed Be!

[All respond:] Hail and Blessed Be!

[South/Fire:]

Hail to the South, Powers of Fire, Brigit and Baldur, who blaze at mid-day; Stand witness to our rite, Bring with you the heat of devotion and passionate love. By the flame that burns in our heart, Hail, and Blessed Be!

[All respond:] Hail and Blessed Be!

[West/Water]

Hail to the West, Powers of Water, Aphrodite and Poseidon, who shine in the twilight; Stand witness to our rite, lend us your fluid grace and bring with you the power of deep emotions and nurturing love. By the sea that is our blood, Hail, and Blessed Be!

[All respond:] Hail and Blessed Be!

[North/Earth:]

Hail to the North, Powers of Earth, Gaia and Gofannon, who hold us through the night; Stand witness to our rite, lend us your mountainous strength and bring with you the powers of solid support and enduring love. By the earth that is our body, Hail, and Blessed Be!

[All respond:] Hail and Blessed Be!

(Elements then place their symbols on the altar in the appropriate location, and are seated or move to the side so that only the HPS and the couple stand in a triangle before the altar)

The Groom lights the God side of the God/Goddess candle with his blue candle.

HPS: We welcome the presence of the Lord who comes today to take his bride unto himself.

The Bride lights the Goddess side of the God/Goddess candle with her pink candle.

HPS: We welcome the presence of the Lady who comes today to join with Her Groom.

Opening Statement

HPS: I welcome you, the friends and family of (Groom) and (Bride) to their handfasting. Today they renew the vows of marriage already made, and pledge themselves once more to each other for as long as love shall last. We share in this sacred moment with them as they stand before this company in the presence of the Divine and make their promises, one to the other.

HPS turns to Groom and says: Do you solemnly swear that you are here today of your own free will and that you seek this handfasting with (Bride) as a sign of your love for her?

Groom answers: I do.

HPS then signs the pentacle upon him, “sealing” him within his promise.

HPS turns to Bride and says: Do you solemnly swear that you are here today of your own free will and that you seek this handfasting with (Groom) as a sign of your love for him?

Bride answers: I do.

HPS then signs the pentacle upon her, “sealing” her within her promise.

HPS faces both and says: Then repeat after me:

(She feeds these lines to the couple, Groom going first):

Groom: You cannot possess me for I belong to myself. But while we both wish it, I give you that which is mine to give. You cannot command me for I am a free person. But I shall serve you in those ways you require and the honeycomb will taste sweeter coming from my hand. I pledge to you that yours will be the name I cry aloud in the night, and the eyes into which I smile in the morning. I pledge to you the first bite from my meat and the first drink from my cup. I pledge to you my living and my dying, each equally in your care. I shall be a shield for your back, and you for mine. I shall not slander you, nor you me. I shall honor you above all others, and when we quarrel, we shall do so in private and tell no strangers our grievances. This is my wedding vow to you. This is the marriage of equals.

(HPS turns to Bride)

Bride: You cannot possess me for I belong to myself. But while we both wish it, I give you that which is mine to give. You cannot command me for I am a free person. But I shall serve you in those ways you require and the honeycomb will taste sweeter coming from my hand. I pledge to you that yours will be the name I cry aloud in the night, and the eyes into which I smile in the morning. I pledge to you the first bite from my meat and the first drink from my cup. I pledge to you my living and my dying, each equally in your care. I shall be a shield for your back, and you for mine. I shall not slander you, nor you me. I shall honor you above all others, and when we quarrel, we shall do so in private and tell no strangers our grievances. This is my wedding vow to you. This is the marriage of equals.

HPS says: These promises you make by the sun and the moon, by fire and water, by day and night, by land and sea. With these vows you swear, by the God and Goddess, to be full partners, each to the other. If one drops the load, the other will pick it up. If one is a discredit to the other, his own honor will be forfeit, generation upon generation, until he repairs that which was damaged and finds that which was lost. Should you fail to keep the oath you pledge today, the elements themselves will reach out and destroy you.

Lighting of the union candle

HPS says: By the bringing and sharing of light, display your intent; let the two fires of your spirits and love for one another merge as one.

Vows

HPS (to BRIDE): Take the hand of your love in yours.

The BRIDE takes GROOM's left hand in her left and says:

My love, now do I make my promises to you. I promise to share laughter in times of joy and wonder; to share tears when sorrow touches our lives; to share my dreams and hopes, that our love and minds may grow; to share compassion and understanding in times of frustration and anger; to share all that I have, and all that I am, for as long as love shall last.

(HPS ties one end of cord/ribbon/rope to groom’s wrist)

HPS (to GROOM): Take the hand of your love in yours.

The GROOM takes BRIDE's right hand in his right and says:

I ask you to be my partner in marriage. I ask that you accept my strengths and faults as I promise to accept yours; I ask for your support and strength when mine own does fail me, as I promise my strength and support in your times of need. I bring you, with best intention, my love, my understanding, all that I have and all that I am.

(HPS ties other end of cord/ribbon/rope to bride’s wrist)

HPS: As your hands are bound by this cord, so is your partnership held by the symbol of this knot. May it be granted that what is done before the gods be not undone by man. Two entwined in love, bound by commitment and fear, sadness and joy, by hardship and victory, anger and reconciliation, all of which brings strength to this union. Together you are stronger than either of you apart.

May you always find the balance within your union, holding tight to one another through both good times and bad, watching as your love grows.

Blessing of the bracelets

HPS takes the two bracelets and places them in the Goddess bowl. She then says:

You have already pledged your love and made your vows, and now give each other bracelets that seal that pledge. I ask the Goddess to bless these symbols of your love anew that they strengthen in their meaning as each day passes. I ask the God to bless these bracelets that their shine may remind you of the eternal newness of your lives together, each day a new beginning together. They are circles, eternally a reminder that the Wheel of the Year turns ever onward, and we shall come around again to the place we were. By the blessing of these tokens of your love for one another, so are your lives interlaced. What one experiences, so shall the other; as honesty and love build, so will your bond strengthen and grow. These shall serve as physical reminders of your vow. May The God and the Goddess bless you as you reaffirm your love and vows to each other.

HPS hands Bride’s bracelet to Groom. She says: Repeat after me.

Groom:

I give you this bracelet as a token of my enduring love for you. May you wear it for as long as love shall last as a symbol of the pledges we have made today.

HPS hands Groom’s bracelet to Bride. She says: Repeat after me.

Bride:

I give you this bracelet as a token of my enduring love for you. May you wear it for as long as love shall last as a symbol of the pledges we have made today.

Blessing of the couple

HPS: As the sea is eternal, so is your love; As the wind is all-encompassing, so is your love; As the earth is solid beneath your feet, so is your love. And yet, your love is so great that it even soars beyond the sea and the wind and the earth. It is so perfect to be standing beside each other here, among these elements which reflect the love you have for each other as you commit yourselves once more to each other today.

You may kiss each other.

Cakes and Ale

Dismissing the Quarters

North/Earth:

Hail to the North, Powers of Earth. We thank you for your presence and all that it brings. Our rite is ended. Go now, and may we meet again. Hail and Farewell.

[All respond:] Hail and Farewell!

West/Water:

Hail to the West, Powers of Water. We thank you for your presence and all that it brings. Our rite is ended. Go now, and may we meet again. Hail and Farewell.

[All respond:] Hail and Farewell!

South/Fire:

Hail to the South, Powers of Fire. We thank you for your presence and all that it brings. Our rite is ended. Go now, and may we meet again. Hail and Farewell.

[All respond:] Hail and Farewell!

East/Air:

Hail to the East, Powers of Air. We thank you for your presence and all that it brings. Our rite is ended. Go now, and may we meet again. Hail and Farewell.

[All respond:] Hail and Farewell!

They form up around the couple in the appropriate place.

HPS: Through the powers of Love, and the blessing of the god and goddess do I now pronounce you handfast! Blessed be!

We thank the Lord and Lady for Their presence and Their blessings. Go if You must or stay if You will. We bid Them Hail and Farewell.

HPS takes up the athame and walks the circle in reverse, opening it up, then says:

The circle is open, but never broken…

(HPS rings bell three times, all can sing)

HPS lays broom across path, so that as the bride and groom leave the area, they jump over it.