From HPS Abbsinthe- A Handfasting Rite00:41 Aug 31 2005
Times Read: 473
Hand fasting Ritual
PAGAN & WICCAN MARRIAGE CEREMONY
OPEN A CIRCLE, SETUP THE ALTAR, BLESS THE HANDS
PRIEST: We have come together here in celebration of the joining together of ____bride______ and ____groom______. There are many things to say about marriage. Much wisdom concerning the joining together of two souls, has come our way through all paths of belief, and from many cultures. With each union, more knowledge is gained and more wisdom gathered. Though we are unable to give all this knowledge to these two, who stand before us, we can hope to leave with them the knowledge of love and its strengths and the anticipation of the wisdom that comes with time. The law of life is love unto all beings. Without love, life is nothing, without love, death has no redemption. Love is anterior to Life, posterior to Death, initial of Creation and the exponent of Earth. If we learn no more in life, let it be this.
PRIESTESS: Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of this, Groom and Bride have come here today to be joined as one in marriage. Others would ask, at this time, who gives the bride in marriage, but, as a woman is not property to be bought and sold, given and taken, I ask simply if she comes of her own will and if she has her family's blessing.
PRIESTESS: Let he who wishes to be hand fasted approach me now.
GROOM steps up to Altar.
PRIEST: Let she who wishes to be hand fasted approach me now.
BRIDE steps to Groom.
PRIEST: Bride , is it true that you come of your own free will and accord?
BRIDE: Yes, it is true.
PRIESTESS: With whom do you come and whose blessings accompany you?.
FATHER: She comes with me, her father, and is accompanied by all of her family's blessings.
PRIEST: Please join hands with your betrothed and listen to that which I am about to say. Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, as time doth pass, remember...
PRIESTESS: Like a stone should your love be firm, like a star should your love be constant. Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in your marriage, let the strength of your wills bind you together, let the power of love and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable.Be close, but not too close. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience with one another, for storms will come, but they will pass quickly.
PRIEST: Be free in giving affection and warmth. Have no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened give you unease, for the Lord and Lady are with you always.
PRIESTESS: Should any of the Spirits here gathered have objections to this union , now is the time to make it known. (Pause for 4 heartbeats)
WREATH CEREMONY
PERSON #1 (placing wreath on altar): This wreath symbolizes the marriage that _________ and _________ are celebrating here today. We, their friends and their family, will create a visual symbol of their vows... A wreath that will decorate their home, as love decorates their lives. This wreath will let them remember the love shared by all of us here today.
PERSON #2: The wreath has been created from ivy, a traditional symbol of Matrimony and Friendship. The circular shape of the wreath mirrors the rings that _________ and _________ have exchanged and symbolizes the never ending devotion that they pledge each other on this day. Ivy does not "feed upon" the tree or stone it clings to, and this is important to its symbolism. Nothing can separate ivy from a tree it has once embraced, and if the tree falls the ivy stays around it. But the ivy is held to the soil by its own roots. It gets nothing from the substance of the companion, and though it dies on the same spot, it dies in its own time, making its own independent gesture. Today _________and _________ have cemented the bond that they share but they have not ceased to grow as individuals.
PERSON #3: These are branches of larkspur, a traditional symbol of humor and levity, and dock, a symbol of patience. These are added with a wish that _________ and _________ never lose the patience and humor which help to sustain their relationship through even the roughest times and which enrich their daily life.
PERSON #4: This rosemary symbolizes remembrance. I add this to the wreath with the wish that _________and _________ never allow each other to forget the way that they feel today, and that they will always recall the romance and passion that they felt on the day of their meeting. This tarragon symbolizes the unselfish regard with which they should treat one another, today and always.
PERSON #5: I add violets and snowdrops which symbolize faithfulness and hope. _________ and _________ will need these traits throughout their lives together. Their faith and trust in one another will be strengthened as time goes on. Without hope, there is no chance of success. With hope they will realize that they can achieve every goal.
PERSON #6: These roses symbolize the passion (hold up red roses before adding to wreath), the beauty (hold up burgundy roses) and unity (hold up red & white roses) that _________ and _________ feel today. May they always take the time to find the beauty around them, the passion within them, and to feel strength that their unity provides them. May they always recall and honor their vows made this day.
PRIEST: Please pass the flame.
Unity Candle: Grandparents will turn to parents, to light their candles. Parents will then pass the flame through the wedding party to the bride and groom.
PRIESTESS: Groom , I have not the right to bind thee to Bride , only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in her hand.
GROOM: It is my wish.
PRIEST: Bride , if it be your wish for Groom to be bound to you, place the ring on his finger. (places ring on Groom's left ring finger)
Bride I have not the right to bind thee to Groom only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in his hand.
BRIDE: It is my wish.
PRIESTESS: Groom , if it be your wish for Bride to be bound to you, place the ring on her finger.(places ring on Bride's left ring finger) (to Groom) Repeat after me:
I, (grooms full name), in the name of the spirit of Lord and lady that
resides within us all, by the life that courses within my blood and the love that resides within my heart, take thee (bride's full name) to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one. To desire thee and be desired by thee, to possess thee, and be possessed by thee, without sin or shame,
for naught can exist in the purity of my love for thee. I promise to love thee wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again.
I shall not seek to change thee in any way. I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people, and thy ways as I respect myself.
PRIEST: Bride , if it be your wish for Groom to be bound to you, place the ring on his finger.(places ring on Groom's left ring finger) (to Bride) Repeat after me:
I (bride's full name), in the name of the spirit of Lord and Lady that resides within us all, by the life that courses within my blood, and the love that resides within my heart, take thee, (Groom's full name) to my hand, my heart, and my spirit to be my chosen one. To desire and be desired by thee, to possess thee, and be possessed by thee, without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for thee. I promise to love thee wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again. I shall not seek to change thee in any way. I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people, and thy ways as I respect myself.
PRIESTESS: (hands chalice to the groom, saying:) May you drink your fill from the cup of love.
(Groom holds chalice to bride while she sips then bride takes chalice and holds it to groom while he sips. The chalice is then handed back to the
Priest who sets it on the table. Next the Priest takes the plate of bread, giving it to the groom. Same procedure repeated with bread, groom feeding bride and bride feeding groom.)
“By the power vested in me by Lord and Lady and the State,
I now pronounce you husband and wife. May your love so endure that its
flame remains a guiding light unto you.”
BRIDE AND GROOM wind cords around their right wrists as Priest and Priestess together say: "By the knots on this cord You’re love is united"
Intertwine them the Priest/ess than ties a knot in the cords.
(leaving enough space for the couples hands to slip thru untied)
PRIESTESS: Now you are bound one to the other, with a tie not easy to break. Take the time of binding, Before the final jump is made, To learn what you need to know- To grow in wisdom and love. That your marriage will be strong, That your love will last, In this life and beyond.
PRIEST: In ancient cultures, the broom was associated with the home and was used in ceremonies to sweep away negative influences that might lurk in the dust. A couple who wished to declare their union would jump together over the broom. Will you, Groom and Bride honor the ways of your ancestors by jumping over the broom?
BRIDE AND GROOM: We shall.
PRIESTESS: Great Mother, abundant source of all, guide Your children on the path of Your love. Hear the voices of the bride and groom fill with joy and gladness in Your honor. Blessed are they in their love and blessed are You who makes them joyful together. (Places broom in front of bride and groom who clasp hands and step over it)
PRIEST: Groom and Bride Have celebrated their union in love! Would you begin your life together with a kiss? (groom kisses bride)
PRIEST: The rose is a symbol of love and a single rose always meant only one thing. It meant the words “I love you” So it is appropriate that for your first gift as husband and wife, that gift would be a rose.
PRIESTESS: Please exchange your first gifts as husband and wife. (Pause) In some ways it seems like you have not done anything at all. Just a moment ago you were holding one small rose - and now you are holding one small rose. In some ways a marriage ceremony is like this. In some ways, tomorrow is going to seem no different than yesterday. But in fact today, just now, you both have given and recieved one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life - one I hope you will always remember- the gift of true and abiding love.
PRIEST: Groom and Bride , I would like to ask that where ever you make your home in the future- wether it be a large and elegant home or a small and graceful one, that you both pick one very special location for roses; so that on each anniversary of this truly wonderful occasion you both may take a rose to that spot both as a recommitment to your marriage and a recommitment that THIS will be a marriage based upon love.
PRIESTESS: In every marriage there are times where it is difficult to find the right words. It is easiest to hurt those who we most love. It is easiest to be most hurt by who we love most. It might be difficult sometimes to say the words "I love you" or "I forgive you"; "I need you" or "I am hurting". If this should happen, if you simply can not find these words, leave a rose in that spot which both of you have selected - for that rose then says what matters most of all and should overpower all other things and all other words.
PRIEST: That rose says the words "I still love you". The other should accept this rose for the words which can not be found, and remember the love and hope that you both share today. Groom and Bride , if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, it is that it was love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious union, and it is by love which your marriage shall endure.
Blessings ~The vow is made, the knot it tied; forever more may love abide.
COMMENTS
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