home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- Handfasting Ritual
-
- Preparation
- Long ribbon or soft rope (~ 3 feet)
- Vows to exchange (written by the couple)
- Small gifts (or rings) to be exchanged by the couple.
- 5 rose candles (Quarter and god candle (god candle can be red))
- 1 white candle (Goddess candle)
- Gifts from the coveners/guests for the couple.
-
- Ritual
- Cast the circle normally.
-
- Invoke the Goddess and God normally, or as below.
-
- HPriest: We call upon you in the guise of Eros,
- Kindler of desire,
- Bringer of love,
- to join us here and witness the bonding
- of <name> and <name>.
-
- HPriestess: We call upon you in the guise of Aphrodite,
- Always desirous one,
- Sensual lover,
- to join us here and witness the joining
- of <name> and <name>.
-
- Grounding meditation.
-
- The HPriest and HPriestess motion the two people to be handfasted
- to join them before the altar.
-
- Couple faces the altar.
-
- HPriest: (to one of the couple, the female if the couple are of
- opposite gender) Do you <name> join us here of your
- own free will, to acknowledge before the Lord and
- Lady the bond that is shared between yourself and
- <other-name>.
- Person1: (responds (hopefully this will be a yes :) if not,
- go to closing).
-
- HPriestess asks the other the same thing and gets response.
-
- Couple turn to face each other and join their left hands.
-
- Each now recites the vows they have prepared.
-
- HPriest: (taking the joined left hands, and the rope)
- Here before witnesses, <name> and <name> have
- sworn vows to each other. With this cord, I bind
- them to the vows that they each have made. (wrap
- the cord loosely around both arms) However this
- binding is not tied, so that neither is restricted by
- the other, and the binding is only enforced by both
- their wills.
-
- Couple: (turning to face each other, in unison)
- Heart to thee,
- Soul to thee,
- Body to thee,
- Forever and always,
- So mote it be.
- Coven: So mote it be.
-
- Couple unbind thier left arms.
-
- Couple exchange the gifts they have brought for each other.
- Coven members and guests give couple good wishes and/or gifts.
-
- Great rite and Cakes and Ale.
-
- Bid farewell to God and Goddess as usual, or as below.
- HPriestess: We thank you Aphrodite, for your presence among us,
- And as you take your leave, we ask that you leave
- among us, in each of us, the ability to each be
- Sensual lover, and desirous one.
- Hail and farewell.
-
- HPriest: We thank you Eros, for your presence here this day,
- And ask, as you take your leave, that you leave in
- each of us, the ability to be
- a Bringer of desire, and kindler of love.
- Hail and farewell.
-
- Dismiss the Quarters, and open the circle.
- Relax, talk, and party :)
-