One is a Pagan Handfasting, which is a fully Pagan
ceremony, and happens to be the one Esemy has chosen to use. The other is a mixture of a Pagan and a Christian ceremony, which Kaya has chosen to use.
As is our way, each individual is free to choose the type of ceremony that best suits their own life.
Above you is the sky, below you is the earth.
Like the sky, let your love be free, full of movement,
and change.
Like the earth, let your love be solid, firm and nourishing.
Give your hearts freely and treat well what you
are given. Even in anger, remember your love
and commitment to each other.
Express your love often and be passionate with
one another as you walk the path of life together.
Now in the presence of the Lord and Lady,and
these witnesses, is it your intention to be joined
together in mind, body and spirit?
Sweep Away Past Hurts
(Pick up the broom)
By the powers of the God and Goddess I hereby
sweep away all your past hurts. Let all the bad
experiences which may have, in the past,
troubled you in love, or made it difficult to trust,
be swept away. Release the past and go forward
into a bright future together.
Declaration of Duration
May the God and Goddess be witness to this handfasting, to the
joining which you have chosen freely and in love. Although
the pysical bonds may be removed, the spiritual
bonds will remain as long as love lasts.
Elemental Witness of Promise
At the North say together:
Hear my promise to be steadfast in my devotion to him/her
To be the rock of strength for my other half..
To build a home and family full of love.
At the East say together:
Hear my promise to honor him/her as an intelligent individual...
To share wisdom...To strive always to inspire him/her.
And to learn and grow with him/her in harmony.
At the South say together:
Hear my promise to always hold in my heart and soul the
passion I now have for him/her...To create for him/her
something meaningful in the eyes of all.
At the West say together:
Hear my promise to love him.her fully and completely. To share
in his/her emotions, joys and fears, honestly and in perfect
love and trust.
A union of souls, body, mind and spirit together in harmony
has occured; freely chosen in love and joy. Now two have become
one. May your love always honor each other, as you go forth together.
Chalice Joining
(Have groom pour some wine into chalice and say);
Into this cup of love I pour my heart and soul.
(Bride does same.)
(Priestess);
As you have poured your soul forth, bring it to the chalice of union.
In the chalice of union there is no limit to love, no strings,
and no price. Only the divine union of two souls.
Drink now-deeply- from this chalice of love.
(Each drinks from the chalice.)
of rings and rainbow handfasting...