Pagan/Christian Handfasting
For any of you who are entering into a "mixed"
marriage (so to speak), this is a beautifully
composed ceremony, and it is the one Kaya has
chosen to use, as her  life partner is of a different
religious belief.
(Unless marked Bride or Groom all is spoken by the Priest
or Priestess.)
We have come together here in celebration of the joining
together of (Bride and Groom).
There are many things to be said about marriage. Much wisdom
concerning the joining together or 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 is gathered. Though we are unable to give all
this knowledge to these two who stand before us, we can hope
to leave them the knowledge of love and of the widsom that comes
with time.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The flow 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.
Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after careful consideration,
thought, and reflection. As with any spect of life, it has
it's ups and downs, it's trials and trimuphs. With full understanding
of this (Bride and Groom) 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 & sold, given &
taken, I ask simply if she comes of her own free will:
(Bride's name) is it true that you come of your own
free will and accord?
BRIDE: Yes, it is true.
Please join hands with your bethroted adn listen to that which
I am about to say. Above you are the stars, below you are the stones.
As time does pass remember:
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 powers of love and desire make
you happy. and make you inseperable. 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.
Be free in giving attention and warmth. Hace no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened give you unease, for God is always
with you.
(Groom's name) I have not the right to bind you to (Bride), only you
have this right. If it is your wish, say so at this time and place
you ring in her hand.
GROOM:It is my wish.
(Bride) if it is you wish for (Groom) to be bound to you place the ring
on his finger.
(Bride places ring on Groom's finger)
(Bride) it is not my right to bind you to (Groom), only you have
this right. If it is your wish say so at this time and place your
ring in his hand.
BRIDE: It is my wish.
(Groom) if is it you wish for (Bride) to be bound to you place
the ring on her finge.
(Groom places ring on Bride's finger)
Repeat after me:
I, (Groom's name), in the name of the spirit of God that resides within
my blood and the love that resides in my heart, take you (Brides name)
to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one. To desire
you and be disired by you, to possess you and be possessed by
you without sin or shamefor that cannot exist in the purity of my
love for you. I promise to love you 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
respect you, your beliefs, your people and your ways, as I respect
myself.
(Bride then repeats vows)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

May your love so endure that it's flame remain a guiding light
unto you.