| Celtic Wiccan Handfasting |
| (This rite is to be preformed out-of-doors. The circle's edge is outlined with stones. There should be a tree at the North or East and can be decorated with ribbons, flowers, fairy light, or the like.) (All guests enter the ritual area, and stand forming another circle inside the stone circle.) Priest: Let the four directions be honoured that power and radiance might enter our circle for the good of all beings. Caller of the North: With the blessing of the deep and fruitful earth, we call upon the powers of the North. Caller of the South: With the blessing of the inner fire of the sun, we call upon the powers of the South. Caller of the West: With the blessing of the sacred waters of the pool, we call upon the powers of the West. Caller of the East: With the blessing of the clear pure air, we call upon the powers of the East. Preistess: May the harmony of our circle be complete. Priest: We stand upon this Holy Earth and in the Face of Heaven to witness the Sacred Rite of Marriage between (Groom) and (Bride). Just as we come together as family and friends so we ask for the Greater Powers to be present here within our Circle. May this Sacred Union be filled with their Holy Presence. I invoke the God of Love whose name is Aengus mac Og to be present in this Sacred Place. In his name is Love declared. Preistess: I invoked the Goddess of the Bright Flame whose name is Brigid to be present in this Sacred Place. In Her name is Peace declared. Priest: In the name of the Ancestors whos Traditions we honour, Priestess: In the name of those who gave us Life, Both: May we all unite in Love. (The Bride and Groom, shourded in black (symbolising the mystery of love), and walking hand-in-hand, enter accompanied by their Attendants, and if possible the Couple's Parents. Either the Groom or his Attendant brings a sword or other weapon. The Bride and Groom walk three times around the fire. Upon completing three revolutions, their attendants remove the shrouds. The Bride and Groom kiss, and all the guests shout and wave branches and flowers in approval.) Priestess: Standing before us are (Groom) and (Bride). May we all bid them hail and wlcome. Everyone: Hail! (Bride stands before High Preist and Groom stands before High Preistess.) High Preistess (to Bride): Are you (Bride)? Bride: I am. High Priest: What is your desire? Bride: To be joined with (Groom) in the prescence of the Gods and our friends. (High Preist places a wreath of roses on the Bride's head.) High Preist: I welcome you with joy. High Preistess (to Groom): Are you (Groom)? Groom: I am High Preistess: What is your desire? Groom: To be joined with (Bride) in the presence of teh Gods and our friends. (High Priestess places a wreath of greenery on the Groom's head.) High Priestess: I welcome you with joy. (The Priest and Preistess bring the Bride and Groom's parents into the circle. The Groom's parents and attendant stand with him, the Bride's parents and attendant with her. The Bride's Father has carried with him a sword or other weapon.) Father: I bring you (Bride), my child and my treasure. (Father passes his weapon over Bride's head to the Groom) Take this sword and mind that always you must be strong, whole, and ready in service to protect thy bride. Groom (as he accepts the weapon from Bride's Father): I, (Groom), do vow this before the Gods of our people. High Priestess: Then nothing may stand in your way! High Priest (to Bride): Take the hand of your love in yours (The Bride takes Grooms left hand in her left) and say after me: By seed and root, by bude and stem, by leaf and flower and fruit, by life and by love, in the name of teh God, I take thee to my hand, my heart and my spirit, at the setting of the sun and the rising of the stars. Nor shall death part us, for in the ripeness of time we shall meet, and know, and remember, and love again. Flesh of thy flesh, bone of thy bone, I here, thou there, yet both as one. Bride: By seed and root, by bud and stem, by leaf and flower and fruit, [CONTINUES] High Priestess (to Groom): Take the hand of your love in yours (The Groom takes teh Bride's right hand in his right) and say after me: By seed and root, by bud and stem, by leaf and flower and fruit, by life and by love, in the name of the Goddess, I take thee to my hand, my heart and my spirit, at the setting of the sun and the rising of the stars. Nor shall death part us, for in the ripeness of time we shall meet, and know, and remember, and love again. Flesh of they flesh, bone of thy bone, I here, thou there, yet both as one. (Groom repeats the vow.) (Preistess stands in place, Priest brings Groom's Mother to stand facing Groom and Bride. Priestess hands her the chord.) Mother (Says a few words of her own, then as she is placing the cord around the heands of the Bride and Groom): May you be ever joined as one, happy and together before all you come to meet and know, and before the Divine. High Preistess: As the Sun and Moon bring light to the Earth do you (Groom) and (Bride) vow to bring the light of love and joy to the union? Bride and Groom: We do. High Preist: And do you vow to honour each other as you honour which you hold most sacred? Bride and Groom: We do. High Preistess: And do you vow to maintain these vows in freedom, for as long as love shall last? Bride and Groom: We do. High Preist: Let our friends and our Gods bear witness that (Bride) and (Groom) are joined in love, joy and freedom. All: So let it be. (High Preist unbinds Bride's and Groom's wrists.) High Priestess: All things in Nature are circular - night becomes day, day becomes night and night becomes day again. The moon waxes and wanes and waxes again. There is Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and then the Spring returns. These things are a part of the Great Mysteries. (Groom) and (Bride), do you bring your symbols of these Great Mysteries of Life? Bride and Groom, in turn: (Bride/Groom), I give you this ring as a symbol of my love for you. Let it remind you always, as it circles your finger, of my eternal love, surrounding you and enfolding you day and night. You are my beloved bride/bridegroom and I marry you today with this ring as I give you my heart, my body, and the very breath of my soul. High Priestess: Then seal your promise with a kiss. (Bride and Groom kiss) High Preist: Let those assembled here bear witness that (Bride) and (Groom) are joined in love. May their love partake of the beauty, majesty, and power of the sacred land and may the grow together in wisdom, joy, and harmony. My own blessings and the blessings of all those assembled be with you. High Priestess: The blessings of the Goddess and God be with you. High Priest: The blessings of the ancestors be with you. Highs Priestess: And with all that grows from your union. High Priest: So let it be! All: So let it be! |