| Full Ceremonial Handfasting |
| Before the Ceremony beings the chosen area must be swept free of debris and negativity by the Maiden of the Broom. Following this the ceremony may begin. High Priestess (With sword, starting at Norht, circling deosil, the parameter of the circle three times): Three times round, Once for the Daughter, Twice for the Crone, Thrice for the Mother, who sits on the throne. High Priest: I humbly ask the attendance of the Elementals of life! Caller of the East (said whilst pouring water into a bowl): Welcome, O'powers of Water! Bless this couple with a love as deep as any ocean! May richness of body, of soul, and of spirit be theirs ever more! (Place bowl at eastern point of the circle, bows, and retires.) Caller of the South (said whilst lighting a red candle): Welcome, O'powers of Fire! Ignite the Passion and the Love for this blessed pair. Ever burning, yet never consuming one or the other! (Places candle at southering point of circle, bows, and retires.) Caller of the West (said whilst igniting in censer): Welcome, O'powers of Air! With clever fingers weave tightly the bonds of Heart, Spriti, and Love between two! Let none undo the fabric of their love! (Places censer at western point of circle, bows, and retires) Caller of the North (Said whilst filling bowl with soil): Welcome, O'powers of Earth! Bless this man, this woman with thy strength and wisdom. To be theirs as long as love lasts! (Places bowl at northern point of circle, bows, and retires.) Callers of East, South, West and North (in unison): Gracious Goddess, Gentle God, Grant this blessed pair thy love and protection. Blessed Be! High Priest: Who comes forth at this time to petition the Lord and Lady's attention? Caller of East (said as caller draws bride into the circle): This Lady. Caller of West (Said as caller draws groom into circle): And this Man. High Priestess: And their reason? Couple to Be Joined (In unision): For the beauty of love! High Priest (Standing before altar, taking man's right hand and woman's left hand): We gather here this night/day in a ritual of love. You, (Bride) and Thee, (Groom) stand here before your friends, the elements, the Lord and Lady to join together as the beginning of a family. For before there can be three, there must be two. High Priestess (Joining couple's hands, with them facing each other): (Groom), what do you have to offer this woman for her love? Groom (gets down on one knee): I present go her my love and my pledge. May I never knowingly or willingly do such a thing to harm, nor greive, her in any form or fashion. Accept this my athame, as a token of my trust. Like its blade, may my love be as strong. Like it's metal may our love be enduring. Accept it my love, for that which is mine is yours. Bride: My Love, I accept your pledge, and your love, as I accept they blade. Know what is in my heart, as it I know what is in thine. The magic of my will, of my love, shall ever be thine. High Priest: (Bride), and what do offer in return for the love of this man? Bride: I present to him my love and this pledge. May I never knowingly or willingly do such a thing to harm, nor greive, him any form or fashion. Accept this, my jewel, my treasure, as a token of my trust. Just as its bright gleam, my our love glow. Like the stone that it is its essence, may our love be as enduring. Accept it my love, for that which is mine is yours. Groom: My Love, I accept your pledge and your love, as I accept my jewel. Know what is in my heart, as I know what is in thine. The magic of my will, of my love, shall ever be thine. High Priest (Bind's couple's right hands in the traditional manner); May the Lord and Lady smile upon this union, and bless this coupld with health and prostperity! High Priestess: May neither take advantage of the other. For remember what one may not provide, the other may! High Priest (Placing wedding bands on the fingers of the couple): Your Vows have now been heard by all. These rings, like your vows, are withing beginning or end. Now placed, they represent a seal of your love and respect for each other. High Priest (offere Chalice to couple to drink from): This is your first drink together as man and wife. May you never thrist. High Priest (Offering Bread to couple to eat from): This is your first food together as man and wife. May you never hunger. High Priest (positions the besom): This will be your first act of working together as Husband and Wife. (High Priest and Priestess lead teh couple to jump the boom.) High Priest (Removes binding and holds it overhead): I present to you Mrs. (Bride's Name) and her Husband, (Groom's Name). High Priestess: We thank the elementals of love for their attendance this day/night and ask they go forth and herald this union. Caller of the East (raising bowl over head): Hail o'powers of water! Thank thee for thy attention! Sally forth and announce to all this union! Caller of the South (raising candle overhead): Hail o'powers of fire! Thank thee for thy attention! Sally forth and annoucne to all this union! Caller of the West (raising censer overhead): Hail o'powers of air! Thank thee for thy attention! Sally forth and announce to all this union! Caller of the Norht (raising bowl or earth): Hail o'powrs of earth! Thank thee for the attention! Sally forth and announce to all this union! High Priestess (With sword, starting at north, circling widdershin the parameter of the circle three times): Three Time Round, Once for the daughter, Twice for teh crong, Thriece for the mother who sits upon the throne! |