| Seax-Wicca Wedding Rite |
| This rite is to be preformed out of doors during the waxing Moon. The alter and circle may be decorated with flowers. In Seax-Wicca it is traditional to exchange rings; usually they are gold or silver bands with the Couples craft names inscribed on them in runes. At the beginning of the ceremony the rings sit upon the altar along with the priapic wand. Covener: There are those in our midst who seekt he bond of Handfasting. Priestess: Let them be named and brought forward. Covener: (Groom) is the Man and (Bride) is the woman. Bride and Groom move forward to stand facing the Priest and Priestess across the altar - Bride opposite Priest and Groom opposite Priestess. Priestess: (To Groom) Are you (Name)? Groom: I am. Preiestess: What is your desire? Groom: To be made one with (Bride), in the eyes of the Gods and the Wicca. Priest: (To Bride) Are you (Name)? Bride: I am. Priest: What is your desire? Bride: To be made on with (Groom), in the eyes of the Gods and the Wicca. Priestess takes up a sword and raises it high. Priest hand priapic wand to Bride and Groom. They hold it between them, each with both hands. Priestess: Lord and Lady, here before you stand two of your folk. Witness, now, that which they have to declare. Priestess replace sword on altar, then takes her athame and holds the point of it to the Groom's chest. Groom repeats the following, line by line Priestess: Repeat after me; I, (Name), do come here of my own free will, to seek the partnership of (Bride) I come with all love, honour, and sincerity, wishing only to become onw with her whom I love. Alwyas will I strive for (Bride)'s happiness and welfare. Her life will I defent before my own. May the athame be plunged into my heart should I not be sincere in all I declare. All this I swear in the names of the Gods. May they give me the strength to keep my vows. So mote it be. Priestess lowers her athame. Priest then raises his athame and, in turn, holds it to the breast of the Bride. She repeats the oath, line by line, after him Priest: Repeat after me I, (Name), do come here of my own free will, to seek the partnership of (Groom). I come with all love, honour, and sincerity, wishing only to become one with hom whom I love. Always will I strive for (Groom's) happiness and welfare. His life will I defend before my own. May the athame be plunged into my heart should I not be sincere in all I declare. All this I swear in the names of the Gods. May they give me the strenght to keep my vows. So mote it be. Priest lowers the athame. Priestess takes up the two rings and sprinkles and and censers both. She hands the Bride's ring to the Groom and Groom's ring to the Bride. They take them in their right hands, remaining holding the priapic want with their left hands. Priest: As the grass of the fields and the trees of the woods bend together under the pressures of the storm, so must you both bend when the wind blows strong but know that as quickly as the storm comes, so equally quickly may it leave. Yet will you both stand, strong in each other's strength. As you give love; so will you receive love. As you give strenght; so will you receive strength. Together you are one; apart you are nothing. Priestess: Know you that no two people can be exactly alike. No more can any two people fit together, perfect in every way. There will be times when it will seem hard to give and to love. But see then your reflection as in a woodland pool. When the image you see looks sad an angered, then it is time for you to smile and to love (for it is not fire that puts out fire). In return will the image in the pool smile and love. So change your anger for love and tears for joy. It is no weakness to admit a wrong; more it is a strenght and a sign of learning. Priest: Ever love, help and respect each other, and then know truly that you are one in the eyes of the Gods and of Wicca. All: So mote it be! Priest takes priapic want for Couple and Replaces it on the Altar. Bride and Groom each place ring on the Other's Finger and kiss. They then kiss Priest and Priestess across the altar, then move deosil about the Circle to be congratulated by the Others. Then shall follw the ceremony of Cakes and Ale. Followed by Games and Merriment. |