Handfasting: Bringing Another Into an Existing Relationship
By Rev. Erik P. Keeten
Copyright 2004

 

The ceremony starts with a narrator.

Narrator:
Attention one and all. I am a simple bard here today to guide you through a wonderful story. Today we are blessed with standing witness to an act of love and devotion. Today a very special union will take place. A house shall become a home. Individuals shall become a family. In this act we shall go forward but we shall touch the past. In this sacred circle we shall come.

The Officiant enters the circle and assumes position at the altar. The flower maid spreads petals around the circle then a path from the entrance to the altar. She then stands beside the Officiant.

Officiant:
Let us bless this circle with love and positive energies, that only that which is good an positive may remain.

Callers enter the circle with ribbons on sticks and walk about to their positions clockwise.

Caller East:
I call the great winds of change and invoke the spirits feathered of the air. Bear witness now this day and grant us your blessings. May language spring forth and hurtful words lost. May they always understand each other as they do unto themselves. May love soar like the great eagle on endlessly rising winds.

The caller then walks about the circle clockwise waving a white ribbon on a stick until they return to their point.

Caller East:
Blessed Be.

Caller South:
I call the fires of passion and invoke the spirits of the great hunters of the field. Bear witness now this day and grant us your blessings. May love burn strong in this place. May the pains of the past be burnt away. May the passion of the hunt purvey all aspects of life.

The caller then walks about the circle clockwise waving a red ribbon on a stick until they return to their point.

Caller South:
Blessed Be.

Caller West:
I call the waters of life and invoke the spirits that swim free in the sea that birth us. Bear witness now this day and grant us your blessings. May understanding wash over you like the waters on the sand. May the rains in life wash clean the soul. May the freedom of swimming remind us of our mothers' love.

The caller then walks about the circle clockwise waving a blue ribbon on a stick until they return to their point.

Caller West:
Blessed Be.

Caller North:
I call the great mother of the field and invoke the spirits of all that is green and growing. Bear witness now this day and grant us your blessings. May love harvest a bounty in this place. May each flower remind us of ourselves, while the field reminds us of all. May the union here sprout each day with love renewed.

The caller then walks about the circle clockwise waving a green ribbon on a stick until they return to their point.

Caller North:
Blessed Be.

Officiant:
I call forth the great Goddess in all her forms to bear witness and watch over this rite. I call forth the Maiden, bearer of the spring. Come to us now that you may witness the creation of a new family.

The Maiden in white appears carrying a bunch of flowers.

Maiden:
I am the Maiden, I am the great Goddess reborn in the spring. I am all things anew. I bear witness now in this circle.

The Maiden places her flowers on the altar.

Maiden:
I lay these flowers here now that love may always bloom in this unions.

Maiden assumes position beside altar.

Officiant:
I call forth the Mother, bearer of the summer. Come to us now that you may witness the creation of a new family.

The Mother in green appears carrying a bunch of corn.

Mother:
I am the Mother, I am the great Goddess bearing fruitfully in the summer's warmth. I am bounty. I bear witness now in this circle.

The Mother places her corn on the altar.

Mother:
I lay these corn here now that love may always enjoy a fertile bounty in this union.

The Mother assumes position beside altar.

Officiant:
I call forth the Crone, bearer of the winter. Come to us now that you may witness the creation of a new family.

The Crone in black appears carrying a broom.

Crone:
I am the Crone, I am the great Goddess retired in wisdom. I am the coming of the snows. The end of all things in the promise of my return. I bear witness now in this circle.

The Crone places her broom on the altar.

Crone:
I lay this broom here no that love may sweep away the past so that this union may start anew.

The Crone assumes position beside altar.

Officiant:
I call upon the great God, Companion of our Goddess in all his forms to bear witness and watch over this rite. I call forth the Hero, he who is warming the spring, he who is known as the warrior. Protector of the weak and defender of the just. Come to us now that you may witness the creation of a new family.

The Hero appears in white carrying a sword.

Hero:
I am the Hero. I am the great God young and new. I stand the challenge. I defend the weak, I fight the just fight. I will not break. I will stand no matter the odds in defense of others.

The Hero assumes position beside the Maiden.

Officiant:
I call forth the Hunter, he who is the Mother's Lover. Keeper of summer's harvest. Great hunter and provider. Come to us now that you may witness the creation of a new family.

The Hunter appears in green carrying a bow.

Hunter:
I am the Hunter. I am the father, I am the provider. I give my all that my house down not go empty. I move mountains that my children are not for want.

He places the bow on the altar.

Hunter:
I place this bow here now that it may provide this union with all the bounty it needs.

Hunter assumes position beside the Mother.

Officiant:
I call forth the King. He who is keeper of winter's light and the promise of days return in the spring. He who holds time's wisdom. Come to us now that you may witness the creation of a new family.

The King appears carrying a walking staff and lantern.

King:
I am the King. I am understanding and wisdom that only time can provide.

The King places the walking staff and lantern on the altar.

King:
I now place this staff here, that it might help provide a steady hand and this light that it provide this house with clarity.

The King assumes position beside the Crone.

Officiant:
I call [name of Bride] forth.

Narrator:
Those who are to be bound are called to the circle.

Bride proceeds from the crowd, towards the door of the circle. A woman in green steps in front to stop her.

Narrator:
It is the Goddess of Jealousy. She has been offended by their devotion, and she means to stop her!

Goddess of Jealousy:
You cannot enter this place. I am the Goddess of Jealousy. The great and powerful lady in green. Come I command you! Dance with me on my road of jade.

Bride:
No, I will not dance with you on your jaded road to misery. Leave us now and take all that you brought with you. Take with you your rotten seeds and bitter crops.

Goddess of Jealousy:
How dare you. I am the dark corners of your heart. I am love's poison. I will not go without a fight.

Bride:
Then fight you I will. I will not stand here and let you rot out and destroy that which we build this day!

The Goddess raises her staff and Bride fights her (dramatically). The Goddess falls to the ground.

Goddess of Jealousy:
I am vanquished this day, but in the dark corners of your heart I will always remain waiting for the day you grow weak.

Goddess departs into the crowd.

Narrator:
Though she is defeated this day, they must remain vigilant against her dark return.

Keeper of the Door:
You have faced your trials, how do you enter this circle?

Bride:
In perfect love and perfect trust.

Keeper of the Door:
Then pass this way and leave behind those things which have no place here.

Officiant:
I call [name of Wife] forth.

Wife walks to the circle when another figure, this time in red, appears to stop her.

Narrator:
It is the Goddess of Deceit. She has been offended by their trust, and she means to stop her!

Goddess of Deceit:
I am the Goddess of Deceit. I am the powerful lady in red. I am trust broken, I am guile, and I am the dark clouds and terrible storm. I command you now. Dance with me now the dance of the lair. Drink with me the wine of deceit.

The Goddess offers her a cup of wine.

Wife:
No, I will not.

Wife pours out the wine.

Wife:
Leave us now.

Take with you your siren's song and bitter wine.

Goddess of Deceit:
How dare you defy me! I am all the dark words unspoken, I am the shadows of doubt. I will not go without a fight!

Wife:
Then fight you I will. I will not stand her and let you rot out and destroy that which we build this day!

The Goddess raises her staff and Wife fights with her (dramatically). The Goddess falls to the ground.

Goddess of Deceit:
I am vanquished this day, but in the dark corners of your heart I will always remain waiting for the day you grow weak.

Goddess departs into the crowd.

Narrator:
Though she is defeated this day, they must remain vigilant against her dark return.

Keeper of the Door:
You have faced your trails, how do you enter this circle?

Wife:
In perfect love and perfect trust.

Keeper of the Door:
Then pass this way and leave behind those things which have no place here.

Officiant:
I call [name of Husband] forth.

Husband walks to the circle, when another figure, this time in black, appears to stop him.

Narrator:
It is the God of Apathy. He has been offended by their devotion and means to stop them!

God of Apathy:
I am the God of Apathy. I am Neglect. I am abandonment, and I am the field untended. I command you, come lounge with me in my lamented ways. Drink of my wine of forgetting.

The God offers Husband a cup of wine.

Husband:
No, I will not drink of your foul wine.

Husband pours out the wine.

Husband:
Leave us now. Take with you your unturned fields. Take with you your chores undone. Take with you moments squandered.

God of Apathy:
How dare you defy me! I am all the love withered by neglect. I am all the houses untended that fall in ruin. I will not go without a fight!

The God draws his sword and Husband engages him (dramatically). The God falls to the ground.

God of Apathy:
I am vanquished this day, but in the dark corners of your heart I will always remain waiting for the day you grow weak.

The God departs into the crowd.

Narrator:
Though he is defeated this day, they must remain vigilant against his dark return.

Keeper of the Door:
You have faced your trials. How do you enter this circle?

Husband:
In perfect love and perfect trust.

Keeper of the Door:
Then pass this way and leave behind those things which have no place here.

Keeper of the Door closes the circle. The couple stands before th altar.

Officiant:
You have come here to this place now to be bound to each other as the timbers become the house. You have each passed trials to get here, but must remain ever vigilant of those dark forces. Together you must stand, solid as stone yet flexing as the trees bending together against life's storms. As you stand here before the witness of our God and Goddess, do you swear unto each other your love?

Bride: (to Husband and Wife)
I was lost and alone; though my family stood by me, I felt that I had to bear the great weight of life's burdens alone. Then you came into my life. You reached out and lifted my yoke and bore it yourself that I might rest. You saved me before I broke from its weight. I swear my life and love to you from now until my winters end.

She gives to each a ring.

Bride: (to Husband and Wife)
Let this ring be my symbol of a promise unbroken.

Wife: (to Bride)
I knew love, but not self. In you I found the strength of a sister to lift me high enough to see who I am and where I can go. I sweat my life and love to you from now until my winters end.

Husband: (to Bride)
I am a warrior. When you came to my life, I was faltering. You made me rise to a new challenge. I have become better than I was and yet journey to become yet more. You have joined with [name of Wife] in supporting me. Behind every great man is the support of a woman. Behind me now is a mountain from which I cannot fall. I swear my life and love to you from now until my winters end.

Husband gives Bride a ring.

Husband: (to Bride)
Let this ring be my symbol of a promise unbroken.

They place their hands in a triad as Child moves in front of them.

Wife: (to Child)
You are not the daughter of my body. You are the daughter of my heart. I swear always to be your confidant and keeper of your desires, to tend your wounds when life strikes you down.

Husband: (to Child)
You are not the daughter of my body. You are the daughter of my heart. I swear always to be your guide in dark places when you loose your way. I will help you fight the good fight and keep sacred always your love.

Bride: (to Child)
You are the daughter of my body and heart. I have brought you on this journey to this place and time that we can start again new. We were once alone, now we are not.

The pairs of Gods and Goddesses move around the altar to the couple. First, the Maiden and Hero. The Maiden removes a white cord from her neck and places it across the triad hands.

Maiden:
With this cord I bless you.

The Hero ties a knot in the cord.

Hero:
With this know I bind you. Second, the Mother and Hunter. The Mother removes a green cord from her neck and places it across the triad hands.

Mother:
With this cord I bless you.

The Hunter ties a knot in the cord.

Hunter:
With this knot I bind you.

Third, the Crone and King. The Crone removes a black cord from her neck and places it across the triad hands.

Crone:
With this cord I bless you.

The King ties a knot in the cord.

King:
With this knot I bind you.

Child removes a gold cord from her neck and laces it through the other three cords and lets the ends dangle.

Child:
This is my blessing to this day and my new family.

Officiant:
All who have been present today bear witness to this rite. Bear honor to it.

A woman in white appears and enters the circle. She approaches the altar and those gathered there.

Narrator:
It is the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite.

Aphrodite:
I am the Goddess of love and intimacy. May all their days be blessed with the warmth and intimacy that only true lovers know, the passion that is brought by the hearts of best friends, brought to open bloom by love. This is my blessing; this is my gift. Go forth three hearts, but one breath.

Officiant ties the gold knot and slips the cords from their hands and holds it up for all to see.

Officiant:
What was sundered and undone, now be whole and be as one.

She places the cords into the wooden box and closes it. She then hands the box to Child who will carry it.

Officiant:
Let us now open our circle and depart the Great God and Goddess.

The Keeper of the Door opens the door and Aphrodite leads the Gods and Goddesses in their departure.

Officiant:
Great God and Goddess, we thank you for bearing witness to our rite. Go now forth with love and thanks. Thank you, Maiden and Hero. Thank you, Mother and Hunter. Thank you, Crone and King. Go in peace.

After they depart, the callers close the circle.

Caller East:
I call the great winds of change and invoke the spirits feathered of the air. We thank you and send you away to your homes in peace and love.

The caller then walks about the circle counterclockwise, waving a white ribbon on a stick until they return to their point.

Caller East:
Blessed Be.

Caller South:
I call the fires of passion and invoke the spirits of the great hunters of the field. We thank you and send you away to your homes in peace and love.

The caller then walks about the circle counterclockwise, waving a red ribbon on a stick until they return to their point.

Caller South:
Blessed Be.

Caller West:
I call the waters of life and invoke the spirits that swim free in the sea that birthed us. We thank you and send you away to your homes in peace and love.

The caller then walks about the circle counterclockwise, waving a blue ribbon on a stick until they return to their point.

Caller West:
Blessed Be.

Caller North:
I call the great mother of the field and invoke the spirits of all that is green and growing. We thank you and send you away to your homes in peace and love.

The caller then walks about the circle counterclockwise, waving a white ribbon on a stick until they return to their point.

Caller North:
Blessed Be.

Officiant:
Our circle is open yet unbroken. Peace and love.

The new family leaves the circle and jumps the broom together.