Handfasting
Circle is cast as per the Priest and Priestess' usual.
~~The Bride, Groom, Maiden and Youth are on the perimeter of the Circle at the East Gate while Circle is being Cast.~~
Crone~ Know now, before you go further, that since your lives have crossed you have formed ties between each other. As you seek to enter this Rite you will become a focus for the power that has been raised herein and those ties will become strengthened.
With full awareness, know that within this Circle you are not only declaring your intent to be handfasted before your friends and family, but you speak that intent also before your Goddess and your God.
The promises made here today and the ties that are bound here greatly strengthen your union; they will cross the years and lives of each souls growth.
Do you still seek to enter this Rite?
Couple~ Yes, we seek to enter
~~Crone takes the couple to the altar.
HPS~ Grandmother, do they know the full significance of what they seek?
Crone~ Yes, for I have questioned them and told them the meaning of this Rite.
HP~ (To the couple) And do you still seek this Handfasting?
Couple~ (each answers) Yes.
~~Now the HPS anoints the couple with salt water and oil, or performs the Fivefold Blessing~~
HPS~ (to the Maiden and Youth) Take them to the Guardians to seek their Blessings on this union.
~~The couple are lead to the East Gate~
East~ What do you seek of the Guardian of the East?
Couple~ We seek your Blessing on this union.
East~ Blessed be this union with the gifts of the East: Communication of the Heart, Mind and Body, fresh beginnings with the rising of each Sun, the knowledge of the growth found in the sharing of silences.
~~East then wafts air at the couple with a feather~~
~~The couple are next lead to the South Gate~~
South~ What do you seek of the Guardian of the South?
Couple~ We seek your Blessing on this union.
South~ Blessed be this union with the gifts of the South: Warmth of the Hearth and HOme, Heat of the Hearts Passion, the light created by both souls to lighten the Darkest of times.
~~South directs the scent of burning incense to the couple.~~
~~The couple are next lead to the West Gate~~
West~ What do you seek of the Guardian of the West?
Couple~ We seek your Blessing on this union.
West~ Blessed be this union with the gifts of the West: the deep commitments of teh lake, the swift excitement of the river. the refreshing cleansing of the rain, the all encompasiong passion of the sea.
~~West sprinkles them with water.~~
~~The couple are next lead to the North Gate.~~
North~ What do you seek of the Guardian of the North?
Couple~ We seek your Blessing on this union.
North~ Blessed be this union with the gifts of the North: Firm foundation on which to build, Fertility of the fields to enrich your lives, a stable home to which you may always return.
~North sprinkles salt on the ccoupes feet. Maiden and Youth take the couple back to the altar.~~
HPS~ You have recieved tools from the Guardians that will help you to build a happy and successful union yet that is all they are. Tools you must use together in order to create what you seek in this union. I bid you look in each others eyes.
HPS to Groom~ Will you cause her pain?
Groom~ I may.
HPS~ Is that your intent?
Groom~ No.
HP to Bride~ same questions as above.
HPS to couple~ Will you share each others pain and seek to ease it?
Couple~ We will.
HPS~ And so the Binding is made.
HP~ Join your hands.
~~A white cord is draped over their hands.~~
HP to Bride~ Will you share his laughter?
Bride~ Yes.
HP to Groom~ Will you share her laughter?
Groom~ Yes.
HPS~ Will both of you look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other?
Couple~ Yes.
HP~ And so the Binding is made.
~~A burgundy cord is draped over the couples hands.~~
HP to Bride~ Will you burden him?
Bride~ I may.
HP~ Is that your intent?
Bride~ No.
HPS to Groom~ same questions as above.
HPS~ Will you share the burdens of each other so that your Spirits may grow in this union?
Couple~ Yes.
HPS~ And so the Binding is made.
~~A green cord is draped over the couples hands.~~
HP to Bride~ Will you share his dreams?
Bride~ Yes.
HPS to Groom~ Will you share her dreams?
Groom~ Yes.
HPS~ Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes?
Couple~ Yes.
HP~ And so the Binding is made.
~~A blue cord is then draped over their hands.~~
HPS to Groom~~ Will you cause her anger?
Groom~ I may.
HPS~ Is that your intent?
Groom~ No.
HP to Bride~ Same questions as above.
HP~ Will you take the heat of your anger and use it to temper the strength of this union?
Couple~ We will.
HPS~ And so the Binding is made.
~~A silver cord is draped over their hands.~~
HP to Bride~ Will you honor him?
Bride~ Yes.
HPS to Groom~ Will you honor her?
Groom~ Yes.
HPS~ Will you seek never to give cause to break that honor?
Couple~ Yes.
HPS~ And so the Binding is made.
~~A black cord is draped over their hands.~~
HPS~ The knots of this Binding are not made on this plane. Either of you may drop the cords for as always you hold in your own hands the making or breaking of this union.
~~HP and HPS hold the hands of the couple high in the air with the cords. Couple then ties the cords with one center knot, and places them on the Altar. If this is a legal ceremony then you may add the Legal Aspects here.~~
HP~ What gifts have you as tokens of your love?
~~Bride and Groom now exchange personal gifts and vows to each other.~~
~~Bride and Groom then perform the Heiros Gamos~~size="+1">~ The new couple will now walk deocil around the Circle with the Besom, sweeping away the past and preparing a clean slate for the future.
~~The couple now take the Besom and go around the Circle as instructed~~
HPS~ I now present to you ( the couples chosen name/s )
~~The couple, Maiden and Youth now exit the Circle through the East Gate~~
~~The Priest and Priestess then close the circle.~~