RITE OF HANDFASTING

        The circle should be ringed with flowers - roses, daisies, etc. The 
Watchtowers should either be red or pink and likewise decorated. The Altar 
should be just to the North of the center of the Circle. Cover the Altar with a 
red altarcloth, and decorate it with red roses. Use a standard altar set-up, 
plus these additions:  two extra candles (either white or the proper zodiacal 
color for the participants), a red candle, a three-tiered candalabra, the rings 
for both participants, a cup of honey-water, a sterilized needle and length of 
red ribbon.  Use red candles on the Altar and either a floral incense or a 
special "Handfasting" blend.
        The garb of the participants should be of their own choosing: the bride 
and groom may elect to be handfasted in Rennaissance garb, special circle robes, 
or whatever they so choose.  All taking part in the handfasting should be 
dressed in bright colors, and all should bring along a ribbon, its color 
signifying a specific wish for the couple. Four people or couples should be 
chosen as Guardians of the Quarters, ready to give a blessing to the couple at 
the appropriate moments of the rite.


CASTING THE CIRCLE: HPS takes up a basket of rose petals and casts the Circle 
once deosil, starting from the East, and leaving a Gate at the Northeast, by 
strewing them and saying: "LET THESE FLOWERS BE AN EVER-GROWING CIRCLE THAT 
SPREADS LOVE AND JOY UNTO THE EARTH.  MAY YOU LIVE WITHIN A CIRCLE OF LOVE AND 
MAY YOUR UNION BE A THING OF BEAUTY.  MAY YOUR LOVE DANCE IN THE ETERNAL CIRCLES 
OF TIME, WITH THE DANCE OF THE EARTH, WITH THE SACREDNESS OF LIFE, AND WITH THIS 
TEMPLE." HP/S purifies the salt and water silently (so no outsiders may hear), 
then asperges the circle once, starting from the South, saying: "THUS ARE SALT 
AND WATER BLESSED, PURIFIED AND MINGLED THAT THESE LOVERS SHALL ENTER A CIRCLE 
MADE CLEAN AND PURE, ABLE TO JOIN THEMSELVES TOGETHER CLEANSED OF ALL BUT JOY 
AND PEACE." HP blesses the incense privately, then takes it once around the 
Circle from the North, saying: "THUS IS THE INCENSE MADE HOLY AND ITS SACRED 
SCENT TAKEN ROUND THE CIRCLE.  THE LOVERS SHALL ENTER A TEMPLE FILLED WITH 
BLESSINGS:  MAY THEIR LIFE BE HAPPY AND FILLED WITH THE RICHES OF LOVE."

        HP and HPS invoke the Goddess and God:
GODDESS INVOCATION:
        "HAIL, O LADY OF LOVE!  ALL WE HAVE TO GIVE UPON THINE ALTAR LAID IS 
THINE TO TAKE; OUR SPIRITS AND BODIES HERE WE BRING TO THEE IN LOVE, FOR LOVES' 
SWEET SAKE.  FOR US, LOVES' FACE IS THINE, THY LIMBS, THY HANDS, THE LOCKS THAT 
CROWN THEE, AND THE EYES THAT SHINE; GIVE US THY BLESSING, LADY, AND KNOW THAT 
WE ARE YOURS IN LOVE - FOREVER THINE."

GOD INVOCATION:
        "HAIL TO THEE, O LORD OF LOVE!  WE HUMBLY GATHER IN THIS SACRED SITE, 
AND THY HOLY PRESENCE CALL UNTO US NOW TO BLESS AND SANCTIFY THIS HOLY RITE.  AS 
TWO ARE GATHERED NOW TO BECOME ONE, AS TWO ARE MET TOGETHER, HEARTS ENTWINED, WE 
ASK THY BLESSINGS ON THESE HOLY VOWS, AS HEART-TO-HEART, TRUE BLESSINGS NOW THEY 
FIND!"

        The Bride and Groom are brought into the Circle by the Summoner and 
Maiden and are met at the Gate by the HP and HPS, who give them a kiss and 
exchange passwords.  HPS closes the Circle with the rest of the flower petals.  
The Bride and Groom are brought to the center of the Circle, the Bride in front 
of the HP and the Groom in front of the HPS. HPS asks:  "WHO COMES TO THIS 
SACRED TEMPLE TO BE JOINED IN LOVE?"
Groom:  "I, (NAME)."
HP asks:  "WHO COMES TO THIS SACRED TEMPLE TO BE JOINED IN LOVE?"
Bride:  "I, (NAME)."
HPS:  "(NAME) AND (NAME), WELCOME.  WE, YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILIES AND
RELATIVES, GATHER THIS DAY TO GREET YOU IN JOY AND LOVE."
        They take the Bride and Groom to the East, where the Eastern
Guardians hold the Incense.  They cense the couple, saying:
"BY THE SWEET AIR OF THE EAST, LETS THE BONDS OF LOVE BE SANCTIFIED AS YOU COME 
HERE TO BE UNITED IN LOVE.  LET THE INCENSE OPEN YOU TO INSPIRATION AS YOU MOVE 
UPON YOUR PATH TOGETHER."
(At this point, they may also add any other blessings they feel inspired to 
add.)
        The couple moves on to the South.  The Southern Guardians take the Power 
Candle and hold it over the couples' heads, saying: 
"BY THE SACRED FIRE OF THE SOUTH, LET YOUR PASSION FOR EACH OTHER BURN AS 
BRIGHTLY AND STEADILY AS THIS CANDLE FLAME.  LET THE FLAME HELP YOUR LOVE TO 
GROW AND SHINE."
(At this point, they may add any other additional blessings.)
        The couple are then presented to the West, where the Western Guardians 
are holding a cup of honey water.  They offer a sip to the Bride and Groom, 
saying:
"BY THE SWEET WATER OF THE WEST, LET YOUR LOVE AND CARING FOR EACH OTHER BE AS 
DEEP AND BOUNDLESS AS THE OCEAN.  LET YOUR LOVE BE AS THE LOVE OF THE GREAT 
MOTHER, WHICH IS ENDLESS."
(At this point, they may also add additional blessings.)
        The couple moves on to the North, where the Northern Guardians are 
holding the Pentacle and a small dish of salt.  they hold the Pentacle over the 
Bride and Grooms' head and give them each a small pinch of salt on their 
tongues, saying:
        "BY SACRED SIGN AND SALT OF THE NORTH, LET YOUR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER BE 
AS STRONG, CONSTANT, AND ENDURING AS OUR BLESSED MOTHER, THE EARTH, AND AS 
STRONG, PASSIONATE, AND FREE AS OUR GREAT HORNED GOD.  LET THE SALT BRING 
SANCTITY, PROSPERITY AND THE POWER OF THE STEADFAST TO YOUR MARRIAGE, NOW AND 
FOREVER."
        The couple move back to the south of the Altar.  HP and HPS then bid the 
couple kneel before them.  HP holds the Wand with one hand, the HPS holding the 
other end.  The rings are suspended upon the Wand. 
        HP says:  "PLACE YOUR HANDS TOGETHER OVER YOUR WAND AND YOUR RINGS."
        HPS says:  "(NAME) AND (NAME), BY LOVE HAVE YOU BEEN DRAWN
TOGETHER; BY LOVE DO YOU COME HERE NOW, IN FRONT OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY, TO 
DECLARE YOURSELVES ONE IN THAT LOVE."
        HP says:  "AS REED AND TREE BOW TO THE WINDS OF THE STORM, SO TOO MUST 
YOU, FOR IN YOUR LIFE TOGETHER THERE WILL BE SUCH STORMS.  DRAW STRENGTH FROM 
EACH OTHER TO OVERCOME THEM, FOR IN TRUE LOVE THERE IS STRENGTH."
        HPS says:  "ALWAYS BE YOURSELVES, RECOGNISING YOUR OWN SELF-WORTH, AND 
BE ABLE TO DO THE SAME FOR EACH OTHER.  AS NO SNOWFLAKE IS ALIKE, SO TOO ARE YOU 
BOTH INDIVIDUALS.  LET THIS, TOO, BE A SOURCE OF STRENGTH FOR YOU.  REMEMBER - 
THE LOVE YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALLY HOLDS THIS BOND TOGETHER."
        HP says:  "BE FREE IN GIVING AFFECTION AND WARMTH, AND ALWAYS ACCEPT IT 
FREELY.  HAVE NO FEAR, AND IGNORE THE WAYS AND WORDS OF THE UNWISE, FOR THE GODS 
ARE ALWAYS WITH YOU, AND EVER SHALL BE."
        HPS says;  "LET THE TIMES OF JOY BE MANY, AND SORROWS BE FEW. BE NOT 
AFRAID TO BE STRONG, BUT REMEMBER, TOO, TO NURTURE EACH OTHER, FOR BOTH THE LADY 
AND LORD RESIDE IN BOTH OF YOU.  UNITY IS BALANCE, AND BALANCE IS UNITY.  KNOW 
THIS, AND UNDERSTAND."
        HP says to the Bride:  "(NAME), IS IT YOUR WISH TO BECOME ONE WITH THIS 
MAN?"
        Bride:  "IT IS."
        HPS says to Groom:  "(NAME), IS IT YOUR WISH TO BECOME ONE WITH THIS 
WOMAN?"
        Groom:  "IT IS."
        HPS turns to those assembled, and asks three times:  "DOES ANYONE 
GAINSAY?"  If no answer, the Handfasting may continue.
        Summoner then takes the Brides' ring from off the Wand, and hands it to 
the Groom.  As he puts it on her ring finger, he says:
        "I, (NAME), TAKE THEE, (NAME), TO MY HAND, MY HEART AND MY SPIRIT AT 
THIS, THE ZENITH OF THE DAY; TO WALK LIFE'S PATH TOGETHER IN LOVE, AS LONG AS 
LOVE SHALL LAST, NEITHER LEADING NOR FOLLOWING, BUT EQUALLY. ALL THAT I AM, AND 
ALL THAT I HAVE IS YOURS, AND YOUR LIFE SHALL I DEFEND BEFORE MY OWN.  BEFORE 
THE GODS AND THIS COMPANY, AND BY MY LOVE FOR THEE, THIS I SWEAR."
        Maiden takes Grooms' ring off the Wand and hands it to the Bride, who 
puts it on his ring finger, saying:
        "I, (NAME), TAKE THEE, (NAME), TO MY HAND, MY HEART, AND MY SPIRIT AT 
THIS, THE ZENITH OF THE DAY; TO WALK LIFE'S PATH TOGETHER IN LOVE, AS LONG AS 
LOVE SHALL LAST, NEITHER LEADING NOR FOLLOWING, BUT EQUALLY.  ALL THAT I AM, AND 
ALL THAT I HAVE IS YOURS, AND YOUR LIFE WILL I DEFEND BEFORE MY OWN.  BEFORE THE 
GODS AND THIS COMPANY, AND BY MY LOVE FOR THEE, THIS I SWEAR."
        HPS turns to those assembled and says:  "PLEASE REPEAT AFTER ME..."
        "WE HEAR YOUR VOWS..."  (All repeat.)
        "WE ACCEPT YOUR VOWS..."  (All repeat.)
        "WE BLESS THIS UNION..."  (All repeat.)
        "SO MOTE IT BE!"  (All repeat.)

        The Couple rises and stand before the Altar.  They take their birth sign 
candles and light them from the God and Goddess candles, (he from the God and 
she from the Goddess); then they both light the central red candle saying:
        BRIDE:  "WE ARE GROWN AND GATHERED AND BOUND, AND THE BINDING IS 
WELL..."
        GROOM:  "WE ARE FIXED AT THE HIP AND THE HAND AND THE HEAD AND THE 
HEEL;"
        BRIDE:  "WE ARE PLANTED BENEATH THE LAND, FOREVER TO WHEEL..."
        GROOM:  "AS THE EARTH AND THE SUN ARE WOUND ON A GOLDEN REEL..."
        BOTH (together):  "AS THE RIPENING GRASSES STAND A PALE AND FALL..."

        HPS now takes the sterilized needle and scratches the Brides' left and 
the Grooms' right Mounds of Venus on their palms, drawing a little blood, and 
marks the ends of the ribbon, then binds their hands together, saying:
        "BOUND BLOOD, BOUND WRISTS, BOUND HEARTS, BOUND LIVES..."
        The HP and HPS now take the couple and the Broom around the Circle one 
time.  As the couple passes, each person kisses the Bride and Groom and ties 
their ribbon around the Broom, giving the couple their blessings and wishes for 
the future.  The HPS then takes the Broom and lays it down on the ground.  The 
Bride and Groom then jump over it.  The HPS then takes the Broom and sweeps 
behind them, saying:
        "ILLS THAT PLAGUED YOU YESTERDAY, NOW BE BANISHED - AWAY! AWAY!"
She turns to the assembly and holds up the Broom behind the couple, saying:  
"LET THE UNIVERSE ABOVE AND OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS BEAR WITNESS - (NAME) AND 
(NAME) HAVE BEEN JOINED TOGETHER IN THE SIGHT OF THE GOD AND THE GODDESS, AND 
MAY THEY BLESS THIS UNION AND THEIR NEW LIFE TOGETHER.!"
         The couple kiss.
        The HP takes the couple around and helps them turn once around the 
Circle, saying, "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MAY I PRESENT (NAME) AND (NAME), UNITED 
IN LOVE, HUSBAND AND WIFE!"  The couple kiss again.

TO DISSOLVE CIRCLE:
        HPS raises her arms in blessing and says:
        "O GODS AND GODDESSES OF LOVE AN MARRIAGE, LOOK WELL UPON (NAME) AND 
(NAME) AS THEY TRAVEL UPON THEIR PATH TOGETHER, UNITED IN LOVE. BLESS THIS UNION 
AND THEIR LIVES, THAT EACH BE LONG, HAPPY AND FULFILLING.  SO MOTE IT BE!"
        ALL:  "SO MOTE IT BE!"
        There is no need to dissolve the Circle.