MY HANDFASTING RITUAL
                              By Lady Selene


My husband and I were handfasted in 1994. This ceremony was written for us by 
our High Priest and High Priestess. It gives me great pleasure to pass it along. 
Use what you will, change what you don't like. Blessed Be!

Preparation:
An altar is set up in the circle, North of the center. On it are three candles, 
a chalice of water, a bowl of water, some incense, a small bowl of salt, a red 
cord about 18' long and the rings or other tokens of exchange.

The Rite, proper:

The Priest and Priestess stand at the sides of the altar and the couple face 
that altar.

Priest: "Before us stand two that would be one. Before us they wish to publicly 
declare their intent. Let us, therefore, transform this place to make it 
suitable for Gods and humans alike."

Priest lights incense and places it in the East, saying: "By Air which fills our 
lungs with breath, and lifts birds in flight, Bless and Consecrate this place 
and all within it and may thoughts of Love be ever present."

Priest takes a candle from the altar and places it in the South, saying: "By 
Fire which flames in our souls, and floods our mind with light, Bless and 
Consecrate this place and all within it and may Love shine always."

Priestess takes the bowl of water from the altar and places it in the West, 
saying: "By Water flowing in our blood, from oceans and the heavens, Bless and 
Consecrate this place and all within it and may the empathy of Love flow."

Priestess takes the bowl of salt and places it in the North, saying: "By Earth 
of which our flesh is formed, through which we find delight, Bless and 
Consecrate this place and all within it and may Love show eternal pleasure."

Priestess turns to the altar and says: "There is magic to be done here, the 
magic of Love, this place is calling you O Goddess, come to us here from your 
own land of beauty, to this holy place."

Priest turns to the altar and says: "There is magic to be done here, the magic 
of Love, this place is calling you, O Horned One, come to us form your wild land 
of sunshine and forest, to this holy place."

Priest dips into the chalice and anoints the foreheads of the couple, saying: 
"Your are consecrated by the Lord."

Priestess dips into the chalice and anoints the foreheads of the couple, saying: 
"Your are consecrated by the Lady."

Priest: "It has been said that you both wish handfasting be fore the Gods, is 
this so?"

Couple answer: "Yes".

Priest says: "Receive the charge".

Priestess stands behind the couple and places her hands on the couple's heads, 
saying: "In the names of the Lady, Artemis, Selene, Hecate, Isis, Ishtar, 
Aphrodite, Persephone, Diana, Arionrhod, Rhiannon , Cerridwyn, I give you the 
magic of the Moon, dreams to rule your destiny and you shall learn the secret of 
the plants. Be my followers and protect my children and this planet."

Priest stands behind the couple and places his hands on the couple's head, 
saying: "In the names of the Lord, the Horned One, Pan, Horus, Tammuz, Robin 
Goodfellow, Jack, Cerrunnos, I give you th emagic of the forest creatures, the 
wonder of the stars, the desire to fire your soul. Be my followers and protect 
my children and this planet."

The Priestess then takes the wand and holds it over the top of the bride's head, 
saying:

"Thou shalt be the star that rises from the sea- The twilight sea.
Thou shalt bring a man dreams to rule his destiny.
Thou shalt bring the moon-tides to the soul of a man,
The tides that flow and ebb, and flow again.
The magic that moves in the moon and the sea'
These are the secrets, and they belong to thee.
Thou are the Eternal woman, thou art She…
The tides of all men's souls belong unto thee.
Isis in heaven, on earth, Persephone,
Diana of the Moon and Hecate,
Veiled Isis, Aphrodite from the sea;
All these thou are, and they are seen in thee.

The Priest then takes the wand and holds it over the top of the groom's head, 
saying:

"In thee may the Lord of the Forests return to earth again;
Hear the ancient call, and show thyself to men.
Shepherd of wild things, upon the wild bill's way,
Lead they lost flock from darkness unto day.
Forgotten are the ways of sleep and of night;
Men seek for them whose eyes have lost the light.
Open the door, the door that hath no key…
The door of dreams whereby men come unto thee.
Shepherd of wild things, may you one with him be!"

The Priest picks up the rings and wand and holds one end of it before him in his 
right hand, the Priestess likewise holds the other end with her left hand, the 
rings on the exposed wand before them. The Priest then says to the two before 
him:

"Place your right hands
Over this wand…
And your rings…
His hand over hers."

The Priestess then says:

"Above you are the stars
Below you are the stones.
As time passes, remember…
Like a star should your love be constant,
Like the earth should your love be firm.
Posses one another, yet be understanding.
Have patience each with the other,
For storms will come, but they will go quickly.
Be free in giving of affection and of warmth.
Have no fear, and let not the ways or words
Of the unenlightened give you unease.
For the Old Gods are with you,
Now and always!"

After a pause of five heartbeats, the Priest says:

"Is it your wish, (bride's name) to become one with this man?
(The answer is given by the bride.)

"Is it your wish, (groom's name) to become one with this woman? 
(The answer is given by the groom.)

"Does any say nay?"

The exchange of rings then takes place. The groom first takes the ring for the 
bride off the wand. She takes the ring form him, placing it first on her thumb, 
then on her index finger, then on the middle finger, and finally on the ring 
finger, saying:

"In the name of the Triple Goddess
I pledge my troth
To love and cherish thee through all lifetimes,
For even though our paths may later diverge,
Yet will I always be thy true friend,
To love thee and lend thee aid and protection
By the power of the starry mill of heaven,
Beyond the imaginable reaches of time and knowledge!"

The bride then takes the ring for her groom off the wand. He takes it from her 
hands as she offers it to him, repeating the process, and also the same pledge.

The hands of the couple are joined and bound with the red cord.

The Priestess then says:
"Then as the Goddess, the God and the Old Ones
are witness to this rite
I now proclaim you man and wife!
Thus are thy hands fasted…
The Two are One,
The work of joy is done,
And yet begun!"

The Priest says: "Know that it is in the decree of the fates, that you are 
united. Under the blessing of the Goddess, the Earth Mother, and the God, the 
Keeper of the Forests, your hands are fasted. May your lives be so joined. As 
long as Love shall last. So Mote It Be!"

The Priestess then reads from the Prophet, by Kahil Grbran:

"Then Almitra spoke again and said, "And what of marriage, master?"

And he answered saying:
"You were born together, and together you shall be forever more.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of god.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness. 
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another, but make not a bond of Love.
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup, but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread, but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together.
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the Oak tree and the Cypress grow not in each other's shadow."

The Priest places a broom in front of the couple, and says, as the couple jumps 
the broom: "Jump from one life into another."

Priestess takes the broom and sweeps behind the couple to the edge of the 
circle, saying: "May all evil influences be swept out of your life."

Priest raises the chalice of water and says: "I raise my cup to the Heavens and 
it is filled from the rains, the dew – The rivers and seas all share the essence 
of life." (He turns and offers to the couple). "I give you the waters of life, 
may you always drink deeply."

The Priest turns to all gathered and says: "Out of the billions on Earth, these 
two have come, looked into each other's eyes, and are now made one. Their ways 
have converged and shall now be together. In our deepest being we hope that 
their path may be pleasant and the sky fair where they reside, but if sorrow 
comes, as it can surely cone to all, may the pressure of the trial only bring 
them more closely together. With clasped hands and united hearts, may they bear 
life's trouble together and share it joy together."

The Priestess then says: "Now open wide this holy place, let the festivities 
begin, and let all here present with them… Blessed by your Love."