Eclectic Wiccan Handfasting Ritual
Bringing Another Into an Existing Relationship

 

Eclectic Wiccan Handfasting Ritual
By Isina
Copyright 2006

High Priestess casts circle, followed by Flower Maiden, strewing petals

High Priestess:
We cast the circle of ancient lore;
Waves upon a timeless shore.
With no beginning, nor an end;
It always knows a foe from friend.
Oroboros, of legends old;
Rings of power, forged in gold.
Circle of Life, birth to bones.
A ring around the silv'ry Moon;
We cast you now O ancient rune!

Crystal Bearer takes crystal from altar and gives it to the East Quarter Caller. Caller invokes power while holding up crystal.

East Quarter Caller:
I am the Eastern powers of Air,
You, whole breath of life we share,
Bring understanding, kindness, care,
Come bless this day, our rite of love,
As below, then so above.

When done, the Caller hands the crystal back to the Bearer who takes it to the South Quarter Caller.
Caller
invokes power while holding up crystal.

South Quarter Caller:
I call the Southern powers of fire,
Whose light doth stir the poet's lyre,
With love's bright spark our hearts inspire,
Bring passion's flame, bring sweet desire,
Come bless this day, our rite of love,
As so below, then so above.

When done, the Caller hands the crystal back to the Bearer who takes it to the West Quarter Caller.
Caller
invokes power while holding up crystal.

West Quarter Caller:
O powers of the Western sea,
O water's flowing unity,
Bring feeling, warmth, and empathy,
That our lives may blessed be.
Come bless this day, our rite of love,
As below, then so above.

When done, the Caller hands the crystal back to the Bearer who takes it to the North Quarter Caller.
Caller invokes power while holding up crystal.

North Quarter Caller:
O Northern powers of living Earth,
Charge our souls from death to birth,
On solid ground of rock and loam,
Bring forth our food and build our home.
Come bless this day, our rite of love,
As below, then so above.

High Priest invokes the Goddess.

High Priest:
Laughter-loving Aphrodite!
Venus Amathusia!
Come to me with laughing breast,
Come to on waves with golden crest,
Come with doves and golden light,
Drawn by swans and sparrows bright.
Alight! Alight!

I am thy man, I am thy mate!
Receive me till our storm abate!
Thy green glades echo with my calls,
Come to me from emerald halls,
Flanked by maidens winding there,
Rose and myrtle in they golden hair,
Come to me! to me! to me!
And mate with me upon the grass,
Laughing, lusty, oh ravishing lass!
Our bodies arch and strain and twine,
I am thine and thou art mine!
Come from heavens of azure hue,
Ocean born and ever new,

Pulsing, laughing, yearning, straining,
Pleasure, lust, all life containing.
Race with me through glades of green,
Exalting, loving, or rapturous queen!
To me! to me!
Oh come to me!
And enter, merge, enfold, unite!
Suffuse desire with golden light!
Never sated in eons of time,
I am thine and thou art mine!

High Priestess invokes the God.

High Priestess:
Oh horned one, goat-foot,
Great God Pan!
Come to me with eyes of fire,
And with thy pipes awake desire,
Come with wild and lustful grin,
Herald of your flame within,
Io Pan! Io Pan!
Io Pan, Pan, Pan!
Shout to me form scented wood,
To call of all that's wild and good,
Come to me with shaggy thighs,
And let the hills return our cries,
Come with satyrs bearing wine,
I am thine and thou art mine!
Come with joyous lusty laugh,

Come with swollen ruddy staff,
Race with me through halls of green,
Thou art my God and I your Queen,
And spend with me a tender hour,
Making love within my bower,
To me! To me!
Oh come to me!
And come oh God of stream and wood,
Oh God of life and all that's good,
Never sated in eons of time,
I am thine and thou art mine!

High Priestess continues:
And by your rites of sacred marriage I invoke ye:
Shiva and Parvati
Jove and Juno
Dagda and Boyne
Odin and Freya.

High Priest:
And by your sacred rites of marriage I invoke ye:
Persephone and Hades
Nuit and Geb
Rhiannon and Pwyll
Ishtar and Tammuz.

High Priest and High Priestess:
Blessed be!

All:
Blessed be!

High Priest:
Our work today is a happy one.
We are gathered in the presence of the deities of the fruitful trees, the flowing waters, the warming sun and the singing air, and in the sight of the Goddess of our Blessed Earth to celebrate the joining of our two dear friends
[name of Bride] and [name of Groom], in union by the fasting of their hands by ancient rite.

High Priestess (holding up the cord):
This is the cord of handfasting. It will tie [name of Bride] and [name of Groom] together with bonds of love. For such bonds to be strong, they need support -- the support of the lovers themselves, the support of the Gods and the support of a community of family and friends. We ask now that each of you give your support, letting it flow as loving strength into the cord as it is passed around the circle.

All singing:
Love is a River (as Cord is passed around circle).

High Priestess to Assistants:
Now open the circle, cut wide the gate, for two are coming who would be made one!

Assistants open gate at South and stand at each aside as Couple enters. They then take Broom from altar and lay it across the gate, remaining there with the circle joined together again.

High Priest rings Bell three times. Couple walk hand-in-hand deosil around the inside of the circle. After a full turn around the circle, Groom stops in the West while Bride continues on around to the East, at which point they both approach the altar from opposite directions.

High Priestess:
Brothers and sisters, the Bride comes from the heart of the dawn, and the Bridegroom from the sunset.
There is a wedding in the valley, a day too vast for recording! There is magic to be done here, the magic of Love!

High Priest:
You have come together in this sacred grove to stand in the presence of our Lady of Love and our Lord of Lust, that they may bestow upon you their bountiful blessings of everlasting love and devotion through the sacred rite of handfasting.
This is a bond not to be entered into lightly, but with seriousness, reverence, and joy.

High Priestess:
Is it your intention, [Groom], to be wed to [Bride] in the sight of the gods and of these people?
To be tied to her in giving, in dreams, and in intentions, and to vow to her your love and commitment?

Groom answers.

High Priestess:
Have you considered the gravity of your commitment?

Groom answers.

High Priest:
Have you considered the levity of your commitment?

Groom answers.

High Priest:
Is it your intention, [Bride], to be wed to [Groom] in the sight of the Gods and of these people?
To be tied to him in giving, in dreams, and in intentions, and to vow to him your love and commitment?

Bride answers.

High Priest:
Have you considered the gravity of your commitment?

Bride answers.

High Priestess:
Have you considered the levity of your commitment?

Bride answers.

High Priestess (facing Bride and holding up Pentacle):
[Bride],
Thou shalt be the star that rises from 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 thy secret, and they belong to thee.
Thou art the Eternal Woman, thou art She,
The tides of all men's souls belong to thee.
Danu in heaven, on Earth, Persephone,
Diana of the Moon and Hecate,
Veiled Isis, Aphrodite form the sea,
All these thou art, and they are seen in thee.

High Priest (facing Groom and holding Wand):
[Groom],
All wild creatures hear thy call upon the haunted wind.
Within they soul the Horned One returns to Earth again.
Together you shall manifest the magick of the man
And falcons soar from out the sky to perch upon thy hand.
The serpent's wisdom thou shalt learn from tip of forked tongue.
The fleetness of the white stag's flight in starlight or in sun.
Lord of Light and Lord of Shadow; keeper of the key
Which unlocks the door of dreams, whereby men come to thee.
Cernunnos, Tammuz, Horus, Pan; by name we set thee free!
O, Shepherd of the wild woodland, may thou be one with he!

High Priest turns to High Priestess holding Wand. High Priestess picks up Chalice and Athame; anoints with water, touches to flower petals, censes, then places over Wand. The High Priest and High Priestess hold Wand aloft between them.

High Priestess:
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.
Possess 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 warmth;
Make love often, and be sensuous to one another.
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!

High Priest (holding wand):
Is it your wish, [Bride], to become one with this man?

Bride answers.

High Priest:
Then give him your vow.

Bride:
I, [Bride], wed you, [Groom], and pledge to build with you a place of love, nourishment and happiness within our hearts and within your home. I please you love, honor, and trust. Love, both soft and tender and love suffused with passion and playfulness; love which will honor your inner deity, endure hardship and nurture honesty, trust, and devotion. I pledge to support and cherish your growth in the human adventure; to explore with you the wonders of life; to hold you in my love when you are ill or sad and to nurture your healing, growth, development and actualization. As you evolve so shall I for we are as one and reflect one another. I promise to create a home with you that shall be a haven for us both, a place of welcome for family, friends and lovers and a place of comfort in times of sorrow. I promise to love, honor, protect, and nourish you as long as both shall live.

High Priestess:
Is it your wish, [Groom], to become one with this woman?

Groom answers.

High Priestess:
I, [Groom], wed you, [Bride], and pledge to build with you a place of love, nourishment and happiness within our hearts and within our home. I pledge you love, honor and trust. love, both soft and tender and love suffused with passion and playfulness; love which will honor your inner deity, endure hardship and nurture honesty, trust, and devotion. I pledge to support and cherish your growth in the human adventure; to explore with you the wonders of life; to hold you in my love when you are ill or sad and to nurture your healing, growth, development and actualization. As you evolve so shall I for we are as one and reflect one another. I promise to create a home with you that shall be a haven for us both, a place of welcome for family, friends and lovers, and a place of comfort in times of sorrow. I promise to love, honor, protect and nourish you as long as we both shall live.

High Priest:
Do any say nay?

Groom:
Then we are happy, but we would yet ask the blessing of the May Queen on our union.

Bride:
Oh, Queen of the May, we ask your blessing on our union and on our connection with this land which is our home upon the Earth.

May Queen:
As you marry, take my blessing and the blessing of our Mother Earth that you may live long within Her breast and flourish in Her abundance.

May Queen takes the Cord from the altar and hands it to the High Priest and High Priestess.

May Queen:
I bid you bind them in love with my blessing.

High Priest and High Priestess tie the hands of the Bride and Groom together with the Cord.

High Priest and High Priestess:
This day you marry your friend, the one you love, laugh with, live for, dream with.

High Priest (handing Athame to Groom):
This knife is for the troubles that lie ahead.

High Priestess (handing Chalice to Bride):
This cup is for the love that conquers them.

Groom (holding up Athame):
I bring the energy of yang, active, bright, logical and hard. I bid you blend these energies with yours to make us whole and keep this token on the altar of our love.

Bride (holding up Chalice):
I bring the energy of yin, dark, intuitive, flowing and soft. I bid you blend these energies with yours and make us whole and keep this token on the altar of our love.

Groom dips Athame into Chalice.

High Priest:
Yin and yang, male and female, light and dark. Neither may stand alone, but out of their eternal interplay the universe is born. So it is above and so it is here below.

High Priestess:
Now share you the water of life, the blood of the sacred Goddess our Mother Earth, water that binds us and all living things to her body.

Bride and Groom share water and kiss.

High Priest:
Out of the billions of the Earth, these two have come, have 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 trouble comes, as it can surely come 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 sorrows together and share life's joys together.

Bride pours libation and speaks however she is moved, then hands Chalice to Groom, who sips, libates and passes cup to High Priestess, who sips, libates and passes Chalice to High Priest. Couple then moves around the circle deosil greeting guests while chant is sung: I am the Heart and the Soul of Creation, then return to altar.

High Priestess:
Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be the shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold, for each of you shall be the warmth to the other.
Now there is no more loneliness for you.
Now there is no more loneliness.
Now you are two bodies, but there is only one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place to enter into the days of your togetherness.
And may your days be good and long upon this Earth.


Groom thanks Guests and invites them to the feast.

Assistants open the gate in South where the Broom has been lying and hold the Broom a LITTLE off the ground. High Priest and High Priestess lead the chant: JUMP THE BROOM! as Couple runs around the circle and jumps the BROOM on the way out.

High Priest and High Priestess (standing on opposite sides of altar and raising arms):
We thank you, Gods and Goddesses of the Sacred Marriage, for attending and blessing this, our rite of life and love. We bid you now, Hail and Farewell!

All:
Hail and Farewell!

High Priest:
Oh mighty Lord of life and death, whose hooves dance upon the altar of Time and whose pipes play the song of Never-Ending, we thank You for Your blessing and bid You now Hail and Farewell!

All:
Hail and Farewell!

High Priestess:
Oh gracious Goddess, Queen of love and birth whose body is the green and flowering Earth and the dust at whose feet are the stars of heaven, we thank You for Your blessing and bid You now Hail and Farewell!

Quarter Callers:
We thank you now, oh powers of Earth/Water/ Fire/Air.

High Priestess:
All from air into air, let the misty curtain part.
All is ended, all is done
What has been must now be gone!
What is done by ancient art
Must merry meet and merry part!
AND MERRY MEET AGAIN!

 

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.

Hunter 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 (Goddess of Jealousy) 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 (Goddess of Deceit), 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 (God of Apathy), 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 the 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 (Aphrodite) 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.

Aphrodite 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.

 

 

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Last updated April 8, 2012

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