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Beltane
A Handfasting Ritual
by
Darkhairedcrone
Set-up
is more complex than for a solitary ritual with a small alter at each direction,
one in the center, and a larger alter between any two of the directions. The main
altar should be covered in a white altar cloth and have flowers, goddess and god
statues, wand, athame, chalice of water or wine (depending on couple’s
preference), plate with a bit of bread, a basket of flower petals or small
flowers, and a bowl. Lighted candles are optional. North
altar: green scarf, two small stones. East
altar: yellow scarf, two feathers South
altar: red scarf, two small candles (not lighted) West
altar: blue scarf, two shells Center
altar: white or lavender scarf, two pieces of rose quartz If there
are attendants, they can be stationed at the 4 direction and at center altars to
present the gifts. “He”
and “She” are used where the names of the couple would actually be used. Since
many in attendance have never experienced a pagan ritual, I begin with a few
words of orientation. I explain that as pagans we do not gather in a church or
temple, but instead create sacred space wherever we are. The beginning of the
ritual will involve creating sacred space. We honor the Goddess and the God, but
they should feel comfortable in substituting the god of their own faith in our
prayers and invocations if they wish. I tell them we invoke spirits of the four
directions, and that the couple will receive blessings from the directions. I
invite them to participate in the chanting. Cast the
Circle with broom, saying: “We
cleanse our circle round and round All
love and joy may here be found.” Leave
the broom where it is readily accessible, but not where it will be in the way
throughout the ritual. Have an
attendant or child cast the Circle by scattering flower petals from a basket,
with chant: “We
cast this Circle here today With
love to guide us on our way.” Invoke
the directions and the Goddess and God with wand or athame: “North
and south and east and west, All
by Mother Earth are blessed. These
directions now we call. May your spirits join us all. Goddess,
we invite you here. Enter
please and then stay near. Be
with us on this special day Sharing love in every way. God,
we’d have you join us, too, Be
with us, please, in all we do. Lady
and Lord to you we call That
you might come and bless us all.” An
attendant brings the couple into the Circle, walking them around the Circle
deosil, and ending in front of the altar. Welcome
He and She. I am
honored to be here with you. He, why have you come here this day? He:
I have come here to be joined with She in Hand Fasting. She, why
have you come here this day? She:
I have come here to be joined with He in Hand Fasting. That I
will gladly do. First I
would ask the blessings of our Lady and our Lord upon this celebration. “Gracious
Goddess of love and life We
ask that this couple may have no strife. Gracious
God of the sun above We
ask that they may always love. Lord
and Lady, bless, we pray, This
couple on their special day. Blessed
be.” (If you
know the couple, this is a good place to insert some personal words about them.) If it is
your will, He, repeat your pledge to She thus: By
seed and root, by bud and stem, by
leaf and flower and fruit, by
life and love, in
the name of the Goddess and the God, I,
He, take thee, She, to my heart And
my spirit. Nor
shall death part us, for
in the fullness of time, we
shall be born again, and love again. Thou
art Goddess, She, and I love thee. If it is
your will, She, repeat your pledge to He thus: By
seed and root, by bud and stem, by
leaf and flower and fruit, by
life and love, in
the name of the Goddess and the God, I,
She, take thee, He, to
my heart and my spirit. Nor
shall death part us, for
in the fullness of time, we
shall be born again, and love again. Thou
art God, He, and I love thee. Have you
tokens to give one another in honor of your love? Rings
are placed in a bowl on the altar. Hold wand over them and say: These
rings are round, as our sacred Circle is round. These rings, like our Circle,
are never ending, as is your love for each other. May the Goddess and the God
bless them as they bless your union. Gives
ring to He who puts it on She, saying: He, say
to She: This ring is a symbol of my love for you. Give
ring to She who puts it on He saying: She, Say
to He: This ring is a symbol of my love for you. With a
scarf, ribbon, or cord, tie one hand of each together at the wrist saying: With
this cord I bind you hand to hand and heart to heart, together as one. With this
knot you are joined in sacred union. As you
move together in the Circle, you will note that your movement will be awkward
unless you consider the movement of the other. It is a reminder to you to always
consider the other as you make your plans in life. Yet as
one hand is bound, so the other hand is free, symbolizing that even as you are
joined together, you are still separate beings, separate selves with separate
identities. May the
Lord and Lady smile upon you and bless you with health, prosperity, love, and
joy. Let us
now journey to the four quarters to receive their gifts and blessings. They
walk to the North. The
North represents Earth and the Physical Realm. Your blessings from the North are
good health, a happy home, groundedness, and fertility. Give
each a small stone, saying: “May
you always nurture your love, and each other.” They
walk to the East. The East
represents Air and the Mental Realm. Your blessings from the East are good
communication, learning, and intellectual growth. Give
each a feather, saying: “May
you always grow in wisdom, about life and about each other.” They
walk to the South. The
South represents Fire and the Action Realm. Your blessings from the South are
creativity, harmony, sensuality, and vitality. Give
each a small candle, saying: “May
the fires of passion always spark your love.” They
walk to the West. The West
represents Water and the Emotional Realm. Your blessings from the West are
understanding, intuition, and friendship. Give
each a shell, saying: “May you
always provide emotional support for each other.” They
walk to the Center. The
Center of our Circle represents Spirit and the Spiritual Realm. Your blessings
from the Center are balance, integrity and wholeness. Give
each a rose quartz, saying: “Rose
quartz is a symbol of love. May it remind you to always continue in your
spiritual growth.” Lean
broomstick against small center altar, or have an attendant hold the broom in
position. Have couple place their gifts on the center altar. You have
been bound and you have been blessed. You may jump the broomstick together to
complete this sacred rite. They
jump amidst much cheering and hoopla. They’ll probably kiss, but if not, say:
“You may kiss the bride.” Bring
the couple to the main altar, and hold high athame and chalice, dipping blade
into cup, saying: “You
stand as representatives of the Goddess
and the God, thus united. You
are One in love, in beauty, and in truth. In
the sight of the Goddess and the God He
and She have been joined, hand
to hand and heart to heart. So
Mote It Be.” Offer
chalice of water or wine to the couple saying:
“This is your first drink as a hand fasted couple. May you never
thirst.” Couple
drink. Offer
plate of bread to the couple saying: “This
is your first food as a hand fasted couple. May you never hunger.” She and
He, you have been joined here within this Circle. May you go forth from this
sacred space in love and joy. This
benediction is the blessing of the triple goddess on your union:
“The
light of the Maiden surrounds you. The
love of the Mother enfolds you. The
wisdom of the Crone empowers you. Wherever
you are The
Goddess is. And
all is well. Blessed
be.” ©
April 2009 Darkhairedcrone
First published in The Controversial Cauldron - the group newsletter of Email Witches Crone is an active member of the UU (CUUP’s) and has been a member of Email Witches since 2004
Best wishes and Blessed Be
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