| "One ring to show our love One ring to bind us One ring to seal our love and forever to entwine us" |
Handfasting for Jenna & David
By Treibh na tinean at Litha ‘08
EAST: We pause in our celebrations to witness the coming together of
two people, David and Jenna, whose hearts and spirits are entwined as
one. They now desire to profess before all their intention to walk the
road of life together.
NORTH: Know that before you go further, since your spirits have
crossed in this life, you have formed ties with each other. As you seek to
handfast, you should strive to make real the ideals that give meaning to
both this ceremony and the institution of marriage.
WEST: With full awareness, know that within this circle you are not only
declaring your intent before those gathered, but also to your Gods. The
promises made today, and the ties bound here will greatly strengthen
your union; they will cross the years and lives of each soul's growth.
SOUTH: Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable
thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its
ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of
this, David and Jenna have come here today to be joined as one in
marriage.
SPIRIT: Some would ask who gives the bride in marriage, but, as a
woman is not property to be bought and sold, given or taken, we ask
simply if she comes of her own will. Bride, is it true that you come of
your own free will and accord?
Jenna: Yes, it is true.
SPIRIT: Groom, we ask the same of you. Do you come of your own free
will and accord?
David: Yes, it is true.
WEST: Please join hands, face the altar, close your eyes and listen.
Above you are the stars, below you are the stones; as time passes,
remember... Like a stone should your love be firm; like a star should
your love be constant. Let your mind and intellect guide you in your
marriage; let the strength of your wills bind you together; let the power
of love and desire make you happy and the strength of your dedication
make you inseparable. Be close, but not too close. Possess one
another, yet be understanding. Have patience with one another, for
storms will come but they will pass quickly. Be free in giving affection
and warmth. Have no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened give
you unease for the Lord and Lady are with you always.
FIVE DIRECTIONS: Do you still seek to enter into this ceremony?
David and Jenna: We do.
WEST: David and Jenna, I bid you look into each other's eyes. Will you
honor and respect one another, and seek to never break that honor?
"We will." [The green cord is draped over the couple's hands]
So the first binding is made.
Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it?
"We will." [Purple cord is draped over the hands]
And so a binding is made.
Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this
union?
"We will." [White cord is draped over the hands]
And so a binding is made.
Will you share each other's laughter, and look for the brightness in life
and the positive in each other?
"We will." [Red and gold cord is draped over the hands]
And so a binding is made.
Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes?
“We will.” [Black and white cord is draped over the hands]
The binding is complete.
[Cords are tied together]
FIVE DIRECTIONS: David and Jenna, as your hands are bound together
now, so your lives and spirits are joined in a union of love and trust.
Above you are the stars and below you is the earth. Like the stars, your
love should be a constant source of light; and, like the earth, a firm
foundation from which to grow.
Jenna: In many cultures it is believed that the human soul shares
characteristics with all things divine. It is this belief which assigned
virtues to the five cardinal directions; East, South, West, North and Spirit.
David: It is according to this belief that we align ourselves with these
elements. Blessings from each of the five directions emphasize those
things that will help us build a happy and successful union.
[David and Jenna go to Mike in the East]
EAST: Blessed be this union with the gifts of the East and the element
of Air, for openness and breath, communication of the heart, and purity
of the mind and body. From the east you receive the gift of a new
beginning with the rising of each Sun, and the understanding that each
day is a new opportunity for growth. [Bless with fragrant oil]
[Jenna and David go to Denise in the North]
NORTH: Blessed be this union with the gifts of the North, the element of
earth that provides sustenance, fertility and security. The earth will feed
and enrich you, and help you to build a stable home to which you may
always return. [Bless with salt]
[D and J go to Sandy in the West]
WEST: Blessed be this union with the gifts of the West, the element of
water, for your capacity to feel emotion. In marriage you offer absolute
trust to one another, and vow to keep your hearts open in sorrow as well
as joy. [Bless with water]
[J and D go to Richard in the South]
SOUTH: Blessed be this union with the gifts of the South and the
element of fire, for energy, passion, creativity and the warmth of a loving
home. From the fire within you generate light, which you will share with
one another in even the darkest of times. [Bless with a candle]
[D and J go to Kathy by the altar]
SPIRIT: Blessed be this union with the gifts of Center, the element of
Spirit. This binding is not formed by these cords, but instead by your
vows and your hearts. Either of you may drop the cords, for—as it
always has been—you hold in your own hands the making or breaking
of this union. [At this point the cords are removed and placed in back in
the basket]
FIVE DIRECTIONS: Marriage is the clasping of hands, the blending of
hearts, the union of two lives as one. It is a lifelong dedication to love
and a daily challenge to love one another more fully and more freely.
Your marriage must stand, not by the authority of the state, nor by the
words of priest and priestess, but by the strength of your love and the
power of faith in each other.
With this understanding, do you David; take Jenna to be your beloved
wife? Do you promise to be a tender, faithful husband? Do you promise
to love, honor, and cherish her, in sickness and in health, for richer for
poorer, for better for worse, from this day forward?
David: “I do”
With this understanding, do you Jenna; take David to be your beloved
husband? Do you promise to be a tender, faithful wife? Do you promise
to love, honor, and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for richer for
poorer, for better for worse, from this day forward?
Jenna: “ I do”
WEST: David and Jenna have chosen rings as outward symbols of their
commitment. From earliest times, the ring has been a symbol of wedded
love. An unbroken and never-ending circle symbolizes a commitment to
love that is also never ending.
David, please place the ring that you have chosen on Jenna's finger and
repeat after me:
"Jenna, as this ring has no end, neither shall my love for you."
Jenna, please place the ring that you have chosen on David's finger and
repeat after me:
"David, as this ring has no end, neither shall my love for you."
Let these rings serve not as locks binding you together, but as keys,
unlocking the secrets of your hearts for each other to know, and thus
bringing you closer together forever.
FIVE DIRECTIONS: David and Jenna, having witnessed your vows for
marriage with all who are assembled here, we now pronounce you
husband and wife.
WEST: David, you may kiss your bride; and, Jenna, kiss your groom!
By Treibh na tinean at Litha ‘08
EAST: We pause in our celebrations to witness the coming together of
two people, David and Jenna, whose hearts and spirits are entwined as
one. They now desire to profess before all their intention to walk the
road of life together.
NORTH: Know that before you go further, since your spirits have
crossed in this life, you have formed ties with each other. As you seek to
handfast, you should strive to make real the ideals that give meaning to
both this ceremony and the institution of marriage.
WEST: With full awareness, know that within this circle you are not only
declaring your intent before those gathered, but also to your Gods. The
promises made today, and the ties bound here will greatly strengthen
your union; they will cross the years and lives of each soul's growth.
SOUTH: Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable
thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its
ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of
this, David and Jenna have come here today to be joined as one in
marriage.
SPIRIT: Some would ask who gives the bride in marriage, but, as a
woman is not property to be bought and sold, given or taken, we ask
simply if she comes of her own will. Bride, is it true that you come of
your own free will and accord?
Jenna: Yes, it is true.
SPIRIT: Groom, we ask the same of you. Do you come of your own free
will and accord?
David: Yes, it is true.
WEST: Please join hands, face the altar, close your eyes and listen.
Above you are the stars, below you are the stones; as time passes,
remember... Like a stone should your love be firm; like a star should
your love be constant. Let your mind and intellect guide you in your
marriage; let the strength of your wills bind you together; let the power
of love and desire make you happy and the strength of your dedication
make you inseparable. Be close, but not too close. Possess one
another, yet be understanding. Have patience with one another, for
storms will come but they will pass quickly. Be free in giving affection
and warmth. Have no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened give
you unease for the Lord and Lady are with you always.
FIVE DIRECTIONS: Do you still seek to enter into this ceremony?
David and Jenna: We do.
WEST: David and Jenna, I bid you look into each other's eyes. Will you
honor and respect one another, and seek to never break that honor?
"We will." [The green cord is draped over the couple's hands]
So the first binding is made.
Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it?
"We will." [Purple cord is draped over the hands]
And so a binding is made.
Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this
union?
"We will." [White cord is draped over the hands]
And so a binding is made.
Will you share each other's laughter, and look for the brightness in life
and the positive in each other?
"We will." [Red and gold cord is draped over the hands]
And so a binding is made.
Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes?
“We will.” [Black and white cord is draped over the hands]
The binding is complete.
[Cords are tied together]
FIVE DIRECTIONS: David and Jenna, as your hands are bound together
now, so your lives and spirits are joined in a union of love and trust.
Above you are the stars and below you is the earth. Like the stars, your
love should be a constant source of light; and, like the earth, a firm
foundation from which to grow.
Jenna: In many cultures it is believed that the human soul shares
characteristics with all things divine. It is this belief which assigned
virtues to the five cardinal directions; East, South, West, North and Spirit.
David: It is according to this belief that we align ourselves with these
elements. Blessings from each of the five directions emphasize those
things that will help us build a happy and successful union.
[David and Jenna go to Mike in the East]
EAST: Blessed be this union with the gifts of the East and the element
of Air, for openness and breath, communication of the heart, and purity
of the mind and body. From the east you receive the gift of a new
beginning with the rising of each Sun, and the understanding that each
day is a new opportunity for growth. [Bless with fragrant oil]
[Jenna and David go to Denise in the North]
NORTH: Blessed be this union with the gifts of the North, the element of
earth that provides sustenance, fertility and security. The earth will feed
and enrich you, and help you to build a stable home to which you may
always return. [Bless with salt]
[D and J go to Sandy in the West]
WEST: Blessed be this union with the gifts of the West, the element of
water, for your capacity to feel emotion. In marriage you offer absolute
trust to one another, and vow to keep your hearts open in sorrow as well
as joy. [Bless with water]
[J and D go to Richard in the South]
SOUTH: Blessed be this union with the gifts of the South and the
element of fire, for energy, passion, creativity and the warmth of a loving
home. From the fire within you generate light, which you will share with
one another in even the darkest of times. [Bless with a candle]
[D and J go to Kathy by the altar]
SPIRIT: Blessed be this union with the gifts of Center, the element of
Spirit. This binding is not formed by these cords, but instead by your
vows and your hearts. Either of you may drop the cords, for—as it
always has been—you hold in your own hands the making or breaking
of this union. [At this point the cords are removed and placed in back in
the basket]
FIVE DIRECTIONS: Marriage is the clasping of hands, the blending of
hearts, the union of two lives as one. It is a lifelong dedication to love
and a daily challenge to love one another more fully and more freely.
Your marriage must stand, not by the authority of the state, nor by the
words of priest and priestess, but by the strength of your love and the
power of faith in each other.
With this understanding, do you David; take Jenna to be your beloved
wife? Do you promise to be a tender, faithful husband? Do you promise
to love, honor, and cherish her, in sickness and in health, for richer for
poorer, for better for worse, from this day forward?
David: “I do”
With this understanding, do you Jenna; take David to be your beloved
husband? Do you promise to be a tender, faithful wife? Do you promise
to love, honor, and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for richer for
poorer, for better for worse, from this day forward?
Jenna: “ I do”
WEST: David and Jenna have chosen rings as outward symbols of their
commitment. From earliest times, the ring has been a symbol of wedded
love. An unbroken and never-ending circle symbolizes a commitment to
love that is also never ending.
David, please place the ring that you have chosen on Jenna's finger and
repeat after me:
"Jenna, as this ring has no end, neither shall my love for you."
Jenna, please place the ring that you have chosen on David's finger and
repeat after me:
"David, as this ring has no end, neither shall my love for you."
Let these rings serve not as locks binding you together, but as keys,
unlocking the secrets of your hearts for each other to know, and thus
bringing you closer together forever.
FIVE DIRECTIONS: David and Jenna, having witnessed your vows for
marriage with all who are assembled here, we now pronounce you
husband and wife.
WEST: David, you may kiss your bride; and, Jenna, kiss your groom!
| "One ring to show our love One ring to bind us One ring to seal our love and forever to entwine us" |
Ritual
Ritual
