Handfasting - Blessings Of The Elements
by Blayze and Jo Dunster

Cast
HPS
HP 
4 Elemental Guardians, 
I Flower bearer.

Setup
Central altar
Setup space before people enter.
A spiral is marked out on the ground using flour beforehand.

Construct a circle in a ritual manner with colourful representations of the elements, so boundary sparkles for the festivities. Elementals will also have appropriate cords.

Air: 	Herbs, feathers and hazelnuts (Sword & Incense)
Fire: 	Chillies, spices like cinnamon and cloves (Spear and Candle)
Earth: 	Pebbles, flour and barley (Shield and bowl of earth)
Water:	Glass beads, seaweed and crushed shell (Cauldron and chalice of water).

Circle cast.
HPS:  	I consecrate this space with the powers of Earth & Water (Asperges salt water)

HP: 	I consecrate this space with the power of Fire and Air (takes around censer)

HPS:	By the blade a circle borne, between the worlds, a boundary formed, by the power raised herein, to guard without and hold within, be this circle cast.

Quarters
Air: 	I call upon the winds of the world to witness this rite. Powers of Air guard us… so mote it be.

Fire: 	I call upon the flames of light and warmth to witness this rite. Powers of Fire guard us… so mote it be.

Water:	I call upon the waves of the ocean to witness this rite. Powers of Water guard us… so mote it be.

Earth: 	I call upon the stones of the earth to witness this rite. Powers of the Earth guard us… so mote it be.

Central invocation.

Raise power with a cord dance of the elemental cords to charge them.

All to enter.

Form everyone into a circle. Flowers will be in a basket in the West.

HPS: 	Welcome everyone to the handfasting of ________ and ________. Welcome also to the circle which forms our sacred space. I ask everyone to form a circle for we are going to dance a spiral, preparing the pathway that ________ and ________ will walk as they journey through their past, present and future together.

All hold hands and walk spiral into the centre, then out so that everyone faces outward.

HP:	Now we face the boundary of the space that we have prepared. It is time to call the couple forward.

HPS:	We call the couple who would be handfasted today. ________ and _______, come forth!

Couple come to the boundary.

HP: 	Are you willing to enter this sacred space that you may be bound together for as long as love shall last?

Both:	We are

HPS:	Then enter freely and with love for each other, with love from all who are here to bear witness to your union.

Couple join the circle as everyone spirals in once more. Spiral back out so that everyone forms an inward facing circle.

Flower carrier takes up the flowers and gives each person one saying:

FC:	These flowers are a joint offering of the witnesses to the couple, that they may in turn make of them an offering to their Gods and their Ancestors.

Meanwhile the four elemental guardians and the HPS and HP move to their positions. When all have flowers, the couple are called forth once again.

HPS:	________ and ________, it is time for you to walk the spiral alone. Collect your gifts along the way that they may give you blessings on your journey.

couple collect the flowers and spiral widdershins into the elements.

Water (with cauldron beside them) asperges the couple with water and then hands them their water cord.

Water:	I bless thee and consecrate thee with the waters of life - may tears of joy replace those of sadness as you tread the spiral from your past to your future.

Move to Fire.

Fire (with candle lit from brazier) blesses the couple with the flame and then hands them their fire cord.

Fire:	I bless thee and consecrate thee with the fires of passion, may they grow even stronger inside you as you tread the spiral from your past to your future.

Move to Air.

Air (with censer & smudge fan) blesses the couple with the incense and then hands them the air cord.

Air: 	I bless thee and consecrate thee with the breath of knowledge. May misunderstandings be banished and communication reign as you tread the spiral from your past to your future.

Move to Earth

Earth (with soil) blesses the couple with the soil and then hands them the earth cord.

Earth: 	I bless and consecrate thee with the strength of earth. May your union grow ever stronger as the seed grows within the fertile mother.

Couple now carry the flowers and the cords and they spiral inwards to the HPS and HP.

HPS and HP greet them. HPS sweeps around them.

HPS:	You have reached the next step on your journey. It is time to embrace then discard your past. By the powers of the Lord and Lady and in the presence of your ancestors, families and friends,  I do hereby sweep away all past hurts and actions which have troubled you in love. As you ready yourselves to be bound together let the blessings of the elements fill you with joy, passion, communication and strength.

HP:	I bind thee ________ with the cords of Water and Earth that you may understand these elements within ________ and within yourself.

HPS:	I bind thee ________ with the cords of Fire and Air that you may understand these elements within ________ and within yourself.

HP and HPS take the couple by their cords and lead them to the altar at the centre.

HP: 	You carry with you the gifts of all here gathered. It is time to make an offering of these gifts to your Gods and your Ancestors. This is an act of magic of equal import to your binding. It is an offering from the heart, freely given and freely received.

Couple place flowers on the altar

HPS takes up spirit cord. 

HPS:	You have been bound by the cords of the elements, male to female, female to male. Here lies the cord of spirit, which has no gender, and thus is the final binding. It is with these cords that we will bless your rings.

HP takes 1st ring and runs it over all 5 cords in turn.

HP:	I bless this ring with the powers of the elements combined. The spun threads of air and water, earth and fire… I bless this ring with depth and spirit and sympathy. I bless this ring, circle never ending… in the names of our Gods and our Ancestors.

Repeat with second ring.

Give the rings to Alison and Steven.

Couple to exchange vows.

When vows complete HP binds the couple with the elemental cords. HPS takes the spirit cord and binds the couple for the final time.

HPS:	You have chosen to weave your lives together this day and so… I bind thee ________ and ________ by blood of thy blood and bone of thy bone. I bind thee ________ and ________ by two bodies, two minds and one spirit. I bind thee ________ and ________, as long as love shall last. All who are here bear witness that ________ and ________ are handfasted this day. So mote it be!

couple kiss and are kissed in turn by HPS and HP

HPS:	Now is the time to spiral into your future  as a couple bound together for as long as love shall last.

Couple move back around the spiral Deosil and encounter Earth: HPS and HP follow at a distance.

Earth holds up the shield.

Earth:	By Shield and Stone, by Grain and Bone, by Seed and Root and Soil. By Mountains height and Plains delight, receive from Earth this blessing. May you protect each other always, and lend each other your strengths. Let your relationship rest on the solid foundations of Earth. Blessed be.

Move along spiral and encounter Air.

Air:	By Sword and Storm, be lightly borne, by song and speech and breath. By feathered wings and minds caress, receive from Air this blessing. May you share your knowledge always, and accept the other’s point of view. Let your relationship be guided by the communication of Air. Blessed be.

Move along spiral and encounter Fire:

Fire:	By Spear and Fire, by love’s desire by flaming passions true, By spark of life and sacred hearth, receive from Fire this blessing. May you kindle within each other the creativity to allow your passions to grow.  Let your relationship never want for warmth. Blessed be.

Move along spiral and encounter Water.

Water:	By Cauldron deep and mirrored sea by river, stream and wave. By blessed rain and sacred cup, receive from Water this blessing. May you always nourish each other and drink deeply of your shared emotions. Let your relationship reflect the magic of the moon and tides within. Blessed be.

Move to outer ring. 

Receive the blessings of everyone present.

HPS and HP open the gateway to farewell the couple. When they reach the start point again they jump the broom and depart.

Everyone shout: Blessed be!

Quarters are farewelled.

Air: 	I thank the winds of the world for witnessing this rite. I thank the Powers of Air for guarding us. Hail and Farewell

Fire: 	I thank the flames of light and warmth for witnessing this rite. I thank the Powers of Fire for guarding us. Hail and Farewell.

Water: I thank the  waves of the ocean for witnessing this rite. I thank the Powers of Water for guarding us. Hail and Farewell.

Earth: 	I thank the stones of the earth for witnessing this rite. I thank the Powers of Earth for guarding us. Hail and Farewell.

Thank the Gods and Ancestors

Thank everyone for participating

Close circle and lead a procession up to the hall for feast..