Handfasting - Crowning Of A King And Queen
by Hawthorn and adapted by Blayze

Cast
HPS 
HP 
Couple

Setup
Upon the altar lie the crowns, 
the rings, 
the handfasting cord
and God and Goddes candles.
The Besom leans against the altar.

Circle is cast

Doorway is cut.

HPS & HP Stand at gateway 

HPS:	Who are the Couple that wish to be joined in the sight of the Lord and Lady and those hear gathered?

Couple come forward:

Couple:	We are.

HPS:	Then if you both come of your own free will, you must be properly prepared.

HPS takes up chalice and anoints Couple

HPS:	I consecrate and bless thee with water and earth, that you be made pure of blood and of body.

HP takes up the Censer and censes Couple:

HP:	I consecrate and bless thee with air and fire, that you be made pure of mind and of spirit

Couple then kiss and they are brought into the circle to kneel before the altar to receive their crowns. HP crowns FEMALE,. HPS crowns MALE.

HPS:	Hail to the King and Queen… for love fulfils an ancient law… old before the beginning of time… renewing throughout eternity.

Couple rise. HP passes the Goddess candle to the FEMALE which she lights. HPS passes the God candle to MALE which he lights.

HPS walks deosil around the Couple, sweeping with the broom.

HPS:	By the power of the God and Goddess, I hereby sweep away all past hurts. Let all past experiences which have troubled you in love or made trust difficult, be swept away… Release your pasts and go into a bright future together.

HPS take rings and places on pentacle:-

HPS:	May your Union be blessed with the powers of Earth, with the gifts of strength and stability.

HP passes rings through incense:

HP:	May your Union be blessed with the powers of Air, with the gifts of wisdom and understanding.

HP passes rings through flame:
	
HP:	May your Union be blessed with the powers of Fire, with the gifts of passion and creativity.

HPS dips rings in water:-

HPS:	May your Union be blessed with the powers of Water, with the gifts of love and inspiration.

HPS & HP hold rings before the Couple.

HPS:	Let these rings symbolise your love, which does honour to the Lady and the Lord…

HP:	… and is in harmony with their ways, which, like a circle, has no beginning and no end.

Couple exchange rings and say their vows.

HP & HPS bind the hands of the Couple, right hand to right hand

HP:	May the bindings of this handfasting be felt as lightly as the cord… it is a bond of love equally shared, not a chain of servitude.

HPS:	Bound but free, you have chosen to journey together… each supporting the other.

The besom is placed on the ground for the Couple to jump it.

Cakes and Ale

The Couple to perform cakes and ale as HPS and HP speak the words.

HP:	As the athame is the male so the cup is to the female and when they are cojoined they bring forth the great blessing.

HPS:	O Queen most secret, bless this food into our bodies, bestowing, health, wealth strength and happiness and that deep joy which is the knowledge of thee.

Four Quarters takes around the Cups and the plates.

HP:	From this day forward and through this Union, shall you MALE NAME know the Goddess through FEMALE NAME and you FEMALE NAME shall know the God through MALE NAME.

HPS:	Ye who are present bear witness, that FEMALE NAME & MALE NAME are joined as one in the sight of the Mighty Ones! So mote it be this day. Blessed Be

All:	Blessed Be.

Cord is untied. Couple walk around the circle to receive everyone’s blessings.

Close the circle