Handfasting - Weaving Of A Life

Everyone enters space and forms the circle. 

Cast
HPS
Quarter callers / guardians
Couple
Speech giver - Clan and family
Speech giver - Marriage
Speech giver - The elements

Cast Circle

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 

Power Raising - cord dance with the Witches Rune. HPS and quarter callers

Open doorway and call in the Couple.

Close doorway behind them.

Couple are then anointed and smudged and brought to the altar.

3 people step forward to impart knowledge to the couple.

Speech giver 1 talks about clan and family.
Speech giver 2 talks about marriage
Speech giver 3 talks about the elements.

Blessing of the thread
couple go to Air quarter. 

	May the blessings of Air be upon this thread…

Air guardian hands over a yellow thread and a censer. Couple accept both and give a blessing / promise to each other.  

Repeat for each element with red thread / candle, green thead / bread and blue thread / cup.

Couple go to altar.

HPS hands them a blue thread.

HPS:	It is the depth of soul, blue of the ocean deep, the flowing tie to follow home at journey’s end.

HPS hands them purple thread.

HPS:	It is the soaring of spirit, sacred sovereignty, the tie of the inner world shared.

HPS hands them purple thread.

HPS:	It is the secret sympathy, the silver link, the silken tie… that heart to heart and mind to mind… in body and in soul doth bind.

Couple and HPS make cord.

Hand cord to HPS to place on the altar.

Cleanse the rings in the elements on altar.

Blessing of the rings. HPS to take each ring and pass cord through it.

HPS: 	I bless this ring with the powers of the elements combined. The spun thread of air and water, air 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 for second ring.

Couple exchange rings. (Man first)

Couple say their vows.

HPS then binds the couple’s hands.

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.

Couple speak their secret vows.

Couple speak the Silver chant in unison.

Couple:	It is the secret sympathy, the silver link, the silken tie… that heart to heart and mind to mind… in body and in soul doth bind.

Cakes and Ale.

Couple to drink and eat and then take cakes and ale around the circle and speak to each person.

HPS cuts door in circle once more. 

HPS: 	Let us all bear Witness that before our Gods and our Ancestors, before family, friends and clan, ________ and ________ have been handfasted for as long as love shall last.

We bid thee hail and farewell.

Couple to jump the broom.

HPS to close doorway.

Farewell the quarters.

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 down to the fire for mulled wine and juice.