HANDFASTING, MIDSUMMER 2005
Geoffrey carries his sheathed sword, Rosemary carries her broomstick.
Men form a ring around Doll Tor stone circle. Priestess 1 purifies space and those present.
Women assemble out of sight in the wood. Priestess 2 purifies those present.
G enters stone circle, plants spear in the North, places unlit lamp on altar stone, blows horn to signify start of ceremony and lights the lamp.
R approaches, carrying broom, with women in procession. R enters stone circle and stands facing G. Women join circle of men outside the stone circle, alternating female/male/female etc. Priestess 2 enters the stone circle. Priestess 3 leads a grounding for everyone.
R holds the broom forward, G draws sword and holds it forward. Priestess 2 says: “We have come here together to witness the handfasting of R and G; the linking of two people , man and woman, and their two Pagan traditions, Witchcraft and Heathenry.”
“As a symbol of this union, lay down these two symbols of your respective paths in this stone circle.”
G lays down the sword and R lays down the broom across it. G and R both then say something about why they have chosen these two symbols for the ceremony.
Priestess 2 says: “R and G have chosen this sacred place, special to both of them, to make their vows on this special day when both the Sun is at its highest point of the year, and the Moon is full. They will be making their vows to each other but ask all of you to witness these vows and do what you can to help them hold to them in future. May these sacred stones, the Sun and the Moon also bear witness to these vows, and grant their blessings to R, G and to all present here, both seen and unseen.”
Priestess 1 honours the stones of Doll Tor. Priestess 2 casts a circle round. Priestess 3 leads the welcoming of the four directions and Spirit in the centre. G welcomes the Ancestors and the Spirits of the place, and blows the horn, then invokes the Goddess in the form of Freya. R invokes the God in the form of Herne the Hunter.
Priestess 2 says: “Do you come to this sacred place of your own free will to make these vows to each other?”
R and G both reply: “Yes.”
Priestess 2 says: “Take each others hand and make your promises to one another.”
G and R then make their vows.: “I promise to….etc.” These were written individually and not revealed in advance. G made his vow on the blade of his ceremonial dagger.
Gythia binds R and G wrists together with the handfasting cord and says: “As a symbol of the vows you have made to each other in sacred space, surrounded by your community of friends and family, I bind you together.”
Priestess 3 leads everyone in song: “Bind us together now with love… etc.”
Priestess 3 then says: “May you share the joys and challenges of life together. To symbolise this, you are going to jump over the broomstick and sword together. But first I ask all of you to give your blessing to these tools by touching them.” She picks up the sword and the broomstick and passes them to the circle, to be passes from hand to hand. She then retrieves them and places them back in the circle, crossed as before. G and R jump the sword and broomstick together, hands still bound by the handfasting cord.
Priestess 3 then places the sword and the broomstick on the altar stone. Gythia hallows the bond with the hammer: “With this hammer I hallow this relationship!” She then unties the handfasting cord from R and G.
Priestess 2 then brings out the rings and gives them to R and G who exchange them and then kiss.
G blesses the mead-horn and hands it to the Gythia who passes it around the circle, inviting people to speak out a wish for the happy couple, if so moved. The round ends at R who empties the mead-horn on the ground and speaks an offering to the Earth.
R blesses the bread and passes it around, making an offering to the Earth with part.
R and G then thank Herne, Freya, the Ancestors and the Spirit of place. The Priestesses and the Gythia then thank the directions and Spirit in the centre, then un-cast the circle, sending the energy out to enchant the world. Everyone then moved to the shade of a large oak tree to converse, feast and make music.