Rick & Wynn Handfasting

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Ritual Outline

Ritual Details

Prepare
Th'th (with Andrew, Rahshemah, Renee, Sheryl):	8:15pm (Get human visitors out of the front room.) (Go through "Setup Checklist" - above.) (Make sure the CD music is turned off.) (Smudge to clear out any spiritual/astral noise.) (Sweep circle.)
Th'th (with Andrew, Rahshemah, Renee, Sheryl):	8:30pm (Cast circle.)
Mariah: Sharon:	(Untangle spell bottles in hallway in preparation to handing them out.)
Rahshemah:	(Light charcoal for incense.)
Sheryl & others:	(Play crystal singing bowl) (Play Tibetan bells) (Four-fold breathing)
Th'th:	(Cut doorway. Walk out to greet visitors.) (Explain what a circle is...) Pagans think of everything as being sacred. While you were here waiting, we created a Circle, which is our word for "church." The circle that is now cast in the front room is every bit as sacred to us as a cathedral might be to you. (Explain what a handfasting is...) The ritual is called a Handfasting. In the old times, only the king and the lords were allowed to be "married." Peasants fasted their hands instead. "Fasting" is an ancient word that means binding, like a rope. In fact, at one point we will be using a cord to bind their hands together... and that will be the actual "hand-fasting." The ritual you are about to watch has very old roots. I’ll keep you informed on what’s going on. The first thing you'll hear from Rick and Wynn is Hebrew... roughly translated "For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever." (Invite everybody in...) Let’s begin... I have carved an invisible doorway into the sacred circle. Please come through this doorway. Out of respect, always walk clockwise inside the circle. On your way in, you will receive a small sealed bottle that contains some of the anointing oil we will be using in the ceremony. Each bottle also contains three stones: tiger eye, blue topaz, and rose quartz. They are a souvenir, our way of saying thanks for being here. Join Rick and Wynn in this ancient Handfasting celebration.
Renee:	(Make sure Gary is standing close to the "doorway" to make it easier to leave for the ring ceremony.)
Mariah: Sharon:	(As people enter circle, put spell bottle over their heads and welcome them to the celebration.)
All:	(After guests are in but before Rick/Wynn enter, begin chanting OM.) (Rick / Wynn enter circle) (Close the doorway)
Sheryl & others:	(As soon as the doorway is closed, stop playing singing bowls, stop chanting OM,)

Greeting The Elements
Rahshemah:	You should be standing in the East Wynn and Rick are supposed to turn and face East at this point. If they forget, please remind them. Drop incense onto burning charcoal Use feather to send incense smoke toward Rick/Wynn. [We have a Native American smudge fan for this, but please make sure you know where it is before the ritual begins!] I am East, the symbol of Air. Know and remember that this is the element-- of life, of intelligence, of the inspiration that moves us onward. I bring to your union the power to know.
Rick: Wynn:	Hail and welcome.
All:	Hail and welcome.
Rahshemah:	(East takes incense around the circle. Use the "smudge fan" to fan the smoke.)
Renee:	(Pickup fire candle. Come from south. Stand before Rick/Wynn) I am South, the symbol of fire. Know and remember that this is the element-- of light, of energy, of the vigor that runs through our veins. I bring to your union the power to dare.
Rick: Wynn:	Hail and welcome.
All:	Hail and welcome.
Renee:	(South takes fire around the circle)
Sheryl:	(Pick up water. Come from west. Stand before Rick/Wynn.) I am west, the symbol of water. Know and remember that this is the element-- of cleansing and quenching, of motion and emotion. I bring to your union the power of will.
Rick: Wynn:	Hail and welcome.
All:	Hail and welcome.
Sheryl:	(West takes water around the circle)
Andrew:	(Pick up salt. Come from north, stand before Rick/Wynn) I am north, the symbol of earth. Know and remember that this is the element of law, of endurance, of the understanding that cannot be shaken. I bring to your union the power of steadfastness.
Rick: Wynn:	Hail and welcome.
All:	Hail and welcome.
Andrew:	(Take salt around circle)

Squaring The Circle
Mariah: Sharon:	(Move to altar area.)
Rick: Wynn:	(Facing each other. Perform a qaballistic cross...) Ateh, Malkuth. Veh geburah. Veh gedoola. Le olarm. Amen
Mariah: Sharon:	(Mariah:) (Sharon:) As above. So below. As without. So within. As the universe.   So the soul. As it was. So it shall be.

Unity Candle
Renee:	(Pick up 2 white taper candles on the altar, light them (if necessary), and hand them to Rick/Wynn.)
Sharon:	(Speaking to Rick/Wynn...) The separate candles you now bear symbolize your separate lives. You may join these flames to make one flame and know that you are willingly joining your lives. Is this what you wish?
Rick: Wynn:	I do. I do.
Sharon:	Does any say nay? (silence) Then, so mote it be.
All:	So mote it be.
Rick: Wynn:	(Go to the unity candle in the south and light it. Then return the taper candles to the altar.)
Sharon:	(Go to south, pick up Unity Candle. Put it on the altar.)

Cord Binding
Mariah:	(Speaking to Rick/Wynn...) Likewise, this cord is a symbol of the lives you have chosen to lead together. It is woven to symbolize the intertwining of your lives. No more shall you be separate in thought, or word, or action. As the right hand is to the left, may you now be soul mates. There will be a call in the core of you, one to the other, which nothing and no one else will answer to. (Binds hands with cord.) By the secrets of earth and water is this bond woven. By the laws of fire and wind is this call bound to you ... in this life and beyond. But no one can bind you. You bind yourselves. Is this what you wish?
Rick: Wynn:	I do. I do.
Mariah:	Does any say nay? (silence) Then so mote it be.
All:	So mote it be.
Rick: Wynn:	(Remove cord.) (Face each other.)

1

Personal Remarks
Andrew:	(Speaking to entire group...) Rick and Wynn are now privately sharing their promises to each other. The commitment is for a year and a day... the traditional duration of a promise.
Wynn:	No Say by Wynn Wagner I want to stand and say how I feel for you. Yeah, right... like there are words. I scribbled and scratched... and howled a bit, too. Piled, wadded paper with thoughts absurd. My words are like a screech; My poor verse is just a hack. So I turned to dead poets like a leech. But not Whitman, nor Bates, Not Shakespeare, nor even Yates, None had words that were good enough. All their rhymes were so much fluff. Then I saw you in my mind's eye. And like the magick of the morning, the birds fly From the earth to the sky. Thinking on you, the canary sings to heaven. That's it! I invite you to listen. Not to words, but to the hymn of birds. When you hear that chirp, sharp or flat, Know that it's me loving you with all my being. In this life, or the next, or beyond even that, The soaring sound of a song-bird singing. I'll close my eyes when I hear them say: No cures. 'Cause I know you won't love me for the rest of my life. You'll love me for the rest of yours.
Rick:	The Scarlet Passion Of Possession by Rick Wagner As grains of sand fall to mark the course of time thoughts of you float wildly through the milestones in my mind. A scarlet passion of possession more vivid than life itself harbors lustful feelings I simply cannot shelf. To touch you, and feel you, hold you close throughout the day and do whatever necessary to wash painful thoughts away. But for me this is selfish pleasure that causes such aching sorrow, for we belong to different owners and we pray until tomorrow. I didn't want it to be this way, I'm ashamed and life's so cruel to toy with my emotions leaving me feeling like such a fool. I've allowed you to enter as I've done with no other man before through the window of my being and my heart's unlocked door. I know that you do love me and right now it's my life's glue keeping the shards of broken memories and promises together wondering what I've done to honestly deserve you. Was it Accident? Chance? Or fate? I honestly don't know... I swear that this time it's really gotten the best of me, maybe just a brief glimpse in time or predetermined destiny. You're bound to my soul like no other man I've known with thoughts of your love and sensitivity you've shown. Someday you'll be mine in a different place and time and I'll cherish those moments without reason without rhyme. I'll sacrifice my own impatience waiting for better times to arrive For I now know in my heart that I've always loved you and always will... FOR AS LONG AS I'M ALIVE

Priestess Blessing
Mariah:	As above, so below. Above you are the stars, and below you are the stones -- Like stones, may your love be firm. Like a star, may your love be constant. As without, so within. Within you burns a fire, and all about you blow the winds -- May the winds keep your love fresh. May your love burn with desire. You bind yourself with your love and your breath. You bind others with your words. Beginning now, may none say nay. Beginning now, know truly that you are one in the eyes of the Old Ones. So mote it be.
All:	So mote it be.

Soul Mate Spell
Renee:	(Hand anointing oil to Wynn.)
Rick: Wynn:	(anoint each other with the soul mate oil.) (Do a spirit-invoking pentagram.) (Hold hands.) (Silently state spell's intent, looking into the other's eyes.) (Pull each other into the pentagrams.)
Th'th:	(Speaking to entire group...) Here is an important thing to remember: the thoughts that arise in the hearts of us all are not mere fantasies, but real things. Your thoughts -- here, now -- are vital parts of this ritual. Each person who witnesses this union creates a part of the structure that strengthens the bond between these two who love each other. And so, there’s magick afoot...
Th'th / All:	(all) (Th'th) Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Air lifts. Air blows. Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Let their love forever grow. Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Work the spell for which we pray. Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Fire tempers. Fire burns. Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Through the gods these lovers learn. Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Work the spell for which we pray. Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Water soaks and water flows. Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Let the lover fortune knows. Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Work the spell for which we pray. Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Earth still. Earth strong. Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Lovers’ hearts join in their song. Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Oh so pagan. Oh so gay. Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea (strong) Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea (strong) Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea (stronger) Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea (stronger) Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea (strongest) Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea (strongest) Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea(release) Eo Deo Ah Hay Yea (release) (touch floor to ground) (touch floor to ground) Wine And Bread Sharon: The magick continues with wine and bread. (Wine and bread to Rick/Wynn) Renee: (Cut door for Rick/Wynn) Wynn: Rick: Gary: Renee: (Leave the house for the private ring exchange.) Th'th: (Introduce wine and bread.) We’ll pass around a cup of wine, which you are welcome to share. You may have noticed that Wynn merely kissed the chalice's base. If you want to share without drinking, like Wynn did... it’s okay to kiss the cup and pass it along. Those who are part of our regular group will be saying a blessing. Don’t worry about the words... your intent in sharing is quite enough. (Wine and bread to everyone else) Feast Andrew: Sharon: (Expand circle) Th'th: (Break for the feast.) We just expanded our circle to include the entire property. There were no secrets in this ritual. If you have any questions, please ask. We’ll be happy to explain anything you don’t understand. Rick and Wynn have left the house for a few minutes. They will exchange rings in private and return for the party. Let's feast..... Andrew: (Turn on CD music.)