The Witches' Voice

A Mystical Grove

The Celtic Connection

Circle Sanctuary

Handfasting Ritual

of Jack Random and Betty Viola Blue

The Feast of Brigid (February 1, 2003)

Chateau Tivoli, San Francisco

Handfasting Party

Lady of the Gate

Chatelaine

High Priestess

High Priest

The Lady

The Lord

2 Wenches in Waiting

2 Knaves

At the north end of the suite, the altar has been set up with a red altar cloth, a white pillar altar candle, two taper candles representing the Lady and the Lord: one red, and one black, two white taper candles representing the goddess and the god, a cauldron containing Isis and Osiris incense, a cruet of salt and a bowl to pour it into, a cruet of cider and a chalice to pour it into, an athame, a silver bell, a wand bearing the handfasting bracelets, and the handfasting cord (three ribbons: white, red, and black, entwined together). The High Priestess and High Priest stand on either side of the altar (east and west, respectively).

Chairs and couches are set up in two semi-circles on either side of the altar, leaving the center of the carpet clear, with the opening of the circle at the south end marked by roses, garlands, or candles. Rose petals are scattered in a circle on the carpet. Lady and Lord wait at the bedroom doorway with their attendants, the Lord on the right, the Lady on the left.

At 6:30 or so, the Lady of the Gate meets guests in lobby and directs them upstairs. At the door of the suite, Chatelaine gives a candle to each guest and lights it.

Once all of the guests have recieved their candles, the High Priestess rings the bell to indicate that the ceremony is about to begin and the guests should take their seats.

High Priest: On behalf of [the Lord and Lady], I would like to welcome you to this joyful celebration. We come together today as a community to recognize their commitment to one another and to join them in this sacred ritual of Handfasting.

High Priestess: [The Lady and Lord] have chosen each other as partners and lovers for the last four years, and today they have chosen to stand before you, their friends, and declare their commitment to one another. We ask you all to take part in this sacred ceremony.

[Lord and Lady], would you come forward to stand here before us and before the God and Goddess?

Lord and Lady, followed by Attendants, proceed to altar.

Attendants call the four elements. Each attendant has a single rose (there are two white and two red), and places it on the altar after calling his or her direction.

Wench of the East: Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, Powers of Air, of Spirit, and of Mind, place of all new beginnings. By the Air that is Her breath, I invoke thee.

The Wench of the East places white rose on altar with bloom to east (right) and lights incense.

Knave of the South: Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South, Powers of Fire, of Passion, and of the Body, source of all joy. By the Fire that is Her spirit, I invoke thee.

The Knave of the South places red rose across first rose, bloom to south, and lights center pillar altar candle.

Wench of the West: Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, Powers of Water, of emotion, and of insight, the place where all things come to rest. By the Waters of Her living womb, I invoke thee.

The Wench of the West places white rose across second, bloom to west, and pours cider into chalice.

Knave of the North: Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, Powers of Earth, of silence and of mystery, the place of endings and rebirth. By the Earth that is Her body, I invoke thee.

The Knave of the North places red rose across third with bloom to north and pours salt into bowl.

High Priestess: Great Goddess, Maiden of the dancing waves and glittering stars, Mistress of the Moon and Ruler of Night, Mother from whose womb all life was birthed, Wise Woman of secrets and mysteries; You who are all things to all women – full of the exuberance and vitality of youth, the tender compassion of womanhood, the wisdom of great age – You who dwell within all women, be with us now, and with [the Lady and Lord] as they are joined together in love.

The Lady approaches altar and lights red candle from altar candle.

High Priest: Great God, Horned One of the forests and wild places, Lord of the Sun, Bringer of warmth and light; You who run with the swift stag, Soar with the birds in the sky, and protect all the Mother's children; You who are born of the Goddess, Her lover and Her son, as are all men; be with us now, and with [the Lord and Lady] as they are joined together in love.

The Lord approaches altar and lights black candle from altar candle.

High Priestess (passing wand with bracelets through incense smoke and altar candle flame): May your union be blessed by the powers of Air and the powers of Fire.

High Priest (taking wand and touching to cider and salt): May your union be blessed by the powers of Water and the powers of Earth.

High Priestess: Let these bracelets symbolize your love, which does honor to the Goddess and God and is in harmony with Their ways; which like the circle, has no beginning and no end.

Lady and Lord approach the altar. The Lord lights the god candle from the black candle, then removes the small bracelet from the wand, places it on the Lady’s right wrist and recites his vows.

The Lady lights the goddess candle from the red candle, then removes the large bracelet from the wand, [places it on the Lord’s left wrist, and recites her vows.

High Priest (takes cord from altar): This cord symbolizes the bond that, like their love, holds them together, though they are yet separate.

High Priestess (takes cord from High Priest and wraps it loosely around the upheld wrists): With this binding I tie you, heart to heart, together as one. With this knot you are joined in sacred union. Your hands, thus joined, form the symbol of infinity, blessing your relationship in the eternal ebb and flow of the universe. May the Lord and Lady smile upon you, and bless you with health and prosperity.

High Priest (holds up chalice): We thank you, Goddess and God, for Your blessings and abundance as we bless this libation in honor of this joyous and holy occasion. Blessed in Their honor, may it be shared in love. Blessed Be.

High Priest hands chalice to Lord, who drinks and offers it to Lady. Lady drinks and hands chalice back to High Priest.

High Priest: A union of souls, body, mind, spirit together in harmony has occurred; freely chosen in love and joy, these two have become as one. May your love always honor the Goddess and God, as you go forth with their blessings.

Would you continue your lives together by sharing the Sacred Kiss?

Lady and Lord kiss.

High Priest (removes binding and holds it overhead): We remove the cord even as we open the circle. May this bond, as the circle, remain unbroken.

High Priestess: Precious Goddess and Gracious God, we thank you for Your presence at this sacred rite, and we ask for Your blessing upon us. We thank the elements for all blessings and wisdom, for growth and desire, for love and understanding, for nurturance and stability. May you be with us always. The circle is open but unbroken, may the peace of the Goddess and God go in our hearts. Merry meet, and merry part, and merry meet again. So mote it be!

and the merrymaking doth commence.