Priest creates sacred space for the ceremony by casting a circle, cleansing the space with sage smudge stick, lighting candles, and calling the four directions: air, fire, water, and earth.
[ “gong”]
Invoking
Sacred Circle:
[As you sweep
your hand or wand around clockwise]
“I
now declare this space within this circle I cast
to be sacred unto the purpose at hand
Safe
and protected from any unwanted intrusions
Holy unto this ritual.”
[Sage]
Invoking the 4
Directions:
[As you light
the colored candles speak to the spirits.]
East (yellow candle):
“Spirits
of the East, of Air, of the Mental realms
We
invite you to come be with us
As guides and guardians in this hour.
South (red candle):
Spirits
of the South, of Fire, of the Passionate Spirit realms
We
invite you to come be with us
As guides and guardians in this hour.
West (blue candle):
Spirits
of the West, of Water, of the Emotional realms
We
invite you to come be with us
As guides and guardians in this hour.
North (green candle):
Spirits
of the North, of Earth, of the Physical realms
We
invite you to come be with us
As guides and guardians in this hour.
Center (white candle):
Spirit
of the
We
invite you to be here with us
As
guide and inspiration in this hour”
We
are gathered here today to join Bride and Groom in marriage.
What is
marriage?
Marriage
is the symbol of a bond that already exists between two people:
the bond of love.
Marriage
is the form in which you have chosen to express and live your love
relationship. Marriage is an intimate
sharing of two lives, which we often say brings you together as one… yet it must not rob either partner of their individuality.
A
lasting marriage is one in which each person continues to grow and develop as a
whole person individually…at the same time that their love and understanding of
the other one continues to grow and deepen.
The
purpose of marriage is to create a loving support unit, a foundation of
strength in which each partner as lover, companion and friend, assists the
other in becoming all they are to be.
Our
ancestors, when they would join, did before witnesses clasp hands and repeat
their vows to one another. Such handfastings were true and binding for as long as love
should last, up to a year and a day, at which time they were renewable.
Bride
and Groom, as the sun and moon bring light to the earth,
do you vow to bring the light of love and joy to your union and to your world?
[“we do”]
And
do you vow to honor each other as you honor that which you hold most sacred?
[“we do”]
Do
you have other vows you wish to speak to each other?
[“we do”]
[insert personal vows here]
Priest speaks:
Bride
and Groom, do you vow to maintain these vows in freedom for as long as love
shall last?
[“we do”]
Let
all who are assembled bear witness that Bride and Groom have made vows to one
another in freedom, joy and love.
RING EXCHANGE:
What
symbols do you have to mark this commitment?
[present rings]
Please
repeat after me as you place the ring on your partner’s hand…
I
give you this ring as a symbol…
of the ever
continuing love that we share…
and of the never
ending oneness of our souls’ journey together.
We
now ask for blessing upon this union, even as we know that the Source of all Light has already lavished blessing upon them. May their love partake of beauty, majesty,
and the power of the sacred land, and may they grow together in wisdom, joy,
and harmony. May all the blessings of
all that is divine and sacred be with them…
So
Mote It Be!
Priest ties
together couple’s extended hands, designated person
places the broom on the ground, couple jumps over the broom three times.
Priest
concludes the ceremony by saying with enthusiasm:
“Let
all those here assembled bear witness that Bride and Groom are joined in love,
joy and freedom!
Let
us all rejoice and make merry.
Couple may embrace and kiss.
Priest will
dismiss the spirits of the four directions and open the circle.
Releasing the
Directions:
Spirits
of the North
We
thank you for your presence with us in this hour
and we release you to return to your realms
(Blow out green candle)
Spirits
of the West
We
thank you for your presence with us in this hour
and we release you to return to your realms
(Blow out blue candle)
Spirits
of the South
We
thank you for your presence with us in this hour
and we release you to return to your realms
(Blow out red candle)
Spirits
of the East
We
thank you for your presence with us in this hour
and we release you to return to your realms
(Blow out yellow candle)
Spirit
of the
We
thank you for your special presence with us in this hour
We
release you to return from whence you came
And
yet we know you are always with us.
(Blow out altar candle)
Open Circle:
[Sweep hand or
wand around counter-clockwise]
The
circle is open but never broken. Blessed Be.
[Strike the
“gong” and exit]