Wedding of Katherine and David
July 25, 2004

[Priestess] Ring Bell to announce beginning of ritual
[Priestess] Grounding ritual

[Priestess] We have come together today, in celebration of the joining together of Katherine and David. There are many things to say about marriage. Much wisdom concerning the joining together of two souls has come our way through all paths of belief. With each union, more knowledge is gained and more wisdom gathered. Though we are unable to give all this knowledge to these two, we can hope to leave them the knowledge of love and its strengths and the anticipation of the wisdom that comes with time.

The law of life is love unto all beings. Without love, life is nothing..without love, death has no redemption. Love is anterior to Life, posterior to Death, initial of Creation and the exponent of Earth. If we learn no more in life, let it be this.

Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of this, David and Katherine come here today to be joined as one in marriage.

Others would ask at this time, who give Katherine in marriage, but as a woman is not property to be bought and sold, given and taken, I ask simply if Katherine comes of her own free will and if she has her family’s blessing.

Katherine, is it true that you come of your own free will and accord?

[Bride] Yes, it is true.

[Priestess] With whom do you come and whose blessings accompany you?

[Father] She comes with me, her father, and is accompanied by all her family’s blessings.

(to be taken out if needed) [Priestess] Please join hands with your betrothed.

Moving to the altar, Priestess lights the incense and says: Powers of the air, weave tightly the bonds of Heart, Spirit, and Love between David and Katherine. Let none undo the fabric of their love. Smudges the couple with incense.

Priestess lights candles and says: Powers of fire, ignite the passion and love for David and Katherine, ever burning yet never one consuming the other.

Priestess raises the chalice up to the sky, saying: Powers of water, bless David and Katherine with a love as deep as any ocean. Sprinkles some water over the couple’s heads.

Priestess anoints the bride and groom’s foreheads with rose oil saying: Powers of the earth, bless David and Katherine with strength and wisdom as long as life and love lasts!

[Priestess] Please listen to that which I’m about to say.

Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, as time passes remember….

Like a stone should your love be firm, like a star should your love be constant. Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in your marriage. Let the strength of your wills bind you together. Let the power of love and desire bring you joy and let the strength of your dedication make you inseparable. Be close, but not too close. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience with one another, for storms will come but they will pass.

Be free in giving affection and warmth. Have no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened give you unease.

David, I have not the right to bind you to Katherine, only you have this right. If it be your wish, says so at this time and place your ring in her hand.

[Groom] It is my wish.

[Priestess] Katherine, if it be your wish to be bound to David, place this ring on his finger (places ring on grooms left ring finger)

Katherine, I have not the right to bind you to David, only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in his hand.

[Bride] It is my wish.

[Priestess] David, if it be your wish to be bound to Katherine, place the ring on her finger (places ring on brides left ring finger)

[Priestess] Please hold hands, and repeat after me:

I, David, in the name of the Spirit that resides within us all, by the life that courses within my blood and the love that resides in my heart, take you Katherine to my hand, my heart, and my spirit..to be my chosen one. To desire and be desired, to possess and be possessed without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for you. I promise to love you wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond..where we shall meet, remember, and love again. I shall not seek to change you in any way. I shall respect you, your beliefs, your people and your ways, as I respect myself.

I, Katherine, in the name of the Spirit that resides within us all, by the life that courses within my blood and the love that resides in my heart, take you David to my hand, my heart, and my spirit..to be my chosen one. To desire and be desired, to possess and be possessed without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for you. I promise to love you wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond..where we shall meet, remember, and love again. I shall not seek to change you in any way. I shall respect you, your beliefs, your people and your ways, as I respect myself.

Couple and Priestess move to table where sits 3 candles. Priestess asks them to each light a candle.

These three candles are represent the both of you. Each of you is a whole and complete human being.

Together, light the third candle, but extinguish not the first two. For in marriage and family you do not lose yourself; you add something new, a relationship, the capacity to merge into one another without losing sight of your individual self.

[Priestess] (Handing chalice to David) May you drink your fill from the cup of life. May you never thirst.

(David holds chalice to Katherine while she sips, then Katherine takes chalice and holds it to David while he sips, and then returns cup to Priestess)

[Priestess] (Handing bread to David) May you eat your fill from the food of the earth. May you never hunger.

(Same procedure repeated with bread, David feeding Katherine and Katherine feeding David)

[Priestess] By the power vested in me..I now pronounce you husband and wife. May your love so endure that its flame remains a guiding light unto you. (Namaste)

[Priestess] You may kiss the bride.

[Priestess] (turn the couple around) I’d like to present to you the new couple….David and Katherine.

[Priestess] And now the couple would like to invite everyone to join them at the Train Depot for the reception.