Erin and Alcides
June 18, 2005

Bride walks down the aisle and stands by Alcides.

Priestess Rings Bell

CEREMONY

Grounding

[Priestess]
We would like everyone to join in a brief silent breathing and grounding meditation to focus attention on the ceremony, and create sacred space. Close your eyes for just a minute and take a deep breath, in through the nose out through the mouth. Feel yourself relax. Bring your focus completely into this space, completely into this moment. Take another deep breath. Open your eyes and see the beauty around you. – Namaste

The Great Invocation

[Priestess]
From the point of light from within the mind of God,
Let light stream forth into our minds
Let light descend on Earth.

From the point of Love within the Heart of God
Let Love stream forth into our hearts
May Christ Consciousness return to Earth.

From the centre where the Will of God in Known
Let purpose guide our will
The purpose which the Masters know and serve.

From the centre which we call the human race
Let the Plan of Love and Light work out and may it seal the door where our disrespect for life and our limitations dwell.

Let Light and Love and power restore the Plan on Earth.

[Rakesh]Song…..to be determined

Readings by Bridesmaids

[Bridesmaid 1]
In the wood the sound of bell
summoned us into the dell
eagerly we climbed the path
for bride and groom who followed last
[Bridesmaid 2]
Then purified by fire and water
spun into with much laughter
by power beyond both time and space
the circle made a holy place

[Bridesmaid 3]
We danced to raise the sacred power
to fill and bless their bridal bower
then bride and groom their love declared
and song and dance of joy was heard

[Priestess]
Then feast to honour bridal pair
and Lord and Lady, all things fair
the woods they rang with merry laughter
may joy and fortune follow after!

Welcome

[Priestess]
Welcome, friends and family! We are gathered today to celebrate the reaffirmation of Erin and Alcides in marriage. This ceremony is but an outward sign of their inward union of heart, mind and spirit, a celebration of the joining of two souls already attuned to each other. When such a true bond exists between two people, it is fitting that an outer acknowledgement be made. We are here to bear witness to the continuation of life partnership of these beloved friends who are already one in spirit.

From two different backgrounds and experiences, they have come together to learn the best of what each other has to offer, appreciating their differences. Today they affirm the mergence of their own individual lives, their families and their cultures joining each other as one.

It is in the spirit of this unity that they ask that we acknowledge our common bond today. For those of you not familiar with this tradition: Kindly extend your right hand to your neighbors in offering a handshake, and if you fell so inclined, a hug will also do quite well!

Marriage between man and woman is for the purpose of each partner helping to uplift the other in a commitment of divine friendship, love, and loyalty that will move both souls closer to their true nature in the incarnation they share.
State Intentions

[Priestess to couple] I ask you now to state your intentions.

[Priestess to Erin] Erin, is it true that you come of your own free will and accord?

[Erin] Yes, it is true. I have come of my own free will, in perfect love and perfect trust, to seek to affirm my partnership with Alcides.

[Priestess to Alcides] And you, Alcides, do you also come here today of your own accord?

[Alcides] Yes, I come of my own free will, in perfect love and perfect trust, to seek to affirm my partnership with Erin.

[Priestess to couple] Please join hands with your betrothed.

Blessing of the Elements

Moving to the altar, Priestess lights the incense and says: Blessed be, by the ancient and mystical element of air. May they be blessed with communication, growth, and wisdom. Forces of air, weave tightly the bonds of Heart, Spirit, and Love between Erin and Alcides. Let none undo the fabric of their love. Smudges the couple with incense.

Priestess lights candles and says: Blessed be by the ancient and mystical element of fire. May they be blessed with harmony, vitality, creativity, and passion. Forces of fire, ignite the passion and love for Erin and Alcides, ever burning yet never one consuming the other.

Priestess raises the chalice up to the sky, saying: Blessed be by the ancient and mystical element of water. May they be blessed with friendship, intuition, caring and understanding for each other. Forces of water, bless Erin and Alcides with a love as deep as any ocean. Sprinkles some water over the couple’s heads.

Priestess anoints their foreheads with rose oil saying: Blessed be by the ancient and mystical element of earth. May they be blessed with love, tenderness, happiness, and compassion. Forces of earth, bless Erin and Alcides with strength and wisdom as long as this life and love lasts!

Priestess raises Quartz Crystal above the couples heads.

[Priestess to Couple]
May Spirit bless ye with togetherness, honesty, and spiritual growth for as long as ye both shall live. May the Divine within ye guide ye on the right path, and may the magic of your love continue to grow for as long as ye shall remain together in love for your marriage is a sacred union.
She returns the crystal to the altar.
Consecration and Exchange of Wedding Rings
Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, as time doth pass, 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 make you happy, and 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 quickly. Be free in giving affection and warmth. Let the innocent passion and joy of your relationship be with you always.

For thousands of years couples have exchanged rings as a token of their vows. It is not what these rings are made of that give them value, they are precious because of you wearing them. Your rings say that even in your uniqueness you have chosen to be bound together. Let these rings also be a sign that love has substance as well as soul, a present as well as a past, and that, despite its occasional sorrows, love is a circle of happiness, wonder and delight.

Circles represent eternity, and though our lives are finite, love – the creative force that binds us together, the force that gives new life – is everlasting.

By flame I purify and cleanse these beautiful symbols of love. Let all negative vibrations, impurities, and hindrances be cast out! And let all that is positive, loving, and good enter herein. Blessed be these rings in the name of the Divine.

[Priestess to Erin]
Erin, you may state your vows:

[Erin]
I, Erin, in the name of the Spirit of God that resides within all of us, by the life that courses within my blood and the love the resides within my heart, take thee, Alcides, to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one; to desire thee and be desired by thee, to cherish thee and be cherished by thee. I promise to love thee wholly and completely with out restraint, whether health is robust or challenged, in both sufficiency and abundance, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember and love again. Kara, our miracle lies in the path we have chosen together. I affirm my commitment to you knowing that the true magic of love lies not in avoiding changes, but in navigating them successfully. Let us commit to the miracle of making each day work—together.

[Priestess to Erin]
Erin, I have not the right to bind thee to Alcides, only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in his hand.
[Erin]
It is my wish. (places ring in Alcides’s hand)

[Priestess to Alcides]
Alcides, if it be your wish for Erin to be bound to you, place this ring on her finger (places ring on Erins finger)

[Priestess to Alcides]
Alcides, you may state your vows:

[Alcides]
I, Alcides, in the name of the Spirit of God that resides within all of us, by the life that courses within my blood and the love the resides within my heart, take thee, Alcides, to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one; to desire thee and be desired by thee, to cherish thee and be cherished by thee. I promise to love thee wholly and completely with out restraint, whether health is robust or challenged, in both sufficiency and abundance, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember and love again.
Erin, our miracle lies in the path we have chosen together. I affirm my commitment to you knowing that the true magic of love lies not in avoiding changes, but in navigating them successfully. Let us commit to the miracle of making each day work—together.

[Priestess to Alcides]
Alcides, I have not the right to bind thee to Erin, only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in her hand.

[Alcides]
It is my wish. (places ring in Erin’s hand)

[Priestess to Erin]
Erin, if it be your wish for Alcides to be bound to you, place this ring on his finger (places ring on Alcides finger)

Unity Candle

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

[Priestess to Couple]
These two candles are yourselves. Each of you is a whole and complete human being.

Together, light the third candle, but extinguish not the first two. For in marriage 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.

Handfasting

[Priestess to Erin]
Erin, please face Alcides and hold his hands, palm up, so you may see the blessing that they are to you.
Erin and Alcides should be facing each other, his upturned hands resting in hers.

Now, join both your left and right hands together, so that your arms and bodies form a figure 8 when viewed from above. This is the symbol of eternity.

This handfasting is reminiscent of an ancient Celtic custom, especially common in Ireland and Scotland, in which a man and woman came together at the start of their marriage relationship. Their hands, or more accurately, their wrists, were literally tied together. This practice gave way to the expression “tying the knot” which has come to mean getting married or engaged.

The cord I hold here, represents many of the qualities that Erin and Alcides wish to embrace as I bind them to their vows.

Dark Blue – for a safe journey and longevity
Light Blue – for understanding and patience
Pink – for romance, honor, partnership and happiness
Green – for health, prosperity, luck, fertility and beauty
Red – for courage, strength and passion
Yellow – for wisdom and harmony
Brown – for healing animals and the home
Silver – for creativity and protection
Gold – for unity, prosperity, and longevity
White – for peace, sincerity and devotion

As this knot is tied, so are your lives now bound. Woven into this cord, imbued into its very fibers, are all the hopes of your friends and family, and of yourselves, for your new life together.

With the fashioning of this knot do I tie all the desires, dreams, love, and happiness wished here in this place to your lives for as long as love shall last.

In the joining of hands and the fashion of a knot, so are your lives now bound, one to another.

This cord thus binds you to your vow. May this knot remain tied for as long as love shall last.

May this cord draw your hands together in love, never to be used in anger.

May the vows you have spoken never grow bitter in your mouths.

As any child discovers when they are learning to tie their own shoes, the first move is to cross the ends. The cross creates the Rune Gebo (X), which is the Rune of partnership and union. As this cord binds your hands, so is your partnership held by the symbol of this knot. May it be granted that >what is done before the gods be not undone by man.

Two entwined in love, bound by commitment and fear, sadness and joy, by hardship and victory, anger and reconciliation, all of which brings strength to this union. Hold tight to one another through both good times and bad, and watch as your strength grows.

“With this cord, I bind you to the vows that you each have made.

May you be blessed with health and prosperity. For remember what one may not provide, the other may. So are you bound, each to the other, unto all of your days.”

***[Priestess to Couple] or couple to each other
Heart to thee, soul to thee, body to thee, forever and always.

The bonds are removed by the Priestess, passed through the flame…

‘With Blessings from Spirit’

and laid on the altar

Reading from Kevin
Then Almitra spoke again and said, And what of Marriage , Master?
And he answered saying:

You were born together, and together you shall be forever more.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God. But let there be space in your togetherness.
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another your bread, but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart, and the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.

Feast of Cakes and Wine

[Priestess to couple]
Priestess hand chalice to bride
May you drink your fill from the cup life. May you never thirst.
Bride drinks and passes cup to groom, who drinks and returns the cup to the Priestess.

Priestess holds plate out for bride and groom.
May you eat your fill from the food of the earth. May you never hunger.
Bride and Groom take a bite from separate cakes, putting leftovers back on plate.

Jumping of the Broom and Sword

[Priestess to couple]
May the sword cut all ties to old restraints and the broom sweep them away…
(Couple steps over the broom and sword)

Cherokee Prayer

Spirit in heaven above, please protect the ones we love.
We honor all you created as we pledge our hearts and lives together.
We honor mother-earth – and ask for our marriage to be abundant and grow stronger through the seasons;
We honor fire – and ask that our union be warm and glowing with love in our hearts;
We honor wind – and ask that we sail through life safe and calm as in Spirits arms;
We honor water – to clean and soothe our relationship – that it may never thirst for love;
With all the forces of the Universe you created, we pray for harmony and true happiness as we forever grow young together.
Namaste.

Final Blessing

[Priestess to Couple]

May your way be blessed
May Wisdom’s Light shine upon you
May your journey together bring you Peace

Closing and Presentation

[Priestess to Guest]
You have witnessed the promises made by Alcides and Erin, one to another, and the exchange of their union.

[Priestess to Couple]
By the power of your promises and love, I now pronounce you …Husband and Wife.

[Priestess to Guest]
I now have the pleasure to present to you……****** (or I can skip the intro of the couple and just do a ‘kiss the bride’ statement)