A handfasting is the joining of two people and their formal declaration of their love for each other, they can be as public or private and as elaborate or simple as the couple wish it to be, for it is their day, there is no wrong way to go about it as long as the couple being handfasted are happy with the ceremony, even though there are those who may disagree.

What follows is Mojie's and my handfasting ritual, written jointly by Elven Ranger, Horsa, Mojie and myself, much thanks is given to Elven Ranger and Horsa for the time and effort they put in to the writing of the ritual and the ritual itself and to all who were involved in the ritual.

We were honoured to have people of various faiths Pagan and non-Pagan in the circle, for the important thing is that the heart of everyone who is in involved in the handfasting ritual is in the right place.

Handfasting of Mojie and Stormraven

Elven Ranger: I call to the members of Grimshoe Kindred and to the members of all the Kindreds and Hearths represented here.

CIRCLE FORMS

Horsa: This circle is formed as a Wheel of Years, a Tree of Life.
We stand together, as did our Heathen Ancestors within their Mead Halls.
We stand with their strength, and their wisdom, and their honour, for the Handfasting of Mojie and Stormraven.


EXPLAINATION OF HANDFASTING CEREMONY

Elven Ranger: For our people this is a wedding. These are folk from the country, from the heath, in touch with the land walked by our ancestors. Our Menfolk AND our Womenfolk here bear blades, as did our Ancestors, but only to defend and protect their Kin and Tribe

Horsa: What, then is a Handfasting? It is a marriage in the Pagan or Heathen way. Times have changed since those of our Ancestors, but a Handfasting is still what it was- a joining of two people in heart body and spirit, before their family and tribe.

Elven Ranger: And who are the tribe? You are. Pagan folk from far and wide, gathered at Beltane. One day, our Handfastings will be as legal as any other wedding, but for now it is legal only within family and tribe, but that is what matters!

Horsa: We don’t know exactly how a Handfasting was done in the Old Times. No book is there to say, but the Ancestors and the Gods and Goddesses tell us if we but listen. Beltane is a time when the veil between the worlds is thin. At the edges of your minds eye you may just see the hall turning to a Mead Hall of older times.

Elven Ranger: Feel the presence of the Ancestors, of the Gods and Goddesses, for this is a marriage in the Old Way.

CALL FOR QUIET

Horsa: We ask that you respect ONE thing during this Handfasting. The Heathen Anglo-Saxons had a word to be said to draw attention to what is to follow and call for silence, and that word is:‘HWAET’!

CALL FOR THE GROOM

Elven Ranger: I call for the man of this Handfasting.

DRUMMING BEGINS

Stormraven enters hall with guardians Jeanette and Archraven, and worthsayer, Thorskegga. Stormraven places sword on altar.

DRUMMING CEASES WHEN STORMRAVEN AT ALTAR

CALL FOR THE BRIDE

Horsa: One is here, but two are needed. I call for the woman of this Handfasting.

DRUMMING BEGINS

Mojie enters hall with guardians Zoskia and Hunter, and worthsayer, Dragon.

DRUMMING CEASES WHEN MOJIE AT ALTER

HALLOWING AND WARDING

Horsa: This is a place that is not a place.
In a time that is not a time.
In a land that is not a land.
I call upon Tiw to aid me and remove all that is not welcome,
anything that may bear ill will to this ceremony.
His strength and wisdom protect all here.
Hailsa Tiw!

CALLS

Applestar to pass horn to guardians as they call.

Hunter: I call to the honourable Ancestors, to those who have gone before, to Valhalla, to Folkvang and to Nifelheim. Please join us in witnessing the joining of your kith and kin.

Places offering into blessing bowl

Jeanette: I call to the Wights of the lands near and far of all here, to witness this sacred bonding.

Places offering into blessing bowl

Zoskia: I call to the dragons, to the White Dragon of Angleland and the Red Dragon of Cymri, to the dragons of those present. Grace us with your company and witness this occasion.

Places offering into blessing bowl

Archraven: I all to the Alfar and their chosen kin. Join us as you please, to share our hospitality.

Places offering into blessing bowl

CALL TO THE GODS

Applestar: Call to Idun.
Continues with horn passing to:
Mojie
Stormraven
Elven Ranger
Horsa
Thorskegga
Dragon
Guardians – Hunter, Jeanette, Zoskia & Archraven
All others in circle.

CALL TO GROOM’S WORTHSAYER

Elven Ranger: This man stands here to be handfasted. His worth is known to many, but I ask one to speak for him. Who will speak of Stormraven’s worth?

Thorskegga: Speaks worth

CALL TO BRIDE’S WORTHSAYER

Horsa: This woman stands here to be handfasted. Her worth is known to many, but I ask one to speak for her. Who will speak of Mojie’s worth?

Dragon: Speaks worth

Elven Ranger: (To Mojie) Do you find this man worthy?

Mojie: Yes.

Horsa: (To Stormraven) Do you find this woman worthy?

Stormraven: Yes.

Horsa: You have heard the worthiness of both and their acceptance, now hear their vows.

VOWS

Elven Ranger gets Stormraven to repeat his vows after her.

Elven Ranger places silver cord around wrists.

Elven Ranger: May Mani bless your nights together.

Horsa gets Mojie to repeat her vows after him.

Horsa places gold cord around wrists.

Horsa: May Sol bless your days together. By sun and moon, and by the Gods of our people, these two are now handfasted.

TOASTS

Elven Ranger: I call Applestar to bring the mead horn for the toasts.

Applestar to pass horn for toasts.

All circle toasts completed (Horsa last)

Horsa: I now ask all here to raise your cups and in the manner of our tradition wish ‘Waes Hail’, good health, and drink to the newly handfasted couple. Waes Hail!

All: WAES HAIL!

GUARDIANS TO GIVE THANKS

Hunter: I give thanks to the Ancestors.

Jeanette: I give thanks to the Wights of the land.

Zoskia: I give thanks to the Dragons.

Archraven: I give thanks to the Alfar.

THANKS TO THE GODS AND CLOSING OF THE CIRCLE

Horsa: The physical bindings witnessed by you all here today symbolise Mojie and Stormraven’s path ahead. The cords are now removed, but their bond remains.

To all Gods and Goddesses called, I give thanks.
Depart or remain as you wish for this place now returns to Midgard as the circle opens once more.

Elven Ranger: In the old country tradition Mojie and Stormraven will now jump the besom and receive the blessing of the May. They invite all who wish, to follow them, and also jump for health and happiness.

DRUMMING STARTS

Mojie and Stormraven go to the stage to jump besom, followed by all who wish to do the same. Nicole to bless all who jump with May.

Mojie and Stormraven to lead the Spiral Dance.

RELAX, DRINK & ENJOY!!!!!


please feel free to use it for ideas, but I ask you not to use as a whole, for each handfasting should be unique to you and this one is unique to us.

Storm Raven

Rereading that gave me goosebumps
I will add Make sure you and your officator(s) sit down and talk.
your handfasting is important and make sure it represents you and your beliefs
IMO being yourself and having a handfasting representing you and your partner is highly important.
Our handfasting was right for us and I will never forget it


Moj

thanks stormraven, made wonderful reading

Oh wow! Stormraven and Mojie, is sounds soooo beautiful.

That sounds like a beautiful ceremony - thanks for sharing!

Thanks for sharing.....my wife and I were looking at a handfasting to renew our vows after 10 yrs of marriage now that we have both left the religions we were brought up in, and found our own paths.