P: With full awareness, know that within this circle you are not only declaring your intent to be handfasted before those here assembled, but you speak that intent also to your creative higher powers. The promises made today and the ties that are bound here greatly strengthen your union; they will cross the years and lives of each soul's growth. P: Do you still seek to enter this ceremony? B: Yes, We Seek to Enter. Priestess lights the smudge and walks around the circle clockwise, saying: P: May the Ancient Gods banish all that is negative or would oppose this rite. Beginning in the East, the Priestess casts the circle with her Athame, saying: P: I consecrate this circle to the power of the Ancient ones. Here may they manifest and bless their children Holding the Athame over the goblet of water: P: Oh Lady ________, Bless this creature of water to your service. May we always honor the waters of life, and remember that it flows forever within us. Holding the Athame over the plate of salt: P: Oh Lady________, Bless this creature of earth to your service. May we always honor the blessed earth in its many forms that sustain and nurture us. Sprinkling some salt into the water, the priestess holds up the goblet, saying: P: Oh Lady________, Be you adored! Priestess hands the goblet to the woman, who sprinkles some of the water around the circle, walking clockwise. Woman returns the goblet to the Alter and takes her place. Holding the Athame over the incense burner, the Priestess says: P: Oh Lord ______, Bless this creature of Fire to your service. May we always remember the sacred fire that burns within all things, to warm and enlighten us. Holding the Athame over the incense the Priestess says: P: Oh Lord _______, Bless this creature of Air to your service. May we always hear the winds that speak with the voices of the Ancient Ones, and breathe their wisdom into our own beings. Lighting the incense and holding the burner aloft, the Priestess says: P: Lord________, Be you adored! Priestess hands the incense burner to the man, who walks around the circle clockwise. He returns the burner to the Alter and takes his place. Lighting the Yellow candle in the East, the Priestess says: P: I call upon you Powers of Air, to witness this rite, and protect this circle! Lighting the Red candle in the South, the Priestess says: P: I call upon you powers of Fire, to witness this rite and protect this circle. Lighting the Blue candle in the West, the Priestess says: P: I call upon you powers of Water, to witness this rite and protect this circle. Lighting the Green candle in the North, the Priestess says: P: I call upon you Powers of Earth, to witness this rite and protect this circle. Turning to the couple, the priestess speaks: P: [To Both] I bid you look into each other?s eyes and join hands. P: [Man's Name], Will you cause her pain? M: I May P: Is that your intent? M: No P: [Woman?s Name] Will you cause him pain? W: I may P: Is that your intent? W: No P: [To Both] Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it? B: Yes P: [Woman?s Name], Will you share his laughter? W: Yes P: [Man's Name], Will you share her laughter? M: Yes P: [To Both] Will both of you look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other? B: Yes P: [Woman's Name], Will you burden him? W: I may P: Is that your intent? W: No P: [Man's Name], Will you burden her? M: I may P: Is that your intent? M: No P: [To Both] Will you share each others burdens so that your spirits may grow in this union? B: Yes P: [Woman's Name], will you share his dreams? W: Yes P: [Man's Name], will you share her dreams? M: Yes P: [To Both] Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes? B: Yes P: [Man's Name], will you cause her anger? M: I may P: Is that your intent? M: No P: [Woman's Name], will you cause him anger? W: I may P: Is that your intent? W: No P: [To Both] Will you take the heat of anger and use it to temper the strength of this union? B: We Will P: [Woman's Name], Will you honor him W: I will P: [Man's Name], Will you honor her? M: I will P: [To Both] Will you seek to never give cause to break that honor? B: We shall never do so P: [Man?s name] Then I ask thee to give, wholeheartedly, The blade which symbolizes thy strength. Swear thy weapon to her, Always be at her service. The man offers the sword to the woman, saying: M: My most beloved, Accept the oath of love that I offer thee, I vow this sword, as I vow my soul, Ever to be at your service. Like this blade, my heart will be strong. Like this steel, my love will endure. Accept it chosen one, For all which is mine Will now be yours. Woman takes the proffered sword and silently touches it to her lips for three heartbeats. She returns it to him, saying: W: My most beloved, I accept this oath, sworn on thy blade. You know what is in my heart As I know what is in yours. P: [Woman?s name] I ask thee to give, wholeheartedly, The jewel of beauty that you wear, In symbol of the Lady _______?s great magic, Swear your jewel to him, Always to be at his service. The woman takes her jewel and holds it out to the man, saying: W: My most beloved, Accept the oath of love that I offer you. I vow this jewel, as I vow my soul, Ever to be at your service. Like this jewel will my heart be strong, Like it?s beauty will my love endure. Accept it, my chosen one, For all which is mine, Will now be yours. The man takes the jewel silently in his hands and touches it to his forehead for three heartbeats. He then returns it to her, saying: M: My most beloved, I accept this oath, sworn on thy jewel. You know what is in my heart, As I know what is in yours. P: Whatever each of thee May accomplish in future years, Wherever thou may wander, Know full well that you will do all, To be worthy of one another. With this rite, you each gain a treasure of greatest value. Care each for the other, and protect one another always. For you are bound one to the other, forever and all. P: In the name of all the Gods, May you know the best of fortune, And your life henceforth be one Of Joy and Prosperity, Of Health and Peace P: [To All] I ask all assembled to wish well to those who are now bound, And to drink in their honor. Priestess holds the Chalice aloft, then drinks from it and offers it to the Man. He drinks and offers it to the Woman. Any wine left in the cup is poured on the ground. P: The rite is ended. May all assembled share the blessings of this day. Merry Meet, and Merry Part. And Merry Meet Again! Priestess cuts the circle.