Our Ceremony

Several guests asked for a written copy of our ritual script.
We researched and found many different rituals on the internet and in books.
We used elements of some and parts from others, and rewrote sections to suit our own tastes.

Handfasting Ceremony of
James Mackie, Jr. and Deborah J. Laraway
November 20th 1999

Minister: We have come together here in celebration of the joining of Deborah Laraway and James Mackie, Jr. Much wisdom concerning the joining of two souls has come our way through all paths of belief, and from many cultures. With each union, more knowledge is gained and more wisdom gathered. Though we are unable to give all this knowledge to these two who stand before us, we can hope to leave them with 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 its downs, its trials and triumphs. With full understanding of this Jim and Debbi have come here today to be joined as one in marriage, in the presence of all that is sacred.

JIM: (lights the gold candle while Bob Reads Charge of the Great Father.)

BOB:
This is the charge of the the Great Father:

I who am the strength of the great stag,
the golden sun which warms the earth
and the mysteries of the wild,
I call upon your soul to arise and come unto me.

For I am Lord of the Spiral Dance of Life, Death and Rebirth
It is I who lay you at the Mother's feet
to be reborn and return again.

Come dance and sing, live and smile,
seek merriment in music and and feasting
for behold, this is my worship.

Let there be pride and passion,
knowledge and strength,
the peace of death and the joy of rebirth
within you.

And you who seek to know me,
Know that you must come to me in love and strength
and seek to know the mystery
of the fire within your heart and the yearning of your soul.

I am the harvest of death and the seed of life.

For behold, I have been with you from the beginning
and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.

DEB: (lights the silver candle while Roberta reads Charge of the Great Mother)

ROBERTA:
This is the charge of the the Great Mother:

I who am the beauty of the green earth
and the white moon among the stars
and the mysteries of the waters,
I call upon your soul to arise and come unto me.

For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe.
From me all things proceed
and to me they must return.

Let my worship be in the heart that rejoices,
for behold,
all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals.

Let there be beauty and strength
power and compassion,
honor and humility, mirth and reverence
within you.

And you who seek to know me
know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not,
unless you know the Mystery;
for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself,

You will never find it without.

For behold, I have been with you from the beginning,
and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.

BOTH: (light the Great candle with the gold and silver candles.)

Minister: Please join hands with your betrothed and listen to that which I am about to say. Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, and 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 remain individual. 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. Have no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened give you unease, for love is with you always.

Jim, I have not the right to bind you to Debbi. Only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in her hand.

JIM: It is my wish. (Take ring from ringbearer, give to Debbi)

Minister: Debbi, I have not the right to bind you to Jim. Only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in his hand.

DEB: It is my wish.(Take ring from ringbearer, give to Jim)

Minister: Jim, place the ring on her finger and repeat after me:

I, James Mackie, take thee Deborah Laraway to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one. To desire thee and be desired by thee, without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for thee. I promise to love and respect thee, wholly and completely, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty. I shall love thee in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again, in the circle which has no beginning and no end.

Minister: Debbi, place the ring on his finger and repeat after me:

I, Deborah Laraway, take thee James Mackie to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one. To desire thee and be desired by thee, without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for thee. I promise to love and respect thee, wholly and completely, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty. I shall love thee in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again, in the circle which has no beginning and no end.

Minister: May you drink your fill from the cup of love. (hands chalice to Jim, he drinks and hands chalice to Debbi, she drinks.

Minister: (binds their hands with the Wedding beads, and reads the Apache Wedding Blessing:)

"Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now you are two persons, but there is one life before you. Go now to your dwelling, to enter into the days of your life together and may your days be good and long upon the earth."

By the power vested in me by the State of Maryland, I pronounce you husband and wife. May your love so endure that its flame remains your guiding light.

[Home | Photo Album | What is Handfasting | Ceremony Script | Links | e-mail us]