Ceremony:

The Priestess casts the circle as usual. After the guests have been blessed with greetings and incense, she rings the altar bell to signal the start of the ceremony.

The couple enter the circle holding hands. The Priestess blesses them with incense and greets them. Then they stand facing the altar (north) as the guests gather around the perimeter of the circle, joining hands together to form a human chain.

Facing the couple, the Priestess raises her arms up to the sky and says:

In this sacred circle of light, we gather to in perfect love and and perfect trust. O Goddess of divine love, I ask thee to bless this couple, their love, and their joining (or marriage) for as long as they shall live in love together. May they each enjoy a healthy life filled with joy, love, stability, and fertility.

The Priestess holds the dish of salt or soil before the couple and lets each of them place their right hand over the dish as she says:

Blessed be by the ancient and mystical Element of Earth. May the Goddess of love in all her glory bless you with love, tenderness, happiness, and compassion for as long as ye both shall live.

She returns the dish to the altar. The couple then turn and face east. The Priestess rings the bell thrice and then smudges the couple with incense, and says:

Blessed be by smoke and bell, symbols of the ancient and mystical Element of Air. May the Goddess of love in all her glory bless you with communication, intelectual growth, and wisdom for as long as ye both shall live.

She returns the censer to the altar. The couple turn and faces south. The Priestess hands each of them a white candle to hold in their right hand. She lights the candles, and then takes the wand from the altar and holds it above the couple as she says:

Blessed be by wand and flame, symbols of the ancient and mystical Element of Fire. May the Goddess of love in all her glory bless you with harmony, vitality, creativity, and passion for as long as ye both shall live.

The Priestess returns the candles and the wand to the altar. The couple now face west. The Priestess takes the chalice of water and sprinkles some of the water over their heads as she says:

Blessed be by the ancient and mystical Element of Water. May the Goddess of love in all her glory bless you with friendship, intuition, caring, and understanding for as long as ye both shall live.

She returns the chalice to the altar. The couple once again face north. The Priestess anoints their foreheads with rose oil, then holds the quartz crystal over them as a sacred symbol of the spiritual realm as she says:

May the divine Goddess of love in all her glory bless ye with togetherness, honesty, and spiritual growth for as long as ye both shall live. May the Goddess and God within ye guide ye on the right path, and may the magick of your love continue to grow for as long as ye shall remain together in love for your marriage is a sacred union of the female and male aspect of Divinity.

She returns the crystal to the altar. Now she consecrates the wedding rings (or magickal jewelry) with a sprinkle of salt and water as she says:

By salt and water I purify and cleanse these beautiful symbols of love. Let all negative vibrations, impurities, and hindrances be cast forth hencefrom! And let all that is positive, loving, and good enter herein. Blessed be these rings in the divine name of the Goddess. So mote it be.

The couple place the rings in each other's fingers as they exchange vows. The Priestess consecrates the cords in the same manner as the wedding rings. Then, holding the cords side by side, the groom and bride each take an end and tie a knot as they express their love to each other. The Priestess ties it in the middle of the cord and says:

By the knots on this cord your love is united.

The Priestess takes the knotted cord and ties together the hands of the couple. She visualizes a white of light of Goddess energy and protection. Everyone attending the ceremony raises energy by joyously chanting: Love! Love! Love!

After the Priestess has grounded the power raised into the couple and their marriage, she allows for a few moments of silence, and then removes the cord from their hands and says:

By the power of the Goddess and her Horned Consort, I now pronounce ye husband and wife for as long as ye both shall live together in love. So mote it be.

The guests may now cheer and applaud. The Priestess uncasts the circle. Then she places the broom on the ground and has the couple leap over it together as they hold each other's hands.

Web page design: Raven Dance
Part of this artwork was courtesy of: Don Maitz
Created: June, 1999