Brian McLean & Kim Howell
Hand-fasting Ceremony
11:00am- October 4, 2003

Preparation
Create circle roughly 10 feet in diameter using flower petals.
Mark North, South, East & West like you are making a medicine wheel.

Officiate stands in circle facing North and rings bell 3 times

Officiate:      
“May the place of this rite be consecrated by and for the Divine Father-Mother God, may it be surrounded by Light and Peace for the highest and best good of all those present.  For today we gather to witness and take part in the ritual joining of two complete beings of love and light that choose to experience this life together.  Kim and Brian please come forward and stand here before us and before the Divine Father-Mother God”

The couple approaches the circle from the east -- the direction of sunrise; this symbolizes growth in their relationship. They enter the circle from the south to stand before Officiate who is facing north. (BRIAN ON THE LEFT - KIM ON THE RIGHT)

Officiate faces each cardinal direction to say :
East: “May the element of Air bless this circle.
      
Know and remember that this is the element of life, of intelligence,
Of
the inspiration that moves us onward.      
I bring to your wedding the power of mind.”
 
South: “May the element of Fire bless this circle.
      
Know and remember that this is the element of light, of energy, 
Of
the vigor that runs through our veins.      
I bring to your wedding the power of will.”
 
West: “May the element of Water bless this circle.
      
Know and remember that this is the power of love, of growth,      
of
the fruitfulness of the earth.      
I bring to your wedding the power of desire.”
 
North: “May the element of Earth bless this circle.      
Know and remember that this is the element of law, of endurance,
of the understanding, which cannot be shaken.    

I bring to your wedding the power of steadfastness.”
          

Declaration of Intent 
Officiate:      
“Who walks the path of the Moon to stand before Heaven and declare her Will and do you come to this place of your own free will?”

Kim:             
“I do” 

Officiate:      
“Who walks the path of the Sun to stand upon this Holy Earth and declare his Will and do you come to this place of your own free will?”

Brian:       
“I do”
 

Officiate: 
“At this time I would ask if there be any among you who have just cause why these two should not be joined together…?” 
(Interrupt the ceremony with the Renfest actors who doth profess their love - until they see each other and become smitten with each other and leave....) 

Officiate:     
“Brian and Kim, you have walked the circles of the Sun and Moon, will you now walk together the circle of Time, traveling through the Elements and the Seasons?”

Brian & Kim:  
“We will”

Officiate:      
“These two who are joined in love now have the desire to make their bond a matter of record, so that all the world and the society in which they live may witness it, and lend to them the support of their hearts and minds.”
 

Brian and Kim turn to each other and say together:
“You cannot possess me for I belong to myself. But while we both wish it, I give to you that which is mine to give. You cannot command me for I am a free person, but I shall honor you above all others. This is a marriage of equals.”

Rings
Officiate holds wand out with the rings 

Officiate:      
“Brian & Kim, Place your right hands over this wand and your rings,-Brian’s hand over Kim’s…”

“Above you are the stars,
below you are the stones,
as time does pass, remember…
Like a star should your love be constant,
Like a stone should your love be firm
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 make you happy
Let the Truth of Light infuse you
And the strength of your dedication make you inseparable for as long as you desire it.”
 

Brian & Kim say together whist putting on rings:
“One ring to show our love, One ring to bind us, One ring to seal our love, And forever to entwine us” 

  
Hand-fasting
Brian & Kim face each other and join hands (BRIAN’S LEFT HAND & KIM’S RIGHT) 

Officiate binds first cord (color RED) saying:
“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 you will it to be so.

Officiate:
“In the spirit of union, I now ask your children to strengthen this bond which brings you all together in love.”

(Officiate calls each name in order to bind the cords:)       
Victoria, will you please bind your cord?” 
                 
(etc…) “Alasdair, Steven, and Andrew…”

Officiate:      
“In the spirit of harmony, I now ask your family to strengthen this bond which brings you all together in brother and sisterhood.
Kristine, will you please bind your cord?”
          
(etc…) “Lesley, Dan & Melissa”

Officiate:
"In the spirit of peace, I now ask your friends to strengthen this bond which brings you all together in community." 
  
Jeff, will you please bind your cord?”
            
(etc…) “Julie, Tally, Mark & Jeannie
…” 

Officiate:
“Brian and Kim, it is time to state your intentions.”    
 

Poem: “TheNew Relationship© Michelle Anderson 1995 

Kim:              “The Queen in me aligns with the King in you”
Brian:            “The King in me aligns with the Queen in you”
Together:      “that the Kingdom will flourish and prosper”
 

Kim:              “The Priestess in me worships the God in you”
Brian:            “The Priest in me worships the Goddess in you”
Together:      “that the God in all may awaken”
 

Kim:              “The Scholar in me learns from the Teacher in you”
Brian:            “The Scholar in me learns from the Teacher in you”
Together:      “that Truth may illuminate the darkness”
 

Kim:              “The Artist in me dances to the Music in you”
Brian:            “The Artist in me dances to the Music in you”
Together:      “in Joyful expressions of Loving”
 

Kim:              “The Mother in me unites with the Father in you”
Brian:            “The Father in me unites with the Mother in you”
Together:      “to Birth Humanity’s Freedom”
 

Brian draws (or is handed) a sword and BOTH hold it up
Kim:              “The Warrior in me stands with the Warrior in you”
Brian:            “The Warrior in me stands with the Warrior in you”
Together:      “for Mutual cause and Protection”
 
Brian places sword on ground in front of them facing the congregation. 

Kim takes wand from Officiate and BOTH hold it up
Kim:              “The Merlin in me melds with the Merlin in you”
Brian:            “The Merlin in me melds with the Merlin in you”
Together:      “through the Alchemy of Oneness”
 
Kim places wand on ground in front of them facing the congregation.

Closing

Officiate:
“Father/Mother God, we stand upon this Earth, under the Sun, Moon and Stars, unique complete individuals, all equal as part of your Universe. Brian and Kim, in honoring each other’s wholeness, you have chosen to accept a life together in a synergistic relationship. Reach for your dreams and serve yourselves and be of service to others for the greater good of humanity. Step forward into your new life….
 

Brian & Kim step over sword and wand and kiss 

Officiate: “I now pronounce you friends, lovers and partners….”
May we now rejoice with the Elementals and Angels as they sing and bless this couple."
SO BE IT!” 

Officiate rings bell 3 times  
“At this time if you wish to toast the bride and groom, we would like to invite you to proceed to the Dragon Inn – and don’t forget, The Jousting begins at noon!” 

…and we all hug, we kiss, we go to the Dragon Inn and we eat cake, we drink, we shmooze and we all go home happy!