Do not use the Basic Ritual for this celebration.
This ritual is recommended when two people have decided with conviction to live together without the benefit of a
legal marriage. This type of marriage was common among the Celts and was usually a "trial marriage" lasting for a year and
a day. If both parties still wished to be together at the end of this time, a legal marriage was customary and recommended.
To prepare for this celebration ritual, on the Altar, have a White candle in the center, an Astral Candle* representing
each of the two to be wed on either side of it, and to the left of these a Green candle. Place two pieces of rope or fabric
at least two feet long on the right side of the Altar. The two to be wed stand at the left of the Altar, the priest/ess stands
to the right. The priest/ess lights the green candle and addresses the people, saying:
Marriage is an institution of divine appointment
and is commended as honorable among the people. It is the most important step in life and should not therefore be entered
into unadvisedly or lightly, but discreetly and soberly. In this state these two people come now to be joined.
While tying one piece of the rope or fabric to
the man's right wrist (loosely enough for it to be slipped off of his wrist without being untied), the priest/ess shall ask:
Do you, (name), take this woman to be your wife?
The man shall answer "I do". Then while tying
the other piece of rope or fabric to the woman's right wrist (loosely enough that it can be slipped off of her wrist without
being untied), the priest/ess shall ask of her:
Do you, (name), take this man to be your husband?
The woman shall answer, "I do", and the priest/ess
shall take the ends of each piece of fabric and while tying the two together shall say:
Hand to hand you are bound, as heart to heart you
have loved for many lifetimes. Hands to hold, hearts to cherish. Here you stand, male and female. You have been ever apart,
seeking always to be united again.
The priest/ess shall then remove the rope or fabric
from their wrists without untying any of it and shall lay the rope or fabric back on the right side of the Altar. (The couple
takes this at the end of the ceremony as a momento)
If the couple desires the exchanging of
rings, it is recommended that the rings be simple gold bands, celtic bands or promise rings. These rings should be replaced
with more traditional wedding bands if the couples enter into a legal marriage at a later date. If rings will be exchanged
the priest/ess shall say:
The wedding ring is a circle, a sacred
space encircling the finger which many ancient people believed contained a vein running directly to the heart. Therefore,
it is not a brand of ownership, as some would have you believe, but a magick circle which guards a sacred space which creates
upon the giver and the receiver an honor vow to uphold the pledge you are now making.
The man shall then take the ring and while
placing it on the woman's finger shall say:
With this ring, I thee wed.
The woman shall then take the ring and while placing
it on the man's finger shall say:
With this ring, I thee wed.
The man shall then pick up his Astral candle and
light it from the burning Green candle. The woman shall do the same. When both are holding lit candles, they shall light the
White candle together, then blow out their Astral candles and lay them on the Altar. The couple will turn and face the people
and the priest/ess will say:
Now before God and these witnesses, the two have
become one. Go in peace, be fruitful and prosper. People, welcome this newly married couple into your midst. Blessed Be!
It is done.
