I love the idea of a one-year commitment. Especially when it comes to the idea of modern marriages and all of the legal challenges and financial woes it causes the individuals when the marriage dissolves and let’s face it, unless you have your head in the sand, you may already know that over 50% of all marriages end in divorce. That’s because people don’t know each other before they get married. So WHY not have a trial run and try a formalised commitment ceremony, such as the handfasting ritual.
Handfasting is not a legal marriage. It is a commitment between a couple to remain together for a year and a day. At the end of this time period, this relationship may be abandoned and the individuals will be free to go their separate ways, or the couple may decide to renew their handfasting vows and commit to each other for another year and a day.
Wicca and Paganism have such rituals in their books, but you can modify the ritual below to suit a “LEFT-HAND PATH” couple. I will add a left-hand path style handfasting ritual under the basic pagan style handfasting ritual.
The Basic Pagan Handfasting Ritual
The following ritual will give the couple a sense of commitment to their relationship and a chance to celebrate their union. A handfasting ritual will highlight the couple’s bond of love to each other. It will bring blessings from the God and Goddess, and it will cement their relationship before family and friends.
2. Three ribbons, approximately 6 feet long, tied together in a knot at one end, preferably white, red, and black
3. Handfasting rings, or another piece of magical jewellery to be exchanged by the couple during the ritual
4. A handfasting broom, decorated as you wish for the occasion
“You come today to publicly proclaim your commitment to each other. May you both walk the same path, but in doing so not loose sight of your own individuality and uniqueness. May you both walk the same path, but in doing so, respect each other’s space and celebrate personal growth. May you walk the same path in love and light, reverence and joy.”
“I do.”
“Do you come here freely, with love in your heart, to commit yourself to your partner?”
“I do.”
“By the power of the Goddess: the Maiden, the Mother, the Crone; and by the power of the God: The Horned God, the Green Man, the Sage, may your handfasting be blessed. You shall remain bound to each other for a year and a day. May your love grow and happiness flourish. So mote it be.”
“Over the broom and into your new life you leap.
Blessed Be!”
Left-Hand path Handfasting Ritual
I’m getting very creative with this type of thing as I am a pagan and I love the idea at this time of year, where we get to choose our lovers (if you want too!) Beltane is a festival to celebrate the beginning of the summer and as it is a festival of the beginnings it’s a great time to think about relationships. Even if you are in a committed relationship maybe you really commit to each other in front of the ancient gods.
Naturally, I would suggest having the ritual on a Friday under the energy of Venus. The altar and decorations I would be arranged to suit the ritual and the participants of the wedding. I will say that you need to leave an offering on your altar for the God/Demons of whom you are asking for blessings!
MODIFY AS YOU DESIRE
I would begin with the ringing of the bell. All should be silent after the bell.
Everyone should be facing to the east. Taking the dagger, call the guardians into each corner (perhaps by drawing a pentagram)
Satan/Lucifer from the East
Beelzebub from the North
Astaroth from the West
Azazel from the South
(ENNs and/or other elemental chants could be said to secure the quarters)
Opens with:
In the Name of Lucifer, Ruler of the Earth, True God, Almighty and Ineffable, Who hast created man to reflect in Thine own image and likeness, we invite the Forces of Creation to bestow their infernal power upon us.
Come forth to greet us and confer dark blessings upon this couple who desire to become as one in the eyes of Lucifer.
Then says:
We come together in the Name of our Father and Lord Lucifer to join_______and________together in marriage.
Then take the athame and draws a circle around the bride and groom.
All should visualize a blue light representing the Powers of infernal light.
He/she then recites the following:
Almighty Lucifer, look with favor upon your disciples________and_________.
Both have come here their own free will.
A chalice filled with WINE is raised above the couple and says:
They come before you to ask your blessings as they set forth on this very day as husband and wife. (or whatever the combo)
To the woman say:
Drink from the chalice of commitment, that you ____________ desire of your own free will to take __________ as your lawfully wedded husband to love, honour and respect; to become as one in the eyes of lucifer and before the presence of the ancient gods and goddesses?
Bride: (she should either say yes, or I do, but also drink from the cup if she accepts)
To the guy say:
Drink from the chalice of commitment, that you desire of your own free will to take __________ as your lawfully wedded wife to love, honour and respect; to become as one in the eyes of Lucifer and before the presence of the ancient gods and goddesses?
Groom:(he should either say yes, or I do, but also drink from the cup if he accepts)
Both exchange rings
Say:
In the Name of Lucifer and before the presence of the ancient gods and goddesses, I pronounce you Husband and Wife.
May your union be powerful, strong and abundant with pleasure.
HAIL LUCIFER!
Everyone in the congregation shouts “HAIL LUCIFER!!”
The bride and groom should now leave an offering on the table and if there is a meal to be served at this function then one should be left on the altar too.
The chalice of wine, could be passed around the room anticlockwise with each taking a sip from the cup. The sharing of the cup of wine is normal in Pagan rituals but with the covid concerns – you make your mind up as to what is ok for your group of people. Alternatively, you could take the same bottle of wine around to each person OR and each gets a splash of the wine in their own cup to drink.
The drinking of the wine is an important symbol is of acceptance. The wine is shared to the gods (on the altar), to the couple, and to the congregation.