Handfasting Ritual -  Akathia

 The entire area is first consecrated with salt, water, and purifying incense

such as cedar, frankincense, sage, or sandalwood. Erect an altar and place

upon it two, white, illumination candles, a censor of incense, a dish of 

salt or soil, a brass altar bell, a wand, a chalice of water, a cup of rose 

oil, a quartz crystal, the wedding rings, and two white cords.  

Cast a circle in a clock-wise direction using an athame or ceremonial sword.

Bless each guest with greetings and incense, then ring the altar bell thrice.

The couple enters the circle holding hands.  They face the altar (north)

and bless them with greetings and incense.  The wedding guests form a human

circle chain around the altar with the High Priest/ess and the couple

in the center.  The High Priest/ess raises her arms to the sky and says:

        IN THIS SACRED CIRCLE OF LIGHT

        WE GATHER IN PERFECT LOVE

        AND PERFECT TRUST

        O GODDESS OF DIVINE LOVE

        I ASK THEE TO BLESS THIS COUPLE

        THIER LOVE, AND THIER 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.

Hold the dish of salt or soil before them and let each of them place their

right hand over the dish.

        BLESSED BE 

        BY THE ANCIENT AND MYSTICAL 

        ELEMENT OF EARTH

The couple must than face east.  Ring the altar bell thrice and smudge

the couple with incense.

        BLESSED BE

        BY THE ANCIENT AND MYSTICAL

        ELEMENT OF AIR

The couple must then face south.  Hand each of them a white candle to be

held in their right hand.  Light the candles and hold the wand above them

as the High Priest/ess says.

        BLESSED BE

        BY THE ANCIENT AND MYSTICAL

        ELEMENT OF FIRE

The couple must now face west.  Sprinkle the water from the chalice over 

their heads.

        BLESSED BE 

        BY THE ANCIENT AND MYSTICAL

        ELEMENT OF WATER

They must then return to the North.  Anoint their foreheads with Rose oil

and hold the crystal above them.  

        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

        FOR THE MARRIAGE IS THE SACRED UNION

        OF THE FEMALE AND MALE ASPECTS

        OF DIVINITY

Then consecrate the rings with salt water.

        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.

They place the rings upon each other’s fingers.

They exchange their vows and poetry.

Then consecrate the cords as the rings.

Then hold the cords side by side and have the man and woman take an end

and tie a knot.  Tie it in the middle of the cord and say:

        BY THE KNOTS ON THIS CORD

        YOU'RE LOVE IS UNITED

Tie the hands of the couple together with the cord and have all the guests

visualize a white light of energy surround the couple as their auras join.

Everyone must raise the energy by chanting love!  

        BY THE POWER OF THE GODDESS

        AND HER HORNED CONSORT

        I KNOW PRONOUNCE YE

        HUSBAND AND WIFE

        FOR AS LONG AS YE BOTH

        SHALL LIVE TOGETHER IN LOVE

        SO MOTE IT BE.