Casting of the Circle



Invocation of the Elements


Dustin: Spirits of Air, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, we invite your presence and invoke your power and protection in this circle. (LIGHT YELLOW CANDLE)

Diane: Spirits of Fire, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South, we invite your presence and invoke your power and protection in this circle. (LIGHT RED CANDLE)

Rob: Spirits of Water, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, we invite your presence and invoke your power and protection in this circle. (LIGHT BLUE CANDLE)

Karleigh: Spirits of Earth, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, we invite your presence and invoke your power and protection in this circle. (LIGHT GREEN CANDLE)

Invocation of the God and Goddess

Why Marriage?

Why marriage?
Because to the depths of me, I long to love one person,
with all my heart, my soul, my mind, my body
Because I need a forever friend to trust with the intimacies of me,
who won't hold them against me, who loves me when I'm unlikable,
who sees the small child in me, and looks for the divine potential of me
Because I need to cuddle in the warmth of the night
with someone who is thankful, with someone I feel blessed to hold
Because marriage means opportunity to grow in love in friendship
Because, knowing this, I promise myself to take full responsibility
for my spiritual, mental and physical wholeness, I create me,
I take half of the responsibility for my marriage, together we create our marriage
Because with this understanding the possibilities are limitless

Music by Melissa Dalton: The Mummers Dance



HP/HPS: We have come together here in celebration of the joining together of Cather and Sunny. There are many things to say about marriage. Much wisdom concerning the joining together of two souls has come our way through all paths of belief, and from many cultures. With each union, more knowledge is gained and more wisdom gathered. Though we are unable to give all this knowledge to these two, who stand before us, we can hope to leave with them the knowledge of love and its strengths and the anticipation of the wisdom that comes with time. The law of life is love unto all beings. Without love, life is nothing, without love, death has no redemption. Love is anterior to Life, posterior to Death, initial of Creation and the exponent of Earth. If we learn no more in life, let it be this.

Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of this, Cather and Sunny have come here today to be joined as one in marriage.

Sunny, is it true that you come of your own free will and accord?

Sunny: Yes, it is true.

With whom do you come and whose blessings accompany you.

Trevor: She comes with me, her son, and is accompanied by all of her family's blessings.

Please join hands with your betrothed and listen to that which I am about to say. Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, as time doth pass, remember...

Like a stone should your love be firm, like a star should your love be constant. 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 and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable. Be close, but not too close. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience with one another, for storms will come, but they will pass quickly.

Be free in giving affection and warmth. Have no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened give you unease, for God is with you always.

Unity Candle Lighting

Cather and Sunny have come here today in order to join their lives together as one; however, while each of them is whole unto themselves, they are each a part of a greater Circle of lives. In fact, this union is of more than this man and woman; it is the creation of a whole new family. In recognition of the Unity this marriage brings, we ask that Evan and Patricia come forward, representing the children that have been until now entrusted to Sunny's care.

Unity Candle is lit from all four candles.

From separate flames is now lit the fire of unity for this family. The one flame now burns together, as you will now love each other, protect each other, encourage each other, defend each other.

Exchange of Rings

As these circles are designed without an ending, they speak of eternity. May the incorruptible substance of these rings represent a love glowing with increasing luster through the years. [HPS consecrates the rings.] Bless these rings which you give to each other as the sign of your love, trust, and faithfulness.

Cather, I have not the right to bind you to Sunny; only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in her hand.

Cather: It is my wish.

Sunny, if it be your wish for Cather to be bound to you, place the ring on his finger.

Sunny, I have not the right to bind you to Cather; only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in his hand.

Sunny: It is my wish.

Cather, if it be your wish for Sunny to be bound to you, place the ring on her finger.

Repeat after me:

I, Cather, in the name of the spirit of God and Goddess that resides within us all, by the life that courses within my blood and the love that resides within my heart, take you, Sunny, to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one. To desire you and be desired by you, possess you, and be possessed by you, without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for you. I promise to love you wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again. I shall not seek to change you in any way. I shall respect you, your beliefs, your people, and your ways as I respect myself.

Repeat after me:

I, Sunny, in the name of the spirit of God and Goddess that resides within us all, by the life that courses within my blood, and the love that resides within my heart, take you, Cather, to my hand, my heart, and my spirit to be my chosen one. To desire and be desired by you, to possess you, and be possessed by you, without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for you. I promise to love you wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again. I shall not seek to change you in any way. I shall respect you, your beliefs, your people, and your ways as I respect myself.

May you drink your fill from the cup of love.

Cather holds chalice to Sunny while she sips then Sunny takes chalice and holds it to Cather while he sips. The chalice is then handed back to the HP who sets it on the table. Same procedure repeated with bread.

The Handfasting

The couple will face each other, joining both their left and right hands together. Their arms and bodies form a figure 8 when viewed from above The a double circle is both the mathematical infinity symbol and an ancient religious symbol for the union of a man and woman.

The presider will place a cord over the couple's hands. This symbolizes the intent to have a permanent relationship. This ritual is the source of the expression "to tie the knot."

Vows Before the Elements



The couple moves to face the East.

Sunny: By the Spirits of Air, Here do I promise you communication, laughter, imagination, and hope.

Cather: And all this do I promise you.

The couple moves to face the South.

Cather: By the Spirits of Fire, Here do I promise you love, passion, desire, and warmth.

Sunny: And all this do I promise you.

The couple moves to face the West.

Sunny: By the Spirits of Water, Here do I promise you healing, compassion, honesty, and understanding.

Cather: And all this do I promise you.

The couple moves to face the North.

Cather: By the Spirits of Earth, Here do I promise you stability, solidity, dependability, and strength.

Sunny: And all this do I promise you.

The couple returns to the altar, and each reads a statement to the other, expressing their love and their hopes for their future together. Since their hands are bound, the texts are held by their assistants.

Reading: Wedding Poem



Read by Carly

Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be a shelter to the other.

Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.

Now there is no loneliness for you, for each of you will be companion to the other.

Now you are two bodies, but there is only one life before you.

May your days be good and long upon the earth!

Blessing and Pronouncement



Now that you have joined yourselves in matrimony, may you strive always to meet this commitment with the same spirit you now exhibit. We all bear witness to this ceremony you have just performed and you may now call yourselves by those old and respected names, husband and wife. (HPS removes handfasting bonds.)

As this day fades away and a new day begins, so does it represent the beginning of your new life together. As each dawn reaffirms the eternity of creation, so may it represent the eternity of your love.

May the God and Goddess bless this union. As your first gift to one another, you may kiss!

Ladies and gentleman, Mr. And Mrs. Cather Steincamp.

Jumping of the Broom



The couple joins hands and jumps over a broomstick. This symbolizes the effort required to make a committed relationship work, and their first working together.

Opening of the Circle



Dustin: Spirits of Air, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, we thank you for your presence in this circle. Leave if you must, stay if you will. (EXTINGUISH YELLOW CANDLE)

Diane: Spirits of Fire, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South, we thank you for your presence in this circle. Leave if you must, stay if you will. (EXTINGUISH RED CANDLE)

Rob: Spirits of Water, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, we thank you for your presence in this circle. Leave if you must, stay if you will. (EXTINGUISH BLUE CANDLE)

Karleigh: Spirits of Earth, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, we thank you for your presence in this circle. Leave if you must, stay if you will. (EXTINGUISH GREEN CANDLE)


The Circle is open but unbroken; may the peace of the God and Goddess be ever in our hearts. Merry meet, and merry part, and merry meet again!