Autumn can be contacted to help write, conduct or help perform rituals of all kinds. She regularly performs seasonal rituals, and can also be contacted for handfastings, handpartings, naming ceremonies, first blood rites and other Rites of Passage. Below is an example of a handfasting ritual format.
A circle is formed and the bride enters from the East to join the groom, Autumn Song and the representatives of the Four Elements within the circle. An archway will be created by two people standing on the eastern edge of the circle.
Introduction
Autumn: Friends, we are gathered here today to celebrate the spiritual union of Laura and Peter, who willingly offer their hearts to one another for the rest of their lives.
Hail Gaurdian Spirits of this place! We come here in peace and with clear intent. We ask, with respect, that you accept our presence. Hail Guardian Spirits of this place!
Casting the Circle
Autumn: Sacred Ones, spirit of the oak that stands before us, spirits of the heath that surround us, dryads and devas, all you who have heard our intention, we ask with respect that you encircle us know, branch reaching branch, leaf touching leaf, roots beneath our feet entangling, that our Circle may be strong, a nemeton of inspiration, reverence and learning, in the name of the Gods whose power we both breathe, we ask that this be so.
Let all here draw their minds into the presence of their bodies, that thoughts may be melded with flesh, blood and bones, that the spirits of those gathered may be blended in one purpose, one voice and one sacred space. Soul to soul, we weave our circle, spirit to spirit, that none may enter this sacred space but those who come in tune with our intention and in peace. Soul to soul, spirit to spirit, we ask that this may be so.
Circle is consecrated by chosen members of the wedding party. The Flower Girls scatter petals around the circle as Autumn Song says the words below.
Autumn: We now consecrate this sacred space that has been created, with love and with joy in our hearts. Let us feel the peace that we have created together, the sanctuary in our hearts and minds and remain mindful of the sacredness of this time, this place, and all who stand here around us.
Laura and Peter please come forward and stand here before us, and before the God and the Goddess of nature
Autumn: Before we begin, I would like to invite you all to share in their love and open your hearts to the Nature Spirits that reside here, welcoming their warmth and their gifts of love, laughter, peace and harmony. We would like you all to turn to face the four directions as they are called upon and join us by saying “Hail and Welcome!” May the God and the Goddess smile upon this couple before us, as upon all those gathered here today to celebrate their union. Let us now invoke the four quarters:
Hannah/Earth/North: We call the Spirits of the North, element of Earth, with your powers of strength and protection. Hail and Welcome!
All: Hail and Welcome!
Andrea/Air/East: We call the Spirits of the East, element of Air, with your powers of communication and clarity. Hail and Welcome!
All: Hail and Welcome!
Mark/Fire/South: We call the Spirits of the South, element of Fire, with your powers of passion and inspiration. Hail and Welcome!
All: Hail and Welcome!
Lisa/Water/West: We call the Spirits of the West, element of Water, with your powers of love and healing. Hail and Welcome!
All: Hail and Welcome!
John/Above & Below: As Above, so Below! Hail and Welcome!
All: Hail and Welcome!
Autumn: As we have invited the spirits of nature from the four quarters of the earth, so too do we invite our ancestors, ancestors of our past, and ancestors yet to come, to witness this sacred act. We call to the ancestors of body, mind and spirit to be with us in our sacred rite. To our ancestors whose tears and blood, joy and happiness have been felt upon this land, whose songs course through our blood, and whose spirit lives on through our celebrations, we call to you to be with us in our sacred rite.
Declaration of Intent
Autumn: Laura, you stand before me, the God and the Goddess, and this company in this wood with the (wind, sun, sky…) with the desire to marry Peter. Do you do this of your own free will?
Laura: I do
Autumn: Peter, you stand before me, the God and the Goddess, and this company in this wood with the (wind, sun, sky…) with the desire to marry Laura. Do you do this of your own free will?
Peter: I do
Autumn: These things you have promised to one another, before this company, the God and the Goddess and the Spirits present. May you ever be mindful and strive to keep to the vows you have spoken.
Poetry readings (Ruth)
Two Swans
Entwined on moonlit lake,
Their bodies lock
their souls embrace.
Two whales
spurred from the depths, leap
Up towards the stars
And in their wake,
The water shivers in surprise
As echoes stir the Halls of Sleep.
Two moonsOne for the midnight sky,
One for the oceans, deep
As subterranean realms
A glow,
Lucent with ethereal grace.
Laura Curtin
The Flowers of Love
Gold as the Sun,Silver as the Moon,
The flowers of Love
are for ever in bloom.
Dreamers of peace,
We talk to the Stars,
We’ll dance until Dawn,
for eternity is ours.
Keepers of secretslocked deep within Earth,
The wheel keeps spinning
from death to rebirth.
Love of my life,
You set my heart free.
I was blind when I met you,
but now I can see.
The ocean my blood,
and the wind, my breath,
the Earth, my body,
and fire, my zest.
Laura Curtin
Exchange of Personal Vows and Rings
Autumn: Laura and Peter, now is the time to exchange your personal vows and your rings.
Laura: - (States personal vow)
Laura places Peter’s ring on his finger.
Peter:- (States personal vow)
Peter places Laura’s ring on her finger.
Autumn: Laura and Peter, you have accepted each other’s gift of the ring, a symbol of unity everlasting. Now you will pledge your troth to each other.
Laura, please repeat after me:
Heart to thee
Body to thee
Soul to thee
For ever and always
So mote it be
Peter, please repeat after me:
Heart to thee
Body to thee
Soul to thee
For ever and always
So mote it be
Binding with Handfasting Cord
Autumn: As this knot is tied, so are your lives now bound, your souls entwined.
To remind you always of your spiritual connection: blue – the colour of expression and communication and green for love and emotional clarity. Red is for passion, which will burn for eternity, unfaltering, for the rest of your days together, and pink, for love and friendship.
Blessings of the Four Corners of Earth
Autumn: We will now ask the blessing of the four quarters upon this happy union. I ask that you all face the directions once again as we ask each blessing upon the couple.
May your love stand the cold harsh time of winter. May the Earth treat you well.
May your love last the sunrises of further years. May the sky watch over you.
May your love last the fires of change. May the sun’s healing light be on you.
May your love flow as the waters deep. May you be as strong as the rivers flow.
Declared Married
Autumn: Laura and Peter, you have both taken vows before your families and friends, in this wood with the (wind, sky, sun…) and the Spirits standing witness. You have exchanged rings, received blessings and had your hands bound with a handfasting cord, therefore, it is with the greatest pleasure I declare that you are married. May you live a long and happy life together. Peter, you may kiss the bride.
Simple Feast
Autumn: Laura and Peter, you have been graced with the gifts of the Earth and Sky. May you share these gifts with each other. (Couple break off a piece of bread and feed it to the other.)
You have also been blessed with the gifts of Wind and Rain, may you share these gifts with each other. (Couple bring a chalice of water/wine to each other’s lips).
As you have been blessed by Earth and Sky, Wind and Rain, so too must you remember to give back, with joy and honour, at this very special time. (Couple place bread and water/wine by the altar).
Closing Ceremony
Autumn: We thank the Earth Mother and the Sky Father for being with us in this sacred rite. We thank the ancestors, ancestors of body, mind and spirit for being with us in our sacred rite.
Let us now bid hail and farewell to the spirits of the four quarters.
Hannah/Earth/North: We thank the Spirits of the North, element of Earth, with your powers of strength and protection. Hail and Farewell!
All: Hail and Farewell!
Andrea/Air/East: We thank the Spirits of the East, element of Air, with your powers of communication and clarity. Hail and Farewell!
All: Hail and Farewell!
Mark/Fire/South: We thank the Spirits of the South, element of Fire, with your powers of passion and inspiration. Hail and Farewell!
All: Hail and Farewell!
Lisa/Water/West: We thank the Spirits of the West, element of Water, with your powers of love and healing. Hail and Farewell!
All: Hail and Farewell!
John/Above & Below: As Above, so Below! Hail and Farewell!
All: Hail and Farewell!
Autumn: We thank the spirits of place, of tree and rock, of water and well, of leaf and stone, of fur and fin for being with us in our sacred rite.
We now ask that the sacred circle be released, that the love and joy we have witnessed and created here flow into the wider world, to be shared amongst all who dwell in it. May what we have seen here be an inspiration to all. I ask the Spirits of Place to allow this to pass, with honour and with respect. May we all be blessed by the awen.
Autumn: We give our thanks to all those who have witnessed this sacred rite. May the love that we have witnessed carry Laura and Peter together in peace and harmony for as long as their love shall last. We wish them many blessings. This rite ends in peace as it began. So may it be!
