@by Counselor Sapphire

@FULL CEREMONIAL FORM

@PLEASE NOTE: This ritual is based roughly upon the beautiful one that 
@can be found in Ed Fitch's book "Magical Rites from the Crystal Well". 
@The following is a standardized form for the full ceremonial handfasting. 
@When in actual use, this ritual may be further embellished to suit the taste 
@of couple to be joined. 

@Note: the ceremony is meant to be performed by 2 wedding masters.
@They are referred in the ceremony as Priest 1 and Priest 2

@IMPORTANT: this script contains *all* the text meant to be spoken
@in the ceremony: make sure to skip what does not involve you when
@going on with it in UOWedding

@It may also advisable to make sure that the couple have the correct 
@scroll for their element, to allow for much more reliable casting.

@Participants: 
@1 & 2.] Priest (1) & Priest (2)         
@3.] Bride  
@4.] Groom   
@5.] Caller of North
@6.] Caller of West	  (Best Man)     	
@7.] Caller of South                     
@8.] Caller of East        (Bridesmaid)            

@Before the ceremony can begin, the area chosen is traditionally swept free 
@of debris and negativity by the Maiden of the Broom, once done the 
@ceremony commences.  Perhaps this could be replaced by all wedding guests 
@casting dispel field
@Priest (1):  Starting at North, circling clockwise, walks the parameter 
@of the circle three times (this should be marked out by the four callers at 
@each point of the compass)
Three times round, 
Once for the Daughter, 
Twice for the Crone, 
Thrice for the Mother, 
who sits on the throne." 
@Priest (2):

I humbly ask the attendance of the Elementals of life! 

@Caller of East: (yelled), whilst summoning a water elemental

Welcome, O'powers of Water! 
Bless this couple with a love as deep as any ocean! 
May richness of body, of soul and of spirit be theirs ever more! 

@Makes the Water Elemental stay at the south point of the compass, bows @and retires from the circle 

@Caller of South: (yelled), whilst summoning a fire elemental
Welcome, O'powers of Fire!
Ignite the Passion and the Love for this blessed pair. 
Ever burning, yet never consuming one or the other!

@Makes the Fire Elemental stay at the south point of the compass, bows and @retires from the circle 

@Caller of West: (yelled), whilst summoning an air elemental
 
Welcome, O'powers of Air! 
With clever fingers weave tightly the bonds of Heart, Spirit and Love between these two! 
Let none undo the fabric of their love! 

@Makes the Air Elemental stay at the south point of the compass, bows and @retires from the circle 

@Caller of North: (yelled), whilst summoning an earth elemental 

Welcome, O'powers of Earth! 
Bless this man, this woman with thy strength and wisdom. 
To be theirs as long as love lasts!

@Makes the Earth Elemental stay at the south point of the compass, bows and @retires from the circle 

@Callers, East, South, West & North : (yelled), in Unision 
Gracious Goddess, Gentle God, 
Grant this blessed pair 
thy love and protection 
Blessed Be!

@Priest (2): (yelled) 
Who comes forth at this time to petition the Lord and Lady's Attention? 

@Caller of East: Said as caller draws bride into the circle 
This Lady, 

@Caller of West: Said as caller draws groom into circle 
and this Man. 

@Priest (1): (yelled) 
And their reason? 

@Couple to be joined: In unision 
For the beauty of love! 

@Priest (2): (yelled) With Bride to left and groom to right.
We gather here this night/day in a ritual of love. Thou, #BRIDE# and thou, #GROOM#
stand here before your friends, the elements, the Lord and Lady to join together
as the beginning of a family. For before there can be three, there must be two.

Priest (1): Joining couple's hands, with them facing each other 
#GROOM#, what do you have to offer this woman for her love?" 

@Groom: Groom gets down on one knee 

I present to her my love and my pledge. 
May I never knowingly or willingly do such a thing to harm, 
nor greive her in any form or fashion. 
Accept this my sword, as a token of my trust. Like its blade, may my love be as strong. 
Like its metal may our love be enduring. 
Accept it my love, for that which is mine is yours.
@Groom gives his sword to Bride
 

@Bride: (yelled) 
My Love, I accept your pledge, and your love, as I accept thy blade. 
Know what is in my heart, as I know what is in thine. 
The magic of my will, of my love, shall ever be thine. 

@Priest (2): (yelled) 
#BRIDE#, and what do you offer in return for the love of this man?" 

@Bride: (yelled) 
I present to him my love and this pledge. 
May I never knowingly or willingly do such a thing to harm, 
nor greive, him in any form or fashion. 
Accept this, my jewel, my treasure, as a token of my trust.
Just as its bright gleam, may our love glow. 
Like the stone that it is its essence, may our love be as enduring. 
Accept it my love, for that which is mine is yours. 
@Bride Gives Groom her necklace/bracelet

@Groom: (yelled) 
My Love, I accept your pledge and your love, as I accept thy jewel. 
Know what is in my heart, as I know what is in thine. 
The magic of my will, of my love, shall ever be thine. 

Priest (2): (yelled)
May the Lord and Lady smile upon this union, and bless this couple 
with health and prosperity!

Priest (1): In strong voice 
May neither take advantage of the other. 
For remember what one may not provide, the other may! 

Priest (2): Tells couple to exchange their rings. 
Your Vows have now been heard by all. 
These rings, like your vows, are without beginning or end. 
Now placed, they represent a seal of your love and respect for each other. 

@Caller of the west:  give a drink of wine to bride and groom. 
This is your first drink together as man and wife. May you never thrist.

@Caller of the East:  give bread to the bride and groom 
This is your first food together as man and wife. May you never hunger. 

@Priest (2): Has th Bride place Grooms sword on the ground. 
This will be your first act of working together as Husband and Wife.
@Priest (2) & Priest (1) lead the couple to walk over the sword. 
@Priest (2):  (yelled) 
I present to you #BRIDE# and her Husband,#GROOM#. 

@Priest (1): (yelled)
We thank the elementals of life for their attendance this day/night and ask they go forth and herald this union. 

@Caller of East: (yelled), Casting dispel
Hail o'powers of water! 
Thank thee for thy attention! 
Sally forth and announce to all this union! 

@Caller of South: (yelled), Casting dispel 
Hail o'powers of fire! 
Thank thee for thy attention! 
Sally forth and announce to all this union! 

@Caller of West: (yelled), Casting dispel
Hail o'powers of air! 
Thank thee for thy attention! 
Sally forth and announce to all this union! 

@Caller of North: (yelled), Casting dispel
Hail o'powers of earth! 
Thank thee for the attention! 
Sally forth and announce to all this union! 

@Priest (1): Starting at north, walking anti-clockwise around the @parameter of the circle three times 
Three Times Round, 
Once for the daughter, 
Twice for the crone, 
Thrice for the mother who sits upon the throne!
