GODDESS ORIENTED SLAVIC HANDFASTING RITUAL The couple enters the ritual space, each attended by one or more people, and stops before the Priestess. Then: PRIESTESS: Holding hands together, our circle is formed. Only Love shall enter, and only Love shall leave. EACH GUEST: Hand to hand, this circle cast (offers his/her hand to the person standing next to them) (The BRIDE then dances and sweeps around the perimeter of the circle with a ceremonial broom. She returns to the GROOM's side in front of the PRIEST and PRIESTESS.) PRIEST: BRIDE, is it true that you come of your own free will? BRIDE: Yes, it is true. PRIEST: With whom do you come, and whose blessings accompany you? BRIDESMAID: She come with me, (state relationship), and is accompanied by all of her family's blessings. PRIESTESS: GROOM, is it true that you come of your own free will? GROOM: Yes, it is true. PRIESTESS: With whom do you come, and whose blessings accompany you? GROOMSMAN: He come with me, (state relationship), and is accompanied by all of his family's blessings. PRIESTESS (hands chalice of wine to GROOM): With Bab'e Kasha's blessing, may you drink you your fill from the cup of love. (GROOM holds chalice to the BRIDE while she sips, then the BRIDE holds the chalice to The GROOM while he drinks. The PRIESTESS then replaces the chalice on the altar, and the PRIEST takes up a plate holding salt and some rye bread) PRIEST (hands the bread to the GROOM): May you eat your fill of the abundance of life. (GROOM breaks off a piece of bread, dips it into the salt, and feeds it to the BRIDE; then the BRIDE breaks off a piece of bread, dips it into the salt, and feeds it to the GROOM. The PRIEST replaces the bread on the altar.) PRIESTESS: GROOM, I have not the right to bind you to your bride, only you have this Right. If it be your wish, say so at this time, and place your ring in her hand. GROOM: It is my wish. PRIESTESS: GROOM, is it be your wish for your bride to be bound to you, place the ring on her finger. (GROOM places ring on BRIDE's finger). GROOM (To BRIDE): I, (GROOM's full name), by the life that courses within my blood, and the love that resides within my heart, take you (BRIDE's full name) to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one. As this ring encircles your finger from this day forward, year in and year out, so will my love forever encircle you. PRIEST: BRIDE, I have not the right to bind you to your groom, only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time, and place your ring in his hand. BRIDE: It is my wish. PRIEST: BRIDE, if it be your wish for your groom to be bound to you, place the ring on his finger. (BRIDE places ring on GROOM's finger). BRIDE (To GROOM): I, (BRIDE's full name), by the life that courses within my blood, and the love that resides within my heart, take you (GROOM's full name) to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one. As this ring encircles your finger from this day forward, year in and year out, so will my love forever encircle you. The PRIEST takes up the cord and says: You have exchanged your promises of love and unity before these witnesses, the Watchers, the Gods and the Goddesses. Now we ask their blessings on this union that has been celebrated before them. Please raise your left arms, and join yours to your partners, palm to palm, and elbow to elbow. (The PRIESTESS takes the cord, and ties together the BRIDE's and GROOM's wrists. When this is completed, one attendant for the bride, and one for the groom, step forward and take hold of the right arm of the person they are standing for.) PRIESTESS: The Goddesses and the Gods have been called upon to witness and bless this union. Bound, but not inseparable; together, but apart; two parts of one spirit; as soft as the breath of the wind, and as strong as the laces that tie you together, show now those assembled the strength of the love between this groom and this bride. (At this signal, the ATTENDANTS pull, trying to separate the COUPLE; of course, the cord ties them together and will not allow them to be torn apart. After the third tug, the ATTENDANTS step back, and the COUPLE again faces each other. The PRIEST places a small clay bird in the hands of the COUPLE's joined hands. With their free hands the COUPLE dip their fingers in the blessing bowl, which holds a mixture of milk and honey.) The couple traces their milky fingers over the bird, saying: To Lada! To Boldogasszony! (The PRIEST retrieves the bird, replaces it on the altar, and unbinds the couple.) The PRIEST and PRIESTESS place strings of tiny dolls tied with pink and blue ribbons around the BRIDE's and GROOM's necks. PRIEST/ESS: May Kaldyni-mumas and Jumon-ava bless you with many healthy, happy children, worthy of the best of their line! (Those assembled, excepting the BRIDE and GROOM, sing and call out blessings to the BRIDE and GROOM, as the PRIESTESS pours the contents of the blessing bowl out before the harrow. Alternately, if the ceremony is performed indoors, the blessing bowl is dedicated to the Gods and Goddesses.) PRIEST/ESS: The Gods and the Goddesses have shined their blessings upon this joining. Nothing save the wills and wishes of these two who this day have been joined can pull asunder this blessed union.