Creating Circles and Ceremonies: Rituals for All ... - reading...

Book II: Rites & Rituals 169
191. Begin To Weave: A Poly Handfasting Song
Written September, 1996, for the handfasting of Morning Glory, Oberon, & Wolf
by Liza Gabriel, with love and affection
Leaping Lord and laughing Goddess;
With all our wounds and follies can you tell us,
With all our fears and rages do we have it in us,
To weave together in your ever expanding love?
Begin to weave and the thread will be given
Commit your hearts and watch them spin
Give and receive beloved children
Weave you tapestry of love again and again
Weave around the silvery moon
Embroider passion’s rune
Weave the many weave the one
Weave a circle round the sun
Weave with air weave with fire
A fabric of desire
Weave with water weave with earth
Weave with death and rebirth
Weave by night weave by day
The Holy Mother’s way
Weave by day weave by night
A circle of delight
Begin to weave and the thread shall be given
Commit your hearts and watch them spin
Give and receive, beloved children
Weave your tapestry of love again and again
Weave together weave apart
With your guts and with your heart
Weave with darkness and with light
With divine inner sight
Weave with silence weave with song
Through the seasons short and long
Weave below weave above
With a thread of living love
Weave below weave above
With a thread of living love
Weave below weave above
With a thread of living love
Begin to weave and the thread shall be given
Commit your hearts and watch them spin
Give and receive, beloved children
Weave your tapestry of love again and again
III. Handparting
By Oberon
Sadly, even with the best of intentions, not all relationships last forever. Sometimes it is
necessary to dissolve a union begun in love, but no longer desired. Thus there is a modern
Pagan tradition of “handparting,” done as a kind of reversal of the rite of handfasting. It
involves making statements to the Circle that explain the reasons for this parting, and essentially
undo the original vows taken. Then the original handfasting cord (or an acceptable
substitute, if the original is not available) is held by both parties at opposite ends, and ceremonially
cut with the athamé, after which the severed pieces are burned in the ritual fire.
Finally, a chalice of vinegar may be ceremonially passed, and then poured onto the ground.
Afterwards, each party departs the Circle in opposite directions.
In old Irish Common Law the handfasting contract was considered finished at the
end of the agreed upon period and simply could not be broken before that time. Their
magickal word was their bond. After that period of time had elapsed there was often a
celebration by means of a “Feast of Completion.”
The whole village attended the Feast of Completion and both partners were required
to attend. If both partners could not attend, the feast was rescheduled until they
could. Before the feast began both praised the other and wished each other well in
future endeavors. Then there was much feasting and drinking. It was a happy time. This
allowed both partners to maintain open friendships with all in the village. This would
allow them to not have to choose one person over the other. The community could still
function and could get on with business as usual. (—Dr. S. D’Montford, 2003)