Handfasting-The Pagan Wedding

Humanist weddings performed by non-pastors with all the legal authority are more popular than Christian ones in Scotland.

In 2019, in Scotland, there were 5,879 Humanist weddings, constituting 23% of all marriages. 

There were 5,812 Christian weddings (including the Church of Scotland and the Roman Catholic Church), making up 22% of the overall number.

As people discover who they are, without all the nonsense of religious rigmarole, they enjoy life and each other more.

Regardless of the reason, the trend is clearly moving away from organized religion.

Humanists UK is celebrating the news and calling for England and Wales to join Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the Channel Islands in recognizing Humanist weddings.

In England and Wales, over 1,000 couples a year already have a humanist wedding without legal recognition. 

They all must have a separate civil marriage – usually at a registrar’s office – for their marriage to be legally recognized.

Progress is being made and its an example of people discovering who they are and the path they want to take.

Handfasting is either an engagement the wedding ceremony itself, so to be handfasted is equivalent to being married or at least being promised.

In the Middle Ages, Handfasting rituals were used as an engagement ritual.

As time went forward, Paganism began to grow and Pagans wanted marriage rituals that had an authentic significance without being religious. 

So, Handfasting and the jumping of the broom was included in the ceremony.

The ceremony can be conducted by Pagan clergy, someone in your circle, a friend, or by yourselves.

If a legal official who also happens to be Pagan conducts the ceremony, that's all you'll need, it's legal and official. 

But finding such a Pagan legal official can sometimes be difficult to find a clergy member who is also a legal official.

Pagans who want to become legally married will often have the legal paperwork and requirements completed at the local clerk's office or official government office.

If the legality, and paperwork fuss isn't required, anyone you desire can perform the ceremony.

We know giving the bride away is sentimental and traditional, but it comes with a stigma.

A bride isn't property to be given away, no one owns her, she is free to make this decision all by herself, with her free will.

Celtic Wedding Vow by Morgan Llywelyn

"You cannon possess me for I belong to myself

But while we both wish it, I give you that which is mine to give

You cannon command me, for I am a free person

But I shall serve you in those ways you require

and the honeycomb will taste sweeter coming from my hand.

I pledge to you that yours will be the name I cry aloud in the night

and the eyes into which I smile in the morning

I pledge to you the first bite of my meat and the first drink from my cup

I pledge to you my living and my dying, each equally in your care

I shall be a shield for your back and you for mine

I shall not slander you, nor you me

I shall honor you above all others, and when we quarrel we shall do so in private 

and tell no strangers our grievances.

This is my wedding vow to you.

This is the marriage of equals."

So in our Pagan Kitchen world, no one gives the bride away, but that's just us.

Once all that's decided, there's the ceremony itself.

Vows will need to be decided upon, maybe a white dress with a veil, this practice goes back to ancient Pagan Rome, when brides wore brightly colored veils to protect themselves from evil spirits.

Perhaps the sharing of wine by the couple. 

Vows can be anything you want to say.

Here's are a few examples:

I promise to be faithful to you.

I promise to treat you with kindness, respect, appreciation and love.

I promise to participate in our relationship, even during hardships.

I promise to make humor and laughter an integral part of our family.

I promise to love you with all of my heart, honor you with all of my actions, and treasure you. 

I promise to keep you warm when you get cold, and to stand in the way of the sun when it gets hot.

And wherever we go, I promise to be there, holding your hand and telling you, “I love you.”

You’re my best friend.

Let’s get really old together, thank you for marrying me.

Here's a Celtic Wedding Vow

“I pledge my love to you, and everything that I own.

I promise you the first bite of my meat and the first sip from by cup.

I pledge that your name will aways be the name I cry aloud in the dead of night.

I promise to honor you above all others.

Our love is never-ending, and we will remain, forevermore, equals in our marriage.

This is my wedding vow to you.”

Pagans like to stand during weddings, some stand or sit in a circle for Pagan ceremonies.

Sometimes there is the blessing of the area where the ritual is being conducted with the burning of incense, ringing bells, banging drums, casting a circle In order to eliminate any negative energies from wherever they may come.

The elements of Earth, Air, Water, and Fire are usually included, both in words and physically present.

The earth we stand upon for this ritual, the air we breathe, the water can be displayed in any kind of vessel and the flame of candles to represent the element of fire.

These elements are the ingredients of life and creation, how wonderful at a Pagan 

As mentioned earlier, Handfasting is the binding of a couple's hands and or wrists together as a unity ritual within the ceremony. The the couple themselves may tie the knot, maybe it would it the official or by friends or a family member.

The couple decides how long to remain tied in Handfasting, but usually they remain this way during the vows and exchange of the rings.

Handfasting Ceremony Vows

Do you, groom), take (bride)to be your wife, 

to be her constant friend, 

her partner in life, and her true love?

To love her without reservation, 

honor and respect her, 

protect her from harm, 

comfort her in times of distress, 

and to grow with her in mind and spirit?

Do you, (bride), take (groom) to be your husband, 

to be his constant friend, 

his partner in life, and his true love?

To love him without reservation, 

honor and respect him, 

protect him from harm, 

comfort him in times of distress, 

and to grow with?

The Giving of Rings Exchange 

I take you my heart

At the rising of the moon

And the setting of the stars.

To love and to honour

Through all that may come.

Through all our lives together

In all our lives,

May we be reborn

That we may meet and know

And love again,

And remember

The jumping over the wedding broom Is common in Pagan weddings.

The broom represents a new threshold, a new beginning into married life. 

As brooms are used for cleaning and sweeping, it can symbolize the sweeping away of the old from your past to start fresh. The handle of a broom is somewhat phallic in shape and the brush is shaped somewhat like a woman's skirt, so these two things combined can symbolize fertility and union. 

A broom also symbolizes the daily life of being married; caring for one another.

Effects of the Moon

For centuries there have been myths and stories about the Moon and how it affects people.

The word lunacy derives from the Latin lunaticus, meaning “moonstruck”, and both the Greek philosopher Aristotle and the Roman naturalist Pliny believed that madness and epilepsy were caused by the Moon. 

The Lunar Effect as it's known is associated with strange behaviors.

Science has taken the question of the moons effects seriously enough that there have been a number of studies examining the various claims. 

While science still doesn’t accept the Moon theories, we can rely on our own experience and impressions and decide for ourselves.

 

For some, the Moon theories are only folklore, for many of us, it's 100% real.

While science may dismiss the Lunar Effect, it want until recently Sage Smuggling was considered folklore.

Now, science admits smudging offers great benefits, something ancients have known for a long time.

The ancient practice of burning powerful herbal material is much much more than just a primitive belief that we can simply disregard due to it being unscientific.

This is why we don’t rely on scientific approval.

Regarding the Moon, we're all aware of the age old theory that suggests since the Moon affects large bodies of water such as the ocean (tidal force) it must influence the human body which is +60% water.

Some of us might feel depleted, spiritually, physically and or emotionally during the Moon cycles, saying, ‘it must be a full moon'. 

Other people feel energized, alive, transformed - it's very personal, obviously connected to whatever else is going on in your life. 

Okay, we know the effect the full Moon has on werewolves, but what about cats and dogs?

There have been plenty of studies suggesting that pets get into more mischief and are injured more often when the Moon is fullest, but is lunar activity the reason?

The study, authored by Raegan Wells, DVM, and her colleagues at Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, said there seemed to be a correlation between an increase in emergency room visits for dogs and cats  when there was a full Moon.

The study, titled "Canine and feline emergency room visits and the lunar cycle,” appears in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

The data, compiled from case histories of 11,940 dogs and cats treated at the university's Veterinary Medical Center, indicates that the risk of emergencies on fuller Moon days was 23 percent greater in cats and 28 percent greater in dogs when compared with other days. 

The types of emergencies ranged from cardiac arrest to epileptic seizures and trauma, and the increase was most pronounced during the Moon's three fullest stages—waxing gibbous, full and waning gibbous.

"If you talk to any person, from kennel help, nurse, front-desk person to doctor, you frequently hear the comment on a busy night, 'Gee is it a full Moon?'" said Wells. "There is the belief that things are busier on full-Moon nights."

We realize that folklore alone does not make for good science, but the research indicates that this folklore may indeed be based in fact. 

Modern studies have associated the full Moon with insanity, traffic accidents, increased aggression, unintentional poisonings and absenteeism, and the female menstrual cycle, but many of the studies are a mixed bag of results. 

"While the results of our retrospective study indicate that there is an increased likelihood of emergency room visits on the days surrounding a full Moon, it is difficult to interpret the clinical significance of these findings," Wells writes.

The Pagan Kitchen has 6 cats and 2 dogs and regardless of what the naysayers claim, we see our furry family members affected to some degree during the full Moon.

Because we have some knowledge of ours own cats and dogs behavior, we know when things are different.

So, what does all this mean for pet owners?

It serves as a good reminder to remain aware of your pet's environment and overall health status, and to avoid situations that would put them in harm's way.

 

Are You A Witch?

Witches are men or women who use the energy of the universe to accomplish what they desire to do.

The Old Religion is the magic of Nature itself. It is the essence which binds all things together.

Are you a Witch?

Let's take a look at the signs and characteristics that you may recognize within yourself.

Witches, don’t create or fix problems, they work with nature and energy to bring things into alignment.

You Are Connected With Nature

This is one of the most revealing signs. Witches work with the energy of the magic of the earth and nature. 

They align many of their practices to the lunar and solar phases. 

Have you ever felt unexplainable energy on a full moon or new moon? 

Have you ever felt more at peace in nature—deep in a forest or near a body of water—than inside a crowded place?

Feeling at peace in nature says a lot about that you.

You feel alive and your senses are essentially heightened when you are in nature.

You Have Rituals

Rituals can be anything from smudging your environment on a certain lunar phase or feeling the need to ground yourself with the soil beneath your feet.

If you use herbs regularly or use essential oils simply because you have a natural tendencies to do so, you are likely connected to the Earth’s energy.

You Communicate With Animals

You already know if this describes you.

Animals are drawn to you and are you drawn to them.

You may have discovered that many animals find you and you find them during your lifetime. 

This is a good sign.

Your Intuition Is Strong

Have you ever felt the vibes and energy from people, places or situations?

This may be because you are likely in-tune with universal energy. Trusting your intuition means you have a strong feeling in your "gut." This extra sense often leads you to the right answer about a situation, the right path, person, or thing whether present, past, or future.

You Have a Familiar

In the Dark Ages, "familiars" were taken more seriously than they are today and were actually thought to be demons by Christians.

Pagans and Witches however, have a much different view, and often refer to their household animal compnaion as their familiar. Familiars can be your cat, dogs, rabbits, wolves, toads and frogs, owls, or other wildlife.

What Is a Familiar?

Familiars are special animals that connect with the Witch they are drawn to and they tend to be smarter, deeper and more attuned with you.

You Collect Natural "Tools"

Rocks, shells, feathers, precious stones, crystals, abalone shells, or natural anomalies. If you have collected these items over the years, you may have been collecting them to "do work." Learning how to use them will often require the guidance of an experienced witch or research by you.

You Have an Understanding of Herbs

Herbs are very important to witches. Herbology is simply the use of herbs to cure or treat physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, or psychic ailments.

You're Introverted by Choice

Many Witches stay busy and avoid distractions and negativity for peace of mind, protecting or keeping your energy positive and healthy. 

Some people can be energy vampires, and Witches much prefer to be in peaceful environment, away from chaos, negativity and mindless activities.

You can feel the energy of people and the places that surround you. 

Witches often can assess an environment or an object's energy.

If something is dark and negative, they will know.  If something has positive energy, a Witch will know.

You Are Open-Minded

Witches are attracted to other unusual, obscure, or atypical individuals. 

The have a deeper appreciation for the arts, tarot, astrology, energy healing, and EARTH, AIR, FIRE, and WATER, the four elements. 

Storms and Natural Events Energize You

If you feel excitement with rainstorms, lightning, the sound of thunder, the crashing of waves or the rush of heavy winds, this is a strong indication of you being a witch.

Some Final Thoughts 

Even though Witchcraft can be taught, Witches often inherit their ability from Grandmothers, Aunts and Mothers.

Perhaps in your family history, someone, somewhere at sometime was a Witch.

Regardless, there is a reason you are attracted to Witchcraft.

If you were drawn to this post it's probably because you have this gift, perhaps it's calling for you.

Indoor Cats Tip