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Issue #2 June 1998-5101 WEDDING-BETROTHAL CEREMONY by RG VolundR Lars Agnarsson The ceremony begins with the horn being sounded three times (optional); during this time all the participants prepare for the ceremony. If the Ceremony is performed at sunrise, the following prayer to Delling isoffered: Hail to thee, oh Delling,
hail Dawn-Bringer of day, If the Ceremony is performed at sunset, the following prayer to Billing is offered: Hail to thee, oh Billing,
hail Varn's forest warder, It is at this point that the Hallowing Ceremony is performed: Facing North, extend the right arm out in front of you, with ceremonial Hammer in hand. The Hammer "head" should be "flat" in that the hammer is horizontal (side to side, east and west on hammer blunts) as opposed to vertical (above and below on blunt sides). Recite: Hammer of the North, Hallow and Hold this Holy Stead. Turn the Hammer head "vertical", turn to the right, facing East, return Hammer to the "horizontal" position. Recite: Hammer of the East, Hallow and Hold this Holy Stead. Turn the Hammer head "vertical", turn to the right, facing South, return Hammer to the "horizontal" position. Recite: Hammer of the South, Hallow and Hold this Holy Stead. Turn the Hammer head "vertical", turn to the right, facing West, return Hammer to the "horizontal" position. Recite: Hammer of the West, Hallow and Hold this Holy Stead. Turn the Hammer head "vertical", turn to the right, facing North and Above, return Hammer to the "horizontal" position. While trace a spiral Clockwise Recite: Odin above, Hallow and Hold this Holy Stead. Turn the Hammer head "vertical", turn around, facing South and Below, return Hammer to the "horizontal" position. While tracing a spiral Clockwise Recite: Holde below, Hallow and Hold this Holy Stead. Turn the Hammer head "vertical", turn back around, facing North, return Hammer to the "horizontal" position. Hold hammer over head and wave 3 times on a Clockwise circle while reciting: This Stead is Hallowed in the Name of the Aesir and Vanir. Return Hammer to the Altar and begin ceremony. Participants are to be facing North, The RG faces them, South, altar is behind the RG. On the Altar is a Yew sprig on which are the wedding bands. Recite the following: In the time of beginings We have come here on this # day of month, year years after the beginning of our era, to witness the formation of a Skerbú, a Skertru household. In The Lay of Creation verse 13 we learn of the first Sacred union, that of Borr and Bestla, and from them were born the first Ase and Van. Kind Bestla came forward,
forsaking her kin, The Aesir Saga lines 75-78 tell of of the first marraige among the Aesir, the sharing of Hamr between a husband and a wife: Allfather with Frigg shared The Hamr is a part of us that upon union we share with our partner, our wyrd becomes one, your fate has brought you together, and a new path lies before you. The Vanir Saga lines 103-106 tell us of the first marraige among the Vanir, the sharing of peace and love between a husband and wife: That is how Njorth conquered
peacefully It is love and peace that binds a relationship, may your union be both loving and peaceful. Turn to the Altar and pour Honeywine from Decantur into Cup/Container, pour an offering on the left of the Altar and hand the Cup/Container to the participant on your right. The couple should each take Three drinks, during which the RG turns to the Altar and gets the Blessing Bowl after which the last one to drink (the participant to the RG’s left) pours the Honeywine into the Blessing Bowl held by the RG. The RG exchanges the Cup/Container for the Blessing Bowl, both participants hold it between them, together. The RG places the Cup/Container back on the Altar and selects the Yew branch, removes the rings and places them in the Cup/Container. With the Yew Sprig dip it into the Honeywine now in the Blessing Bowl, recite while blessing each participant: Do you name, (betrothed of name [if a wedding]), before the gods and all present, take name to be your wedded/betrothed title? Await response, while dipping the Yew Sprig for the next participant, Bless next participant while reciting: Do you name, (betrothed of name [if a wedding]), before the gods and all present, take name to be your wedded/betrothed title? (Await response) The Participants are still holding the Blessing Bowl. The Participants, together, turn to South and pour the contents onto the ground and together hand the Blessing Bowl to the RG, the RG places the Yew Sprig into the Blessing Bowl, accepts the Blessing Bowl and places it back on the Altar then "Pours" the Rings from the Cup/Container into the still raised hands of the Participants who then exchange the rings. Recite while rings are being exchanged: I now share with you The Prophecy of Nanna verse 22: Heimdallr shall spring once
more, shining upon Bifrost, I now share with you your Prophecy: Our ways shall spring once
more, sharing and giving, Return Cup/Container to the Altar and give the Participants the Yew Sprig to Bless their home. End of Ceremony. |
