A Pagan Blessing - Hand Fasting

• What is Hand Fasting?

• The History of Hand Fasting

• Legality of Handfasting in Australia

• Magick & Manifesting

A handfasting is an ancient ritual of commitment and love between like-minded souls. It is performed within a sacred circle and witnessed by the elements of the four directions - North, East, West & South.)

It can mean a non-state registered commitment ceremony or a fully legal marriage ceremony.

The History of Handfasting

Handfasting at one time was the only way that couples could be engaged and/or get married because the church let the civil government of the period take care of these matters. In the British Isles, Handfasting was the old pagan ritual of marriage and it remained legal in Scotland all the way up to 1939, even after Lord Harwicke's Act of 1753 declaring that marriages in England were legal only if performed by a clergyman. After Lord Harwicke's Act, the Scottish border town, Gretna Green became a mecca for eloping couples from England who fled there to perform their own Handfastings. In those times, the couple themselves performed the Handfasting before witnesses. It was also used in Scotland for the engagement period of a year and a day before a wedding was proved.

The very word handfasting got its origin in the wedding custom of tying the bride and groom's wrists together. In some versions, this is only done for as long as the ceremony lasts, but in others, the cord is not untied until the marriage is physically consummated.

Handfasting is the marriage rite used today by many couples often in addition to a civil ceremony. The term itself comes from the custom of shaking hands over a contract. It is a custom steeped in old tradition.

In most Pagan traditions today it may mean a non-state registered wedding or one in which a marriage license is filed. For some it is a year and a day, renewable "so long as love shall last" and for others a commitment to be together through many lives.

One custom is that while facing each other, the couple placed their right hands together and then their left hands together to form infinity symbol while a cord is tied around their hands in a knot. Another custom is that the man and woman place their right hands only together while a cord is used to tie a knot around their wrists.

The ritual itself might have been led by a respected non-church affiliate such as a Chieftain, Leader, Priest, Priestess, Shaman, or Elder of the community while the couple took turns reciting their vows of promise to be engaged for a year and a day in front of witnesses. On the last day of "the year and a day promise" they would then make a promise for infinity repeating their promise to each again. A cord is tied in a knot around their hand while the ritual takes place. This is where the term "tie the knot came from" when referring to getting engaged or married today.

In day of old, records were not kept who got engaged, married, had kids, and died. Today the Sacraments of the church have the responsibility of taking care of these things. Before the church took over these duties, these things were overseen by the whole community and therefore were set in law by their witnessing what happened between the couple making the promise.

If a handfasting was performed with the two left hands together without the tying of the knot, as was the custom of rich and influential German nobility, it meant that the woman was a mistress and would not be able to claim the name, inheritance, property, etc. of the real wife and was only in the protection of the man. Her offspring would be taken care of as legal heirs second in line to the man's legal and first wife. Having lots of children was once the only form of "Social Security" in one's old age. The previous combinations were all considered legal and binding in an engagement or marriage except for the "left hand ritual."

The Handfasting gesture seems to have been derived from one of the ancient Indo-European images of male-female conjunction, the infinity sign, whose twin circles represented the sun (female) and the moon (male) or in some of the southern Mediterranean traditions it was sun (male) and moon (female).

Two-handed Handfasting still constituted a fully legal marriage throughout Europe whether the blessing of the church was sought or not. Clergymen, of course, recommended that newlyweds attend church as soon as possible after the signing of the contract and the Handfasting. Only the very wealthy and affluent could afford church marriages. Handfastings were under the jurisdiction of common law rather than canon law. In the 16th century in Switzerland, if couples were seen in public drinking together they could be considered married.

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Legality of Handfasting in Australia

A handfasting should be performed by a person who is skilled in wiccan rituals. The current situation in Australia ensures that there are very few Pagan religious celebrants. Kaz is skilled in leading rituals but is NOT a registered civil celebrant.

Couples who wish to participate in these unique ceremonies therefore use the services of a Civil Celebrant to get married (often in the morning). The Civil Celebrant performs the legalities of the marriage. The actual spiritual ceremony (handfasting) with friends and family is performed later that day by Kaz.

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Magick & Manifesting

The ability to think would seem to set us apart from other creatures.

Whilst we are concerned with our lives in the physical world, we are mental beings. Anyone who has attempted to meditate quickly realises how much time we are occupied by thought!

The Universe is also mental plane, which means if you can learn to control your thinking, you can manifest magnificent results in your everyday world.

Many systems have been developed over the centuries to help us control our thoughts. Many religious philosophies eg Buddhism, focus on understanding the nature of Mind. Magick (the occult kind with a 'k') is one of the oldest and most general of these systems.

Most of our modern magick comes from ancient Egypt and Chaldea. The Chinese, Hindus and Tibetans also developed their own unique magick practices. Western magick was locked up by the Egyptian priests for thousands of years and then suppressed by the rise of Christianity. Only during the last century has western culture been open minded enough to permit investigation of the subject.

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What is Magick?

Contrary to popular belief, magick isn't supernatural. It is a natural practice utilising genuine power that haven't has yet been discovered or labelled by science. "Magickal" practices such as hypnotism and psychology are now accepted as mainstream.

Magick is the study and application of psychic forces. The purpose of magick is to alter the self and the environment according to one's will. Many of us use the natural process of magick without conscious awareness.

Using mental training and concentration to program the mind, magick is a combination of the use of herbs, oils, symbols, visualisations, affirmations and personal focus.

Visualisation refers to creating images in your mind to bring about positive outcomes and then using those images as a manifestation of your wishes. Affirmations use the power of spoken words to change negative beliefs to positive. Personal focus is the strength of your intention, your level of concentration and belief in yourself!

Does Magick Work?

When you believe in yourself, focus on a positive outcome and determine your needs without doubt, then it will work!

If you feel your magick doesn't work, it is because your desire is masquerading as a need. In magick and indeed, any affirmation work, a desire is not enough to warrant your expected outcome.

There must be an all-encompassing need for you to channel enough energy to focus on your outcome. Always create magick with an open heart and allow the love to bring you your wish.

Responsible Manifesting

Yet remember that magick is powerful! You can use magick to initiate change and to achieve goals. You can exert positive influence over people and events. Don't underestimate its tremendous power.

Positive manifesting is always coupled with responsibility! In Wicca, it is said, that everything you do and even what think, comes back to you by the power of three!

So, be totally positive and ethical in what you ask for, and ask carefully for only what you really need. The Universe is comprised of abundance, with every goodness is available for those who ask and are ready to receive.

Cosmic Bird Manifesting Spell

Find a place where you will be undisturbed and softly play some inspiring music. Cleanse your mind, body and the room with oils, smudge or visualisation to create a psychically safe space.

Take some deep rhythmic breaths and perform a progressive body relaxation, letting go of any muscular tension. Now, image you are a magical bird and allow your mind to soar. Rise as high as you wish, then rest in that high realm. This is a place from which you can overview all aspects of your life. What do you need to do now in your life? What is important to your growth? How can you assist others? Enjoy your stay in your cosmic nest - you have important decisions to manifest here.

One of these options is the most important! Once you have made your choice, begin to visualise that need as if it is already set. Build a careful picture of it and ask how it will affect your life. Visualise yourself as part of that image. Use abdominal breathing to expand the energy of that image and empower it with your passion and determination.

When you cannot hold the image and energy any longer, fling your arms in the arms. You are freeing the cosmic bird carrying your dreams and allowing the Universe to manifest them. At the same time say," "I ask for these things, or their equivalents or better, according to free will, harming none, and for the good of all." (Courtesy: Diane Stein). This ensures that you are asking for something in such a way that it does not deprive someone else.

So mote it be!