Políticas educativas

Raven Kaldera1

This handfasting ritual is useful when there will be a large group of people who want to participate in the ceremony, but there is no time for briefing or rehearsal. It is also a nice thing as it creates a rune set as a group wedding gift for the bride and bridegroom. The rune set should be made beforehand, preferably by the close friends of the couple, out of wood or fired clay or engraved stone. The first time this was performed, each stone was taped to an index card with the accompanying line on it; these were passed out beforehand to anyone who wanted to participate. Each person in turn stepped forward, read their card, detached the rune, and placed it in the bowl on the altar. Because there was no time for rehearsal, the officiant in charge chose to let them go in any order, rather than the traditional order. A special bag had been made for the wedding runes, and it was given to the couple afterwards to keep them in. (This ritual lists both the Old Norse Futhark runes and the Saxon/Frisian/Northumbrian Futhorc runes. You may use either.)

The altar should be set with an evergreen branch in a bowl of water, a honey cake, a horn of mead, and a wooden bowl to collect the runes in.

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To begin, the officiant shakes the evergreen branch over the couple, saying, “With this I wish your love forever green and whole.” Then the officiant says, “You who have gathered here to watch these two become one! Who will speak for this man, this bridegroom?”

Some members of the bridegroom’s family or friends speak up and say, “I will speak for him.” They proceed to say good things about him, telling of his excellent qualities and why he will make a good husband.

The officiant says, “Who will speak for this woman, this bride?” Some members of the bride’s family or friends speak up and say, “I will speak for her.” They proceed to likewise extol her virtues, and praise her as a good future wife.

The officiant says, “The union of these two will bring together two clans of kin. Will you honor their marriage, and the bridge they make between you?”

The families say, “We will!”

The officiant says, “Many of you have good wishes for this man and this woman. Stand forth now and give them the gifts that you would wish upon them.” Each person with a card and a runestone stands forth one at a time and reads the card, depositing the rune into the bowl. The invocations are as follows:

 Fehu (or Feoh) is the Rune of Wealth. May you gain riches and comfort, like the farmer with many herds of cattle.

 Uruz (or Ur) is the Rune of Strength. May you be strong for each other, like the wild aurochs and his mate.

 Thurisaz (or Thorn) is the Rune of the Thorn. May you be a comfort to each other in times of pain and trial.

 Ansuz (or Aesc) is the Rune of the Divine Message. May you learn to listen to one another, which is more important even than speaking.

 Raido (or Rade) is the Rune of Travel. Although you have walked two separate paths, may you now walk one road hand in hand.  Kaunaz (or Ken) is the Rune of Fire and Truth. May you speak

only truth to each other, and never resort to deception.

 Gebu (or Gyfu) is the Rune of the Gift, of Partnership, of the crossroads where you now stand. May you always give of yourselves generously.

 Wunjo (or Wyn) is the Rune of Light. May your path be bright; may your times in the darkness be few.

 Hagalaz (or Haegl) is the Rune of Hail. Misfortune will come, for it always does; may you hold together against the forces of chaos that rain down upon you.

 Nauthiz (or Nyth) is the Rune of Need. May you find ways to fill each others’ needs, yet not depend on each other so much that you cannot look elsewhere for aid.

 Isa (or Is) is the Rune of Ice. May your hearts never freeze and turn cold to each other; instead, let your love melt all ice between you.

 Jera (or Jer) is the Rune of the Harvest. May all your hard work come to fruition, and may you reap the rewards you deserve.  Eihwaz (or Eoh) is the Rune of the Yew Stave. May you protect

 Perth (or Peorth) is the Rune of the Dice Cup, the Cave, the Womb, the Mystery. No matter how well you know each other, let there still be some small mystery left for the discovering.  Algiz (or Eolx) is the Rune of the Elk. May you meet all

challenges with courage and exuberance.

 Sowelu (or Sigil) is the Rune of the Sun. May you each be the Sun that brings life to each others’ lives.

 Teiwaz (or Tyr) is the Rune of the Warrior. May you stand together as shieldmates, and not rend each other in mutual battle.  Berkana (or Beorc) is the Rune of the Birch Tree, of Growth.

May you each encourage your mate to make new growth in all areas of life.

 Ehwaz (or Eh) is the Rune of the Horse, of Movement. May you always find fair footing along your path, and ever have good progress.

 Mannaz (or Mann) is the Rune of Humanity. May you never forget that we are all human, and we make mistakes, and must be forgiven for them.

 Laguz (or Lagu) is the Rune of Water. May you learn to flow together, in harmony with each other.

 Inguz (or Ing) is the Rune of the Sacrificial God. May you learn when it is the right time to make sacrifices for your relationship, and when you should stand firm.

 Dagaz (or Daeg) is the Rune of Dawn. May you wake up every morning in love with the one who lies next to you.

 Othila (or Oethel) is the Rune of Heritage. May you have peace between your families, clans, and friends.

 Ear is the Rune of the Grave. May you be together even unto death.

 Ac is the Rune of Endurance. May you stand straight as an oaken stave together, and never be ashamed.

 Ior is the Rune of the Midgard Serpent that surrounds the Earth. May you be willing to go to the ends of the Earth for each other.  Os is the Rune of the Skald. May the words that are spoken

between you be magic, so that you may always be able to understand each other.

 Yr is the Rune of the Bow. May your sight be keen and sharp, and may you learn to aim in the same direction.

 Cweorth is the Rune of the Funeral Pyre. May you be able to let go of what is necessary, without ever losing hold of each other.  Stan is the Rune of the Stone, the Keystone and the Touchstone.

May this marriage form a strong center for both your lives.

 Chalc is the Rune of the Chalice, the Holy Grail. Whatever quests may take you away from home, may you always remember that your thirst for love can only truly be slaked at home.

 Gar is the Rune of the Spear, wrought from the World Tree. May you never forget your place in the Universe, amid the branches of the World Tree, where all things are part of the same cycle and circle.

Now the couple take what vows they will, exchange rings, are declared husband and wife by the officiant, kiss, and share a honeycake and the horn of mead.

1_{Originally published in Handfastings and Wedding Rituals: Welcoming Hera’s}