Everything You Need to Plan Your Pagan Wedding Handfasting is quickly becoming a widely practiced tradition, not only for pagans, but for people from all walks of life. This book is a thorough resource that shares rituals, sample vows, and all the information you need to plan your own ceremony or serve as a celebrant for others. In Modern Handfasting, you will discover the history, legal considerations, logistics, and magic of the big day. Author Liz Williams—a priestess and longtime celebrant—guides you through writing your vows, opening the ceremony, creating and consecrating a circle, calling the quarters, tying the knot, and closing the ceremony. You will also discover tips and stories from other couples and celebrants as well as practical information on early planning, troubleshooting unexpected problems, finding a celebrant, and performing love magic. Learn how to choose flowers, dates, and other details with magical correspondences.

An overview of wedding rituals for neopagans features ceremonies inspired by a wide range of influences, mythological love stories, and belief systems, including interfaith ceremonies allowing for just about any combination of religions, and tips on finding officiates, suggested readings, and more.

In the enchanting legends of Arthur and Guinevere, lovers are united as they "tie the knot" with the magick and mysticism of Celtic handfasting traditions. Handfasting, an Ancient Celtic ceremony inspired by the Greeks, Etruscans, Romans, and Norsemen, is regaining popularity within and beyond the Wiccan community as modern couples seek alternative ways to honour their love-bond. Joy Ferguson's Magickal Weddings is a handbook that helps to bring romantic handfasting traditions from antiquity into modern-day ceremonies. It is also a practical wedding planner from start to finish, filled with charts and worksheets, to help any couple organize their handfasting. This complete guide offers: suggestions for vows; ritual elements; tips on how to choose the right day to handfast; different ways to include and accommodate friends and family members in the ceremony; and the symbolism behind elements like cords, flowers, decorative elements, and gemstones.

This book documents hundreds of customs and traditions practiced in countries outside of the United States, showcasing the diversity of birth, coming-of-age, and death celebrations worldwide. From the beginning of our lives to the end, all of humanity celebrates life's milestones through traditions and unique customs. In the United States, we have specific events like baby showers, rites of passage such as Bat and Bar Mitzvahs and "sweet 16" birthday parties, and sober end-of-life traditions like obituaries and funeral services that honor those who have died. But what kinds of customs and traditions are practiced in other countries? How do people in other cultures welcome babies, prepare to enter into adulthood, and commemorate the end of the lives of loved ones? This three-volume encyclopedia covers more than 300 birth, life, and death customs, with the books' content organized chronologically by life stage. Volume 1 focuses on birth and childhood customs, Volume 2 documents adolescent and early-adulthood customs, and Volume 3 looks at aging and death customs. The entries in the first volume examine pre-birth traditions, such as baby showers and other gift-giving events, and post-birth customs, such as naming ceremonies, child-rearing practices, and traditions performed to ward off evil or promote good health. The second volume contains information about rites of passage as children become adults, including indigenous initiations, marriage customs, and religious ceremonies. The final volume concludes with coverage on customs associated with aging and death, such as retirement celebrations, elaborate funeral processions, and the creation of fantasy coffins. The set features beautiful color inserts that illustrate examples of celebrations and ceremonies and includes an appendix of excerpts from primary documents that include legislation on government-accepted names, wedding vows, and maternity/paternity leave regulations.

An Exploration of the Traditional Witchcraft Coven, its Organization and Rituals, including Initiations, Rites of Passage, Magical and Social practices. The truth is, “Old” Gerald B. Gardner had little interest in how the Traditional Witchcraft Coven had been organized and structured. So apart from an example of how it should not be done, he passed on little information about how it was meant to be organized. That knowledge of how best to organize and structure a modern Coven has had to be reclaimed from the old records and by trial and error. So too the social Rites of Passage; those of birth, marriage and death that were all long since appropriated by the religious authorities have likewise needed to be restored. As too the traditional forms of Coven Magic and Healings, whilst still keeping Witchcraft ever the religion of Dance, Fun and Mirth. After all, who said that religion is not to be enjoyed? A Witches’ Canon, Part 1, provides a fact-based referenced guide for those wishing to further explore the Religion and Celebratory Rituals of Traditional Wicca. A Witches’ Canon, Part 2, has been written to provide a practical, referenced guide to the social aspects of Traditional Wicca; of Coven Organization, Initiations, Rites and Rituals. A Witches’ Canon, Part 3, is a fact-based referenced guide to the practice of Magical Witchcraft, both nice and naughty. If it isn’t fun, then it ain’t worth doing.

Sacred and solemn, handfasting is a marriage rite practiced by Pagans, Druids, Witches, and Shamans for centuries. Anna Franklin explores the fascinating origins of this beautiful ritual and provides practical advice and ideas for planning your own handfasting celebration.