SECTION I - HOLIDAY LORE

Southern Edition

April 30th Down Under - AWDU
Celebrating Samhain - Tristan
Samhain: History, Recipes, and Activites - Moonfyre
Samhain Word Search - Part One - Isha Arrowhawk
Samhain Word Search - Part Two - Isha Arrowhawk
My Samhain Experience - Nimue
Dead Festivals: Tradition or Contradiction? - Jan Duarte
Rites of Passage - The Final Passage - AWDU
New Beginnings - Moon Horse Witch
Rites of Passage - Handfasting - AWDU

April 30th Down Under
By AWDU

While those in the Northern Hemisphere are readying themselves to celebrate Beltane, we in the Southern Hemisphere are preparing for Samhain. Down here we are in the middle of autumn and so the seasonal flora and fauna differs from what is found at the same time of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Southern Hemisphere nations like Australia are renowned for the unique nature of their plant species, which have evolved over millennia to deal with a climate that is completely different to anything found naturally in the Northern Hemisphere. Accordingly we, in the Southern Hemisphere countries, have our own unique flora and fauna correspondences for the sabbats and Samhain is no exception.

For us, April 30th is the time that we recognize all the symbolism associated with Samhain. Mythically, this is much the same as it is in the Northern Hemisphere although the timing is obviously different. In the Northern Hemisphere, Samhain coincides with Halloween. Unfortunately it doesn't over here. Although the traditional meanings of Halloween and Samhain are essentially the same (and could arguably be called the same thing), the popular celebration of Halloween has a fixed date of October 31st. Unhappily this means that when we Southern Hemisphere witches and pagans celebrate our Samhain on April 30th, the rest of the hemisphere isn't in the Halloween mood! We may decorate our homes and be carving Jack-O-Lanterns but no one else is! And we may feel like going trick or treating but it doesn't go down too well with the rest of the population!

Having said that however, Halloween celebrations don't seem to be a big thing here in Australia anyway. I originally come from England and noticed a huge difference in the degree of celebration. I was pleasantly surprised last year when trick-or-treaters (albeit only three of them without costumes) turned up on my doorstep on October 31st even if I was preparing for Beltane!

Just because the rest of the hemisphere isn't in the Halloween mood, it doesn't mean that we can't be! As witches and pagans there are plenty of seasonal activities and sabbat related practices to indulge in at this time that will hopefully help to get us in the spirit of Samhain. Samhain is traditionally a time associated with the spiritual plane. It has strong associations with the concept of death and the circle of life. Samhain is understood to be a time when the veil between this world and the next is at its thinnest and the spirits and souls of the departed can cross over or be contacted. Cultures all over the world have similar celebrations. For example the Day of the Dead and the Feast of the Dead. Like Samhain, these celebrations are a time for remembering ancestors and departed loved ones. It is a time for honoring the dead and, although it often includes a period of sadness and mourning, it is also a time for celebrating their lives. Often these celebrations involve the preparation of large amounts of yummy food which are consumed by surviving family members in the presence of a representation of the departed loved ones. In New Orleans the Feasts actually take place at the gravesites themselves! No wonder that death-related festivals around the world come under the heading of ancestor worship!

In Australia there are plenty of seasonal plants to adorn your rituals with. Both the swamp Banksia and the Heath-Leafed Banksia flower at this time. Both are magnificent blooms with the first having an upright blue-green flower and the second a long spiky orange-yellow flower. Although not a native to Australia, the Advent Bell Azalea comes into bloom at this time with fantastic double rose-red flowers. The Sandheath Bottlebrush's scarlet flowers should be bursting into flame at this time of year and the Bluebell Creeper should also be heavy with purple berries. The Norfolk Island Hibiscus is perfect for decorating a ritual circle characterised by soft pink autumn flowers, and the weeping bowers of the Narrow Leafed Black Peppermint Tree should be smothered by creamy flowers during the autumn months making it a great choice for altar flower displays. The Native Fuschia also comes into flower at this time with white tipped long red flowers.

Other plants in bloom include the Crowea (with its beautiful bright pink star-like flowers that lend a magickal air to any ritual) and the Old Man Banksia (with its large green-grey flowers that are particularly appropriate for Samhain). The White Cedar and Orange-Berried Pittosporum are both lavishly adorned with bright orange berries at this time and make excellent additions to Samhain rituals because of their color association with this festival. Remember that these berries are for decoration only. Do not consume them and keep them away from small children. Non-native plants include the Angelwing Begonia (pendulous red flowers), the Japanese Box (whose foliage turns orange but doesn't shed) and the Purple Smoke Bush (whose flowers turn from white to red in autumn and rise above the foliage to hover like tendrils of smoke).

Down under, it is also entirely appropriate to go outside and plant a tree (or if the timing isn't so good for tree planting, to go and purchase a pot-bound tree for planting at a later date) because April 29th is Pagan Tree Planting Day. Why not dedicate your tree to a project for the upcoming year or to a departed loved one? You may even get visited by faeries on May 4th (Faerie Day) if you leave an offering of bread and tea by the tree! Of course, we can't forget the creating of a Jack-O-Lanterns! It may not be October 31st but this doesn't have to stop you from creating a pumpkin face to sit outside your home! Make sure that you light a candle inside of it (keep it safe though!). The Jack-o-Lantern is fabled to deter unwanted spirits from your home and a candle left burning in a window is said to guide those you love back to you. You can keep the seeds from the pumpkin to use in a Samhain ritual or to dry out and eat as a healthy Samhain snack.

So, wherever you are enjoy the season. Have a happy Samhain or Beltane and try out the pumpkin soup recipe below. Trust me, it is delicious!

Pumpkin soup

Ingredients

One pumpkin (butternut is great but anything will do). Peel it and cut the flesh into cubes. The smaller you cut them the quicker the soup cooks.

Potato, peeled and cubed. Roughly the same amount as the pumpkin.

Vegetable Stock

Milk (optional)

One or two diced onions. As a rule, a small pumpkin uses about one onion.

Half a teaspoon of finely diced chili

One teaspoon of crushed garlic

Two teaspoons of dried parsley

Salt and Pepper to taste.

Cream and dried/fresh parsley to garnish.

Fresh crusty bread as an accompaniment.

Method

This is so easy! Throw all of the ingredients in a saucepan. Cover with two thirds vegetable stock and one third Milk (or you can just use vegetable stock). Chuck it on the stove and bring it to a boil. Stick the lid on, reduce the heat to low and leave it bubbling along for about an hour or so. Check it occasionally to make sure that there is enough liquid and nothing is sticking to the bottom of the saucepan. Add extra stock/milk if you need to. If it seems to be too watery, then leave the lid off so that it can reduce (or maybe add a little corn flour mixed with cold water to thicken). When all the vegetables seem to be pretty squishy, turn off the heat and use a blender to wiz it all together into a smooth soup. Be careful because it is really hot and those blenders have a habit of spitting stuff everywhere! Alternatively, you can blend half of it and then mix it with the unblended stuff for a soup with vegetable chunks or you can simply use a hand masher for a coarser more lumpy soup. Serve it hot with a drizzle of cream, a sprinkle of parsley and a hunk of fresh crusty bread. This soup freezes really well and will keep in the fridge for three to four days, so you can make a huge batch in one go!

Celebrating Samhain
By Tristan

Samhain is one of the four Major Sabats and was celebrated in ancient times with a ritual bonfire. It is the peak of seasonal energies. The Goddess is now with us as crone bearing the light of death, offering us magical power and wisdom. She also comes to us as mother, carrying the sun God in her womb. The Lord of the underworld also joins us.

Samhain marks the beginning of the Celtic New Year and the start of winter. It is the time when the "dark" winter half of the year starts and this day marks the end of the harvest.

It also marks one of the "spirit nights," the time of the year when the walls between the worlds are thinnest and communicating with those who have "crossed over" to other dimensions is easiest. The other "spirit night" is Beltane.

This is a time to honor our ancestors by offering prayer and food. We ask them to join us in the festivities.


Preparing the Home:

I treat my kitchen as my hearth. It brings life and warmth, so this area needs to be thoroughly cleaned and blessed. The ritual of Samhain begins with the "preparation" (our thoughts) of the food, the decorating of the house and plans to keep any children busy.


Things to Have:

--If you have children, ask them gather things for the altar or for the focal point of your room. You could have them collect leaves, dead twigs, acorns & pinecones, branches of oak, any tree which drops its leaves and is native to your area will do. A bunch of corn ears for the front door will bring wealth for the year ahead.

--Candles for the ritual. 1 black to represent things that you will be saying goodbye to or to represent the past, and 3 white candles for things you will welcome into your life, the ancestors and the quarters.

--Fresh sage in a vase, rosemary ornaments (see directions below), apples & nuts, ritual wine or cider.


The Ritual:

Place photos of your ancestors on your altar (personal objects or a list with their names on it can replace the photos). Also place a small pile of dead foliage and twigs in a fireproof bowl or pot.

Cast your circle and invoke the Cailleach (the old veiled woman) to join you as well as any of your ancestors and friends who wish to join you. Light the black candle while you name old patterns that you wish to beak. From the black candle, light the white candle as you name the things you wish to acquire. Set alight the dead foliage.

When you have finished, light the other candle for your ancestors and any other candles you may wish to light e.g. Green representing prosperity, pink for love etc. I like to improvise during my rituals with chanting, spinning or dancing around the altar.


How to Make Rosemary Ornaments:

Cut long sprigs of fresh rosemary. Make crosses or heart shapes by joining two sprigs together. The top ends of the sprigs are easier to bend without breaking the stems. The bottoms will be harder so we simply cross them over. To keep the sprigs in place tie them with string or colored ribbon. These ornaments should be placed near openings such as doors and windows; they are also used as ornaments for your table or altar, around the base or under candles.


The Samhain Menu:

Corn Bread
Stuffed Pumpkin
Seasonal Vegetable Frittata
Stewed Apples
Berry or Grape Wine
Herbal Liquor

Samhain: History, Recipes and Activities
By Moonfyre

Samhain comes from the Celtic meaning "Summers End." It represents the start of the Celtic New Year, known also as the Festival of the Dead. The darkness and bleak cold of winter, in those traditional Celtic countries, would bring on a shortage of food, water and shelter. This would cause the deaths of many people along with much prized livestock. Therefore animals thought too weak to survive the winter were slaughtered to ensure a food supply to last the winter.

Samhain is also known in Catholic countries as Halloween. All Souls and All Saints Day. The times when those departed are honored for uniting with the Divine, and for remembering those who have not yet united with the Divine, but are in Purgatory; the place of spiritual purification.

Samhain is the time when the God has descended to the underworld and the new God is growing in the womb. The time of the dark lord. For the Goddess it is time for the Wise one, grandmother, and crone, represented by Hecate, Cerridwen or Morrigan.

Samhain is the time of transformation. The time for reflecting on the past. How we have come to be where we are now, and how we can move forward to achieve our goals. It is a time for introspection and withdrawal, to let go of failures, sadness and overcome fears. Samhain is an excellent time for banishings. It is traditionally linked to wisdom, death, rest, rebirth, initiation, the dark moon, midnight, the snake of mystery and reaffirming life. Magickally it is a time to teach, to reveal the secrets of magick. In Tarot, Samhain is represented by the Death card.

Samhain is the time when the veils between the world are thinnest and souls of our departed can peer through. We pay tribute to those dear to us, that have departed from the earthly realm. We remember and reflect on our times spent with them, and the ways our lives have changed without them. We can place photographs or mementos of them on our altars. Samhain is the time to say good-byes that we may not have had time to say when they died. To tell them anything we didn't get to. A good way of doing this is to write it on black paper, or in black ink on white paper, and then burn it in a ritual fire to send it to the heavens.

Samhain is known to be a powerful time of the year for divination and prophecy. You can use whatever method of divination that you feel most comfortable with. Some methods of scrying are to use black mirrors, blackened water, a crystal ball, or fire or meditation. Other methods of divination are the Tarot, I Ching, a pendulum, Runes, reading tea-leaves, Oracles etc. Or perhaps it is a great time to begin to learn a new form of divination that you have always wanted to learn.

Some altar decorations you could include are: apples (cut horizontal to represent a pentacle of seeds), spirals, branches of dead leaves, black mirrors, crystal balls, cauldrons, black or red candles, red chrysanthemums, dark red roses, dark divination crystals, pomegranates, skulls, pine cones and apple cider. You can also decorate your altar with any flowers or leaves of plants that are in season in your local area.

Representative colors are brown, black and red. Some essential oils you could use are cedarwood, clove, frankincense, patchouli, rosemary, galangal and myrrh. See below for recipes on a few oil blends you can make. Some traditional foods are baked potatoes, soups, stews, pork, fruitcake and pumpkin pie. I think any warming or comfort food is appropriate for this time of the year.


Here are some essential oil blends that are perfect for Samhain:

Banishing
Good for negativity
3 parts Benzoin
2 parts wormwood
1 part myrrh

Goddess
2 parts myrrh
1 part vervain
1 part pine oil

God
2 parts sandalwood
1 part myrrh
1 part petitgrain


Fun Family Activities for Samhain

--Write up a family tree. Kids love to learn about the relatives.
--Make up a special photo album of those Family members who have died, as a special way of remembering.
--Go through your children's baby photos with them and tell them stories of when they were young.
--Make Banksia men. Collect dried Banksias and turn them into little men by gluing on little eyes etc. The seed openings make perfect little mouths and the spikes at the top look just like hair!
--Make a wreath from leaves, nuts and flowers that are in season in your local area.
--Find out what animals are native to your area and research what they do to prepare for winter. What do they eat, do they hibernate, etc.?
--Make some masks representing your favorite gods and goddesses, or even animal masks representing the natives in your area.
--Bake gingerbread shapes for your family to enjoy. Kids love baking.
--Make leaf prints of native plants. Take leaves and press onto a stamp pad, or in some paint. Print onto paper, books or even material for a different look.
--Plant some bulbs to get ready for spring, to represent the darkness of Winter and rebirth of Spring.

Samhain Word Search - Part One
By Isha Arrowhawk

Ok, folks, here it is, Part one of this issue's Word Search puzzle! This one contains the wonderful staff of our Northern CB issue. Apologies to any of the staff who had characters other than dashes in their names, the puzzle refused to accept them , so you either got spaces or dashes instead.

Enjoy! Isha

CB STAFF - NORTH

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P K S I W E L H T I D U J R W Y S R Z J
U T X U W K K I S H A A R R O W H A W K
P Z S J M I D P T Q L N F A S U K W D B
F T E B P S K T Q V D H T U G G W I F R
L N L D Y L L A K C I T S Y M C S H Y E
O E E D U Y B A B O O K Y R A A G Z X N
W V N I E Z P B W D U O D M T T K U Z N
Y A E W N Q G C Q L V A A D X G N H G A
E R S I R O D X B I M N K S N S X E R F
R A I E G J H D D M O F X V V I Q M A E
G T L L N U F R E Y D N Y R H T A K I Y
T S V E I X A R H A I V N Q E T L H N D
H S E R W D R C N L Z N Q A O M Q O K A
G I R O M C J Q J E R I N O B L E L T M
I L W L R X O G H G Y Y J I U X Z C O A
N A I R O R E N F U E R L E R U A L U U
D C N Q T N Q K A G V Z G V M B T P L R
I H D S S A N T I G O N E O V J H R M O
M H Y S T L Y C S R H H F F D O I B V T
H U S S E R T S G N O S N O O M R X X O

ANTIGONE
BABOO KYRA
BRENNA FEY DAMAUROT
CALISSTA RAVEN
G RAIN
ISHA ARROWHAWK
JERI NOBLE
JUDITH LEWIS
KATHRYN DYER
LAUREL REUFNER
LORELEI
MIDNIGHT GREY WOLFPUP
MOONSONGSTRESS
MYSTICKALLY
SELENE SILVERWIND
STORMWING

Samhain Word Search - Part Two
By Isha Arrowhawk

Ok, folks, here it is, Part two of this issue's Word Search puzzle! This one contains the wonderful staff of our Southern CB issue. Apologies to any of the staff who had characters other than dashes in their names, the puzzle refused to accept them , so you either got spaces or dashes instead.

Enjoy! Isha

CB STAFF - SOUTH
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E M R Q E C Y P F Z Y P D X R Y A I F N
G U J L U F M N V F D V V Q I I N A L K
N C H C T I W E S R O H N O O M M P U L
A V A B R E N N A F E Y D A M A U R O T
W N L G K X J B G N U X O Z K A W P Y P
I O E K A S W E N A T S I R T X Y R E J
T F X U P N N O A P E X Q J O F M L R J
C O L R I C E Z Q N H V Y J Q U R H Y B
H X A X N U Q H B K J H X J C U D U F N
D E W R H F M W L A Q P K L E W Y M N D
O E T R A U D N A J O O V G O O I C O O
W J O E W T S C C X F Q I K Z R X K O G
N E E U M I N M S L H L C X Q V E T M E
U M V K C C N B N A D R V M C D O L C P
N U B R R W Q L P Y Z G M N X I Z N E R
D P M I P D I O G O M O N T E M O R A I
E L I M S D I T K X T H E W O L F P U P
R Q T V R E D S K Y Y B F P V A W A L O
C K Y K L X F R N V P F G M A I Q W V C
P R P H O E N I X H E A L E R M Q Z H Q

A WITCH DOWN UNDER
ALEX LAW
BRENNA FEY DAMAUROT
DIOGO MONTE-MOR
JAN DUARTE
LORELEI
MOON HORSE WITCH
MOONFYRE
NIMUE
PHOENIX-HEALER
THE WOLFPUP
TRISTAN-E

My Samhain Experience
By Nimue

Every time Samhain comes around, my friends and I get involved in its atmosphere and lore. As one of the greatest sabbats and the most well-known, even among non-pagans, Samhain creates an excitement that most of us can not hide.

But, most of you will say to me: This is the sabbat of the death of the God, a moaning period, this is death!

Come on! We all know that this is part of life, that this is the beginning of new life and new periods of creation! I am not saying that Pagans here in Brazil get sad on Samhain, but many of us came from Christian Traditions and Death is hard for us to deal with positively. But I love to celebrate Samhain! The preparation, the expectation...

I work with a group, a circle of seven (we will get two new members this Samhain). We use two circles to celebrate Samhain, one for the life side and one for the death side. It is a very interesting ritual and a very beautiful ceremony. We celebrate life and death together as they are, part of natural life.

Last Samhain, one night before our main ritual, we got together to consecrate the instruments. My Athame broke! It was a glass Athame, from handle to blade. A very beautiful piece that fell off my waist and broke in more than four pieces. This was my sacrifice on Samhain. When it was broken, it seemed to me that a part of me was broken too. And I cried out like something unnatural, a mix of a cry and an animal sound, a sound that I cannot forget but cannot reproduce.

I have grown a lot since that day. And this ritual that is approaching is going to be marvellous. Not the old year, not yet the new year, Samhain is time out of time, perfect for predictions, future and fortune telling...it is really a witchy time.

Most books use the statement that the veils between worlds is thinner, so this is the night of our elders, the ones that came before us in life and in the Art. Witches, more than anyone, know the importance of dealing well with our ancestors, of honoring them. So, basically, Samhain is a time of darkness and a time to be with the ones that came before us, but it is also the beginning of the healing, the part of the year where the earth begins to prepare to sleep through winter to get ready for the spring and the new crop. So, everything that you do not want in your life anymore can be taken out on Samhain, so we can prepare ourselves for the new to come.

A really great activity for Samhain is to make a Witch´s Cord with the appropriate colors for what you need in your life: White for Harmony; Red to keep enemies away, overcome obstacles, build courage; Orange for Success and Prosperity; Pink to attract love; Black for Protection and to keep bad luck away; Green for Abundance and Yellow to attract good health and to have luck with sales.

[Idea for Witch's Cord taken from the book: " Wicca, the religion of the Goddess" by Claudiney Prieto, Gaia Publishers, 2000, 1st edition.]

DEAD FESTIVALS: TRADITION OR CONTRADICTION?
By Jan Duarte

What is the real meaning of these "dead festivals" that can be found in all cultures and in any region of the planet? Is there, in these festivals, a latent contradiction, that involves the belief in reincarnation?

Many people who make their first contact with paganism get the false impression that some beliefs or practices are original or exclusive to certain societies, especially those that settled in pre-Christian Western Europe. It's a common mistake, a consequence of our western mindset, which usurped a bunch of beliefs and dressed it up with a coat of originality. In fact, the most of the rites (and myths) associated with Neopaganism are universal, and reflect the primary religious impulse of all human beings.

So, taking a glance at the past of mankind, we see that all the primary notions of spirituality had an element of reincarnation. Once establishing the concept of the soul as the substance that permeates bodies, gives them life, and survives after death, it was natural to consider that the souls returns, in some way, and would animate another body. This pattern, in fact, is still found among aboriginal societies that have preserved the practices of thousands of years ago.

An interesting example is mentioned by Malinowski: the natives of Tobriand Islands, in South Pacific, believe that the souls of the dead inhabit the island of Tuma, where they "live" a normal existence for some time. If they died young, this time will be longer, but, if they died older, the period to spend in Tuma will be shorter. Actually, it's like the souls complete their periods of existence in Tuma until the moment when, feeling too old, they wash themselves in the ocean, get rid of their skins and change into a new soul who will impregnate a living woman of their old clan.

However, the same natives celebrate every year the festival called "Milamala." In this festival, which can last more than a week, special platforms are built to receive the spirits of the ancestors. Banquets are prepared for them, and the ritual dances proceed, some with explicit sexual character.

It would be too extensive to relate here all the ceremonies and myths included in this single celebration, but, by and large, the contradiction that was mentioned in the beginning is apparent: if the souls of the dead come back to life, in a more or less rapid way, who are these ancestral spirits that are the special guests of the ceremony?

To understand the real meaning of this belief, it's necessary to search out the proper origin. According to Durkheim and others, the notion of the soul cannot be a result of the fear of annihilation, since primitive humans didn't fear death, but faced it as a part of the natural process of life. It also can't be a result of the necessity to preserve individuality after death, since this notion is rare among the primitives, and even undesirable: the indigenes desire to be part of the community group, not just an individual. By extension, the concept of soul may have developed out of the necessity for preservation of group traditions, or of the clan, in face of the death of its members, as well as the need to explain the fertilization/birth process.

By saying that the essence of the ancestor reincarnates in the newly born child of the same clan, the primitives, first of all, are assuring the continuance of their way of life and the survival of the tribe. At the same time, they were able to give sex a deeper character: although sex could be related to reproduction of a new physical body, it did not necessarily create the vital principle. With reincarnation, sex could combine families and open the door to the passing of cultural legacies from the ancestors to the new child.

At last, this kind of reincarnation belief explains, in a cyclic way, a kind of energy conservation principle, considering that the tribes believed that the souls could not be created. They were born with the universe (or are just a individualization of the vital principle of it), acumulate knowledge during the physical life and then transmit this knowledge down through the generations of the family.

Bringing these concepts to our times, when we know that the population of the world is constantly growing, we could say that souls are the individual portions of a Great Intelligence (called by some tribes "Great Spirit" or "Great Mystery").

By celebrating the dead festivals, the primitives were trying to guarantee that those spirits that still hadn't reincarnated would return to the heart of the family. To show happiness and abundance was a way of telling those who had died that they would be well-received when they returned. The families, clans or tribes that neglected these rites are showing that they are unable to preserve the tradition, not deserving the return of their ancestors and the perpetuation of their way of life.

The fact that these "dead festivals" occur after the harvest has to be considered. Let's compare Samhain, then, to its opposite festival, Beltane. On Beltane, the point is the passing over into adult life: we left the protection of the family to face individual responsibilities, but the final consequence of this act is the development of a new familiar group, which is marriage. On Samhain, the point is the death: we left the community group to enter through the gates of the Great Unknown, but the consequence is the return to the tribe through reincarnation. On the other hand, on Beltane, the seed that was part of the plant is buried (alone) to originate another plant, while on Samhain, the grain that came from the individual plant was picked (and individualized), to feed the community.

This passing, this transition, can only be done during moments of rest, when the tasks are over. After the seeding, we have to wait until the harvest, the same way that after the harvest, with the approach of the Winter, we can't prepare the soil for a new seeding. One more time, it's the notion of respect for the natural cycles, for the necessary time for transitions to take effect - the real "time out of time." The seed needs time to germinate, the Nature needs time to recover during the winter. The young need times of trouble to face the challenges of life, and the old need times of wisdom to face death.

So, on this Samhain, when we do our usual rites, let's remember that what we are celebrating. Above all, it's the preservation of a way of life. When we call to the ones that have left us, we are creating a link to our past and guaranteeing the survival of the values that are passed to us. The spirits of our parents live in us and, in the appropriate time, will live in our children and grandchildren, taking part in the construction of a future with more wisdom, more respect for the natural cycles and more integration with our Great Mother Earth.

Rites of Passage - The Final Passage
By AWDU

The Rite of Passage chosen for Samhain is the Final Passage (or the passing from this life into the next). Samhain is a time traditionally associated with the thinning of the veil between this plane of existence and the next, a time when spirits walk the earth and a time of introspection about the mysteries of death and rebirth. It is a time to think about the past, to contemplate life's lessons and to make contact with the spiritual plane of existence. This makes Samhain a natural time to think about dying and death and to conduct rituals concerning this Final Passage.

Rites for this Final Passage are essentially concerned with the transition of death. Normally they are conducted by the loved ones who are left behind and involve them saying a ritualistic goodbye to their departed loved one and to truly start the process of acceptance for their passing. However rites of Final Passage can also be used to ease an individuals passing into death. As such a Final Passage ritual can be conducted by the individual prior to their own death (if they are aware that their death is imminent) to help them accept their mortality and to give them peace in the dying process. Alternatively it can be conducted by the individual and their family and friends as the death is occurring, working as a kind of guided death to help the individual let go of this plane of existence. I read a very moving article once about how one famous person helped his wife through her death by a guided visualization of her riding away on her beloved Appaloosa stallion. This eased her transition, making it a peaceful one but also helped him and his children greatly in their mourning process.

Rituals concerned with the Final Passage are found in all (as far as I know) countries, cultures and societies. Usually they are bound up tightly with the particular belief structure of the individuals concerned. There is invariably some type of funeral and a service of some description. One exception is a tribe of individuals who simply bury the body and then walk away without looking back and without talking about the person who has passed on. Their belief is that to do so is to dishonor the person by trying to hold onto them and not allowing them to journey into the peace of the afterlife.

The most common examples of death rituals in the "Western" world are probably those of the Christian and Catholic belief system. Although not everyone is Christian in religious orientation, the Christian funeral and service appears to be the default. As you are probably aware, in this way of doing things a service is conducted prior to burial or cremation. Unfortunately in many services no accounting is made for the individual's personal beliefs and often the priest or minister conducting the service has never met the individual and knows little if anything about them. Of course this is usually not the case for members of the Christian faith, whose family and friends often find great comfort in the Christian way of doing things.

The Catholic death rituals are similar in fashion to those of the Christian faith, although the Catholic death rituals begin before the person's death with the individual confessing their sins and taking communion prior to death. In the Catholic faith this purifies the person's soul before they die and the person is then interred in hallowed ground (never cremated).

Beliefs about resurrection and life after death play a huge role in many cultural beliefs around the world. Indeed it would seem that humankind's history has been defined by beliefs in an afterlife. The Egyptians had very specific rites and rituals associated with the interment of a person's body, their belief being that a person's body had to be preserved because they would need it in the afterlife. This is similar to Catholic beliefs about resurrection and heaven on earth. Buddhists believe in reincarnation, as does Hinduism. However, for these faiths reincarnation is of the spirit and does not involve resurrection of the body.

Days of the Dead and Feasts of the Dead are also common and are probably the closest examples to they witches celebration of Samhain. These festivals annually celebrate the spirit world and departed loved ones. On this day a special feast is often prepared and the graves of loved ones decorated. Surviving family and friends then sing and dance and generally enjoy themselves. The celebration then culminates in a feast that honors the dead and is often consumed in cemeteries at the gravesides of the dead.

Neopagan beliefs about death and dying are as eclectic as the individuals themselves. However a belief in reincarnation seems to be common in Neopaganism, as is the concept of the Summerland (a place where souls rest until they are ready to be reborn). Neopagans celebrate Samhain as a time to contemplate the cycle of life and death. As such most Neopagans view the confrontation and acceptance of the inevitability and naturalness of death as a healthy mental approach to the subject. Neopagans are also largely concerned with self-exploration and using ritual and magic to deal with the issues of life and death. As such many Neopagans find rituals concerning the Final Passage useful.

For many Neopagan individuals the standard services given for their departed loved ones are not seen as adequate. They may be conducted according to beliefs and practices that are not Neopagan in approach and are often unduly negative and solemn. Neopaganism recognises balance in all things and so humor and laughter have a role to play in death and grieving. Furthermore Neopagan rites concerning the Final Passage allow for a more personal and perhaps private expression of grief. Neopagan Final Passage rites are characterised by an element of celebration. This celebration is the celebration of life and life well-lived. It comes after sadness and is aimed at remembering that person and all the things that made them special and unique. Laughing at humorous memories concerning the departed person and remembering the things that made (and still makes them) so special can be a wonderfully cathartic experience for grieving friends and relatives. Often it is an uplifting experience that honors the person in the midst of sadness at their departure.

Final passage rituals have great value whatever culture or faith you come from. Anyone can perform them and they allow a time and space to openly express what you feel about the person and their life. There is a common belief that when a person dies you should only talk about the good things as to mention the bad is disrespectful. I disagree. We are all made up of both good and bad, it is what balances us and gives us our humanity. To only remember the good is to only remember half of a person, you honor them more by remembering everything about them. It is often the things that annoyed us about a person that are the things we miss the most about them and are part of the reason that we loved them. Additionally, grieving often involves acceptance of issues that were perhaps unresolved with a person prior to their death. If we try to pretend that these don't exist we make it difficult for ourselves to move on. A Final Passage ritual is about remembering and saying goodbye to a person but it is also about allowing ourselves to move on and through their passing. As such, Final Passage rituals can be of value to anyone and can be conducted by those of any faith, not just those of the Neopagan community. Their value lies in the outpouring of honest emotion and so it is not necessary to have props and structure to the ritual or to place them within the confines of any religious tradition.

The most moving and effective funeral service I have ever been to took place in a friend's living room with everyone sitting in a circle on mismatched plastic chairs listening to music on an old stereo. There were people of the New Age community there, Wiccans, Christians, agnostics and spiritual counselors as well. My friend's grandmother had lived and recently died overseas and my friend and her family were unable to go and see her or be at her funeral. My friend and her family decided to hold their own goodbye ceremony at home. We (friends and family) all turned up, sat down and when everyone was ready we began sharing thoughts and memories about my friend's grandmother. Poems that had been written about her were read, as were letters to her. There were also drawings shown and appropriate songs played.

Everybody said how they felt and talked about what my friend's grandmother had meant to them and also what they felt she had meant to my friend and her family. Additionally we talked about how much my friend's grandmother had loved her children and grandchildren, and about what an exceptionally strong woman she had been. Both her good and bad qualities were remembered and this allowed for her family to openly express all the things they felt about her passing. This was in no way disrespectful, as it was an honest accounting of her life and in that way honoured all that she had been and was to her family and friends. The tone of the service changed from awkwardness to sadness and open grieving but then shifted to humor and affection as we remembered the funny times and all the things that had made her unique. The sharing complete and the mood uplifted even as it was sad, the service was then closed and we all shared some food and drink together. A toast was made to my friend's grandmother in honor of her life. The service was beautiful in its honesty and also was helpful in the grieving process.

Below is a Final Passage ritual inspired by this service. It is designed for a single person but as you will see can easily be adapted to suit a group of individuals. It is not structured for any religion in particular but if you want to include deity references or religion-specific references then by all means do so. This ritual is intended to be used as a guide. It is complete in itself but will work best if it caters to the needs and beliefs of those present. It can be conducted whenever it is appropriate or can be used on Samhain to remember those that have passed.

What you need:

Photo of the departed person (or something that reminds them of you). Any relevant letters etc.
Candles (for the perimeter of the ritual circle). Tealight candles work really well but please be careful. If you are grieving you are easily distracted and candles can be a fire hazard.
Fireproof bowl
Matches
Pen and paper
Music (something relaxing and something that reminds you of the person) and stereo
Tissues
Food and Drink for afterward

Before you begin:

Set up a ring of candles large enough for you to lie down in safely if you wish to. In the center place the fireproof bowl, pens, paper, music and stereo.
Put some relaxing music into stereo and turn it on.
Leave the food and drink in a separate room or space.
It is best to conduct this ritual at night in a darkened room because it is a time more naturally associated with thoughts about dying and death.

The ritual:

Take some time readying yourself for this ritual. You may wish to take a bath or have a shower and then change into something comfortable. When you are ready walk into the room where you will be conducting the ritual. Light the candles in a single direction, leaving one unlit. With the photo of your loved one in your hands enter the circle of candles by stepping over the unlit candle and then light the candle behind you. Place the photo of your loved one in the center of the circle and sit cross-legged before it. Close your eyes and breathe in and out deeply several times to relax and calm yourself. Try to empty yourself of thoughts and emotions.

When you are ready, open your eyes and gaze at the photo. This is the time to begin thinking about your loved one and remembering as much as you can about them. As you remember things write them on the piece of paper. Allow yourself to truly experience your memories. You may feel awkward at first or even silly. This is O.K. Persevere and that will probably drop away. You want to feel your pain and loss sharply and intensely. You do not want to stop it or repress it, you want to let it flow from you. If you feel like crying then cry (this is why you have this tissues nearby!), if you feel like yelling then do it, if you feel like you need to hit something then pummel the floor. Whatever you feel is completely natural. You want to experience all of the emotions of grieving - pain, sadness, devastation, anger, loneliness, and desertion. If you want to yell at the person for leaving you, then do so. If you wish to get angry at them for an unresolved conflict or an argument you once had, then again do so. There are no rules to how you should feel. Human relationships are complex and each is unique. It is O.K. to let yourself give in to your emotions whatever they are. Be honest with yourself about how you feel. This is the most important part of the grieving process. If you feel numb then that is O.K. too. It is the body's natural way of coping with overwhelming emotion and is only problematic if it lasts too long or becomes denial.

You may wish to talk to your loved one. That's fine. You may wish to play a favorite song of theirs or something that reminds you of them. You may wish to read letters to them or from them. All of these things will help to trigger an emotional release within yourself. At some point you will begin to remember funny things that they said or did. If you want to laugh then do so. If it makes you cry, then cry. If you can, write all of these things down on the paper.

When you are ready to move onto the next part of the ritual then take some deep claming breaths to center yourself. At this point you need to retrieve the piece of paper and to re-read what you have written there. Once again allow any emotions to be expressed openly and honestly. Take calming breaths as you need to and when you are ready, you need to light the corner of the piece of paper and place it in the fireproof dish. You may wish to burn the photo and letters etc too. If this is right for you then do so. If you wish to hold onto them, then that is perfectly o.k. You may wish to have previously made a copy of the photo, so that you are able to burn the one used in the ritual. As you focus upon the smoke and flames, imagine your loved one passing away from you. Feel yourself farewelling them and feel the separation that this brings. If you want to cry then do so. Finally try to imagine yourself moving through your grief and coming to rest at a calm place. You have your memories inside of yourself even if the physical body of that person has gone from you.

When you are ready, take some calming breaths and then extinguish the candles in the opposite direction to how they were lit. You may wish to go outside and scatter the ashes from the heatproof dish or you may wish to bury them. You could save them to bury at the base of a tree or other plant, either one bought especially for the occasion or one already growing. Alternatively, you may wish to save them to scatter somewhere special at a later date.

Then it is time for you to eat and drink something. Even if you are not hungry you should at least consume something small. Raise a glass in toast to your loved one. The consuming of food and drink not only helps to sustain your body through a traumatic time but it also honors your loved one as a symbol of continued sustenance of life. The ritual is complete. You may repeat it as many times as you need.

NOTE: Do not be afraid to seek grief counseling. It often helps people come to terms with the death of a loved one, particularly if the death is unexpected.

New Beginnings
By Moon Horse Witch

It is both a pleasure and an honor to be writing for the inaugural southern hemisphere edition of Cauldrons and Broomsticks Ezine. Samhain is upon us and it's a New Year...new beginnings...an exciting time.

I love excitement and I was lucky to travel a lot as a child, which exposed me to the true variety of life. When I was nine, my mother, father, older brother and I spent 5 weeks on a Russian cruise liner, sailing from New Zealand to England. We crossed the Equator at the March equinox, and there, in this world between worlds, I experienced my first Pagan ritual.

It began with learning our roles. Mine was a simple one. I was participating as a mermaid, daughter of King Neptune, God of the Sea and all its creatures, and I had to sit at his feet as witness with my sister mermaids. What they didn't tell me was that my father and brother's roles were to be bound and their lives offered as sacrifice along with three other fellows.

The day came and the sun was splendid in all its glory. It was warm but not hot and I wore my mermaid outfit with pride. The deck was a huge area that encompassed two swimming pools. King Neptune was a handsome God, a broad hairy radiant fellow, and I watched the ritual unfold before my feet, intrigued. Upon being challenged by Neptune, the captain offered a sacrifice and I nearly died of shock seeing my father and brother and several others, all male, shoved on their knees before the commanding Neptune. The men were filthy and wore very little. Their eyes pleaded in desperation as the mermaid Queen offered them a final drink before they were to be plunged overboard.

The mermaid Queen turned for the wine and I was paralyzed by fear. They were going to kill my Dad! Memories of Luna Park's ghost train came to haunt me. I had been about five then and my father and brother had climbed into a carriage for a ride on the ghost train. They smiled and waved like it was the best thing on earth and then the rickety carriage went slamming through a huge door into darkness, leaving only howls and shrieks to echo in my terrified mind. I had bawled of course, but it had only been pretend and five minutes later they were back, smiling and very alive.

I thought of this as I contemplated stopping the ceremony. Like anyone would listen to a nine-year-old girl. I sought my mother's face in the crowd. She smiled at me reassuringly. I prayed as hard as I could, to no one in particular, that my brother and father were not really going to die as I watched, hands clenched. The beautiful dark haired mermaid Queen poured the wine into a halved coconut and it was ceremonially poured down the prisoners' throats. Bloodlike red wine spilt everywhere. My brother was only twelve and I thought he was going to drown on the stuff. But he didn't, despite a bit of spluttering. King Neptune accepted the sacrifice of our male kin and granted us a safe passage in his waters always.

The prisoners were thrown overboard (poolward) and we feasted and partied hard. My brother went berserk after his experience and rubbed an entire Black Forest Gateaux cake into my hair. There were literally a thousand folk gone crazy. We had been on ship together for about four weeks including 13 incredible days without seeing land and spirits were high, inhibitions were low. Food was flying across the deck, cream and jelly everywhere. Streamers, dancing, music, laughter...it was a frenzy, an experience I shall never forget. I spent the next week picking cake out of my hair as I looked with delight at my new friend, the sea.

We each received two beautiful certificates of Neptune's guarantee, one in English and one in Latin. The Latin one has a beautiful drawing of Neptune and his sprawling locks of golden hair. I treasure it. My brother and I grew up without a fear of water and we could often be spotted at the beach always trying to swim the farthest out. I still treasure my certificate and last winter I used it in a successful rain-calling ritual, in the drought-stricken wheatbelt. "An act of God," said the local Christian farmers. And old King Neptune winked.

Rites of Passage - Handfasting
By AWDU

The Rite of Passage chosen for the Sabbat of Beltane is that of Handfasting, which is best described as a Neopagan marriage. Beltane is a time naturally associated with fertility. Nature is alive with the courtship dances of birds and animals, vegetation and young creatures are beginning to make themselves known. As such it is a time defined by sexual union. Mythically, the God has reached sexual and physical maturity and he and the Goddess (in her maiden aspect) fall in love. Subject to the lusty force of nature, they make love and, at the peak of their fertility, the Goddess conceives. What better activity for this time of year than the union of two people in a Handfasting?

For Wiccans, committed union between two individuals is viewed in a slightly different way than more traditionally "accepted" forms of marriage. To begin with, sexual union is considered sacred and not a sin in Wicca. This encompasses all forms of sexual union whether homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, or anything else as long as partners are consenting and of age! The term "sacred" is used to mean "something to be celebrated." Sex is sacred not in the sense that it is untouchable but in the sense that it is one of life's purest forces and, as such, should be enjoyed. Wicca does not have any rules about who should have sex, with whom, when, where and in what form. These decisions are up to the individuals concerned, although Wicca stands against exploitation and does, of course, encourage protected sex.

Traditionally, a Handfasting is a commitment made for a year and a day, with the commitment renewed every year and a day for as a long as the couple wishes. This form of repetitive Handfasting acknowledges that people and circumstances change over time and should not be taken to imply any lessening in the responsibilities of raising children, only that a couple doesn't necessarily have to remain bound together for life. Alternatively, individuals can choose to handfast themselves for a year and a day and then have a more conventional and legally binding wedding at the end of that time. This allows them to change their mind without the legal hassles of a divorce after the first year and still recognizes a couple's wish for formal commitment after that.

Today, with the breaking down of stereotypes and restrictions placed upon unmarried couples living together, many individuals choose to live in a defacto relationship prior to Handfasting. They may then combine their Handfasting with a conventional legal wedding by using a marriage official sympathetic to Wiccan values and practices or having both a Handfasting and a wedding at separate times. If the second alternative is chosen the Handfasting is often the more intimate celebration, with the "conventional" wedding occurring at a registry office and being simply about the legalities. It is important to remember that a Handfasting is not legally recognised unless it is undertaken by a legally acknowledged marriage official or minister. Despite this, some individuals choose to never have a legally recognized wedding, preferring the recognition that comes from each other, family and friends through a Handfasting.

The term "Handfasting" is based upon the practice of fastening the couples' hands together with a ribbon or cord during the ceremony. This is symbolic of being tied together by love from the moment of the Handfasting on. In addition, a Handfasting couple traditionally jumps over a besom, or broom, together. This can represent either fertility or the transition into a new life (the broom is representative of the barrier between the old and the new). Furthermore, couples have traditionally jumped over a bonfire (sometimes called a balefire) to promote fertility - I strongly recommend it be a really small fire! The term fertility doesn't have to imply children - it can refer to the success or richness of the union. It is important to be specific about which association of fertility is intended if the broom or fire-jumping are used.

A Handfasting, like a marriage, represents the transition from single life to a committed relationship or marks a new level of commitment in an existing relationship. The rite of passage itself is important because it provides a formal acknowledgment of this change. This is not to say that those individuals who never handfast or marry in a conventional sense have a relationship that is any less legitimate. However, a Handfasting does provide a perfect opportunity for the couple to tell each other what they mean to each other and for the couple to stand in front of those that they care about and declare their love for each other. It should always be remembered that the Handfasting is about the individuals concerned and not about societal and religious requirements. Wicca doesn't work like that and this is where a Handfasting differs from the marriages of other religions.

We as a society are even becoming more accepting of alternative forms of couplehood. We still have a long way to go but things are finally beginning to look up. There was once even some debate in early Wicca about the question of homosexual couples being Handfasted. Fortunately Wicca today recognizes the validity of all types of love and relationships. To those who suggest that a Handfasting should only represent the merging of a male and female, I say this: who is anyone to decide that for anybody else? Whether we are male or female we each contain elements of both sexes within us to some degree. Women have a testosterone-like hormone and men have a hormone similar to estrogen. This makes us balanced and means that any union can represent both male and female energies coming together whatever the sex or gender of the partners concerned. Love and sex are beautiful things however and whomever they occur with!

Below is a simple Handfasting ritual that is designed for a couple to conduct by themselves. It is easily adaptable for the presence of friends, family and even a marriage official (although you may want to rethink consummating the union in the ritual circle straight away!). It can also be adapted for the union of a single person with their inner self or for the union of more than two individuals. Please feel free to play around with the ritual and to make it your own! Remember, a Handfasting is about individuals committing in the manner that they choose. It is therefore about YOU and no one else. So make your Handfasting a beautiful transition marking a deepening and strengthening of your life together and one that celebrates your love for each other.

What you need:

Several candles for the perimeter of a large ritual circle (tealight candles are great). Alternatively you could use four lanterns for the cardinal points and stones for the perimeter. If you do the ritual in the day then just use stones or maybe flower petals.

Pens and paper

A bowl of water

Incense (something sultry and sensuous would be great. Try the heady scent of patchouli).

A bowl of earth

An additional candle

A cord or ribbon about 1.5 meters or 4.5 feet in length

New bars of luxurious natural soap (if you do the cleansing part of the ritual in a bathroom. Skip this if you do it in a natural pool of water)

Clothing to wear during the contemplation phase and after the ceremony (you may wish to wear clothing during the ceremony or you can work skyclad).

A crate or box and a cloth to use as a simple altar

A goblet of wine (or anything else you choose)

A small plate of food (this can be anything but perhaps try some "romance" foods such as passionfruit or artichoke hearts)

A stereo and music of your choice

Fresh towels

Before you begin...

Decide when and where you will do the ritual. It can be done in the day or night, inside or outside. Beltane is the perfect time to do this ritual but if you don't want to wait for Beltane, pick a time that is appropriate for you. Choose somewhere where you will not be disturbed and if you choose a spot outside make sure it is near a body of water.

Place the pens and paper in a room or area away from the ritual space (preferably a room that can be closed off). This will be called the contemplation room for the purpose of this ritual and should be as dark as possible.

To improve the flow of this ritual I've devised a way to manage the different phases without causing unnecessary delay and waiting. Decide who is to be person A and person B. Person A will enter their contemplation phase first. Whilst this is occurring, Person B will prepare the ritual space by laying out the candles/lanterns/pebbles in a circle big enough for both individuals to lie down (and perhaps roll around in!) with room to spare. Please be super careful about how you lay this out and where. You do not want to burn the house down or cause a bush fire or singe your hair and toes! Person B should also place the altar inside the circle towards the furthest edge from the entry. Place the extra candle, incense, bowl of earth, bowl of water, cord, food and drink on the altar. If you are going to listen to music set up the stereo. Place the soap and the clothing in the bathroom. You may also wish to lay out fresh towels.

When Person A finishes the contemplation phase and enters the cleansing phase, Person B will enter the contemplation phase. When Person A finishes the cleansing phase, Person B will begin that phase. Whilst Person A is waiting for Person B to finish the cleansing phase, he or she can light the circle candles (leaving the candle on the altar unlit) and press play on the stereo.

When both individuals are ready they will begin the Handfasting ceremony itself.

Contemplation and Cleansing

NOTE: Each individual undertakes these phases separately

Enter the contemplation space and sit in the dark (if possible) with your eyes closed. Regulate your breathing to calm yourself and contemplate the union and commitment you are about to enter into. Think long and hard about it, why you are doing it and what you think it means. Make sure you are ready to take this step. Be honest with yourself. A Handfasting (whether for a year and a day or for life) is a serious commitment. Don't do it unless you are ready to.

When you have thought about it and are sure that you are ready to proceed, open your eyes and turn on the lights. Now is the time to write two things. The first is your Declaration of Commitment to your partner. This functions much like a marriage vow and tells your partner how you feel and what you promise to be for him or her. The second is a Declaration of Self. This is a statement that details what you want/need and what you expect from your partner and your union. Think about these carefully and be honest. Promise no more than you know you can give (no matter how much you'd like to!) and ask for no less than you want, need or expect (even if it sounds selfish!). When you are ready fold the two statements in half, turn off the lights and move out of the contemplation room.

You are now ready to ritually cleanse yourself, so move to the bathroom. The ritual cleansing is quite simply the act of bathing or showering with a specific intent in mind. As you bathe be aware of the water on your body. Focus upon the water as a medium that sluices away your old life and prepares you for your new one. This is the time to say goodbye to your old way of doing things and to feel anticipation for the new. It is natural to feel a little sad but you should be feeling mainly excitement - it is your Handfasting after all!

When you are ready, step out of the shower/bath. Dry and clothe yourself. You are now ready to be Handfasted.

The Handfasting Ritual

Both partners should stand face to face outside the ritual circle. If you are going to work skyclad (naked) then now would be the time to remove your clothes. Performing the ritual clothed is fine but if you are alone (and somewhere private) nudity is a nice symbolic (as well as yummy!) addition to the ritual. The nudity functions as a way to face your partner simply as yourself, without clothing or adornments to conceal your true self.

When you are ready, smile at each other and exchange the Declarations of Self. Turn until you are standing back to back and then read the Declaration that your partner has given you. Take your time and make sure you truly understand what your partner wants and needs. Think deeply about it and about whether you can in all honesty give what is asked for. Think about whether you are prepared or ready to meet your partner's wishes. If you find that you are not, then it may not be the time to be Handfasted to this person. If this is the case then you may wish to end the ritual at this point. This doesn't mean that you will not be Handfasted in the future but only that you need time to talk things over. If this is the case, remember that no matter how unpleasant it is it is ultimately a good thing! Don't be afraid though, in most cases you will have previously discussed these things with your partner. Most couples talk about what they want and need from their partner, particularly when they are contemplating a formal commitment.

If you both agree to the Declarations of Self, turn and face each other once more. Return the Declarations, look into each others eyes and as you take each others hands step into the ritual circle. This is the first step of your transition together.

Once in the circle, kneel facing each other. You will now be blessing each other with the four elements. Person A will bless Person B with all of the elements and then Person B will do the same for Person A.

First light the incense from one of the perimeter candles and then pass it over your partner's body, making sure that the smoke touches the skin. Say, "[name of partner] I bless you by the element of air and all that it symbolizes."

Next light the candle. Take your partner's hand and pass it through the flame (be very careful doing this!), saying "[name of partner] I bless you by the element of fire and all that it embodies."

Pick up the bowl of earth and place a handful in your partner's hand, saying " [name of your partner] I bless you by the element of earth and all that it means" (you can return the earth to the bowl after the words have been spoken).

Pick up the bowl of water and sprinkle some on your partner's body and head while saying "[name of partner] I bless you by the element of water and all that it represents."

You are now ready to exchange Declarations of Commitment. It is best to read them to each other (as you would a vow in a conventional wedding) and then to give the paper that they are written on to your partner to keep.

When you are ready, pick up the cord. You will be binding Person A's left hand to Person B's right hand. This will be tricky and will need both of you to work together to accomplish it (a nice symbolic gesture of union!). The best way is to lock your fingers together and then to wrap the cord around your hands, finishing it with a bow. You want to make the bow pretty sturdy (maybe double knot it) but without making the bonds too tight (more symbolism!). Remember that you will need to be able to slip the cord off of your hands at the end of the ritual without untying it.

When you are ready, take up the food and feed some of it to your partner while saying, "[name of partner] may you never hunger in this union."

Take up the wine and allow your partner to drink some of it, saying, "[name of partner] may you never thirst in this union."

Then say, "[name of partner] may you never be left wanting for my love," and lean forward to kiss your partner on the lips.

When this is completed, so is your ritual. You may wish to consummate your union at this point. Indeed making love would be a beautiful and fitting ending to the ritual! Don't worry if the cord slips off of your hands but try to keep it close to you until the ritual circle is closed.

When you are ready to close the circle, extinguish the candles and exit the circle. Clothe yourselves if you wish. You may wish to put the Declaration statements somewhere safe along with the cord. Perhaps you could have a silk drawstring bag ready for this purpose. It may be a nice idea to re-read these declarations once every year to remind yourself of your promises and to celebrate your union together.

Congratulations! You are now Handfasted! The best of luck to you.