Our 25th Wedding Anniversary & Blessed Autumn Equinox!

Today is the 25th Anniversary of our legal handfasting ceremony! My hubby surprised me with these little gifts after I arrived home from work tonight ...

Fall/Autumn bouquet.

And, a jewelry set of amethyst (my birthstone), genuine pearl, and larimar set in 99.9% sterling silver (my personal preference over gold) ...

We will be celebrating this coming weekend!

We got married on Mabon (Autumn Equinox) way back on September 22, 2001 and it is now our 25th wedding anniversary on Mabon! 💕

BLESSED MABON/AUTUMN EQUINOX TO ALL!!

🍁🍂🍎🎃🍷🍇🍁🍂🍎🎃🍷🍇🍁

Weekend odds 'n' ends

Greetings everyone! Well, it looks like it is going to be a "Game of Thrones" kinda weekend as I am throwing my DVD's in the DVD player. They had mandatory overtime today but since I have not been fully relased yet by our staff nurse I, thankfully, got out of it! And so, I am taking advantage of the Saturday off and rudding up both bedrooms (they are a REAL MESS) and cleaning them. Tomorrow, I plan to take a box of clothing to our local Goodwill Store as well. I am scheduled to see the nurse this Tuesday again regarding my muscle sprain. I am healing nicely and I suspect that I will get fully released this week. 

Between the up-coming holidays, my mom's doctor appointments and other necessary things, it is going to be a very busy next two months! Therefore, I will try to post here as much as time will allow. Sooo much to do, sooo little time these days.

Moving on, my sister Aurora Skye and her hubby recently adopted this orange male beauty - introducing "Hammy" ... 😊🐈

And finally, a BIG shout out to my dear friend, Lady Sabrina Rhiannon and her hubby who celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary this past week! I have known her for many years and was honored to be chosen to be the officiant for their special day! Here are some pics from their ceremony ... 💕

(https://thewiccalife.blogspot.com/2011/01/little-bit-me-little-bit-you.html)

Our 20th Year Anniversary!

Today marks the 20th year Anniversary of our wedding ceremony. I met my husband back in the summer of 1994. Although we lived together for 7 years before, we didn't actually "tie the knot" until September of 2001 in a legal Handfasting ceremony with a Renaissance theme which also happened to fall on Mabon/The Autumn Equinox.

We had a beautiful ritual and reception set in the back yard of our home complete with homemade decorations, three bridesmaidens, three groomsmen, ritual programs, U.L.C. Minister, friends, family, and one gorgeous Saturday!

Our Officiant was my very dear friend and fellow U.L.C. Minister Rev. Frances Moise/H.P.S. Lady Sabrina Rhiannon. Our ceremony had all of the usual elements of a Pagan Handfasting - first drink as husband and wife, first food (my mother-in-law baked the loaf of bread which we used),  symbolic The Great Rite (ritual charging of the ceremonial wine), the pledge - along with the traditional parts such as our own vows, the exchange of rings and lighting of the Unity candle. My husband made lovely Handfasting programs as all of our family members were Christian (many of whom did not understand exactly what they were witnessing). Not only that, he also handmade our wedding arch which he decorated himself. We wanted everything to have our own personal touch.

Then ...

A 10-year anniversary pic ...

And now ...

I can't believe that it has been 20 years. Wow! Time sure does fly!

We are going to go away somewhere (not sure exactly where) this coming weekend. I did; however, receive these beautiful autumn flowers tonight after I got home from work ... 💓💗💓

💙💚💛💙💚💛💙💚💛💙💚💛💙💚💛

 

Our basket of scrolls with a Handfasting Blessing and our program.

Throwback Thursday

 

A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You ...

Of all the marriage ceremonies for which I have had the pleasure of officiating, the one wedding which has meant the most to me has been my dear friend and fellow clergy woman, Lady Sabrina Rhiannon's. She and her husband had decided they wished to have a legal Christian-Pagan Handfasting ceremony. In other words, an inter-faith wedding.

Lady Sabrina Rhiannon had performed the legal handfasting for my husband and I just a couple of years before and I was elated to have had the opportunity to return the favor - most especially because we had become such close friends. The wedding ceremony, written by Lady Sabrina Rhiannon herself, was a lovely union between  Paganism and Christianity.

To my delight, the wedding took place in the exact same Lutheran church I had grown up in. As it turned out, her husband had attended the same Sunday School there as I so many years ago. 

The ceremony had all the elements of a Pagan Handfasting such as the calling of the corners, invoking the Goddess and God and the joining of the couples' wrists to represent the "tying of the knot," together with the parts of a Christian wedding including the couples' vows and their exchange of rings. Add to all of this the love and support of your family and friends and you end up with a beautiful ceremony and a lifetime of memories you will never forget.

As with my own Handfasting ceremony, there were pamphlets handed out to all of the guests, explaining what they were about to witness. This is particularly helpful to the non-Pagan guests in attendance.

(This was the pamphlet which my husband & I gave out at our Handfasting)



Quite truthfully when it comes down to it, we are all a part of the same "religious family", so to speak, and in the end it's all about the love.

Three generations of reiki - My Reiki Master Fran (Lady Sabrina Rhiannon), me and Fran's Reiki Master Vladimir Cucura, Jr., CRM.

Handfastings: Info, Ideas & Resources

"You know, religions are like cars. Some are old, some are new. They come in different makes, models and colors. But if you choose to go, they all take you down the same road to God ~ whatever name you call him (or her) when you get there. They're just vehicles to Divinity."

***************************************************

With the recent marriage law change here in Pennsylvania which now recognizes the nuptials for same-sex marriage, the subject has very much been on my mind as of late.

Aside from the fact that my husband and I had a legal handfasting, I have had the fortunate privilege to have performed a few legal handfastings in this state ~ thanks to the ULC, and of course, my very dear friend Lady Sabrina Rhiannon who officiated at our wedding. But an ordination by any recognized church does not give anyone the license to simply perform legal wedding/handfasting ceremonies without having to follow state marriage laws. In that regard, our Pagan clergy are held up to the very same standards as any other clergy person.

With that being said, I really wanted to write a helpful post about handfastings to include various resources for those couples who are interested in having their own, or perhaps just wish to learn more about it.

Lady Sabrina Rhiannon's beautiful Interfaith (Wiccan/Christian) Handfasting ceremony ~ 2003

 My friends, Kim & Eric's legal Samhain Handfasting ceremony ~ 2012

Me casting the sacred circle and calling the corners

Hubby & I during our Renaissance Handfasting ritual ...

The following is a list of really great books with wonderful ideas for different types of rituals/ceremonies, awesome party favors, decorations, etc.:

Handfasted and Heartjoined: Rituals for Uniting a Couple's Hearts and Lives by Lady Rhea Maeve

Handfasting: A Practical Guide by Mary Neasham

Magickal Weddings: Pagan Handfasting Traditions for Your Sacred Union by Joy Ferguson

Passages: Handfasting, a Pagan Guide to Commitment Rituals by The Rev. Dr. Kendra Vaughan Hovey

Handfasting and Wedding Ritual: Inviting Hera's Blessing by Raven Kaldera

 Many Blessings!

Anniversary Weekend

Greetings everyone! First and foremost, I want to thank ALL of  my very dear friends and followers who send their many condolences and caring hugs out to my hubby and I. I can not begin to tell you just how much that meant to us! You are all such a huge blessing!  

This weekend hubby and I were planning on celebrating our 12-year wedding anniversary. However, in light of our recent tragedy we have decided to postpone that for another couple of weeks or so. In the meantime, my hubby, in a good effort to cheer me up and change the overall somber mood in our household, decided to give me my anniversary gift a little early. It was a beautiful Willow Tree piece titled, "Together" ...

And so, I gave him his gift as well. A heart-shaped music box which plays the song, "Unchained Melody" and envgraved with this these words ...

“I give to you my continuing love, friendship, honor and respect.   I shall be there for you always as full partners, each to the other. Should one falter, the other shall pick them up again. Should one despair, the other shall comfort them. Should one lose their way, the other shall see them home again. Happy Anniversary, Love always ~ Kim"

These words were supposed to be part of our Handfasting Renewal vows which we would like to hopefully have performed eventually. The vows ring so true, most especially at this time. Nothing is perfect, and our marriage is not any different than anyone else's in that respect. We have weathered many storms and somehow have continued to get through them and be there for one another. I suppose that is the real definition of commitment.

Halloween Handfasting!

What a fantastic night! Great ambience, Kim and Eric's loving family and friends surrounding them, plenty of delicious food, and a wonderful time was had by all! The bride wore a black and orange outfit and the groom was dressed in all black attire from head to toe donning a gray and orange tie and a pentagram belt buckle to top it all off. The bride's maids and groomsman were also dressed in all black attire.

Their handfasting was of course Samhain/Halloween themed and they are both of the Wiccan faith. As with most Handfasting ceremonies for which I officiate, the guests were almost completely all Christian and so I added a little introduction towards the beginning of the ritual explaining what they were about to witness. Here are a few of the pics hubby was able to take. As you will see, the couple got married in their back yard and it was rather crowded to say the least ...

Waiting for the procession

 Casting the circle

The bride (Kim) is the third gal in black on the right

 The Handfasting

Exchange of rings and vows

... thus your hands fasted, I now pronounce you husband and wife!

Four big orange air balloons were jettisoned in celebration

The bride slow dancing with her father to the beautiful Stevie Nicks song, "Landslide"

Bride and Groom dance!

Awesome decoratins throughout the house and ouside as well

 

 

Oh yes, and there was a special surprise as well. Just before the conculsion of the ceremony, the bride turned to everyone with a tearful special announcement. Her dear friend, Shonda, whom had passed away, was not able to attend she and hubby's most important day with them. BUT, when I arrived home last night I saw a large orb on the right-hand corner of one of the pictures. You can see it in the pic above on one of the brides maidens dresses as she appears to be glancing down at something. It is my opinion (and I am willing to bet) that that orb was indeed her friend Shonda saying, "I wouldn't miss this for the world!" The thought of it both gives me chills and makes me happy!

 

 

All in all, a terrific experience and one which I will never forget for as long as I live. Brightest Blessings All!!