Saturday weather/Jumping the broomstick

August 17, 2006

I found this article, thought you might find it interesting? Faith You are in: Northamptonshire > Faith > Jumping the broomstick Jim and Nicola jump the broom Jumping the broomstickBy Martin HeathWould you accept an invitation to a pagan wedding performed by a witch? What would you see when you got there? We've been given the chance to watch Jim and Nicola go through a traditional pagan handfasting ceremony right here in Northamptonshire. "You only have to look around you to see why we wanted a pagan wedding", says Jim as he arrives at Everdon Stubbs near Daventry. "The setting, the trees, the wind, the earth, the air - it's what we're about really". In a small clearing floodlit by the sun breaking through the tall trees, a circle is marked in the ground with fern branches. A

Priestess dressed in a brown hooded robe carefully works out where the northern edge of the circle lies, and sets a candlestick in the ground to mark the spot. Three more candlesticks represent East, South and West. Sacred space "It was nice that everyone could bless us because in Paganism, like Christianity, the family is important." Jim Jim and Nicola's friends and relatives assemble around the circle, some in medieval dress. The Priestess tells them not to go inside the area marked out by the ferns - that's a safe, sacred space just for her and the happy couple. Then, she leads Jim and Nicola into the circle. Nicola has been a pagan for as long as she can remember, and this is the only way she wants to get married. Jim passionately believes in a faith that cares for the environment and wants to be close to nature when he makes his vows. From each compass point, spirits are summoned to the wedding. They're asked to bring their own qualities to the union; the spirits of the East bring the qualities of the hawk - the essence of freedom, intuition and inspiration. The spirits of the South bring love and passion. Promises Back to nature: Jim and Nicola's wedding The last two honoured guests are summoned to take their places - the Lord and Lady of the Greenwood - who will give their protection and blessing to the handfasting. The Priestess faces Jim and Nicola for the vows, which would seem reasonably familiar to anyone who's been to a Church wedding. There's no mention of any Gods, though - it's just the couple pledging themselves to each other. "I take thee, Jim", says Nicola, "to my hand, my heart and my spirit". Jim promises to be by Nicola's side "in all things". Jim and Nicola hold out their hands for the most symbolic point of the ceremony… the Priestess ties a red ribbon several times around their hands and announces that "in the name of the Lord and Lady of the Greenwood, you are husband and wife". They kiss, just as they would in

church or at the register office. With the words "Hail and Farewell", the Priestess thanks the spirits for their attendance. Then, the relatives and friends gathered round the circle celebrate the union with surprisingly strong mead and a simple biscuit. The Priestess uses a broomstick to break the circle, and the couple are invited to perform the last act in the ceremony by jumping over the broom to signify crossing the threshold from the old life to the new. Poignant Nicola says the whole thing went very quickly, but the actual handfasting was the most important part of the ceremony. For Jim, the best memory will be the sharing of food and drink at the end. "It was nice that everyone could

bless us", says Jim, "because in Paganism, like Christianity, the family is important". The bride's mother and father both came to the ceremony in medieval dress. She may have once dreamt of a wedding in Church, but Nicola's mum enjoyed the simple outdoor service. "My daughter's had strongly-held pagan beliefs for a long time now," she says, "and this meant more to her than this morning's civil ceremony at the Register Office which the law insists on. It was absolutely delightful". Nicola's Dad has a smile on his face. "It was quite unusual," he admits, "but we live in an unusual age. The important thing is that, whether it's in a Church or a wood, you have two people who have pledged to each other. The handfasting was a very poignant moment, especially for a

father".Peter H

Messenger - with free PC-PC calling and photo sharing.

August 17, 2006

Thanks Peter. I like reading about people's handfastings. The ceremony varies with each one, but of course has the common themes.

Jo

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peter VV

Thursday, August 17, 2006 5:59 PM

Re: Re: Saturday weather/Jumping the broomstick

I found this article, thought you might find it interesting?

Faith

You are in: Northamptonshire > Faith > Jumping the broomstick

Jim and Nicola jump the broom

Jumping the broomstickBy Martin HeathWould you accept an invitation to a pagan wedding performed by a witch? What would you see when you got there? We've been given the chance to watch Jim and Nicola go through a traditional pagan handfasting ceremony right here in Northamptonshire.

"You only have to look around you to see why we wanted a pagan wedding", says Jim as he arrives at Everdon Stubbs near Daventry. "The setting, the trees, the wind, the earth, the air - it's what we're about really".

In a small clearing floodlit by the sun breaking through the tall trees, a circle is marked in the ground with fern branches. A Priestess dressed in a brown hooded robe carefully works out where the northern edge of the circle lies, and sets a candlestick in the ground to mark the spot. Three more candlesticks represent East, South and West.

Sacred space

"It was nice that everyone could bless us because in Paganism, like Christianity, the family is important."

Jim

Jim and Nicola's friends and relatives assemble around the circle, some in medieval dress. The Priestess tells them not to go inside the area marked out by the ferns - that's a safe, sacred space just for her and the happy couple.

Then, she leads Jim and Nicola into the circle. Nicola has been a pagan for as long as she can remember, and this is the only way she wants to get married. Jim passionately believes in a faith that cares for the environment and wants to be close to nature when he makes his vows.

From each compass point, spirits are summoned to the wedding. They're asked to bring their own qualities to the union; the spirits of the East bring the qualities of the hawk - the essence of freedom, intuition and inspiration. The spirits of the South bring love and passion.

Promises

Back to nature: Jim and Nicola's wedding

The last two honoured guests are summoned to take their places - the Lord and Lady of the Greenwood - who will give their protection and blessing to the handfasting.

The Priestess faces Jim and Nicola for the vows, which would seem reasonably familiar to anyone who's been to a Church wedding. There's no mention of any Gods, though - it's just the couple pledging themselves to each other. "I take thee, Jim", says Nicola, "to my hand, my heart and my spirit". Jim promises to be by Nicola's side "in all things".

Jim and Nicola hold out their hands for the most symbolic point of the ceremony… the Priestess ties a red ribbon several times around their hands and announces that "in the name of the Lord and Lady of the Greenwood, you are husband and wife". They kiss, just as they would in church or at the register office.

With the words "Hail and Farewell", the Priestess thanks the spirits for their attendance. Then, the relatives and friends gathered round the circle celebrate the union with surprisingly strong mead and a simple biscuit.

The Priestess uses a broomstick to break the circle, and the couple are invited to perform the last act in the ceremony by jumping over the broom to signify crossing the threshold from the old life to the new.

Poignant

Nicola says the whole thing went very quickly, but the actual handfasting was the most important part of the ceremony. For Jim, the best memory will be the sharing of food and drink at the end. "It was nice that everyone could bless us", says Jim, "because in Paganism, like Christianity, the family is important".

The bride's mother and father both came to the ceremony in medieval dress. She may have once dreamt of a wedding in Church, but Nicola's mum enjoyed the simple outdoor service. "My daughter's had strongly-held pagan beliefs for a long time now," she says, "and this meant more to her than this morning's civil ceremony at the Register Office which the law insists on. It was absolutely delightful".

Nicola's Dad has a smile on his face. "It was quite unusual," he admits, "but we live in an unusual age. The important thing is that, whether it's in a Church or a wood, you have two people who have pledged to each other. The handfasting was a very poignant moment, especially for a father".

Peter H

Messenger - with free PC-PC calling and photo sharing.