Humanist, Celtic, Handfasting Ceremony by Mike Wood
Requirements: .PDF reader, 24.9 MB
Overview: A Humanist Celtic style handfasting containing traditional elements modified to suit modern needs. There are no archaic word usages or references to deities or spirits.
This ceremony was used in our handfasting in the UK in 2015. Our family and friends of all ages, enjoyed taking an active part in the ceremony; none of them having had any previous experience of handfastings.
We developed this format because we felt the legal registry signing was too clinical and restrictive. We wanted something that reflected our feelings about marriage/civil partnership ceremonies and was inclusive of our family and friends who we also wanted to play a more active part than the official ceremonies allowed.
Looking at other handfasting ceremonies we found on line, we discovered that they mostly invoked spirits and deities which we didn’t feel comfortable with. Neither were they inclusive of traditional faiths, members of which would balk at being asked to participate in a ceremony invoking spirits. We also found they mostly attempted to reconstruct archaic language and formulas which were neither authentic nor flowed well as language.
After long and extensive research we developed the following ceremony which we felt to be a romantic and authentic expression of our own, personal beliefs and thoughts about what we were committing to between us and our relationship to those around us.
The language used in this ceremony should not offend people of any faith, or none. It does not invoke any deity, spirit or belief system. The language is modern though it includes many traditional, even ancient elements, some in the form of poetry. It was inclusive and had roles for a number of others who could read short verses or help with things like the chalice etc.
It is also adaptable. You are free to cut parts you don’t like and add others, such as music or even dance if it suits you. The ceremony could be held anywhere either indoors or outside in the open air. It’s primarily intended to be fun and meaningful.
Genre: Non-Fiction > Health, Fitness & Medical
Download Instructions:
http://ceesty.com/w2o7RX
Mirror:
http://ceesty.com/w2o7RM
