Blessing of the Hands

If desired, this can be inserted before the binding of the hands in the ritual, or anywhere else you see fit.

Celebrant:
(Bride), please face (Groom), and hold his hands, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you.

(Bride and Groom should be facing each other, his upturned hands resting in hers.)

These are the hands, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life.

These are the hands you will place with expectant joy against your stomach, until he too, feels his child stir within your womb.

These are the hands that look so large and clumsy, yet will be so gentle as he holds your baby for the first time.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief rack your mind.

These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes: eyes that are filled completely with his love and desire for you.

Celebrant:
(Groom), please hold (Bride)'s hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you.

(Bride should now place her upturned hands in the Groom's hands.)

These are the hands that are smooth, young, and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.

These are the hands that will hold each child in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurts, supporting and encouraging them along the way, and knowing when it's time to let go.

These are the hands that will massage tension from your neck and back in the evenings, after you've both had a long hard day.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times. They are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick or console you when you are grieving.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will hold you in joy and excitement and hope.

These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together, everything you wish for can be realized.

Celebrant:

Divine Spirit, bless the hands that you see before you this day. May they always be held by one another. Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of disillusionment. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their love. Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in your grace, rich in caring, and devoted to reaching for your perfection. May (Bride) and (Groom) see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter, and guide.

One Version of a Handfasting:

 

Officiant: Know now before you go further, that since your lives have crossed in this life you have formed ties between each other. As you seek to enter this state of matrimony you should strive to make real, the ideals which give meaning to both this ceremony and the institution of marriage. With full awareness, know that within this circle you are not only declaring your intent to be handfasted before your friends and family, but you speak that intent also to your creative higher powers.

The promises made today and the ties that are bound here greatly strengthen your union; they will cross the years and lives of each soul's growth. Do you still seek to enter this ceremony?

 

Bride and Groom: Yes, We Seek to Enter.

 

Officiant: In times past it was believed that the human soul shared characteristics with all things divine. It is this belief which assigned virtues to the cardinal directions; East, South, West and North. It is in this tradition that a blessing is offered in support of this ceremony.

 

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the East. Communication of the heart, mind, and body Fresh beginnings with the rising of each Sun. The knowledge of the growth found in the sharing of silences.

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the South. Warmth of hearth and home The heat of the heart's passion The light created by both To lighten the darkest of times.

 

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the West. The deep commitments of the lake The swift excitement of the river The refreshing cleansing of the rain The all encompassing passion of the sea.

 

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the North Firm foundation on which to build Fertility of the fields to enrich your lives A stable home to which you may always return.

 

Each of these blessings from the four cardinal directions emphasizes those things which will help you build a happy and successful union. Yet they are only tools. Tools which you must use together in order to create what you seek in this union. I bid you look into each others eyes.

[Groom's Name], Will you cause her pain?

 

Groom: I May

 

Officiant: Is that you intent?

 

Groom: No

 

Officiant: [Bride's Name], Will you cause him pain?

 

Bride: I may

 

Officiant: Is that you intent?

 

Bride: No

 

Officiant: [To Both] Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it?

 

Bride and Groom: Yes

 

Officiant: And so the binding is made. Join your hands

*First cord is draped across the bride and grooms hands*

[Bride's Name], Will you share his laughter?

Bride:Yes

 

Officiant: [Groom's Name], Will you share her laughter?

 

Groom: Yes

 

Officiant: *To Both* Will both of you look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other?

 

Bride and Groom: Yes

 

Officiant: And so the binding is made.
*Second chord is draped across the couples hands*
[Bride's Name], Will you burden him?

 

Bride: I may

 

Officiant:Is that you intent?

 

Bride: No

 

Officiant:[Groom's Name], Will you burden her?

 

Groom: I may

 

Officiant:Is that your intent?

 

Groom: No

 

Officiant: Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union?

 

Bride and Groom: Yes

 

Officiant:And so the binding is made.

*Drape third chord across the couples hands*

[Bride's Name], will you share his dreams?

 

Bride: Yes

 

Officiant:[Groom's Name], will you share her dreams?

 

Groom: Yes

 

Officiant:*To Both* Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes?

 

Bride and Groom: Yes

 

Officiant:And so the binding is made.

*Drape fourth chord across the couples hands*

[Groom's Name], will you cause her anger?

 

Groom: I may

 

Officiant: Is that you intent?

 

Groom: No

 

Officiant: [Bride's Name], will you cause him anger?

 

Bride: I may

 

Officiant: Is that your intent?

 

Bride: No

 

Officiant: *To Both* Will you take the heat of anger and use it to temper the strength of this union?

 

Bride and Groom: We Will

 

Officiant: And so the binding is made.

*Drape fifth chord across the couples hands*

[Bride's Name], Will you honor him?

 

Bride: I will

 

Officiant: [Groom's Name], Will you honor her?

 

Groom: I will

 

Officiant: *To Both* Will you seek to never give cause to break that honor?

 

Bride and Groom: We shall never do so

 

Officiant: And so the binding is made.

*Drape sixth chord across the couples hands*

*Tie chords together while saying:*

The knots of this binding are not formed by these chords but instead by your vows. Either of you may drop the chords, for as always, you hold in your own hands the making of breaking of this union.

*Once chords are tied together they are removed and placed on altar*

 

(End)