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?

Yes, We Seek to Enter.

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.

Gar, Will you cause her pain?

Garidon: I May

Is that your intent?

Garidon: No

Sea, Will you cause him pain?

SeaSiren: I may

Is that your intent?

SeaSiren: No

*To Both*

Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it?

Garidon: Yes
SeaSiren: Yes

And so the binding is made. Join your hands
*drapes first chord across the bride and grooms hands*

Sea, Will you share his laughter?

SeaSiren: Yes

Gar, Will you share her laughter?

Garidon: Yes

*To Both*

Will both of you look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other?

SeaSiren: Yes
Garidon: Yes

And so the binding is made.

*drapes second chord across the couples hands*

Sea, Will you burden him?

SeaSiren: I may

Is that your intent?

SeaSiren: No

Gar, Will you burden her?

Garidon: I may

Is that your intent?

Garidon: No

*To Both*

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

SeaSiren: Yes
Garidon: Yes

And so the binding is made.

*Drapes third chord across the couples hands*

Sea,will you share his dreams?

SeaSiren: Yes

Gar,will you share her dreams?

Garidon: Yes

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

SeaSiren: Yes
Garidon: Yes

And so the binding is made.

*Drapes fourth chord across the couples hands*

Gar, Will you cause her anger?

Garidon: I may