Pagan Blog Prompts

Prompt: Handfasting
The season of marriage is upon us, and that also includes Hand-fasting. Feel free to delve deeper into the questions that tug at you most....

Would you do it as a way to symbolize your commitment in a relationship? As part of, or separate from, a traditional wedding?
Have you done it? If you are comfortable sharing, please tell us about it.

Do you believe a hand-fasting can be undone, in a sort of pagan divorce?
___________________________________________________________________

My Husband and I had a traditional big white wedding, but this was all before I came into my pagan practices. I was still very interested in them at the time, but I think that I would have had the same type of wedding had I already been more into paganism then, like I am now. I think a wedding should be whatever you dream it to be. To me a wedding is a big white dress, glittery candles, sparkle jewelery, a ceremony in a church, "traditional" vows and a big elegant party with champagne. But this is because this is what I witnessed and grew up thinking... and this was what I wanted. I think that EVERYONE should have the wedding of their dreams... whatever their dreams entail. If handfasting, Christian Faith, Muslim faith or Hindu faith weddings are your thing, I think that is fabulous!!

Although our wedding was in a christian church, my husband and I knew that we didn't totally believe the stuff the bible says...
 “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. —1 Corinthians 7:1-5 

....we don't believe that crap! We just took traditional boring vows... "to have and to hold, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health"...etc. The simple vows I took however, I do believe whole heartedly... although I prefer not be around my husband when he is puking!! :) We had a traditional ceremony because thats what our families had, and we like to stick with family tradition!

I have thought about having a handfasting ceremony for just the two of us. My husband is agnostic, but goes along with whatever I like because he likes to make me happy! I know he'd be up for it! Maybe someday we will!

-Autumn