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Pagan Wedding Vows?
I am trying to write a few sentences to say to my husband at our wedding ceremony tomorrow. At the beginning, our pastor will say the following Opening Words:
We have gathered in a circle to honor the cardinal directions of our beloved earth and its messages to those who love and choose commitment:
The east: place of new beginnings and choices of the mind and intellect;
The south: place of passion, power, creativity and reproduction;
The west: place of healing and dealing with emotions;
The north: place of honesty, integrity, and leadership in community;
The center: where we now stand, place that unites all the points and holds the mystery of life and love.
In my vows, I wanted to say something about how no matter which direction I am facing or going, my husband is there with me. Here is my rough draft:
Which ever way I look you are there.
Wherever I go in this life, you are there.
You are the constant in my life.
You are my happiness and my love.
You are the one who makes my tree grow.
Today, and every day, I give myself to you.
Originally, I had written:
No matter which way I look, you are there.
No matter where I go in this life, you are there with me.
Maybe I should change it to "here" with me?
I don't know. It's starting to sound a little creepy and stalker-ish to me, like that "I wear my sunglasses at night" song.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Does it sound creepy or weird to you?
I just really wanted to try to fit in something about the directions.
Our wedding is in the round, and at the end we will drum a song (the words are about earth, air, fire, and water), and widdershins the circle (jump the broom!) to exit. After the handfasting, of course.
I have the Handfasting book mentioned by first poster.
Love it.
We are getting married at our church - the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis.
Tomorrow.
"You make my tree grow."
When we first started dating, neither of us wanted to use the word love, really. My husband said that love was just all of a sudden, that you woke up one day, and "Bam!" you were in love.
I said, no. Love is like a tree. You plant a small tree (and maybe water it once in a while, but mostly you forget about it because it kind of takes care of itself - at least where we live). Then you look out the window one day, and "Bam!" your tree is huge.
But it didn't just suddenly become huge. It grew slowly over time, so much so that if you weren't paying close attention you may not have even noticed it. And love is like that.
So instead of saying, "I love you," we would say, "You make my tree grow." And we knew that someday we would grow into saying, "I love you." But it got us through the beginning.
15 Answers
- Pagan PrincessLv 41 decade agoFavorite Answer
Beautiful!!! (I would change it to "here with me" though)
I don't think it sounds stalker-ish to me. I think it's a beautiful thing to say at your wedding! If it were a first date, yeah creepy, but definitely beautiful for the wedding!!!
BTW, where are you getting married? I would like to be married someday, but NOT in the Catholic/Christian church? You can email me that rather than post on line. Thanks!
Good Luck and Blessed Be!!
*Edit: Maybe "No matter which direction I face, you are by my side. Which ever direction I choose to go, you are here with me.
- Crystal clearLv 71 decade ago
Okay, I'm a little overtired and punchy today, and my "evil twin" was snickering over the thought of your husband being the one who says "you are the one who makes my tree grow" and what that could imply. ;)
So now, seriously, and with my mind out of the gutter - I think you are doing quite nicely.
Personally, I would leave the "there" in the first line, and perhaps adjust the second line, "wherever I go in this life, you are with me" or something like that. Or possibly something like "Whichever path I walk, you walk with me."
But really, what you've got looks good and I wouldn't say it is creepy or "stalkerish" ;) What's most important is that your words come from your heart and you say that which means the most to you personally.
Congrats! And blessings to your union. I'm sure you will have a lovely ceremony. Enjoy your day!
Added: Wow, Chances68 - if/when I get handfasted, I'm hiring you to help write the ceremony! You've got some great ideas! :)
- Chances68Lv 71 decade ago
First, let me applaud you! The ceremony as yu have planned it is beautiful and very moving. Bravo!
I would consider saying something like:
I look to the East and see a new beginning and a long , fascinating life of thoughtful discussions and new ideas with you;
I look to the South and see my passion for you and the power of the love we will create together;
I look to the West and see how my heart fills with my love for you, and how the tides of our life together will always bring us together, time after time;
I look to the North and pledge my honesty to you, and I see how much I value your integrity.
Maybe you can work some of those ideas into the very good vows you had already written. I would agree that "here" should perhaps replace "there."
Brightest blessings and much joy!
- Anonymous1 decade ago
answer: when I did the pagan wedding for a couple that were in my coven (when I was eclectic pagan) - I wrote verses that corresponded to the animals symbolizing the directions: eagle for air/east, stag for south/fire, salmon of knowledge for water/west, and boar for earth/north. I don't remember exactly what they were but that might give you an idea.
Or go with a simple but moving ceremony I found called the Rose ceremony - easily adapted:
Source(s): JPA Heathen - How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
A really great book on this subject is "Handfasting and Wedding Rituals" by Raven Kaldera and Tannin Schwartzstein. They have some excellent suggestions.
I concur with the changing of "there" to "here", to avoid the "stalker" feeling. :)
- 1 decade ago
I think it's sounds really amazing... it doesn't sound creepy at all, it sounds great the way it is, but an alternate way would be this:
Which ever way I look you are always by my side.
Wherever I go in this life, you are always with me.
And then the rest the same...
Congratulations on getting married by the way!
~Blessed Be
- Anonymous1 decade ago
I wish you much happiness and good fortune.
As to the ceremony, you didn't say what your
tradition was... possibly Wiccan ?
But anyway I think it's the task of the Priestess
to do the ceremony, and she should have the
proper wording ready, whch you can look over
in advance if you wish. I personally would not
allow the persons getting married to write the
text of the ceremony themselves.
B*B,
Jeanie
- 1 decade ago
Everyone has very good suggestions. I agree with changing there to here b/c it speaks more to having a partnership. Otherwise, very touching and beautiful.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
Sounds good. Be honest with yourself, and you'll do well in writing your own vows.
