Temple Ankh

Worshiping the ancient Egyptian Gods and Goddesses through Rituals, Prayers and Spells dedicated and directed to the Old ones who still hold the power of the universe.

Home Store Rituals Temple Pictures Member Pictures, Journals & Blogs Lessons Contact Us Site Search Temple Resources Online Prayer Request Form Temple Ankh Calendar 42 Negative Confessions Additional Resources Ritual Submission Release Form

Marriage of Osiris & Isis Handfasting Ritual The marriage of Osiris and Isis gave us the basis for our Handfasting ritual. Each time couples are joined, they reenact the joining of these two Gods. Before a Handfasting can be performed, the couple should meet with the High Priest and High Priestess who will perform their joining and carefully plan this special day. Some ideas to help the planning are listed at the end of the Ritual. NOTE: Temple Ankh has a legally ordained High Priestess who can legally marry a couple, make sure to tell her if you want this legal or not!!! In addition to the tools for Casting sacred space, you will need: Two pink candles ( one for the bride and one for the groom) A Union Candle, usually either red or white Chalice filled with wine or grape juice A bowl of rose petals A besom, or ritual Broom A balefire Scrolls on which the Bride and Groom have written the words that they wish to say to each other on. A small symbolic gift from the Bride to the Groom and from Groom to Bride A wand decorated with fertility symbols, with a crystal on one end which is small enough to slip the wedding rings onto. A long Gold cord or ribbon A basket full of small rolls or biscuits (enough for all guests) A plate with a single roll on it A tray with small glasses of wine or juice (enough for all guests) Small pouches of Birdseed, rice or Rose petals, (enough for all guests) You should plan to involve as many people as possible in the preparations, as well as in Casting the Circle and Calling the Quarters. Decorate the Temple as you would for any wedding, using the same decorations. On your altar should be statues of Osiris and Isis, with the pink candles placed in front of them. The wand with the rings on them and the gold cord, along with anything else you feel appropriate. Everything else should be placed on a work table near the altar. Create your sacred space without the bride and groom present, and light the Balefire. To begin the Handfasting Ritual, have a parent, sibling or friend of the bride light her pink candle, and a parent, sibling or friend of the Groom light his pink candle. A door way is cut in the Circle by the Temple Guardian and the bride and groom enter arm in arm, escorted by a sword bearer, who is responsible for symbolically protecting the couple from any physical or spiritual danger. The couple step up to stand in front of the altar, as the High Priestess and High Priest takes their place on the other side of the altar, facing the couple. High Priestess – “We gather here in the Goddesses temple to celebrate the union of (Brides name) & (Grooms name). We bear witness to their desire to tread the sacred path together. Let us pray. Great Mother, Holy Father, join us and bless this man and this woman as they embark on a journey of unity. Guide their steps ever closer to your glory and nourish their souls during the darkness.” Bride and Groom – “Blessed be” All – “Blessed be” High Priest – “What words have you chosen to express your desires?” The Bride and Groom take turns opening and reading the scrolls they wrote beforehand, and explaining what item they chose to symbolize their feelings. They then exchange the items and hand the scrolls to the Priest/Priestess, who binds them together and places them into the balefire.. High Priestess – “I ask you, (Brides name), if you are willing to give yourself and all that you are to this man, in perfect love and perfect trust, and to accept this man and all that he is.” Bride – “In perfect love and perfect trust, I do.” High Priest – “I ask you, (Grooms name) if you are willing to give yourself and all that you are to this woman in perfect love and perfect trust, and to accept this woman and all that she is.” Groom – “In perfect love and perfect trust, I do”. High Priest – “Then I invite you to seal your union with flame.” The Bride and Groom each take their individual pink candles and use them to light the Union Red/White Candle. At this time, it is nice to have a female member of the Brides family read a Prayer, song, or poem that the couple have chosen. High Priest –( Holds up the plate with the single roll on it). “May the Great God Osiris and the Great Goddess Isis bless this couple that they may be fruitful and their harvest bountiful.” The High Priest breaks the roll in half and hands the Bride and the Groom each a piece to eat. They feed each other and take the basket of rolls, walking around the circle clockwise, handing each guest a roll and saying: “May your harvests be bountiful.” Each guest should respond: “May your union be blessed.” The couple stand once again in front of the altar. The High Priestess holds up the Chalice filled with wine or juice. High Priestess – “May the Great Goddess Isis, bless this cup and the bounty of the vines within. May this couple always have passion, wisdom and everlasting love.” The Couple each take a sip of the wine/juice, then pour the rest out upon the ground at their feet. (Be careful not to splash your robes or clothing) they then take the tray(s) of wine/juice and distribute them among their guests, again in a clockwise manner, saying: “May your soul be filled with light and love.” Each guest again responds: “May your union be blessed.” The couple stand in front of the altar again and face the High Priest and High Priestess. The High Priestess picks up the wand and hands it to the couple. The Bride holds the center of the wand in her right hand, and the groom places his hand over hers. The High Priestess takes the cord and ties it around their hands. “As this cord binds your hands to this wand, so to shall your love to bound to each other.” The High Priest unties the cord and takes the wand, removing the Wedding Rings from the crystal. The Groom takes the Brides left hand in his right hand, takes the ring from the High Priest and places it on her finger, saying: “With this Ring, a symbol of my vows, I hereby take thee as my wife.” The Bride takes the Grooms left hand in her right, takes the ring from the High Priest, and places it on the Grooms finger, saying: “With this ring, a symbol of my vows, I hereby take thee as my husband.” High Priest – “With the blessing of the Goddess and the God, So shall it be.” Guests – “So shall it be, so shall it be.” The guests should have been given the small pouches of rose petals and/or birdseed or rice to shower the Bride and Groom at this time. High Priestess – “It is my honor to present to you, Mr & Mrs. ______”. The Sword Bearer escorts the couple around the circle, stopping at each of the four corners, and saying: “I present Mr & Mrs. ___ to the element of_____.” At each corner, the person who lit that candle during the Casting of the Circle, says: “May your union be blessed by the powers of Air, (or Fire, Water or Earth)” As the couple complete the circle, they jump over the broom that has been laid down in their path. Then, the sword bearer cuts a doorway and follows the couple out. The Temple Guardian closes the doorway and the guests Close the Circle, and the Wedding Feast begins. Some ideas for Handfasting ceremonies: 1. Choose four female friends as ‘Bridesmaids’. Have them dress in the correct color for the Cardinal Point they shall represent. East = Spring, South = Summer, West = Autumn and North = Winter. The four Bridesmaids should be escorted by four Groomsmen, and these four couples cast the Circle and Call the Quarters with the Priest and Priestess. 2. Have each of your Bridemaids carry a wreath decorated for the season they represent, with the cardinal point candle in the center of the wreath. Their escorts light the candle as the Bridesmaid speaks the invocation. 3. Have your Flower Girl be old enough to serve as the Maiden along with your Mother and Grandmother for the Triple Goddess. If your Grandmother or Mother can not participate, choose women who best fill those roles in your life. 4. Have your Ring Bearer be old enough to serve as the Sword Bearer once he has brought the rings, which have been slipped onto a crystal wand, into the Circle. Having a youth serve as the Sword Bearer signifies the Hope for the Future. 5. Have your Maid of Honor and your Best Man serve as Priest and Priestess if they are qualified, or as the Altar assistants. 6. Instead of the guests pelting the newlyweds with rice or birdseed, have the guests toss fresh flowers or fresh flower petals. 7. Something Old – A crystal or gemstone 8. Something New – A blank book to be used as a Book of Shadows 9. Something Borrowed – the bride should borrow something from her closest friend. 10. Something Blue – The garter is still a classic here, but other creative choices can easily be used, such as a blue candle with the Couples names on it, or whatever else you might think up. 11. Give each guest a Wide piece of ribbon in the Brides choice of colors. Have them write a wish for the couple with a marker. Collect the ribbons and tie them all onto the branches of a live, potted tree. The newlyweds can plant the tree in their yard as a permanent reminder of their ceremony. And the ribbons can be packed away with their Handfasting scrapbook to remind them of their friends wishes for them. OR, sew the ribbons into a pom-pom or use them to make a pillow sham for the couples bed. If you have enough guests, and give them cloth squares instead of ribbons, you could have a quilt made. If you are really into organization, send out the quilt pieces with the Invitations and have the guests decorate them at home and return them with their RSVP card. 12. Wedding cake and champagne? Sounds like Cakes and Ale to me. 13. Keep in mind that candles can be made ‘ever lasting’ by lighting an identical new candle from the last flames of the old one. 14. Hold a Spell Shower for the Bride, have each guest at the shower bring a spell for the marital Book of Shadows. 15. Have the Bride and Groom make the Ritual Broom. The Groom cuts the wood for the handle, and the Bride cuts the straw and binds it around the handle.

News & Upcoming Events March 16-20 - Spring Equinox celebration. Main ritual will be on the 18th starting at 10:00 a.m. and lasting until we get sleepy. April 29th - Beltaine celebration beginning at 7:00 p.m. June 20 - 25 - Second annual Trial of Set game! June 24 - Midsummer celebration beginning at Noon and lasting until 11:00 p.m. Main ritual begins at 6:00 p.m. September 22 - 24 - Autumn Equinox Celebration. Main Ritual will be on the 23rd beginning at 7:00 p.m. October 26 - 29 - Harvest celebration. Main Ritual will be on the 28th, beginning at 7:00 p.m. For more information on any of these events, please email Nydia. Please put 'Rituals' as the subject line of your email.

Privacy Policy & User Agreement

All Pages Copyright 2005 Temple Ankh. All Rights Reserved.
Developed & Maintained by Metro Web Services