A Wiccan wedding

Etheltbags1, "Christian" and "Pagan" are just words, just our man-made terms to describe the way in which we think about things far greater than ourselves. Clearly you care deeply for both Christians and Pagans, and you identify with the deep love of nature which is central to Paganism but you also feel a strong attachment to the Christian concept of god. Nothing wrong with that, as far as I can see. Whether we call our deity Jesus, Cernunnos, Innana, Krishna or whatever, these are just our different ways of naming and describing a spiritual experience. Does God really care what he (or she or it) is called?

You will find a few Pagans who are hostile to Christianity either because they have had bad experiences in the past or because they are upset over historical persecutions of Pagans, particularly witches, by the Church. Similarly, you'll find some (quite a lot, I'm afraid) Christians who are hostile to Pagans, usually because they don't understand the faith and think it has something to do with Satanism. (It doesn't!) However, there are many people of good will on both sides, and it is important to build bridges. There's enough fear and prejudice in the world without us adding to it.

If I ever renew my marriage vows, I'm going to try to persuade my husband to go for a woodland ceremony next time!

I believe that we all belong to mother earth. If we don't look after her then we will have no earth to provide for us and our descendants. I feel a connection to the moon and the trees, my dgd and I often hug trees in the local park. We all have a connection to the earth, has no one felt the soothing feel of soil on the skin ?. If that makes me a pagan then so be it. I do however believe that we have a Christian God, who loves us and although I don't go regularly to church I still feel a connection. So can I be a Christian/pagan. I cant see why not, Ive lit candles and made wishes for those who are in need and both pagans and Christians do that, I pray for those I love and again both Christians and pagans do this. If I ever got married again, which I doubt, I would have a woodland, pagan wedding.

jinglbellsfrocks

Why don't you cast a spell on the one that said you're a witch.

Synonymous, why "Pagan witchcraft? No!!!"

Paganism, which includes Wicca and other traditions, is the religion of a great many people. In fact, I believe it is one of the fastest growing religions in the US, and possibly in the UK too. Are you saying that there is something wrong with our faith?

Pagans believe that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. In fact, a Pagan will never try to convert you - we believe it is wrong to expect others to give up their beliefs, and that it is equally wrong for others to expect us to do so. I don't know what you think Paganism entails, or why you seem to think it is wrong, but I am guessing that you may not have studied the subject or talked to many Pagans.

belladonna l'm so envious! That sounds just beautiful. Mr C & l 'retook' our vows by ourselves at Glastonbury Tor. lt's the most amazing place. l wish you a wonderful, magickal day. x

weeks should read years

I love the idea of handfasting. I was at a marriage blessing in a church a few weeks ago and they had a Unity candle as part of the service. Lovely.

etheltbags1 Good on you! l've been a practising pagan for 5 years now, and l'm quite shocked at the attitudes of some people - l'm sure they think we sacrifice babies or something. Speaking personally, the Wiccan rede of "Do what you will, an it harm none" is much less judgmental and aggressive than "an eye for an eye"!
Besides which, we witches know that anything we do, good or bad, returns to us threefold. A kind of 'cast your bread upon the waters' in triplicate. l'm certainly not daft enough to do anything bad which is going to rebound on me three times over - l've had enough to deal with in my 57 years, without attracting more.
Even the police forces these days recognise paganism - after all, we were here long before the Christians. Brightest Blessings!

My sister was "handfasted" in Cornwall some years ago. We all marched down to the beach, led by the happy couple, him beating a drum, my sis looked quite petite for once in her life, she is 5ft10 inches and he is 6ft11 inches! The ceremony was led by two pagans, one in a long frock, the other in a battered tailcoat and a squashed top hat! Water, earth, wind and fire were part of the ceremony, and I think they jumped over a broomstick! My DH was heard to say "hope we don't see anyone we know!"

Pagan witchcraft? NO!!!

I would love to go, I had a hankering to be a witch a few years ago and still have 'witchy books of spells' etc. It would be a fabulous alternative celebration and not the usual big spend, outdo the neighbours type of thing that usually happens.

Jinglebellsfrocks that I am

On Loose Women Nadiya Hussain from GBBO was talking about getting married this week. She has been married for 11 years under Islamic law, but never got around to getting married at the Registry Office. So they're talking about renewing their vows so they can have a 'proper' British wedding - including a wedding cake. Her husband asked over the phone on live TV if she would marry him and she said she'd think about it! I love her!

"If you can't take it, don't give it Jings"

That sounds just a little bit playground scrappish to me. Will ignore.

sweetcakes I'm sue you are a barrel of laughs.

Wiccan weddings aren't the only ones which also require a trip to the registry office. My husband's family are Hindu and their weddings always involve two ceremonies - one performed by a registrar and one by a priest. I'm sure it applies to other faiths too. It's no big deal. You have one ceremony to meet the legal requirements of your country, another to meet the requirements of your faith. For many people, it is the religious service which carries the strongest personal meaning, even when it is not legally recognised. For instance, our Hindu relatives do not live together as man and wife until the religious ceremony, even if the civil service has taken place a week or two earlier.

Wiccan weddings can be so lovely - I hope all goes well, Chocolatepudding.

Jinglebellsfrocks.......Yes found both the comments, the broom and the knickers quite funny as I have s sense of humour.

"much". not "Minh". The wedding was in Kent, not in Vietnam!

My husband's nephew and his bride had something like the handfasting ceremony very like the one described on the website Pippa000 shared ... in an Anglican wedding ceremony in the bride's parish church.I found it very moving, and I wasn't the only one. There was also a unity candle. It was a lovely ceremony, and I hope you enjoy yourself as Minh as we did, chocolatepudding!

Honestly, no-one will expect you to know the ceremony ritual; the celebrant will, I'm sure, explain to the non-Pagan attendees what is happening and hopefully you will find the celebration full of love, light and blessings to all. Lots of flowers, happiness, music and dancing. Good luck to the happy couple. If you feel unsure, why not have a quick word with them beforehand and ask what you would like to know. I'm Wiccan and would love to tell outsiders all about our lovely, loving, peaceful beliefs, and I'm sure your friends will be more than happy to put you in the picture. Enjoy! A bit worried by Marmight's concern about the legality of the ceremony, but if they want the official piece of paper, and no registrar is in attendance, they can always follow it up with a register office legalising do. This ritual is much more important! Blessed be!

chocolatepudding Please don't worry about doing anything wrong! l hope the weather is good on the day, and you enjoy the ceremony. When we had ours, a rabbit hopped into the middle of the circle, which was just lovely!

Oh, by the way, Wicca or paganism isn't 'faddish'. lt was the old religion long before Christianity. Old churches were built on old pagan worship sites because they were on the junctions of ley (earth energy) lines.

Wiccan handfastings(weddings) are lovely. Very informal and personal, and like a wedding anywhere else, perfectly legal so long as you have a registrar. Even if you get married in church or anywhere else, it isn't legal if you don't have a registrar. l had a handfasting five years ago, and l think you'd enjoy it if you went. l don't know what some people think will happen - we don't sacrifice goats or make everyone dance round naked. Enjoy it!

Meant to be a smiley face but it's not easy typing hanging upside down from a rafter!

If you can't take it, don't give it Jings. Remember Rosabella? Disappeared from the site. Wonder why. Anyway, Sweetcakes may have been laughing at the flaming knickers. Not you. Don't turn me into a bat, oops, too late {smile]

A friend of my daughter had a Wiccan Wedding-very beautiful it was too.I'd much rather get married out in the countryside than in a church or office,etc.All you need to do is celebrate their love and happiness,just enjoy the day!