[Wymdqcvb]

Yesterday my family and I attended a wedding ceremony officiated by a Wiccan for the first time. While it was very different from every other wedding I've seen, I found it to be very profound. We didn't know going in that this was what the couple had chosen for their ceremony, so we were really surprised.

Among the more interesting things was when members of the wedding party spoke, representing north, south, east, and west, with each direction offering something to the couple. Then one of each of their parents spoke, welcoming their new son/daughter-in-law into their family. One of the things I liked most was when the witch (that's how the officiant referred to himself) tied their hands together to symbolize their bond. Each one also poured a small amount of liquid, two different colors, into a glass, and the new liquid was a dramatically different color. I likened that to the more traditional lighting of one candle from two different flames in many Christian weddings, and found it really moving, even moreso than the candle lighting, because marriage should actually change the people involved. And the couple drank some mead (meade?), and were instructed to do so again at the next full moon. I'm not sure why that is, or what it symbolized, so if anyone can fill me in on that, I'd appreciate it.

Lots of the older Catholics in attendance were a bit put off by the whole thing. I heard a couple of people complaining about the phrase at the end of the vows when she said to the groom "You are my god." My limited knowledge of Wicca let me accept that pretty easily, since I think that in Wicca, god is found in nature, and this simple declaration indicates that it's completely natural for them to be united. (I didn't hear anyone complaining about his saying that she was his goddess, though......a bit of sexism, perhaps, or just the fact that Christianity doesn't recognize goddesses.)

I could have done without the witch saying at the beginning "This is definitely NOT a Christian service!" in a tone that almost seemed like he was belittling Christian marriages, but other than that, I found it surprisingly refreshing and meaningful.

In the end, it was a pretty cool ceremony, even if not one that I would have chosen for myself!

[sharpyure]

Shh. Don't tell Christine O'Donnell that "witchcraft" is really a peaceful nature-loving affair.

Sounds like an awesome time though. Glad you enjoyed. If I ever do get married and in a religous ceremony, I might have to push for this...