the handfasting of Mira and Mark

[Guest guest]

the hand-fasting of merlyn & nimue

(For My Beloved Mira)

 

an it harm none, do as ye will

 

arianrhod,

of all the gods whom i trust

serve but trust not their vigilant jealousy

of all the goddesses whom i honor

honor and respect their capricious ways

 

as ye will, an it harm none, do

 

ever i have

entrusted to you

princess of caer sidi

high priestness of albion

shield bearer of the watery moon

handmaiden and consort of heaven’s queen

sky lady of the lost moon kingdom beneath the sea

 

do as ye will an it harm none

 

arianrhod,

of all these it is to you i yield

my heavy staff of white magick

my broken hat and my starry cape

of all maidens your daughter i will take

 

none do as ye will an it harm

 

ever have i

an ancient wise one

sorcerer of the blue white north

served you and protected your home

the noble white wolfe at your vigilant gate

guardian of your wilde and free snow kingdom

now my wandering circle bring to fullness and completion

 

it harm none do as ye will an

 

arianrhad,

moon spirit, spinner of dreams

chaste faery of the starry firmament

benevolent silver wheel of shifting waters

your daughter nimue, has requested my frail hand

 

an it harm none, do as we will

 

ever have i

stood watch over her

your dark moon child and silver mirror

a white wolfe hiding in her shadow casting spells

sung chants and incantations unknown to mortals

taught her the yet to be forgotten undiscovered olde ways

grant me yet this last spell, i pray, bind me to my beloved nimue

 

as we will, an it harm none do

 

arianrhod,

an ye do this for us

our wills being one it will harm none

binding our two free spirits into your one

merlyn into nimue binding nimue into merlyn

 

do as we will an it harm none

 

ever have we

been faithful to the magick rede

suffering patiently the icy chaste rule

of snowy magick, cold and pure, magick white

now we would you bless us, free us and grant this boon

binding nimue into merlyn binding merlyn into nimue binding

 

it harm none do as we will an

 

arianrhod

from the beginning

nimue has come seeking me

from the ending merlyn seeking her

yielding our magick we perform the wiccan rede

 

an it harm none, do this we will

Bide the Wiccan Laws we must, in perfect love and perfect trust.We

must live and let live, fairly take and fairly give.Cast the circle

thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.To bind the spell well

every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.Light of eye and soft of

touch, speak we little, listen much.Deosil go by waxing moon,

chanting out the Wiccan Runes.Widdershins go by waning moon, chanting

out the baneful tune.When the Lady's Moon is new, kiss the hand to her

times two.When the moon rides at her peak, then the hearts desire

seek.Heed the North Wind's mighty gale, lock the door and trim the

sail.When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss thee on the

mouth.When the Moor wind blows from the West, departed spirits have

no rest.When the wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the

feast.Nine woods in the cauldron go, burn them quick and burn them

slow.Elder be the Lady's tree, burn it not or cursed ye'll be.When

the wheel begins to turn, let the Beltane fires burn.When the wheel

has turned to Yule, light the log and the Horned-One rules.Heed ye

flower, bush and tree, by the Lady, Blessed Be.Where the rippling

waters go, cast a stone the truth to know.When ye have and hold a

need, hearken not to others greed.With a fool no season spend, lest

be counted as his friend.Merry ye meet and merry ye part, bright the

cheeks and warm the heart.Mind the three-fold law ye should, three

times bad and three times good.When misfortune is enow, wear the star

upon thy brow.True in love ye must be, lest thy love be false to

thee.These eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill…

An ye harm none, we do what we will

With this hand-fasting Mira, Mark does thee take!

mark christopher valentine

(march 28-29, 2001)