Terry rings bell to call attention
Akien asks friends and family to gather into big circle.
First circle gathers -- Akien, Dawn D., Ray, Craig, Susan, Yvonne, Angela, Tammy, Alura, Lara
Trio entered
Intro with Intent read by Akien
Over the last several years, the family has been through a long and stressful struggle to remain together. Today, they wish to reaffirm their connections to each other and to their child. On this, the twelfth anniversary of Dawn and Troy’s original wedding ceremony and the second anniversary of their presentation of a ring to Lon, we come together to witness and sanctify the union of Lon, Dawn, and Troy, and to witness and sanctify their commitment to their child, Rowan.
On this altar (indicates blessing altar) the community has placed their blessings and wishes for this family, in celebration of love and strength that has kept them together. This altar shall remain open the entire day, for any who wish to add to it.
Grounding with Music -- "A Simple Love" sung by Lara Bruckman
Circle casting with rose petals by Alura Raetz
The past is ever with us
That which encloses us is the growth of things
The present is ever with us
That which encloses us is the growth of things
The future is ever with us
That which encloses us is the growth of things
Calling the East – Dawn Davidson
Hail, Spirits of the East, who are the winds and flying
creatures
Hail, Ancestors of the East, whose words gave us speech
Hail, Powers of the East, who rise with us at the dawning
Come and witness our rite
Come and be here now
Blessed Be
Calling the South – Yvonne Knebel
Hail, Spirits of the South, who are fires and the creatures
of warm blood
Hail, Ancestors of the South, whose actions showed us the way
Hail, Powers of the South, who stand with us at noon
Come and witness our rite
Come and be here now
Blessed Be
Calling the West – Susan Prestage
Hail, Spirits of the West, who are the waters and fishes
Hail, Ancestors of the West, whose dreams quickened our souls
Hail, Powers of the West, who lay us down in the evening
Come and witness our rite
Come and be here now
Blessed Be
Calling the North – Craig Jackson
Hail, Spirits of the North, who are the stones and plants
of the earth
Hail, Ancestors of the North, whose blood flows in our veins
Hail, Powers of the North, who lie with us through the night
Come and witness our rite
Come and be here now
Blessed Be
Calling the Center – Ray Tawzer
Hail, Spirits of the Center, who stand with us today
Hail, Ancestors of the Center, who are our parents and our children
Hail, Powers of the Center, who stand at the crossroads
Come and witness our rite
Come and be here now
Blessed Be
Tammy reads:
If I speak with the eloquence of man or angels, but have no love, I become no more than sounding brass, or crashing cymbals. If I have the gift of prophecy and hold all of human knowledge in my mind and also have that faith which can move mountains and have not love, I amount to nothing.
This love I speak of is slow to lose patience – it looks for ways of being constructive. It is not possessive. It is neither anxious to impose nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance.
Love has good manners and does not pursue selfish advantage. It is not touchy. I does not keep account of evil or gloat over the wickedness of other people. On the contrary, it is glad when truth prevails. Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no dashing of its hopes, it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen.
First Corinthians, 13.
Trio locks hands
Dawn’s vows:
My darling Troy, I share with you admiration, friendship and love of adventure. I promise to hold and trust you. I love you, Troy. I affirm you are my lifemate. I promise to be true to you in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad. I will love and honor you all the days of my life.
My dearest Lon, I share with you excitement for ideas and love of adventure. I promise to give you comfort, space and support. I love you, Lon. I affirm you are my lifemate. I promise to be true to you in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad. I will love and honor you all the days of my life.
Troy’s vows:
Dawn, I share with you a sense of romance and a joy in creating things that enhance our lives. I promise to strive to be someone you can depend upon and to help you build your dreams. I love you, Dawn. I affirm you are my lifemate. I promise to be true to you in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad. I will love and honor you all the days of my life.
Lon, with you I share hot foods, bad movies and wicked games. As you are my touchstone, I will hold a place for your darkness, to be your touchstone when you retreat there. I love you, Lon. I affirm you are my lifemate. I promise to be true to you in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad. I will love and honor you all the days of my life.
Lon’s vows:
Dawn, with you I share arguments and ideas. I bring you laughter. I will hold space for your heart, giving you the community in which you delight. I love you, Dawn. I affirm you are my lifemate. I promise to be true to you in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad. I will love and honor you all the days of my life.
Troy, with you I share our mutual interests and guilty pleasures. I will hold a mirror to your heart, and provide belonging, love and understanding. I love you, Troy. I affirm you are my lifemate. I promise to be true to you in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad. I will love and honor you all the days of my life.
Each of trio says family vow – as completed, first circle assist in binding.
I am committed to providing love, acceptance, understanding, trust, affection and care to you, my family that we may all follow our dreams.
Trio kiss.
Rowan steps into the center, parents kneel:
Dawn’s vows to Rowan:
Rowan, my son. I am your Mama Dawn. I love you. I will explore with you and comfort you, listen to you and answer you, laugh with and cry with you all the days of our lives.
Troy’s vows to Rowan:
Rowan, my son. I love you. I will talk with you, play jungle-gym dad with you, guide you and explore with you. I will encourage you when you excel and help you when you fall all the days of our lives.
Lon’s vows to Rowan:
Rowan, my son. I love you. I will play with you, laugh with you, read with you, teach you, and learn from you all the days of our lives.
In unison: Everybody Loves You.
Family Kiss
First Circle offers their blessings.
Cakes and Ale led by Akien and Dawn
Goddess of earth and growing things,
Bless this bread and infuse them with your love.
In your names, Goddess and God,
I bless this bread.
God of fruit and vine,
Bless this drink and infuse it with your love.
In your names, Goddess and God,
I bless this drink
Blessed Be
Thanking the Directions
Center:
Spirits of the Center, we thank you for your blessings
Ancestors of the Center, we thank you for your gifts
Powers of the Center, we thank you for standing with us
Stay if you will, go if you must
Blessed be.
North:
Spirits of the North, we thank you for your blessings
Ancestors of the North, we thank you for your gifts
Powers of the North, we thank you for standing with us
Stay if you will, go if you must
Blessed be.
West:
Spirits of the West, we thank you for your blessings
Ancestors of the West, we thank you for your gifts
Powers of the West, we thank you for standing with us
Stay if you will, go if you must
Blessed be.
South:
Spirits of the South, we thank you for your blessings
Ancestors of the South, we thank you for your gifts
Powers of the South, we thank you for standing with us
Stay if you will, go if you must
Blessed be.
East:
Spirits of the East, we thank you for your blessings
Ancestors of the East, we thank you for your gifts
Powers of the East, we thank you for standing with us
Stay if you will, go if you must
Blessed be.
Opening the Circle