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Handfasting History: An Old Tradition Made New

SGC Admin: Summer time is a time of weddings, and each belief system has its own way of celebrating the act of marriage, or the joining of two lives… Check out what Patti Wigington has to share about the Pagan/Wiccan way of getting wed or Handfasting… 🙂 If you are planning your handfasting this summer, Patti has some helpful tips for you… oh and Congratulations… !!!

Hands tied with ribbon at wedding hand fasting ceremony Stock Photo - 3337511
copy right: andreblais

We’re now into the merry month of May, which means that handfasting season is upon us. Many people in the Pagan community opt to have a handfasting instead of the “traditional wedding” that our non-Pagan friends have. In some cases, it may be simply ceremonial — a couple declaring their love for one another without the benefit of a state license. For other couples, it can be tied in with a state marriage certification issued by a legally authorized party such as a clergyperson or justice of the peace. Either way, the handfasting is becoming more and more popular, as Pagan couples are seeing that there is indeed an alternative for non-Christians who want more than just a courthouse wedding. Today we’ll look at some of the things to keep in mind when you’re planning a handfasting, as well as tips to help make it a magical and successful day!

Handfasting History:

An Old Tradition Made New

In centuries gone by, handfasting was a popular custom in the British Isles. In rural areas, it could be weeks or even months before a clergyman happened to stop by your village, so couples learned to make allowances. A handfasting was the equivalent of today’s common-law marriage — a man and woman simply clasped hands and declared themselves married.

Handfasting History Spring is here, and love is in the air! For many people of Pagan faiths, this is the time of year for a handfasting ceremony. If you’re lucky enough to have someone you love this much, there are a few things you may want to keep in mind while planning your handfasting ceremony.

Handfasting Tips Sample Handfasting Ceremony If you’re planning on having a handfasting ceremony rather than a traditional wedding, you may want to work with your Pagan clergyperson on the writing of the vows. This is a sample ceremony that you can make adjustments to based upon your needs and your spiritual tradition. 

It’s become traditional to give each of your guests a small wedding favor. Typically, these are small trinkets with either the date of the event or the couples’ names on them. However, if you’re having a Pagan or Wiccan handfasting, rather than a traditional wedding ceremony, why not come up with an idea that celebrates your spiritual path, as well as announcing your commitment to the community? Magical Gifts for Your Guests

 Click Here to visit Patti and find our more about Paganism and Wiccan… 🙂 

SGC Admin Bits and Pieces

Learning the Tarot Cards with Patti Wigington

SGC Admin: The tarot has long been a fascination for me.. over the years I have grown to respect my cards and honour the information gleaned from them. I cannot say how they work, ( I reckon it’s spirit) but they do and on many occasions they have assisted me through difficult times… 🙂 Check out the following information on the use of Tarot Cards. Thanks for sharing Patti… 🙂 

From our inbox to you from Patti Wigington – About.com Paganism

fairy. Stock Photo - 8850220
http://www.123rf.com: Illustrator: Katarzyna Bruniewska-Gierczak

 

One of the most popular aspects of the About Pagan/Wiccan site is our information on Tarot. This form of divination is one that many modern Pagans use, and has been around for centuries. Anyone can learn to read Tarot cards, but it does take some practice. It’s a highly intuitive process, so while books and charts come in handy, the best way to actually learn what your cards mean is to handle them, hold them, and feel what they are telling you. Let’s get started by looking at some of the different ways people use Tarot.

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Introduction To Tarot Cards 

To people unfamiliar with divination, it may seem that someone who reads Tarot cards is “predicting the future.” However, most Tarot card readers will tell you that the cards offer a guideline, and the reader is simply interpreting the probable outcome based upon the forces presently at work. A Tarot deck consists of 78 cards. The first 22 cards are the Major Arcana. These cards have symbolic meanings focused on the material world, the intuitive mind, and the realm of change. The remaining 56 cards are the Minor Arcana, and are divided into four groups or suits, each of which focuses on a theme. Read Full Article
Search Related Topics:  tarot cards  basics of tarot reading  divination

Tarot Cards and Their Meanings 

The Tarot is a great tool for guidance and advice, as well as solving problems. Each of the cards has a meaning of its own, and as you learn the cards and get to know them better, you’ll become a more effective reader. Anyone can learn to read Tarot cards, but it does take some practice. It’s a highly intuitive process, so while books and charts come in handy, the best way to actually learn what your cards mean is to handle them, hold them, and feel what they are telling you. Let’s look at the Major Arcana, and the four different suits of Tarot cards found in every deck. Read Full Article
Search Related Topics:  tarot  reading tarot cards  divination

How to Prepare for a Tarot Card Reading 

So you’ve got your Tarot deck, you’ve figured out how to keep it safe from negativity, and now you’re ready to read for someone else. Perhaps it’s a friend who’s heard about your interest in Tarot. Maybe it’s a coven sister in need of guidance. Perhaps — and this happens a lot — it’s a friend of a friend, who has a problem and would like to see “what the future holds.” Regardless, there are a few things you should do before you take on the responsibility of reading cards for another person. Read Full Article
Search Related Topics:  tarot cards  divination 

Interpreting the Tarot Cards 

Now that you’ve laid down your Tarot cards, in the spread of your choice, this is where the real fun begins. If someone has come to you as a Querent, it’s because they want to know what’s going on — what sorts of things will present obstacles to them, what positive outcomes they can expect, that sort of thing. But they also want it to be interesting. After all, anyone can flip open a book and read that the Ten of Cups means contentment and happiness. What they really want to know is how does it apply to them? Read Full Article