Product Description

The day you exchange vows with the person you love is one of the most important days of your life. What better way to celebrate your commitment to one another than with handfasting-the blessed marriage rite in which the hands of you and your beloved are wrapped in ribbon as you "tie the knot."

This symbolic binding together of your two loving souls is a timeless way to begin life's journey together. In this first book of the groundbreaking Passages series, Rev. Dr. Kendra Vaughan Hovey reveals the history behind the ritual. She clearly describes everything you need to plan your own ceremony, including how to:

• Find the right practice for you
• Select flowers and herbs-and discover their meanings
• Follow recipes and spells for incense and oils
• Write invocations and vows
• Integrate Pagan and non-Pagan traditions
• Choose the right officiant

With this magickal guide, you'll create a ceremony that not only reflects your devotion to one another but also ensures a lifetime of happiness!

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #474596 in Books
• Published on: 2007-12-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781598694475
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author
Rev. Dr. Kendra Vaughan Hovey received her Doctorate in Ministry from the University of Sedona. She is the Founding Elder High Priestess of the First Church of Wicca in Duxbury, Massachusetts. She has more than fifteen years of experience in the Wiccan faith as a spiritual leader, healer, and mentor and has written and conducted numerous Wiccan rituals, rites of passage, handfastings, and metaphysical sermons. She is a member of the American Metaphysical Doctor's Association and is ordained by both the First Church of Wicca and the International Metaphysical Ministry. She lives in Duxbury with her husband and two children.

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Customer Reviews

Direct and to the point
I just finished reading Rev. Dr. Kendra's book on the way to work this morning. Wow!! Now I want to plan a handfasting!

I should probably start by saying that I am single, and there is very little chance of me being handfasted in the near future. Generally, books on marriage/handfasting do nothing for the single person (and arguably, rightly so), but this book was different. There were bits and pieces I could extract and apply to my own life, even though I am not currently in a relationship, which I believe makes this book a rare treasure.

I loved to flow of the book. There was a lot of information in there, but it wasn't overwhelming. I also loved all of the historical tidbits for each of the traditions as well as the metaphysical meanings behind everything. The one that particular struck me was the Samhain themed wedding....I could literally visualized it down to the smallest detail! I consider this book to be a major asset in my metaphysical library. Kudos!!

A breath of fresh air
Rev Dr Kendra has obviously looked at this beautiful topic from many different angles and has brought the theme of religious tolerance in a non-threatening way. Pagans and non-pagans alike should read this before considering any type of marriage or handfasting. Great work Dr. Hovey! I hope to see more of your work in the future.

Brief and Useful Introduction
Hovey has written a rather useful introduction to Handfasting. I applaud the attention she has paid to the history of this ritual -- too few pagan writers seem to appreciate the roots, both known and unknown, that have contributed to the way Handfasting is celebrated today. Hovey has striven to provide a rather broad coverage in details of how to find a minister, how to plan/budget for the wedding, etc. She even includes god/desses from various pantheons (while recommending against crossing pantheons/traditions) who, in her mind, are most appropriate entities to invoke. (Sidenote: As a Germanic Reconstructionist myself, I think she missed the boat on the Norse pantheon; why did she not recommend Thor and Sif? They are the epitome of male/feminine, sky/earth, etc. pairs.). This book is aimed at the general neo-pagan or wiccan audience so most heathen types will not likely find much use for her ritual descriptions. Still, it's an overall good introduction and is likely to be a good reference for interfaith ministers.