Rite of Marriage | Wild Faith Ritual

[WestCarolina 1779]

 

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Two Elves who wish to come together and join as one, undergo the ceremonial Rite of Marriage. 

This event is hosted by either a Green Priest, Marked Priest, or High Priest of the Wild Faith. For those coming together who are in respective Seeds, the Seed Chieftain or elder of that tribe plays a role in this binding ritual. Should the Chieftain or an elder be absent during the time of the ritual, another can come and represent those individuals for the ceremony to continue. 

 

 

Pre-Rite

 

The rite begins weeks prior to the actual ceremony, where the pair wishing to marry approach a Priest with the wish to be bound. From there, the Priest brings the partners toward a sacred part of the village, either an altar, totem, or grounds of praying. It is the role of the Priest to instruct the pair to braid two pieces of cord, rope, or whatever significant piece of material with beads and/or charms. 

 

The Priest must also task the couple to find an egg amongst the wilds that they would use during the ritual. The description and explanation for the purpose of this egg is left largely unknown until the rite actually occurs.

 

Lastly, the pair are taught about Life Gifts. Each individual is to present their other, during the time of the actual ritual, with a gift they either crafted, possessed, or found, resembling their promises toward their partner. 

 

 

Ritual

 

On the day of the ceremony, an Omentahu is called where Seed members and friends are called to gather and support the pair who are to be spiritually bound. Traditionally, this rite occurs in a culturally significant location, either by an Elder tree, or totem. Each partner typically dawns garbs of various colors, yet their features are unmarked without any adorning paints or inks. 

 

The ritual starts with the Priest present, as well as those Chieftains or elders of the respective Seeds. These individuals are to give their verbal blessing of the union between both Seeds and peoples. Following this, the Priest will guide the entirety of the gathering and the pair to be married, into a prayer to both the Mother and Father. The Priest explains that this is an act to summon their gaze, and so that they can judge and bless the ritual during the proceedings. 

 

From here, the Priest will ask each individual to make their verbal vow, and present their Life Gift to their other. The partner will explain the significance behind the gift, and what their other means to them. Once both of the Elves have made their exchange before the Priest, and their kin, the ritual continues with the drinking from a ceremonial bowl. This bowl contains the water from an attunement pool, as well as the egg the  couple had found together. Here, the egg represents fertility, and growth - either symbolizing new amongst the pair, or the growth of their relationship.

 

After the pair drink from the waters, their right hands are presented to the Priest, where a ceremonial blade is used to cut and cause blood to pool within their palms. Each individual, then, with the blood from their hand, must paint a marking important to them amongst the others forehead. Their bleeding hands are instructed to come together afterward, clasped and wrapped with the braided rope. The blood symbolizes longevity and life, where dirt is spread over the rope to represent humbleness and honesty. 

 

 

 

The ritual comes to an end as the Priest chants up toward the skies,

“O’ Mother, O’ Father, feel the bond of two beating hearts before your creation. Bless these with the warmth of your embrace, and ferocity of your boons.”

 

It is then that the ritual comes to an end, where the pair are officially unionized, and bound under the gaze of the Aspects, and their loved ones.