ERICA AND AARON HANDFASTING, PART ONE Aaron Shankle and Erica Russell announced their formal engagement with a handfasting ceremony on Saturday, June 22nd, 2008 at the White Hart Renaissance Festival, Queen Elizabeth I (aka Susi Matthews-Cannon) presiding. Members of Her Majesty's Royal Court both assisted and witnessed the ceremony, as did select members of "The Ides of March," Aaron and Erica's extended faire family. This clip contains the beginning of the actual handfasting ritual up to the tying of the knot. Due to the length of the ceremony, it had to be filmed in several parts, spliced together and was still heavily edited for YouTube's requirements.

ERICA AND AARON HANDFASTING, PART TWO Being the second part of Aaron Shankle and Erica Russell' handfasting. The ceremony, held on Saturday, June 22nd, 2008 at the White Hart Renaissance Festival, Queen Elizabeth I (aka Susi Matthews-Cannon) presiding, was the beginning of their formal engagement together. Members of Her Majesty's Royal Court both assisted and witnessed the ceremony, as did select members of "The Ides of March," Aaron and Erica's extended faire family. This clip begins with the tying of the knot and ends with the happy couple jumping the broom.

Greetings and welcome to all who have joined us for this holy occasion. We are here in this beautiful sanctuary to celebrate the engagement of Erica and Aaron by way of a handfasting ritual.

Queen retains book and athame and revolves a circle rather than walking the circle.
In this sacred place, we gather for this purpose. We put aside our daily concerns, our pettiness, our pain and our grief to focus upon that, which is the best within all of us. We cast out all impurity and negativity from this place. We conjure a circle of power; an enclosure of peace and goodwill, of love and joy, of honor and truth. We affirm that this is a place beyond the bounds of time, where night and day, birth and death, joy and sorrow meet as one. This is a place that is not a place and a time that is beyond time, in perfect love and perfect trust. So Mote It Be.

Queen turns to East. All face East. Yellow candle is lit.
Pray be with us, Guardians of the East, Spirit of Air; let the breath of life, of intelligence and communication, of memory and wisdom flow in this place to witness and protect this union. So Mote It Be.

Queen turns to South. All face South. Red candle is lit.
Pray be with us, Guardians of the East, Spirit of Fire; let the flames of transformation and passion, of courage, creativity blaze in this place to witness and protect this union. So Mote It Be.

Queen turns to West. All face West. Blue candle is lit
Pray be with us, Guardians of the West, Spirit of Water, let the fountain of emotions and compassion, of sympathy and reflection stream through this place to witness and protect this union. So Mote It Be.

Queen turns to North.. All face North. Green candle is lit.
Pray be with us, Guardians of the West, Spirit of Earth; let the pillar of stability and endurance, the blooming of abundance and mystery grow in this place to witness and protect this union. So Mote It Be.

The circle is now consecrated with the four elements and the fifth which is Akasha, or Spirit that which dwells and empowers each of us. Let us commence the joyous work of the circle. Queen and handfasting party move to arbor.

We have come together to join this man, AARON SHANKLE, and this woman, ERICA RUSSELL in the ritual of hand-fasting which sanctifies this relationship in a publicly recognized and committed handfasting until that day they are prepared to take the next step with the vows of marriage.

Erica and Aaron have grown within this partnership for four years from a young age into adulthood. They have met and overcome various challenges, both individually and as a couple which have made them stronger. They have determined that their life's pathway shall be traveled together and so are committing themselves to this journey. They have not, however, come to this place alone. And they are not the only ones who will be asked to make a promise this day. All of you here represent the community of friends, loved ones and family who share their lives. No relationship exists within a vacuum. No matter how long you have known them, you each have a responsibility to uphold them, to think kindly and lovingly of them, to be supportive of this relationship in thought, word and deed. I ask you now to commit to uphold, defend and support this couple in these vow they will tend to one another. If you agree to this, please raise your voices in two words, "We will!" Guests say, "We will."

There are many traditions that we honor and uphold but I also believe that it is right and necessary that traditions be examined to determine which ones do serve and which do not have bearing on our lives now, to keep those with meaning and discard those which do not. Therefore, I will not ask who gives this woman into this man's keeping. These two come as equals and as partners. So I simply ask you both: do you come of your own free will and accord to this crossing of the path, to share your lives together? Erica and Aaron answer together, "We will."

Erica and Aaron, you have decided to exchange rings with one another, to provide an outward symbol and visible reminder of the vows you are taking today. Do you have the rings that you will give to one another? Good. Now, take into your hand the ring that you will wear.

Erica, I have not the right to bind thee to Aaron. Only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in the palm of his hand. Erica places her ring in Aaron's palm and says, "It is my wish"

Aaron, if it be your wish for Erica to be bound to you, place the ring on her finger and as you do, repeat after me: Erica, just as this circle is without end, my love for you is eternal. With this ring, I make this vow to you. Aaron puts ring on Erica's finger and repeats words.

Aaron, I have not the right to bind thee to Erica. Only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in the palm of her hand. Aaron places his ring in Erica's palm and says, "It is my wish"

Erica, if it be your wish for Aaron to be bound to you, place the ring on his finger and as you do, repeat after me: Aaron, just as this circle is without end, my love for you is eternal. With this ring, I make this vow to you. Erica puts ring on Aaron and repeats words.

The handfasting cord is an ancient tradition that symbolized the joining of these two persons, soul to soul, heart to heart, body to body across time and space before birth and after death. Know now, before you go further, that as your pathways have crossed, you have already formed ties with one another. As you enter this engagement you should strive to make real the ideals, which give meaning to both this ceremony and to your lives. The promises made today and the ties that are bound here greatly strengthen your union as you each grow in the nurturing environment this union creates. Do you seek to enter this ceremony? Erica & Aaron say together: "We seek to enter."

Now, if you will please take hands, left hand to left hand and right hand to right hand, crossing them to form the infinity symbol. Place one end of the cord over their joined hands.
Will you each share the other's pain and seek to ease it? (We will)
Will you respect one another's gifts and individuality? (We will)
And so the binding is made. Fold the cord under their hands and back over.

Will you each share in the other's laughter? (We will)
Will you look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other? (We will)
And so the binding is made. Fold the cord between their hands and back over.

Will you share in each other's dreams and goals? (We will)
Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes? (We will)
And so the binding is made. Fold the cord between their wrists and back over.

Will you each honor and uphold the other? (We will)
Will you both seek to never give cause to break that honor? (We will)
And so the binding is made. Drape the final end of the cord over hands.

Now will you please exchange the vows you have each written to one another.
Erica: speaks vows
Aaron: speaks vows

Erica and Aaron, here are ancient symbols of Bread and Wine (or in this case sparkling grape juice!) to seal the sacrament of the vows you have given one another. First, here is the bread to feed to each other in the hope that you may never hunger, and then the goblet to share in the hope that you may never thirst.

Each of these blessings from the four cardinal directions emphasizes those things, which will help you build a happy and successful union. Yet they are only tools, which you must use together in order to create what you seek in this union.

You have declared before all these assembled that you will share your lives, your love and your future. You have made special promises to each other which have been symbolized by the joining of hands, the taking of vows, and the giving and receiving of gifts. You may now share a kiss.

Turning to East:
Grammercy, Spirits of Air, for guarding and witnessing our rite. Bless their union with the Breath of Life and clarity of communication. Blow out candle.

Turning to South:
Grammercy, Spirits of Fire, for guarding and witnessing our rite. Confirm their vows with the warmth of creativity and the fire of passion. Blow out candle.

Turning to West:
Grammercy, Spirits of Water, for guarding and witnessing our rite. Grant these two the deepest of love and the flowing of compassion throughout their lives. Blow out candle.

Turning to North:
Grammercy, Spirits of Earth, for guarding and witnessing our rite. Vouch safe to this couple the stability of prosperity and the skill of endurance. Blow out candle.

We are now facing north, toward the outward path to leave the Bower. My back is to center of the circle. Couple face inward toward me. Dani brings broom to me.

In many cultures, the tradition of jumping the broom is used to symbolize erasing away mistakes, misjudgments, misunderstandings and pain from the past. It also symbolized sweeping clean the path before you, making the way clear to start a new life together in a wholly fresh beginning. Erica & Aaron, if you will both hold onto the broom between you; turn and sweep the path behind you from right to left, then move the broom in front of you and sweep the path clear before you from left to right.

It is now my honor and privilege to present to you, Erica and Aaron.

Erica and Aaron turn back around and exit out the Bower, followed by Queen and Guards, then witnesses and friends and family.