Handfasting

I have decided that I want this one day. It's a beautiful ceremony, and has been around for ages and ages. The tradition is to have the handfasting each year on your anniversary, as that is the "expiration date" (but it's not exactly necessary). It's renewed each year assuming that you both wish to hold on to the relationship and turns out sort of as a reassurance to eachother every year, or if you've had rough times, a good time to start over. I've only just now got my hands on how the vows generally go...A friend of my mom's just had hers. A peppermint red and white one. Reading them is almost as good as witnessing it.

"Know now before you go further, that since your lives have crossed in this life you have formed ties between each other. As you seek to enter this state of matrimony you should strive to make real, the ideals which give meaning to both this ceremony and the institution of marriage.
With full awareness, know that within this circle you are not only declaring your intent to be handfasted before your friends and family, but you speak that intent also to your creative higher powers.
The promises made today and the ties that are bound here greatly strengthen your union; they will cross the years and lives of each soul's growth."

"Do you still seek to enter this ceremony? "
"Yes, We Seek to Enter."
"In times past it was believed that the human soul shared characteristics with all things divine. It is this belief which assigned virtues to the cardinal directions; East, South, West and North. It is in this tradition that a blessing is offered in support of this ceremony.

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the East. Communication of the heart, mind, and body Fresh beginnings with the rising of each Sun. The knowledge of the growth found in the sharing of silences.
Blessed be this union with the gifts of the South. Warmth of hearth and home The heat of the heart's passion The light created by both To lighten the darkest of times.
Blessed be this union with the gifts of the West. The deep commitments of the lake The swift excitement of the river The refreshing cleansing of the rain The all encompassing passion of the sea.
Blessed be this union with the gifts of the North Firm foundation on which to build Fertility of the fields to enrich your lives A stable home to which you may always return.

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. Tools which you must use together in order to create what you seek in this union."

"I bid you look into each others eyes."

"[Groom's Name], Will you cause her pain?" "I May"
"Is that you intent?" "No"
"[Bride's Name], Will you cause him pain?" " I may"
" Is that you intent?" " No"
*To Both* "Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it?" " Yes"
"And so the binding is made. Join your hands" *First cord is draped across the bride and grooms hands*

"[Bride's Name], Will you share his laughter?" "Yes"
"[Groom's Name], Will you share her laughter?" "Yes"
*To Both* "Will both of you look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other?" "Yes"
"And so the binding is made." *Second chord is draped across the couples hands*

"[Bride's Name], Will you burden him?" "I may"
"Is that you intent?" "No"
"[Groom's Name], Will you burden her?" "I may"
"Is that your intent?" "No"
*To Both* "Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union?" "Yes"
"And so the binding is made." *Drape third chord across the couples hands*

"[Bride's Name], will you share his dreams?" "Yes"
"[Groom's Name], will you share her dreams?" "Yes"
*To Both* "Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes?" "Yes"
"And so the binding is made." *Drape fourth chord across the couples hands*

"[Groom's Name], will you cause her anger?" "I may"
"Is that you intent?" "No"
"[Bride's Name], will you cause him anger?" "I may"
"Is that your intent?" "No"
*To Both* "Will you take the heat of anger and use it to temper the strength of this union?" "We Will"
"And so the binding is made." *Drape fifth chord across the couples hands*

"[Bride's Name], Will you honor him?" "I will"
"[Groom's Name], Will you honor her?" "I will"
*To Both* "Will you seek to never give cause to break that honor?" "We shall never do so"
"And so the binding is made." *Drape sixth chord across the couples hands*

*Tie chords together while saying:* "The knots of this binding are not formed by these chords but instead by your vows. Either of you may drop the chords, for as always, you hold in your own hands the making of breaking of this union."
*Once chords are tied together they are removed and placed on altar*

Reminder #7

It's usually best to choose love over fear.

Si Se Puede!

Jambo Rafiki!

okay.. that's the extent of my Swahili (Half of which I give credit to Disney). I tried.

I am very very happy now. And I think that this very very important and incredible event is just the motivation I needed to start posting here again.

Yes! Obama won. Unbelieveably so...when I finally went to bed, it was at 338 electoral votes (while mccain had yet to reach 140). I consider it a movement. My country is relatively young, but there are younger who have already conquered the obstacle of....ugh, how to word it? Okay, for example, (and not to be a stereotypical american in saying this) Pakistan has already had a woman prime minister (and may she rest in peace). Pakistan of all places. Why does america, the so-called welcoming melting pot of cultural diversity and acceptance, still struggle so much with ridiculous things such as racism and sexism?

Anyway, my point is, I am taking this as a giagantic leap. Yes, he's the first African American president, but he's much more than that. I think he symbolizes not just "tolerance" but acceptance and embracing of the groups of people who have had to fight for so long for their rights and freedoms as human beings in this country. African Americans as well as women as well as gays (although that last one... according to california, needs to fight a bit longer :( ).

It's just a beautiful thing to see in this country, I think.

Beyond all of that...Obama is an amazing person. He understands that he may be over his head, he understands what he's getting into. He can unite even the people who voted against him. He's a very intelligent and open-minded person, and... man! can he speak! I dont know if it was just all the chaos of this election coming to an end, or what, but I found his speech very moving and extremely genuine. Genuine.

(so cute, watch... :D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NblCBtk6H-U)

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. " --Sen. Barak Obama