Handfastings ect...
Mystic of Avalon: Services for Spiritual Transformation and Enlightenment
Welcome to Mystic of Avalon, where we offer a range of spiritual services designed to celebrate life's significant moments and facilitate profound personal transformation. Rooted in ancient traditions and enriched by modern spirituality, our ceremonies provide a sacred space for love, commitment, and enlightenment.
Weddings
Handfastings
Blessings
Elopements
Naming Ceremonies
Funerals
Weddings
Our wedding ceremonies are unique, deeply personal, and spiritually enriching experiences. Here is a summary of a typical wedding ceremony we offer:
The ceremony begins with a processional, accompanied by the enchanting sound of pipes. The officiant welcomes everyone and introduces the significance of the ceremony, followed by an invocation blessing the union under a sacred tree. A special reading and personal vows are shared by the couple, emphasising their loving intent.
A highlight of the ceremony is the hand-fasting ritual, where the couple’s hands are bound together with a braided cord in a figure-eight pattern, symbolising their eternal bond. This is followed by a water blessing, where the rings are blessed and then exchanged with vows that symbolise their everlasting love and commitment.
The ceremony includes musical blessings, closing remarks invoking the four directions for blessings, and the joyous presentation of the newly married couple. The ceremony concludes with a recessional, where the couple walks down the aisle amidst joyful confetti, marking the beginning of their celebration.
Handfastings
Handfasting is an ancient ritual that symbolises the binding of two lives together. This ceremony involves the wrapping of cords around the couple's hands, representing their unity and eternal bond. It can be included in wedding ceremonies or conducted as a standalone ritual for those wishing to honour their partnership in a deeply spiritual way.
Blessings
We offer blessings for various occasions, invoking positive energies and spiritual guidance. Whether it’s a new home, a significant life transition, or a special celebration, our blessings bring peace, protection, and prosperity.
Elopements
For couples seeking an intimate and private union, our elopement services offer a sacred and personal ceremony, focusing on the couple’s love and commitment without the complexities of a large event.
Naming Ceremonies
Celebrate the arrival of a new soul into the world with a naming ceremony. These events honour the spiritual significance of a name and welcome the child into the community with blessings and joy.
Funerals
Our funeral services provide a compassionate and respectful farewell for loved ones. We create ceremonies that honour the deceased’s life, offering comfort and spiritual support to those in mourning.
Spiritual Transformation and Enlightenmen
In addition to life ceremonies, we offer services for personal spiritual transformation and enlightenment. These include guided meditations, spiritual counselling, and rituals designed to connect individuals with their higher selves and the divine.
At Mystic of Avalon, we are dedicated to creating meaningful and transformative experiences that honour tradition, celebrate love, and inspire spiritual growth. Each service is tailored to the unique needs and beliefs of those we serve, ensuring a deeply personal and unforgettable experience.
Example Wedding/Handfasting Ceremony by Mystic of Glastonbury
1. Processional: The ceremony begins with the entrance of the wedding party, family members, and special guests. The groom waits at the front as the bride walks down the aisle, accompanied by her mother. The bridesmaids walk down first, laying their offerings onto the ceremonial ring, creating a beautiful and sacred atmosphere. The pipes play a chosen tune as the bride walks down the aisle with her mother.
2. Welcome and Introduction: Tor, the officiant, welcomes everyone and introduces the significance of the hand-fasting ceremony, explaining its origins and symbolism. The couple asks the guests to refrain from taking photographs during the ceremony, allowing everyone to be fully present in the moment.
3. Invocation/Blessing: Tor offers a brief prayer or blessing, invoking the presence of spiritual forces the couple wishes to honour. He calls upon the elements of earth, air, fire, and water to bless the couple’s union, drawing upon the sacred surroundings and the roots of ancient traditions.
4. Readings: A chosen guest offers a meaningful reading, adding a personal touch to the ceremony and reflecting the couple’s values and beliefs.
5. Declaration of Intent: The couple publicly declares their intent to marry, sharing personally written vows that express their deep commitment and love for each other.
6. Blessing: Another guest is invited to offer a special blessing, further enriching the spiritual atmosphere of the ceremony.
7. Hand-fasting Ceremony: Tor explains the ancient hand-fasting ritual, where the couple’s hands are bound together with a braided cord, symbolising their unity and eternal bond. The couple exchanges promises of compassion, growth, and fidelity. The binding of hands is completed with the tying of the knot in the cord, signifying their everlasting union.
8. Water Blessing: A water blessing is performed, incorporating the significance of sacred springs. The rings are blessed in the water before being presented for the exchange.
9. Exchange of Rings: The couple exchanges rings, repeating vows that symbolise their everlasting love and commitment. The rings are a visible sign of their bond and the promises they have made to each other.
10. Musical Blessing: A special song is performed by a chosen guest, adding a musical blessing to the ceremony and celebrating the couple’s love.
11. Closing Remarks: Tor offers closing remarks, reflecting on the significance of the ceremony and offering blessings for the couple's future together. He recognises the four directions, invoking blessings from the elements of earth, air, fire, and water.
12. Presentation of the Couple: Tor introduces the newly married couple for the first time, offering words of congratulations and celebration. The couple shares their first kiss, marked by cheering and joyous celebration from the guests.
13. Recessional: The couple walks down the aisle where guests throw confetti, marking the conclusion of the ceremony and the beginning of the celebration. The wedding party exits the ceremony space, signifying the start of a new chapter in the couple’s journey together.
This example ceremony encapsulates the essence of a Mystic of Avalon wedding, blending ancient traditions with modern spirituality to create a deeply meaningful and unforgettable experience.
Recommendations
"We were so honoured to have Tor hold our wedding ceremony and hand fasting ceremony this Summer.
It was a beautiful day in every way but Tor brought a presence and we felt he honoured the land and the people.
He has a very calming way about him which put us at ease from the beginning of our planning chats all the way through to 'you may kiss the bride'!
He was very good at his calming the groom down bit before the ceremony too.....
What we particularly loved about Tor is his wealth in history, spiritual background, and ancient ways, and a vast variety of knowledge.
Our wedding was a mixture of ingredients, from our love and connection to Jesus and Magdelene lineage, to the Earth air fire water elements, as well as nature.
Tor was respectful to all of our beliefs and pathways.
All our guests fully grasped what our ceremony was about everyone enjoyed it, which meant a lot. There were guests which had never been to a ceremony like it before, where calling in the spirits, 4 directions, guardians and elements to hold the space was new to them, yet everyone felt so conformable. The response was; "it was truly magical".
Tor was great at listening to our many requests and needs, and delivered the most perfect ceremony. It couldn't have gone any better, we are so grateful for his attention to detail.
Tor took the threads we gave him and made a beautiful tapestry."
Katrina & Benjamin Selby, July 2024
