DEFINITIONS

Most people have an idea of what a Handfasting is, but other ceremonies may be unclear, so we present here a brief indication of what each Ceremonial practice is concerned with and if you need further advice or assistance, please contact either

 Pagan Ceremonies & Crafts or the advertiser concerned

RITES OF PASSAGE

Rituals and ceremonies marking the important phases of our lives, from birth to death.

NAMINGS

Similar to a christening, where a baby or child is named, blessed and dedicated by its parents, often in the open air or sacred place with a family or tribal group as welcoming witnesses - see Blessings and Consecrations for more information.

HANDFASTINGS/BINDINGS

So called because of the actual binding with ribbon or cord of both partners' wrists during the ceremony [sometimes they will stay bound for the rest of the day until sunset]. The ceremony can be for a year and and day with choice of renewing each year, or for specified times, and some do so for lifetime and even into eternity!  As with all relationships, breakdown occurs and partings/divorce ceremonies can also be carried out in private, within family group, or sometimes in the same public arena in which they began.

PASSINGS/MEMORIALS

There are so many different methods of performing these, dependent upon whether it is a simple pagan burial in the ground, scattering of ashes on a significant date or festival or whether you wish a pagan aspect to be included within a non-pagan burial. Prayers and ceremonies for the dying, at the point of death and passing on in order to calm and comfort either in their presence or absence can also be performed. Many wish to remember their loved ones with a Memorial service annually, or dedicate a tree to their memory for instance.

MATURATION/MENOPAUSE

Similar to initiation ceremonies which mark and dedicate the person as they move forward into man/womanhood and in particular many women wish to mark the menopause as the cessation of one aspect of their lives and prepare for the positive move into Cronehood and the changes of role that offers.

CRONE INITIATION

This is sometimes done by elder women just after Menopause, either a solitary ceremony of dedication of a very public gathering of friends to declare a conscious laying aside of the fertile years, from maiden through to mother roles [whether fulfilled or not] and rejoicing in the freedoms which learning, surviving, and growing have given. Time for teaching the young and leaving the legacy of wisdom and knowledge for the ancestors yet to come and for being able to have time for one's own creativity and ponder the afterlife to come.

RAISINGS

Ceremonies to raise/initiate Swordbearers, Priests/esses into Orders and Groves, Archdruids and other members of groups with significant roles - usually a ceremony personally devised by those taking part and each will be marked by the one being raised dedicating and swearing the appropriate oath. Counter to this, those who break their oath, or cease to fulfil the role, a ceremonial breaking or separation may be carried out similar to an excommunication - so please note such oaths are not to be taken lightly. All things are not always forever, and considering positive free will is uppermost in all pathworking, having a formal leaving process or ceremony is advisable to wish those well who , for whatever reason, leave your Order, Grove or Coven or group.

MAGICAL CRAFTWORKING

Magic, spells, charms, potions, witchcraft skills and lore expected from those who work in the esoteric and occult.

PROTECTION

This can be boundless but is usually of people, places, homes, and is the grounding work required before practicing healing, ceremonies, rituals or meditating.

CONSECRATION/SAININGS

Cleansing, sanctifying and dedicating of sacred tools and places. At Namings of babies and Blessings of older children a combination of protection/saining from 'evil', dedication and blessing is energised into a powerful consecration ceremony. Some use a practical method to purify [especially tools and physical places] by means of salt, water and incense. Salt, water, and incense stand for the four elements of the Wise - earth, air, water, and fire

BLESSINGS

Of ceremonies, cakes and ale, babies, children's birthdays, companion animals, homes, enterprises, groups and individuals - whatever you feel needs the love, guidance and protection of the energies, deities and elements you call upon.

HEALING

The practice of sending unconditional love, positive and bright energies to those who are unwell or suffering dis-ease for whatever reason - sometimes sent from a distance, absent from the object/person, by individuals or groups. Visualisation and magical workings, Reiki, spiritual or hands-on healing, can also be agumented by herbal, homoeopathic and other similar methods.

PSYCHIC CLEANSINGS - EXORCISMS

Whether you need to cleanse sacred tools which have been imprinted negatively, or haunted places, or buildings or homes, there is a strong requirement to know what you are doing, and its advisable to find a practiced witch, druid or wiccan or any other pathworker who understands the level of magical protection working required, especially for house cleansings where poltergeist activity or spIritual disturbance is present.

Contact one of the advertisers under that section on here, or Pagan Ceremonies & Crafts directly via the Contact Us button, or your local medium or Spiritualist Church if unsure how to proceed.

FESTIVALS OF THE WHEEL OF THE YEAR

As the Wheel turns, each of the festivals are celebrated by pagans, often with differing context and content and names dependant upon pathways, starting the New Year with Samhain, followed by Yule/ Winter Solstice; Imbolc: a Feast of Welcoming the Light ; Ostara, the Vernal Equinox; Beltane: Festival Day of Fire and Fertility; Litha, the Summer Solstice; Lammas (Lughnasadh), the First Harvest Holiday; Mabon, the Autumn Equinox, and the Second Harvest Holiday.

MOON GROUPS

Meditation and ceremonial work in connection with the lunar cycles. In some areas there are women only groups, and full moon groups are often found in pagan communities.