August 2, 1996
Tallahassee, Florida
That morning Sir Thomas and Lady Hena Autumn awoke nervous about the day the was before them. Family was gathering as the widowed Queen Patricia was excited for the hand in marriage her Prince Thomas was embracing, on this hot Autumn day. Lord Bill, Lady Jackie, Sir Mangor, Lady Juliette, Princess Leah, Princess Breanna, and over 100 family and friends gathered that morning. It was Lammas for the harvest of their love that these two lovers were taking the vow of handfasting – an Ancient Celtic form of marriage. It would be a legal Marriage under U.S. law and officiated by Sir Isaac Bonewits of the Druid Order Ar nDraoicht Fein: A Druid Fellowship. As the wedding parties got ready, the summer heat showed down upon them with the utmost Florida humidity drenching them in sweat. A blaring bonfire in the center of the Druid Grove at their homestead in Tallahassee. A three-hour ceremony was to begin with family and friends present to test the strength of their handfasting by trying to pull them apart to see if the bond would hold.
Two of the local Hari Krishna’s that the couple knew from vending Wednesdays on campus had agreed to sneak out of their temple that day to cater to the lover’s wedding with Vegan wedding cake made from blueberries off their land. They arrived on time to begin preparations for catering the reception out back by the Fairy Circle. One only wondered how the temple would feel about their brethren catering a Druid wedding.
Sir Isaac Bonewits collaborated with Sir Thomas, Priestesses Diana and Sparrow of their grove to go over ritual. Even though Sir Thomas was the husband-to-be, he was also the Senior Druid of the local Wakulla Cypress Grove, ADF and was to help officiate his own wedding. He would be running the orientation for the wedding party and attendees and begin the procession to the Druid Grove.
Hair and makeup was done, the lovely gowns handmade by friends were donned, and the husband and wife to be were adorned with hand-made crowns from their grove. They gathered in the driveway and Sir Thomas introduced the crowd to Druidic liturgy and the procession to take place. Over 100 were gathered on this very special day. The drummers began beating their drums and the chants “Anu, Danu, Mother Don, Holy Earth we walk upon. Lead us, Lady of Rebirth, Bless us Holy Mother Earth” followed by “We all come from the Goddess, and to her we shall return, like a drop of rain, flowing to the ocean” were chanted as the crowd processed down towards the road, past the forest stand between the house and road, around an access road leading up to the Druid Grove. Then Lady Hena processed down the northern trail to the Grove preceded and followed by the tossing of rose petals by the flower girls Princess Leah and Princess Breanna. It was a sight to behold.
Sir Isaac, Priestess Diana, and Priestess Sparrow lit the sacred fire with an invocation to the Goddess Brighid. The flames were lit and Sir Isaac began the liturgy. A three-hour ritual was enjoyed by all, drenched in sweat from the fire and the summer heat merged with the Florida humidity. The outsiders were offered ale to be welcome to the rite and not to interfere, a unity chant of “We are an old people, we are a new people, we are the same people stronger than before” was done, followed by a tree meditation centering the rite with Earth, Sky, and Sea. The sacred tree, the holy well, and the fiery hearth were aspersed, anointed, and smudged as was the grove and attendees. The Earth mother was honored with a chant. The Lord Manannan, Lord of the Sea, Gatekeeper of the Grove was invoked and the Gates between the Worlds was opened. The Goddess Brighid was invoked as were the Ancestors, Fae, and all other God/desses. All were offered physical sacrifices and offerings from flowers to handicrafts, songs to poems, dances to libations, herbs to oils. The God/dresses were pleased as were the spirits and ancestors. Sir Isaac made his tributes, offerings, and prophecies were had. The Waters of Life were shared and magic spells afoot. The handfasting cords were produced and tied between Sir Thomas and Lady Hena with friends and family on both sides trying to pull us apart and see if the bond would hold. Even Lady Hena’s mother and father re-united their bond with their own handfasting added in. The couple was wed and they had their kiss. It was a beautiful affair to behold. Gifts and art were presented to the couple and the party celebrated with cheers.
The wedding party moved to the back of the house where the backyard and fairy circle was for a tented buffet of fine Vegan Indian Cuisine and wedding cake awaiting. A feast was had by all. Many gathered around Sir Isaac to learn tidbits of his teachings about Druidism and his adventures in life. Thanks to Sir Teddy for funding Sir Isaac’s travels and lodging to the event.
Afterwards, the wedding crew and select guests, the Wakulla Cypress Grove, and some family headed over to Sir Teddy and Lady Lynn’s Pyramid House that was on the shore of a private sinkhole. They all had a skinny dip in the swimming hole to cool off the hot summer sun. Queen Patrice was horrified with the nudity so she went home. The wedding couple went off to their honeymoon while some of the remaining adults had an adult-fun party that rumors told got way out of hand.
The wedding couple returned to their homestead to find that much of the event’s mess was already cleaned up. They retired to their room and made sure they had all their luggage packed for their honeymoon to the Isle of Mujeres near Cancun.
