Clergy

Werfriends Clergy

Werfriends Study Group is proud to announce that several of our Members are Ministers and are legally able to perform ceremonies and rituals.

Handfasting

A Handfasting is the marriage rite used by many Pagans. The term itself comes from the custom of shaking hands over a contract. "Handfasting" refers to the hands being bound together with a cord as part of the ritual. Ever heard of "tying the knot" or "the ties that bind"?

In modern Pagan traditions, it may be used either in the informal betrothal sense, or may be used as a legal wedding, complete with wedding license. For some it is a year and a day, renewable "so long as love shall last" and for others a commitment to be together throughout this life time, or through many lives.

Handparting

An Alternative Rite for the Passage of Divorce

Living Tribute, Crossing Over, & Funeral

A Living Tribute is a funeral ceremony for the living. To preserve and honor the loved one's memory, because a life well-lived should never be forgotten.

A Crossing Over is the funeral rite used by many Pagans. The term 'Crossing Over' refers to the spirit leaving the earthly plane and "crossing" into the spiritual plane. It is also a celebration of the life that has been lived, and the life that is to come.

Other Rituals and Ceremonies

Rites of Passage - A rite of passage is a ritual that marks a change in a person's social or sexual status. Rites of passage are often ceremonies surrounding events such as childbirth, menarche or other milestones within puberty, weddings, menopause, and death.

Naming Ceremony – The rite naming a baby and presenting the child to the public.

Dedication – Dedicating oneself to follow the Pagan Path or a path of their choosing.

Birthing - A birthing ritual is a nurturing and life-affirming ritual for the mother-to-be. Unlike a baby shower which is centered around material gifts for the baby, a birthing ritual honors the mother and the journey she is about to undertake in labor.

A birthing ritual brings together the women in our lives whose love and support means the most to us, and whose wisdom will guide us through the uncharted path to motherhood. The birthing ritual is for our mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, cousins, best friends and soulmates. Through symbolic ceremonies and rituals in which all take part, the mother-to-be is strengthened, supported, and nurtured in preparation for her birthing time.

Wiccaning - analogous to a Christening for an infant, is the presenting of an infant to the God and Goddess for protection. Wiccanings apply specifically to the Wiccan religion, but are also celebrated in some of the other Pagan, non-Wicca religions. In those cases, while the format may resemble Wiccaning, it is often referred to as a "saining."

A wiccaning is a ritual that, in traditional paths of Wicca, the High Priest and High Priestess will present the infant to a God and Goddess. In accordance with the importance put on free will in Wiccan traditions, the infant is not necessarily expected to choose a Pagan path for themselves when they grow older.

Wiccaning is also an opportunity for the parents to present their child to the five elements and ask a blessing or protection. Often both the child's legal name and the child's Wiccan (ceremonial) name are used. This is until such time as the child chooses another Wiccan name for themselves, usually at a coming of age.