handfasting cords

[nymphetflower]

so what are some cool ideas to make handfasting cords?? ive read you can put beads and charms on them, and also write things on the ribbons and such, but just wantin some ideas

[Malflick]

I've heard of people braiding them, embroidering them, weaving them or braiding them out of various things... Charms and writing things on the ribbons sounds cool.

Of course, you could always be like the Doctor and handfast with a bowtie ( I mean, they are cool)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ndfasting5.jpg

[LadyDorothy]

Can someone please explain to me what hand fasting is? I don't really understand it.

Do different knots mean different things? ect.

Thanks!

[Clive]

Can someone please explain to me what hand fasting is? I don't really understand it.

Do different knots mean different things? ect.

Thanks!

A handfasting is a Pagan wedding ceremony. The "handfast" is in the cord - the couple has their hands bound together in the culmination of the ceremony, symbolizing their bond. The couple will presumably keep the knotted cord in their home until there comes a time, if any, that they decide to split up, at which time the knot would be untied and the cord disposed of.

Knots are used in cord magic, wherein the energy from the spell is infused into the cord while knots are tied. This can be used in binding spells or for attraction spells, depending upon the intention. As mentioned, the knot in a handfasting cord indicates the wedded couple's loving bond and commitment. Different knots surely have different uses in the minds of different paths and individuals. This is hardly my area of expertise, but Celtic knot work comes to mind.

[Rae'ya]

so what are some cool ideas to make handfasting cords?? ive read you can put beads and charms on them, and also write things on the ribbons and such, but just wantin some ideas

My husband and I integrated a modified handfasting into our wedding. I must admit that our cord was relatively simple and I didn't make it with any particular symbolism. The symbolism was the cord and the handfasting itself.

Ours was a 3ply commercial cord in the colour scheme of the wedding. I attached gold tassels to either end wrapped with ribbon to make it all neat and pretty. I made it long enough so that when we had my parents tie one end around each of our wrists we had 3 feet or so of cord between us. We stayed bound like that all the rest of the day until we went to bed. The significance to us was that I made it myself and that I designed it for us to be bound in the ceremony and stay that way (bound together as husband and wife) the rest of the day.

[LadyDorothy]

Awwwwww!

I really need to incorporate that into my wedding!

[nymphetflower]

good ideas!!

[Phoenix LeFae]

I've been handfasted twice. The first time we used a strip of fabric from his kilt. When we had a handparting, we cut the tie that we had used to bind us. In my second handfasting we made a rope with three ribbons; red, black, and white; they were not only the colors of the wedding, but also the triple goddess, we thought it was pretty sneaky.

[Heka]

My husband and I incorporated a handfasting into our christan wedding ceremony (yup, he's very christan and I'm very pagan). We had 3 long ribbons, in the colours of the wedding (white, green and brown). The night before we invited people to pizza at the pub and had everyone do some braiding of the 3, to add their love and good intentions for us. Then in the Christian ceremony the minister read out a bit I'd prepared about it and the ribbon was tied around our wrists (though there was a bit of mistaking things and the knot undid nearly straight away! My mum did it a bit better after,but that also died.....). At the reception our vows were threaded on the ribbon and draped over the gift table. We also found a bible verse about "3 strands becoming one" so that was included too. We have the ribbon now, but our house is a mess and its on the floor with all our other wedding stuff, but it will have a home soon!

[Malflick]

My husband and I incorporated a handfasting into our christan wedding ceremony (yup, he's very christan and I'm very pagan). We had 3 long ribbons, in the colours of the wedding (white, green and brown). The night before we invited people to pizza at the pub and had everyone do some braiding of the 3, to add their love and good intentions for us. Then in the Christian ceremony the minister read out a bit I'd prepared about it and the ribbon was tied around our wrists (though there was a bit of mistaking things and the knot undid nearly straight away! My mum did it a bit better after,but that also died.....). At the reception our vows were threaded on the ribbon and draped over the gift table. We also found a bible verse about "3 strands becoming one" so that was included too. We have the ribbon now, but our house is a mess and its on the floor with all our other wedding stuff, but it will have a home soon!

That is super cool. I am tucking this away for (hopefully) years down the line.
Also, this gives me some general hope in my own life ^_^. Belated congrats on your wedding!