The issue of mixed religious couples is becoming more and more common. There are tens of thousands of weddings between different religions each year in the United States alone. But, what should you do if you are Wiccan and your fiancé is Christian? There are a multitude of options. One, if you are open about your religion, ask for a dual service with a HP/HPS and a Christian minister. Be aware that many churches will not marry couples if one or both parties are not Christian; so be sure to find out ahead of time.

There is the option of just a Christian ceremony or just a Wiccan ceremony.

The two of you may still want to be cautious of telling a Christian minister that one of you is Wiccan. If a Wiccan Handfasting is what you prefer, make sure it is to be performed by a licensed HP/HPS who can certify marriage certificates.

Another option is doing two ceremonies. You can have both of the ceremonies public, one private and one public. Often Handfastings are done in the morning or at noon to symbolize the new life together. If you opted for this option, a close friend who is familiar with the ritual if a HP/HPS is not available could do the Handfasting and then the Christian ceremony could be performed by a licensed officiate. It is also possible to be married by a Justice of the Peace and then have a ceremony you both want, or just a part to celebrate the union.

Because of the increasing number of people marring between religions, many licensed officiates now specialized in what is called a non-denominational service. Most of the officiants will let you pick what aspects of various traditions you want in your wedding. These traditions range from Hindu to Islam to Native American, and many more. You can find these off cants in your local wedding guide magazines and at local wedding festivals. You can also find them at the local Unitarian Church. Be aware however, many of these off cants are expensive so be prepared for their price ranges.

There are plenty of ways to have a wedding between two people of different religions. You two obviously love each other to have made it this far. Use that love to decide what will be the best for you two and let that decision be one of the many building blocks to your eternal love for each other.

Do spells/rituals have to rhyme?

Some Wiccans will say yes, some will say no. The truth is, no, they do not. A spell's outcome will not be different if it does or does not rhyme. Do not, however, get me wrong, it can be a lot of fun making a spell or ritual rhyme.

Looking up new words in the Thesaurus for similar meanings but different sounds is not just educational; it takes effort, which pours then into your magickal workings. Nevertheless, we do all have to be realistic, not everyone is talented with rhyming, and that is fine. The fact of the matter is, what is said to be tradition, is just a tradition because rhyming was a necessity. I call these kinds of traditions "no-explanation-traditions" because when asked "Why?", no one can explain it. Why do we have to rhyme rituals and spells, because tradition? Why is it tradition? Here is where the blank is drawn.

It is like the story of the Turkey and the roasting pan that was too small. One day, a woman was entertaining some friends and cooked a turkey dinner. Even though the turkey fit just fine in the pan, the woman cut off the end of the turkey. One of the guests asked the woman why, and the woman replied, "Because it is tradition." The guest asked why it was tradition and the woman just shrugged and said it was how her mother always did it. A few days later, the woman was talking with her mother and asked her why cutting the end of the turkey off was a tradition. The only reply the mother could come up with that is the way her mother did it. Therefore, the mother called the grandmother. When asked the same question, the grandmother replied "Because, dummy, the my roasting pan was not big enough!" Cutting the end of the turkey off was not done for a special reason, but because it was needed in order to cook the turkey. A spell rhyming is also a tradition for the same reason, necessity. Centuries ago, works of literature, poems, and so forth were not recorded in written record, but instead passed down verbally. The brain loves patterns and what better pattern then rhyme scheme? Rhyming stories were easier for the storytellers to remember. Some of the greatest early works of literature rhymed, such as Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey, Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales and even works as recently as Shakespeare plays. Spells and rituals were passed down verbally as well; therefore, rhyming made it easier to remember.

As written language became increasingly popular, the world perception of religion changed dramatically. Those who followed the old religion were persecuted and often killed for their beliefs. It became increasingly dangerous to have any symbols of Witchcraft on oneself, including spells and rituals. Therefore, our ancestors passed the craft and magickal workings down through oral tradition, where rhyming made this easier.

Overall, rhyming rituals, spells, and other magickal workings can be fun, empowering, and personal experience. However, it is not mandated for these things to rhyme. If you cannot for the life of you find that word that conveys the meaning you want, but also has the sound you want, it is ok. It does not take away from your intent, which is the most important aspect of any magickal working.

--Nualilith