Anniversary Ritual

Altar set up. Pot of live flowers [red, white or pink] white cloth & candle, taper, matches, bell, incense & burner, salt, water, rue twig, athame, wand, pentacle, cauldron with flowers floating in it, love herbs around base, oil, crowns of flowers & herbs, book of shadows. Go to places in circle wearing crowns. Wife rings bell 3 times, then makes a pentacle in oil on each one present,[ third eye ] the husband then makes a pentacle on wife., then casts circle with athame & all walk around the circle # times. Wife blesses water & salt sprinkles some around circle & on each one present & the altar, husband does her. Husband lights incense & goddess candle & says: hear ye, all beings of the elemental realms, be welcome in our circle, come in peace, come in power. Wife rings bell 3 times in each quarter. Husband:  great Hera! We perform a rite of thanks in your honour, within this circle rightly cast. Hear our call! Bless our marriage on this anniversary night. Beloved Hera, divine lady, hear our call! O gracious goddess, we give you thanks for all our blessings received during our time of marriage, lend us your strength & love during the coming years. Assist us Hera with the challenges ahead. Share with us your divine wisdom. May you bless our home & all who live within these walls. Wife: great Hera, teach us to respect all things & beings. Remind us that the greatest power of all is love. Accept this token of our appreciation & love [points wand at pot of flowers, & blesses them with pentacle.]. We are grateful for all that you have blessed us with & for the protection you give us & our home. We give you honour, great one. Wife rings bell 3 times for cakes & ale. Husband: a toast to the great goddess & her lord & all those present here this night, may the lord & lady smile down upon us this night. We give them honour. Wife: We now partake of the fertility of the earth, blessed be the lord & lady. Beloved guardians of earth, air, water & fire accept this offering in our name. Wife rings bell 3 times. Both say: Merry meet, merry part & merry meet again, this rite is done. All walk around circle 3 times widdershins. Go outside give offerings of cakes & ale & plant the live flower near outside shrine, or if you do not have a garden, place on a sunny window-sill. Have a feast at home with family & friends or go out to dinner on your own.