As they started the fire for our lodge ceremony in January, 2021, Victoria and Michael Tree asked me to conjure their wedding vows. I sent them the vows below during the 4 days after ceremony while "something sacred wears us". We are sharing them here so our community can support and join them in these vows that they will sit with for the next 13 moons...
[Offering sage, cedar, sweetgrass on chaga ember]We gather today as community to support, celebrate and nurture this union of Victoria and Michael as they vow to love each other always as equal cohorts in life. I've enjoyed the honor of seeing them engage in this process over the last 4 or more years. Their attentiveness to addressing growth opportunities with deep authenticity and recognition of the occasional need for help along the way has been remarkable. His devotion to her and genuine efforts in finding truth and love combined with her diligence in acceptance and allowing for the true nature of each of them has been so beautiful to behold in the depth of their understanding. There will always be lessons in life and challenging times when we value a level of partnership and perseverance that is only available thru cultivating experiences. These two beautiful humans have developed sustainable patterns together and come here today asking humbly for supportive community witness and acknowledgment throughout their lives.
May we also vow to deeply discern that our own actions are only appropriate for reinforcing this union in every way.
Victoria and Michael, May you ache for each other in your body and your thoughts, love being the only habit to never get enough of.
See each other lying down and waking up, always being sure to call to each other softly enough. If by chance you do wrong please quickly make it up.
Be true like fire and ice. Laugh like the flowers. Know too much to argue or judge. In the darkest nights, Come to each other like a raven with a broken wing.
Michael do you place your hand on the earth and vow to uphold your commitments to Victoria for a lifetime of loving kindness, patience, honesty, protection, nurturing, _____? with every action you take in devotion to this union ___?
Victoria do you ...(same as above)
Place all hands (2 held together) on the earth or a stone for 4 deep slow breaths.
Release hands and blow the breath of new life into each other's heart.
Offer rabbit tobacco, then a shared leaf of lobelia on the chaga fire ember.
Drink water together from the traditional wedding vessel.
Place rings on each other's hand.
With the help of ancestors, family, friends, guiding spirits and ---- may you always uphold and nurture this unique loving connection throughout your lives with gratitude to each other.
[Feed each other at the end... Drink Bubbles of wholeness and eat chocolate truffles in recognition of shadow work.
Offer final lobelia/tobacco to end ceremony.]
Victoria and Michael, May you ache for each other in your body and your thoughts, love being the only habit to never get enough of.
See each other lying down and waking up, always being sure to call to each other softly enough. If by chance you do wrong please quickly make it up.
Be true like fire and ice. Laugh like the flowers. Know too much to argue or judge. In the darkest nights, Come to each other like a raven with a broken wing.
Michael do you place your hand on the earth and vow to uphold your commitments to Victoria for a lifetime of loving kindness, patience, honesty, protection, nurturing, _____? with every action you take in devotion to this union ___?
Victoria do you ...(same as above)
Place all hands (2 held together) on the earth or a stone for 4 deep slow breaths.
Release hands and blow the breath of new life into each other's heart.
Offer rabbit tobacco, then a shared leaf of lobelia on the chaga fire ember.
Drink water together from the traditional wedding vessel.
Place rings on each other's hand.
With the help of ancestors, family, friends, guiding spirits and ---- may you always uphold and nurture this unique loving connection throughout your lives with gratitude to each other.
[Feed each other at the end... Drink Bubbles of wholeness and eat chocolate truffles in recognition of shadow work.
Offer final lobelia/tobacco to end ceremony.]
