photos by Bob Fitch

Tom and Abeja’s wedding ceremony was conducted in a magnificent circle of majestic redwood trees, to coincide with the commencement of the New Moon at 12:30 PM on Thursday, June 17^th 2004.  

                 
Faeries, dragonflies and other forest beings frolicked among the trees and greeting participants as they arrived in the circle.  Prayers for the couple were whispered into a Pueblo prayer vase.

 The Wizard Galen (Tom’s brother) danced in with drumming and singing our rendition of "In the redwoods, the giant redwoods, two lovers dreams take flight."  
                         

                                           
    Men singing "Long live Love!" and women singing "Prepare ye the way of the heart"  called the couple to enter from opposite directions accompanied by pixies strewing flower petals, blowing bubbles and spewing faerie dust.

Forest deities called in the unique energies of the 4 directions and the uniting, spiritual forces of the center (combining in-, out-, up- and down-ward). Diane Patterson sang her song, Ceremony, to complete the invocation.

The Duke of Doubt, Jeff Caplan, burst into the circle to bind the couple with cords representing the pitfalls of marriage.

Faerie Saviours ran the evil one off with everyone chanting "Down with Fear, Up with Love!"
                                 

Abeja's parents, John and Nancy Hummel (who have been married for 47 years), and Tom's parents, Claire and Robert Shaver (still married after 56 years!) released the couple from foolish fears by clipping their bonds and letting them know how great marriage is.  The Mom's gave some advice from Corinthians and from the Dali Lama.  

                                                 
    Ryan Brandenburg spoke of the native prophecies for this time, and the need for love over fear.  He led the community gathered in prayer and blessed Tom and Abeja with burning cedar and an eagle feather.

We read our vows to each other, which you can read by clicking here.

The spirits of each direction entered and decanted bottles of aromatic oils infused with sacred herbs, while leading everyone in prayer.  Read the prayers and the herbs here! The Vials of this oil were given out to everyone to encourage love and commitment in their lives.

Tom and Abeja anointed each other with oils.  "With this oil, I join my life with yours.  I open your heart so that you may see me, and I set you free!"

Galen proclaimed the couple married, and they walked around the circle so that everyone could shower them with a mixture of birdseed and coriander.

The directions were released, and the everyone drummed, sang, and danced their way onto the reception.