Spiritual and Multi-Faith Readings

Spiritual, Hindu, Asian, Native American Readings.

There are many spiritual paths and cultures represented in our world and many of them might be represented on your wedding day.  Sometimes, couples will find something in this list that's perfect for them.  From a Native American blessing, Irish Blessing, Rumi, or other Eastern traditions. 

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Our Union
by Hafiz 
From "Love Poems from God," Daniel Ladinsky (ed), c200

Our union is like this:

You feel cold so I reach for a blanket to cover
our shivering feet.

A hunger comes into your body
so I run to my garden and start digging potatoes.

You asked for a few words of comfort and guidance and
I quickly kneel by your side offering you
a whole book as a
gift.

You ache with loneliness one night so much
you weep, and I say

here is a rope, tie it around me,
Hafiz will be your
companion
for life.

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Destiny
Author, Unknown

Destiny is a mysterious thing. 
No matter what you do or where you go, you cannot avoid it. 
And, no matter how hard you try, even putting forth your greatest effort, you can’t force it to happen before it's time.
This occasion we witness today is the destiny of two souls.
There is not a force in the universe that could have kept you apart, and there is nothing they could have done to come together sooner. 
Each of you had to live your lives, lives that were stepping stones that have led to this moment in time, this uniting of hearts and minds that shall be forever more. 
This occasion we celebrate today is the destiny of two souls.
Yes, destiny is a marvelous and mysterious thing.

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​Married Love
by Kuan Tao-Shen

You and I 
Have so much love 
That it 
Burns like a fire, 
In which we bake a lump of clay 
Molded into a figure of you 
And a figure of me. 
Then we take both of them, 
And break them into pieces, 
And mix the pieces with water, 
And mold again a figure of you, 
And a figure of me. 
I am in your clay. 
You are in my clay. 
In life we share a single quilt. 
In death we will share one bed

---

From The Essential Rumi
translated by Coleman Barks

When I am with you, we stay up all night.
When you're not here, I can't go to sleep.

Praise God for these two insomnias!
And the difference between them.

The minute I heard my first love story
I started looking for you, not knowing
how blind that was.

Lovers don't finally meet somewhere.
They're in each other all along.

We are the mirror as well as the face in it.
We are tasting the taste this minute
of eternity. We are pain
and what cures pain, both. We are
the sweet cold water and the jar that pours.

I want to hold you close like a lute, so we can cry out with loving.

You would rather throw stones at a mirror?
I am your mirror, and here are the stones.

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Excerpt from Tao Te Ching 
​by Lao Tzu

Without words, without even understanding, 
lovers find each other. 
...The moment of finding is always a surprise, 
like meeting an old friend never before known.

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Excerpt from Tao Te Ching ​

Explore and discover that which is within. 
When we find ourselves, we are more easily found by others

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When Two People Are at One 
​from I Ching
by Fu Xi

When two people are at one 
in their inmost hearts 
They shatter even the strength of iron 
or of bronze 
And when two people understand each other 
in their inmost hearts 
Their words are sweet and strong 
like the fragrance of orchids.

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Oath of Friendship
​by Anonymous, China, 1st Century BC

I want to be your friend 
For ever and ever without break or decay. 
When the hills are all flat 
And the rivers are all dry, 
When it lightens and thunders in winter, 
When it rains and snows in summer, 
When Heaven and Earth mingle 
Not 'til then will I part from you.

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Celtic Wedding Song

There they stand, hand in hand, and exchange wedding bands. 
Today is the day of all their dreams and plans. 
And all of their loved ones are here to say, 
God bless this couple who marry today. 

In good times and bad times, in sickness and health, 
May they know that riches aren't needed for wealth. 
Help them face problems they'll meet on their way - 
God bless this couple who marry today. 

May they find peace of mind comes to all who are kind, 
May the rough times ahead become triumphs in time, 
May their children be happy each day - 
God bless this family who started today. 

As they go, may they know every love that was shown, 
And as life it gets shorter may their feelings grow. 
Wherever they travel, wherever they stay, 
God bless this couple who marry today.

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On Marriage
​Kahlil Gibran

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore. You shall be together when the white winds of death scatter your days. Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God. But let there be spaces in your togetherness, and let the winds of the heavens dance between you.  Love one another, but make not a bond of love; Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill each other's cup but drink nor from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone. Even as the strings of a lute are alone through they quiver with the same music. Give your hearts, but not into one another's keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together yet not too near together:  For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow. 

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A Blessing of Unity, Hope, and Harmony.

May God bless you [May you be blessed] with Hope enough to keep sunshine in your love, and Fear enough to keep you holding hands in the dark;
May God bless you with Unity enough to keep your roots entwined, and Separation enough to keep you reaching for each other;
May God bless you with Harmony enough to keep romance in your song, and Discord enough to keep you tuning your love so it becomes sweet music to all who may hear it.

---

​The Buddha’s Sermon at Rajagaha
​The Buddhist Scriptures, The Buddha’s Sermon at Rajagaha, Verses 19-22

Do not deceive, do not despise each other anywhere. Do not be angry nor bear secret resentments; for as a mother will risk her life and watches over her child, so boundless be your love to all, so tender, kind and mild.
Cherish goodwill right and left, early and late, and without hindrance, without stint, be free of hate and envy, while standing and walking and sitting down, whatever you have in mind, the rule of life that is always best is to be loving-kind.

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Buddhist Wedding Prayer 
Lama Thubten Yeshe

Today we promise to dedicate ourselves completely to each other, with body, speech, and mind.
In this life, in every situation, in wealth or poverty, in health or sickness, in happiness or difficulty, we will work to help each other perfectly.
The purpose of our relationship will be to attain enlightenment by perfecting our kindness and compassion toward all sentient beings.

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​Two Souls, One Lif

Before the heavens and the earth, 
when we were still a part of the Great Spirit, 
You and I asked for a journey to be remembered for all time.  
Out of Love our hearts desires answered and we were granted these lives. 
Today, we fulfill that destiny and begin the journey of a lifetime.
We were once one soul, then we became two, and were born into this world.
We have lived lives Separate. 
Now, let us give thanks to the Great Spirit for loving us enough to allow our love for each other to be expressed.
Yesterday we were two souls, today we are one life.

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From, Bread for the Journey
​Author unknow

Many human relationships are like the interlocking fingers of two hands…Human relationships are meant to be like two hands folded together. They can move away from each other while still touching with the fingertips. They can create space between themselves, a little tent, a home, a safe place to be.
“True relationships among people point to God. They are like prayers in the world. Sometimes the hands that pray are fully touching, sometimes there is distance between them. They always move to and from each other, but they never lose touch. They keep praying to the One who brought them together.”

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From The Committed Marriage
Rebbetzin Esther Jungrei

“Under the chuppah (marriage canopy) we pronounce a special blessing that renders the couple loving, kind friends, always at each other’s side, always encouraging each other, and when necessary, criticizing and gently showing where the other erred. God has endowed each of us with unique gifts. When our mates become our best friends, we pool our spiritual resources and strengthen each other. In such a relationship, life’s trials become less threatening, and even the most formidable challenges become manageable. ‘Two are better than one’ is the wise teaching of King Solomon. If one falls, the other is there to pick him/her up. If one is attacked, the other is there to rescue him; if one is depressed, the other is there to buoy her spirits.
“When husband and wife are loving, kind friends, they perceive each other’s feelings so totally that there is no need for explanations. Their relationship is virtually symbiotic. There is total empathy with the needs of the other.”

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Excerpt from Greek prayer to Ayron and Hopi Hymn

I invoke Thee, Who art the greatest of all, Who created all, Who generated it from thyself, Who sees all and is never seen. 

We ask Your blessing for Name and Name tonight as they enter into this cherished covenant.

We ask You to bless this community of friends and family who pledge their love and support of their marriage.
​
Infinite One,
​fly ahead of them
Open the way
Prepare the path
Spirit of the sun
Mother of the light
Come to them!
Amen.

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Cherokee Prayer

God in heaven above, please protect the ones we love.
We honor all You created as they pledge their hearts and lives together.
We honor mother-earth and ask for their marriage to be abundant and grow stronger through the seasons.
We honor fire and ask that our their union be warm and glowing with love in their hearts.
We honor wind and ask that their sail through life safe and calm as in their Father’s arms.
We honor water to clean and soothe their relationship that it may never thirst for love.
With all the forces of the universe, You created, we pray for harmony and true happiness as their forever grow young together.​  Amen.

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Buddhist Wedding Prayer 
Lama Thubten Yeshe

Today we promise to dedicate ourselves completely to each other, with body, speech, and mind.
In this life, in every situation, in wealth or poverty, in health or sickness, in happiness or difficulty, we will work to help each other perfectly.
The purpose of our relationship will be to attain enlightenment by perfecting our kindness and compassion toward all sentient beings.

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May God Bless You

May God bless you [May you be blessed] with Hope enough to keep sunshine in your love, and Fear enough to keep you holding hands in the dark;
May God bless you with Unity enough to keep your roots entwined, and Separation enough to keep you reaching for each other;
May God bless you with Harmony enough to keep romance in your song, and Discord enough to keep you tuning your love so it becomes sweet music to all who may hear it.

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Apache Blessing

Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be a shelter for the other.
Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be a companion to the other.
Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place to enter the days of your togetherness.
May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years.
​May happiness be your companion, and may your days together be good and long upon the earth.

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A Spritual Prayer

Divine Spirit (Father, Lord), we know Your presence is with all of us here this special day of Bride and Groom's wedding and we give thanks. We ask Your blessing and love be with us during this ceremony and to especially fill the hearts of Bride and Groom as they pledge their love to one another. May the wisdom and spirit of all-giving and all-understanding Love pervade all the words spoken and all the love given here today, that these vows offered will remain strong and true and abiding in the presence of love all the days of their lives. May all of us present feel the strength and depth of Bride and Groom’s love and experience a rebirth of the power of love in our own lives. We ask these things in the Name of the Divine Spirit and give thanks that it is so.

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A Blessing for The Journey (Buddhist Prayer)
 Sensei Wendy Egyoku Nakao

Let us vow to bear witness to the wholeness of life,
realizing the completeness of each and everything.
Embracing our differences,
I shall know myself as you,
and you as myself.
May we serve each other
for all our days,
here, there, and everywhere. 
Let us vow to open ourselves to the abundance of life.
Freely giving and receiving, I shall care for you,
for the trees and stars,
as treasures of my very own.
May we be grateful
for all our days,
here, there, and everywhere.
Let us vow to forgive all hurt,
caused by ourselves and others,
and to never condone hurtful ways.
Being responsible for my actions,
I shall free myself and you.
Will you free me, too?
May we be kind
for all our days,
here, there, and everywhere. 
Let us vow to remember that all that appears will disappear.
In the midst of uncertainty,
I shall sow love.
Here! Now! I call to you:
Let us together live
The Great Peace that we are.
May we give no fear
for all our days,
here, there, and everywhere.

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Hindu Marriage Poem

You have become mine forever.
Yes, we have become partners.
I have become yours.
Hereafter, I cannot live without you.
Do not live without me.
Let us share the joys.
We are word and meaning, unite.
You are thought and I am sound.

May the nights be honey-sweet for us.
May the mornings be honey-sweet for us.
May the plants be honey-sweet for us.
May the earth be honey-sweet for us.

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The 7 Steps for a Hindu Marriage

Let us live with honor and respect.
Let us walk together so we get food.

Let us be happy and enjoy life.
Let us walk together so we get strength.

Let us share joys and pains together.
Let us walk together so we get wealth.

Let us not forget parents and elders.
Let us walk together so we get happiness.

Let us observe all acts of charity.
Let us walk together so we have family.

Let us live long and peaceful life.
Let us walk together so we have joy.

Let us be friends with love and sacrifice.
Let us walk together so we have friendship.

Now let us make a vow together. We shall share love, share the same food, share our strengths, share the same tastes. We shall be of one mind, we shall observe the vows together. I shall be the Samaveda, you the Rigveda, I shall be the Upper World, you the Earth; I shall be the Sukhilam, you the Holder - together we shall live and beget children, and other riches; come thou, O sweet-worded girl!​

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From Mystical Poems of Rumi 2

May these nuptials be blessed for us, may this marriage be blessed for us, 
May it be ever like milk and sugar, this marriage like wine and halvah. 
May this marriage be blessed with leaves and fruits like the date tree; 
May this marriage be laughing forever, today, tomorrow, like the hours of paradise. 
May this marriage be the sign of compassion and the approval of happiness here and hereafter; 
May this marriage be fair of fame, fair of face and fair of omen as the moon in the azure sky. 
I have fallen silent for words cannot describe how the spirit has mingled with this marriage.

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Hindu Marriage 7 Steps (Saptapadi)

May this couple be blessed with an abundance of resources and comforts and be helpful to one another in all ways.
May this couple be strong and complement one another.
May this couple be blessed with prosperity and riches on all levels.
May this couple be eternally happy.
May this couple be blessed with a happy family life.
May this couple live in perfect harmony… true to their personal values and their joint promises.
May this couple always be the best of friends.