Ritual STORY to read for class:

 I realize my affirmation exercise cannot be used for the class. I have to use a STORY and how that would be used in ritual...

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This could be used for a variety of rituals depending on which aspect of the story is focused on, such as a right of passage  or handfasting or engagement celebration. I will be presenting it in a right of passage context, so the theme to focus on is the willingness for different characters to change and accept new states of being, so that they can move forward in life towards happiness. 

 It is a folk song, and I am not sure how my voice will be volume wise through the microphone so please adjust as needed. 

"Once a fair and handsome seal-lord lay his foot upon the sand

For to woo the fisher's daughter and to claim her marriage hand.

"I have come in from the ocean, I have come in from the sea,

And I'll not go to the waves, love, lest ye come along with me."

"Lord, long have I loved you as a selkie on the foam.

"I would gladly go and wed ye and be Lady of your home

But I cannot go into the ocean, I cannot go into the sea.

I would drown beneath your waves, love, if I went along with ye."

"Lady, long have I loved you: I would have you for my wife.

I shall stay upon your shoreland though it robs me of my life.

I will stay one night beside you, never go back to the sea,

I will stay and be thy husband though it be the death of me."

"Lord, I cannot go and wed thee all to watch my lover die!

Since I'll not be left a widow I have a plan for us to try:

Let us speak with my grandmother who's ever dwelt beside the sea.

She may know some trick or treasure that I may wed my fair selkie."

So they've gone to her grandmother's little cottage by the sea

To inquire how a maiden can be wed to her selkie.

For the selkie's watery kingdom would surely rob her of her breath

But to stay on land past midnight, it would surely be his death.

"Lord, I know not how to aid you – you may never live on shore.

For your kind to live 'til dawning has ne'er been seen before.

But my mother had a seal-coat that she buried 'neath a tree

For she told me that its wearer would become a fair selkie."

So they've journeyed farther inland though the seal-lord's getting weak

And she's shouldering the shovel to unearth the thing they seek.

At the rising of the full moon underneath the elfin oak

She's unearthed that very treasure of which her grandmother spoke.

at  the stroke of midnight they have made it back to sea

And she's donned that magic seal-coat and become a maid selkie.

Now they've gone into the ocean, hand in hand into the sea,

She has gone along -- a fair seal-bride for her selkie"

This song was originally written by Emily Holbert Kellam and if you want to hear my favorite version of it being performed, I sing it as it is performed by Heather Dale.