Shamanic wedding

The shamans have always been officiating at the wedding ceremonies particularly in the indigenous cultures. While officiating at a shamanic wedding ceremony the shamans take word of advice from the guiding spirits as to how to perform a particular ceremony for a couple in the best possible manner.

 The typical shamanic wedding is really a different from a regular church wedding. In a shamanic wedding there is always scope to include the desire of the couple while maintaining the sacredness of the ceremony. The shaman meets the couple much in advance before the wedding ceremony so as to chalk out the details of it as the couples seldom have an idea as to the way the wedding will be solemnized since in a shamanic wedding ceremony there is no fixed format and it is not mandatory for the couple to be present in the ceremony while at the same time there is a great scope for all sorts of verities and improvisations.

Prior to the wedding ceremony there is often a yoga and mediation session so as to clear the mind body and should of the person which is followed by the  power walk where there is a communication with the nature and the cleansing ceremony for the wedding couple or for anyone who is interested in it.

During the wedding ceremony there is a music played which can be altered by drumming. After that there is the cleansing and purification of the whole space by the way of smudging which includes the burning of the sweet grass. A sacred cleansing smoke is created to clean up all the people place and the tools that are to be used in the ceremony.

There is the lightning of candles in the six directions and then people gather in the circle to call the spirits to bless the wedding couple. The offerings are often made to the spirits which may be of tobacco rice or corn. Afterwards there is a ritual meal that consists of serving of food trays with fruits in them to all the people. The ceremony ends with all the people taking to dance.