Wedding Rings, Should You Wear Them?
Yes, of Course You Should!
Wedding
Rings, should you wear them? Yes, of course you should! On some of
the radio stations I listen to (KTSA and WOAI in San Antonio) much
ado seems to made of the prince not wearing a wedding ring.
Well,
it won't send you to hell, but personally I think it is evil to not
wear a wedding ring if you are married. The only exception I would
make to this is that if not wearing the ring is an issue of
affordability.
Not
everyone knows you are married. When you walk into your local grocery
store, church or restaurant, by not having a wedding ring on, you are
giving someone an invitation to ask you out on a date. Not just a
church lunch or dinner with friends and family date, a romantic date.
One that could and should lead to marriage.
"I
don't know you" Is irrelevant when asking for a date. One
purpose of dating is to get to know the person enough that you can
decide whether or not they are marriage material. If you are a
Christian and the other person is an atheist, then you are clearly
not marriage material for each other.
If
one of you belong to the Church of Christ and the other is a Southern
Baptist, then it will take a little longer (but not much) to decide
whether you are marriage material, you will have to sort through
issues on which the two groups differ and decide whether you can live
with those different beliefs or not. When I belonged to the Christian
Churches/Churches of Christ I did not think that the issue of
salvation was an important difference. Now that I am a southern
Baptist, I think it is a very important distinction.
But
I digress. That's a subject for another article. Wedding rings let
people know you are married, by not wearing a wedding ring, you are
indeed claiming that you are single.
But
there is another problem with rings; some people wear so many rings
that you can't tell one from the other. I once had a date with a
young lady who had a ring on every finger. She just said "I love
rings." The problem with society today, is even people who use
to know can't tell the difference between rings. Is it a class ring,
an engagement ring, a wedding band? How does one know if you are
available? Wear your wedding band on the 4th finger
(ring finger) of your left hand (even if you're left handed) and not
many other rings. If you're engaged, wear your engagement ring, so us
single guys and gals will know you are not available, and yes it is
OK to for gals to ask guys out on dates if we have no rings on our
fingers.
Wedding Rings as Spiritual Connection
The Meaning of Your Wedding Rings
The
first item you likely encountered when you got engaged was a ring.
Engagement and wedding rings represent the circle of love and
connection surrounding a married couple, and the circle you cast as
you craft your magical rite of partnership. Put two rings side by
side, and you create the infinity symbol. Your rings state an
intention to stand at each other's sides for eternity. The wedding
ring represents the sacred circle of your marriage.
In
addition to symbolizing the sacred space of your marriage, your ring
is a talisman, connecting you to the energy of your love. A talisman
is a small object that carries energy and intention; it forms an
invisible line of connection with the person or place with which it
is associated.
Quantum
physics provides a scientific illustration of how two things will
always be connected energetically in its theory of non-locality.
Space-time is non-local, which is to say that on higher levels of
energetic vibration than matter, objects need not be "local,"
or in the same chunk of time-space, to affect each other. Distance
healing and psychic abilities work because of non-locality. A
talisman contains energy that will always be connected to other
energy, no matter the distance between them.
To
charge your wedding rings with loving intention, carry your partner's
ring in your pocket or on a necklace for a moon cycle, new moon to
new moon. Your rings will then be like portkeys forever connecting
you and your partner, and you will carry a small piece of each
other's energy with you at all times.
Of
course this is true without your rings, for we carry in our bodies
and spirits the resonance of everything we encounter. The longer you
are with someone, the stronger this resonance grows. That is why
sometimes two people seem more and more alike over time; not only do
they pick up each other's habit, they entrain energetically. However,
your rings can also be focused amulets of protection and love; the
power is not in the ring, but in the energy you pour into it.
Take
care in choosing your wedding bands, and choose them together. My
fiance and I found our rings when we least expected to, at a Scottish
fair in the Rocky Mountains. We discovered an artisan from Santa Fe
who makes beautiful Celtic gold bands, and we fell in love with his
rings. It was nearly a year before the wedding, but we ordered them
on the spot.
We
chose a Celtic knot pattern that we both liked, and each chose the
colors of gold for our individual rings. I will always remember this
fair with its Celtic music, medieval and Scottish clothing, and
Guinness on tap. Rain soaked the day, a rare treat in the Rocky
Mountains, and my Sweetie and I lovingly held hands after choosing
our wedding bands. It is the most comfortable, beautiful ring I have
ever worn, and I will wear it with pride and love forever.
Friends
of mine had their rings designed after his parents' bands, having
them formed of platinum instead of his parents' gold rings. The
groom's is slightly wider than the bride's, but is of the same
design. Her engagement ring nestles nicely into the wedding band.
These rings not only connect them to each other, but also to their
parents through the shared design.
Another
couple spontaneously decided to state their commitment to each other
while at the Ring of Brodgar in the Orkney Isles. The bride wore a
special ring depicting these standing stones, and later they also
chose plain white gold bands that were sturdier than her silver
Brodgar ring, but it is this ring she holds with connection and
memory.
My
parents did not give each other wedding rings because neither of them
wears jewelry regularly, and they felt that a ring implied ownership
over another person. It is not necessary to have a wedding ring,
especially if you wish to make a statement in not choosing them,
though it is a symbol well understood by our culture, an ancient
symbol of connection.
Let
your rings develop stories, for the love and intention surrounding
not only your relationship but the rings themselves will resonate in
them forever. Think about your spiritual and cultural heritage,
family traditions, or personal symbols that you wish to honor. You
can have your rings designed specifically for you, or you can
purchase a pre-made ring that holds some significance in another way.
The cost is less important than the meaning. When my love proposed,
we had very little money. Together we picked out a silver ring with a
garnet stone for my engagement that cost less than $20. I love it
because it represents a special time in my life, as well as my
fiance's love.
We
had been together four years when he proposed, and this ring, though
inexpensive, represents to me the leap of faith he took in asking me
to marry him. For him, most marriages end in divorce, his own first
marriage included; when we chose that garnet ring together, it
represented the healing we had done together and the trust he gave to
our union.
In
choosing a stone for your rings, you may want to consider their
magical significance and meaning. There are books that focus on stone
and metal meanings, but here I have included a few of the popular
materials used in wedding and engagement bands.
Gold
- Represents spirituality, understanding, purity and success.
Attracts positive energy and aids in healing. Gold was probably the
first metal worked by human hands, for archaeologists have discovered
decorative gold objects from the Stone Age. Gold, the color of the
sun, represents the God, while silver is the Goddess' metal.
Platinum
- Represents longevity. Calming, improves memory, and brings balance.
Platinum is the only metal denser than gold.
Emerald
- Represents love, prosperity, protection, purification, wisdom,
growth, and fertility. Emerald is the most valuable type of beryl, a
crystal found in coarse-grained granite.
Diamond
- Represents purity, perfection, abundance, courage and inspiration.
The word diamond comes from the Greek adamas, meaning unconquerable.
Diamonds come from dark, earthy coal under intense heat and pressure,
and their clarity therefore lends us the same powers of
transformation on a spiritual level.
Pearl
- Represents love, faith, innocence, protection, luck and the shining
full moon. Born from the water via oysters, pearls are one way the
planet makes beauty out of stress. They are feminine and pure, and
encourage self acceptance. Sacred to Aphrodite and Benten.
Ruby
- Represents passion, protection, balance, vitality and creativity.
It aids concentration and brings strength.
Saphire
- Represents joy, peace, and beauty.
Topaz
- Represents success, true love, individuality, creativity, and joy.
Honors the mystery.
When
you find the right ring, do a simple ceremony of thanks to the land.
Hold the ring in your hands, and send healing energies to the land
from which it came. This ring will always carry the energies of its
origin, so sending healing energy to its home can be very powerful
and important. Simply envision the land whole and healthy, with the
water and air clean.
Send out a prayer or intention that we may learn to mine our jewels with care for the earth. Even if you find an estate or heirloom ring, or have it made from some other piece of jewelry, send a prayer of thanks to its original birth place. What you send out as love blesses you in return. You might also consider rings or other pieces of jewelry made from beads or other non-metal.
Finally,
try to find a ring craftsman whom you trust. His or her energy will
also be a part of this cherished trinket forever, though it will
lessen over time as you wear it. The artist's clarity of mind and
heart make for a clean ring suitable for love.
10 Celtic Wedding Rings
Celtic
wedding rings are ideal options for your marriage because of the
beautiful designs that are steeped in symbolic meaning. Inspired by
symbolism of the Celtic culture, the knots and weave patterns
included on the rings are very appropriate for the lifelong
commitment that a marriage implies.
If
you are looking for a Celtic wedding ring to mark this very important
occasion, here are ten Celtic wedding rings to consider.
Pierced
Knot Celtic Design Wedding Ring
- Ladies: $584-$859
- Mens: $706-$1,057
- This Celtic design wedding ring, from Rings From Ireland online retailer, features a pierced Celtic knot, giving the ring an open link look. This ring is available in two metal tones, yellow and white gold, that can be reversed depending on your preference. ringsfromireland.com
14K
Trinity Knot Set With Diamonds
- Ladies: $560
- This beautiful Celtic wedding ring features a row of open weave trinity knots connected by set diamonds. Available in sized four to nine, the ring comes in 14 karat yellow gold. taraceltic.com
Comfort
Fit Ladies Diamond Trinity Knot Wedding Ring
- Ladies: $733
- Inspired by the meaning behind the trinity knot, this beautiful ring uses the knot in a unique way. A flat faced yellow or white gold ring features embedded diamonds between individually engraved trinity knots that are set into the band. irishcelticjewels.com
- Ladies: $498
- A beautiful Celtic Spiral is engraved onto white or yellow gold, your choice and trimmed with the opposite gold tone. The simple but elegant band is available in sizes four to nine. irishcelticjewels
Borderless
Laura Wedding Ring
- Ladies: $299-$320
- This dainty wedding band is created by four interweaving lines that create a braided pattern representing the path through life. Available in 18k yellow gold over sterling silver this ring is a very affordable option, that still gives you the what you are looking for in a Celtic design. artisanweddingrings.com
Infinity
Band
- Ladies: $66-$1,000
- Men: $75-$2,000
- The beautiful simplicity of the infinity band is a popular choice for couples, because it represents the never ending love you have for your partner. The Infinity band consists of just the two bands in an open weave that is seamless. Several metal choices are available making this a great choice for whatever budget you are on. celtic-weddingrings.com
DREAMS,
Diamond Celtic Knot Ring
- Ladies & Men: $1445-$1620
- This open weave Celtic knot represents the love, desire and ambition of your relationship. Two entwined lines knot together and weave around with diamonds set into the crossing knots. White Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum and Palladium are all available in this design, and prices vary by the size needed. celticrevival.com
Diamond
Encrusted Celtic Knot
- Ladies and Men: $725
- This two tone wedding ring features a white gold Celtic knot encrusted with diamonds and set into a yellow gold band. The unique design and use of gold and diamonds makes this ring a very stunning piece and the perfect symbol of your love. uniquecelticweddingrings.com
Narrow
Celtic Shield Wedding Bands with Rim
- Ladies and Men: $449
- This ring features the Celtic Shield whose design is taken from the Ardagh Chalice. The two tone band has a white gold rim with yellow gold interior decorated with the shield, Celtic knots and filigree designs taken replicated from the chalice. theweddingbandshop.com
Diamond
Set Celtic Knot Wedding Ring
- Ladies: $590-$825
- Men: $1,030-$1,350
- This unique use of the Celtic knot and the claddagh are carved into a yellow gold band and separated by a band of diamonds. The repeating row of diamonds divides but also serves to unite the two most meaningful symbols of love in the Celtic culture. celtic-weddings-rings.biz
Thanks
for the articles to Butch
West, Sophia
S. Mark, Clea
Danaan.
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