I have had the pleasure to talk to Elle, who founded CelticOathingStones. She answered all our questions and explained the important role Scottish traditions have in the modern world and in weddings
Hello, my name is Elle Carling and I’m a Scottish artist living and working in Edinburgh, Scotland. I’ve been a professional artist for many years and when I discovered the Celtic tradition of Oathing Stones I decided to use my art to help carry on the tradition a wee bit in my own modern way! I’ve been honoured that people use my creations as part of their special day, whether that be for wedding vows, anniversaries or baby naming ceremonies. My stones can be personalised and are also used to celebrate birthdays, mark memorials, welcome house warmings and to send New Year wishes. You can also use them as pretty paperweights or ornaments!
What is an oathing stone?
An oathing stone is a ceremonial stone that can be used in different rituals, such as weddings, vow exchanges and other meaningful customs. It’s taken from an ancient Celtic tradition where the couple place their hands upon a stone while saying their wedding vows to “set them in stone”. It’s believed that the stone, being part of the earth, symbolises permanence, and that promises made in contact with the natural world are sacred and eternal, reflecting the couple’s commitment to their marriage. Some believe that declaring vows near water grounds the commitment in both earth (stone) and emotion/spirit (water).
Its history?
The oathing stone is rooted in ancient Celtic and Scottish customs, where the Earth and natural elements were believed to witness and seal promises. In medieval Scotland stones played a role in both ceremony and legality. Some clans placed their hand on a special “clach” (Gaelic for stone) when swearing loyalty, settling disputes, or forming alliances. These stones were sometimes inscribed or located at sacred sites. What I really love is that for the Celts, holding the stone was a way of transferring energy not just between themselves, but also the land & their ancestors so they too could be “present”, so for many people the stone is a really meaningful inclusion at ceremonies.
How they can be adapted into a modern tradition?
Oathing stones can absolutely be used in modern weddings, and they are a beautiful way to blend ancient tradition with your personal love story and can be easily modified to use in both traditional and alternative weddings. Often the officiant will explain the symbolism to guests and the couple can hold or place their hands on the stone while reciting their vows. You can also lay the stone on a small table with a sign explaining the Oathing stone tradition and ask guests to hold or touch the stone to infuse it with good wishes for the marriage. Your stone can be personalised with your names, wedding date, or a meaningful word or quote that makes it special to you and becomes a beautiful keepsake after the ceremony. It’s also a lovely way to display your wedding rings. The stone can also be used together with other traditions such as handfasting rituals.
How you can include other family members during a ceremony?
Including family members in an Oathing stone ritual is a beautiful way to honor loved ones and create a shared sense of unity. There are lots of meaningful and modern ways to make them feel connected and included in your commitment. Including children in a blended family wedding using an Oathing stone is a deeply touching way to honor the formation of a new family and help the children feel seen, loved, and included. They can have their own mini stones unique to them to feel part of the special day and to honor the family they are becoming. Close family members can pass the stone around to offer strength and support to the couple and it can even be used as part of group blessings for spiritual or nature based ceremonies where the community or family offers a collective vow.
How stones can be used for more than weddings like memorials or funerals or even naming days ?
With their powerful symbolism and connection to the earth, stones are perfect to commemorate all sorts of life journeys and celebrations. They can be personalised for baby naming ceremonies and passed around guests to offer blessings or wishes for the baby and can be placed in a keepsake box or nursery. They can also be used for vow renewals, anniversaries, Coming-of-age ceremonies or when someone starts a new life journey- e.g.spiritual, academic, professional and the stone affirms who they are becoming. They can be used as a ritual object in remembrance ceremonies, painted in the person’s favourite colour or theme, or as a memorial to connect with a special person who has passed, where the stone can be placed in a shrine or carried round by a loved one. Other requests include stones for healing rituals, group oath taking and pet memorials. So many uses is a testimony to just how powerful the stone is in marking ceremonial life events
How People can purchase your stones?
I’m so touched and honoured when people hold one of my stones as they take vows, or remember, or commit. If you feel a hand painted Oathing stone would be right for your ceremony then I have a selection of my work available in my Etsy shop at celticoathingstones.etsy.com
Please feel free to get in touch there or at celticoathingstones@gmail.com if you’d like to discuss commissions or personalisation, or if there’s a particular colour or theme you’d like me to work on for you. I’m also on instagram and facebook as Celtic Oathing Stones. I’d love to help find the right stone for you and your special day!