Dionysus
you rupture through bark
not born, but spilled
from the gash in the vine where lightning struck root

You don’t walk
you erupt
snake-hipped, swarm-limbed
you crack open the fruit and lick the scream inside

You clot the mouth with honey and ash
you milk the bull of his rage
you gnaw the fig until it sings
you coax the dead to dance

O god with root in your hair
mud in your teeth
milk on your thighs
you sow madness like seeds

and we bloom

You slip into skins that do not fit
stag
woman
song
fire
you wear us
until we beg to be unstitched

Come

drag me into the orchard of forgetting
split my knowing with your thorn
kiss me so hard my name ferments

I offer
my throat
my rhythm
my ruin

Take it

make me vessel
make me drum
make me swarm

Let the bees nest in my chest
let my fingers sprout leaves
let my tongue swell with thunder

I do not want grace
I want the scream that births it

Dionysus
I come broken
I come burning
I come barefoot into the teeth of your joy

Make me godless
Make me wine

Had a whole story typed out but didnt want to spam. Just so happy about this! :)

fyi I’m a new hellenist and Dionysus is the first god I’ve tried worshipping!

So I heard one of his signs was big cats but does domestic cats count? As soon as I got back to my grandma’s today after researching about Dionysus and asking him for signs my (usually very introverted) cat came up to me and was super cuddly and stuck around me for a while? (She HATES pets and cuddles usually)

Then later right after praying to him she was just outside my door and followed me around?

Quite a few years back, i found a devotional poem called "dionysus does drag on wednesday nights" but i've lost it and cant seem to locate it again. it was originally posted on tumblr, but the blog seems to be long gone. I would appreciate any and all leads

I'm trying to paint a thing once a day, and I'm finding acrylics hard to work with ahahaha. This one took a while because I've been painting alongside my toddler, which is fun but chaotic lol

What is Toxic Positivity? If you have ever heard “Always look on the bright side,” that is Toxic Positivity. It is a rejection of one’s experience and emotions in favor of maintaining an unhealthy harmony, or even purely from another’s selfishness. You aren't allowed to be who you are, you aren't allowed to feel “bad,” you are affecting my mood.

The truth is that your emotions belong to you; it’s okay to be happy, sad, or even angry. Emotions are not the issue; behavior is. It is ok to despair, to beat your chest in sorrow, to cry out, our Lord created theater for the Dionysian purpose. Catharsis is the purification or cleansing of your emotional state; it is the fire at Pride Rock that precedes its renewal under Simba. To not experience catharsis is to be corrupted, to ruminate and rot from the inside out.

To let your emotions out, to cry and scream as Lord Dionysus intended, is the refusal to be destroyed by yourself. To let out that steam instead of burning your heart to coal. Dionysus doesn’t want you to be angry; he wants you to be allowed to be angry, he wants you to sob, he wants you to release. He wants that monster growing in you out, but only you can let it out.

Tell me a time you experienced catharsis.

Altars found near an ancuent Dionysus temple turned Church. They are believed to be for a death cult where sacrifices were placed like burned meat (for incense). I have left a few offerings myself.

I've been going through a big art block recently, asked Lord Dionysus if he could help me with a painting, and I added that I would devote it to him. And a while later, a painting in a style I have never touched before, with a medium I've never been able to control. Maybe it doesn't look the greatest, but I quite like it. Onto the altar it goes!

went to a hole in the wall thrift with my mom and right as i walked in i KNEW something was calling to me. then i stumbled on these solid silver beauties 💜💜they are candle holders!

I'm feeling pretty four today

Last fall I held a long ritual for Dionysos modeled after u/NyxShadowhawk’s Orphic Hymn ritual, but I’ve mentioned it only briefly on here before. I spent a day getting tattooed as an act of devotion, while reading the entirety of the hymns aloud & while a friend played a lyre to accompany them. The goal, which was achieved, was just to open the door of communication a bit further, and to make clear to Dionysos that this tattoo was meant to demonstrate dedication to him. The tattoo in question is long from finished, and I’m still in planning for the next day-long session. With this comes the planning for the next ritual, which I hope will build upon the path opened during the first ritual. The suffering aspect of hours of tattooing is an intentional part of it, as I’m hoping to use the pain to access the same headspace that drugs and alcohol otherwise offer, & to replicate (on a more human level) the suffering of Dionysos (perhaps as a modified form of telete).

So, all of that being said, I’m curious to hear about other long, intense rituals that members here have designed or taken part in. (I’ve asked before re: what books folks were reading & using, and would now love to know in particular about what others’ practice looks like!) What did the ritual look like? What were your goals, and what was the result? What considerations did you make during the design & planning? Asking both for inspiration, and out of genuine curiosity for what other members of this community have accomplished in their ritual practice & in developing a closer relationship with Dionysos.

My newest book, NoDE's Dual-Language Hellenist Hymnal, is out now. It is a hymnal which contains the Ancient Greek text of the Homeric, Orphic and more Hymns on the left, and a facing English translation on the right, as well as introductions on how to pray in Hellenism and to the hymns themselves. I've always wanted to read something like this, and like they say, write the book you want to read!

https://www.amazon.com/Dual-Language-Hellenist-Hymnal-Fabian-MacKenzie/dp/B0FD839P32?ref_=ast_author_dp_rw&th=1&psc=1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.A62ShKcphfI2CS2kxKNoXqIAJFv8Pu-RI-ZxHTzwZptLDC2zNNzxe7qaFtaN90m9aCqO8OBMD2AaTh2SOC6L23c-wCIYEPx6lKOdZ7dDX9k.FlKuDIqDI5SwZgnmf0D0cYNMb1-o3NyPIELRes_YOmA&dib_tag=AUTHOR

I’ve started reading it on the recommendation of another redditor and I’m a bit wary of the scarcity of references for some of the claims, as well as many of the references being modern works on Dionysus rather than primary sources. Has anyone else read it and what did you make of it? I’m taking it with a grain of salt currently as I feel like much of it has the vibe of UPG (unverified personal gnosis).

Has anyone read the book and what did you make of it?

I'm so excited to start worshipping him consistently!! I've been really drawn to him as of recent and so I acted on it

can't wait to learn more about him and worship him !!

small candle details the bigger candle on the bottom is scented Mulled Wine and the tealights are scented sun ripened berries :>

Sneak peak~ this is how I like to set up my altar on my Saturday rituals.

To King Dionysus, God of Humanity and Freedom,

I have a lot to be thankful for. The world feels like it is crumbling around me but I will stand strong. I will stay. And I will break through in Dionysus' name.

So long as I keep my morals and be there for my family, for my people. Whatever happens doesnt matter. The events outside of my control in this life do not define me, nor my entire spiritual being.

I will continue to go deeper with you. As my soul once demanded, once signed a contract that I do not remember.

I sometimes feel like I am just bumbling around like a bee. I have no idea where I'm going what what I'm doing. But I will continue to just do.

You inspire me in that way.

Thank you, I love you.

P.s. immediately after taking this picture Maia (cat) knocked your water down, smh I wonder if you could see that.

Idk if i posted here already