Praise Dionysus

A chalice sits in wine-dark hand,

A smile on blushing face.

A mane of ringlets raven black,

Does crown of ivy trace.

Her form, or his, on second look,

Is draped in spotted fur.

His glistening neck is fragrant, sweet,

His voice a reckless slur.

It lilting bids companions close,

In torchlit groves they meet,

To shed their gowns and laws alike,

From sense to take retreat.

The kings are clapped in iron cuffs,

The priests are dragged in shame,

The whore and peasant drink and dance,

The slave takes free man's name.

O Bacchos, pour my portion well,

And madness let me drink,

For woe is made among the men,

Who waste the time to think.

I ask you, horned unfettered Lord,

To snap my chains with ease.

I'll follow you, I'll change my form,

O Dionysos, youngest of the immortals upon great Olympus,

no one can replace you in the fiery revelries

and in the misty, drunken nights

when the world fades away, and one lives only for oneself.

You, great reborn Dio, are always with us.

Upon your dark hair, bitter as chocolate, rests a wreath,

and in your hand — a horn brimming with sweet, freshly-born wine

and ripe clusters of grapes, whose taste is endless.

Leopards and panthers lie lazily at your feet,

while nymphs caress their soft, striped pelts

and sip wine from golden goblets,

feeling safe within your divine presence.

Bacchus, youthful Dionysos, I thank you

for the gifted actors of the gleaming theatres

and for your protection within the throng.

I honor you with all my small soul,

and I learn from your tranquil wisdom

the art of enjoying this one and only life.

Drinking grape juice or wine; fruity drinks also work; raise a glass to him

Eating food that you love, especially comfort foods

Hosting or attending parties

Hanging out with loved ones

Celebrating your accomplishments, big or small

Having a candle that reminds you of him (no altar needed)

Putting on grape-scented or fruit-scented perfumes/colognes

Wearing jewelry that reminds you of him

Seeking community; LGBTQ+ support groups, gamer groups, fandom groups, etc.

Having a bull, leopard, goat, or cat stuffed animal

Decorating parts of your room with real or fake ivy vines

Growing a plant, especially ivy or vined plants

Wearing showy or lavish outfits; wearing outfits that make you feel good about yourself

Taking care of your mental health; finding new and healthy ways to cope with issues

Keeping a mental health journal

Keeping a picture of him in your wallet

Having leopard, bull, or big cat imagery around

Taking a hike/walk in a local forest or nature preserve

Taking a walk at night, especially on a new or full moon (only if safe in your area, please)

Dancing, especially to songs that make you feel wild, free, and expressive

Listening to energizing or expressive music

Watching/reading musicals or plays

Performing in a musical or play (including backstage and tech)

Taking your medications; setting reminders for them

Taking care of yourself physically and emotionally

Learning to accept both the "dark" and "light" parts of yourself

Being kind to those outcast by society, especially the homeless and addicts

Volunteering at a homeless shelter

Engaging in activities that bring you joy, especially those that are looked down upon

Finding ways to be rebellious, especially towards authority (don't do this if it risks your own safety)

Expressing yourself in little ways if unable to be open about it (wearing a bracelet that represents your gender identity, shoelaces that are pride flag colored, etc.)

Embracing all the unique things that make you who you are

Support LGBT, homeless shelter, environmental preservation, or humanitarian organizations

Volunteer at a homeless shelter

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May add more later! This is my list of discreet ways to worship Dionysus. I hope it helps, and take care! 💜

ORPHIC HYMN #53

TO LORD DIONYSOS

I call upon Bacchos, the god we worship annually,

chthonic Dionysos,

together with the fair-tressed Nymphs

he is roused.

In the sacred halls of Persephone

he slumbers and puts to sleep

pure

Bacchic time, every third year.

When he himself stirs up

the triennial revel again,

he sings a hymn

together with his fair-girdled nurses.

As the seasons revolve,

he puts to sleep and wakes up the years.

O blessed and fruit-giving Bacchos,

O horned spirit of the unripe fruit,

come to this most sacred rite

with a glow of joy on your face,

come teeming with fruit

that is holy and perfect.

If Dionysos were mortal, he would be a therapist for recovering addicts

If Dionysos were mortal, he would take care of those with mental illness and listen to their stories

If Dionysos were mortal, he would cry a little watching teenagers struggle with depression

If Dionysos were mortal, he would clean up cigarette butts from sidewalks and beer bottles from alleyways

Lord Dionysus is the patron of those who live too much, of those who feel too much, too much for this dry, consumistic world without anymore ideals, sentiments, without anymore a sense of HUMANITY itself, you know?? Lord Dionysus of those who prefer the intoxication of the soul to the sleep of habit. Because we MUST rebel against this world that wishes to turn us all into an uniformed thing. He asks us to be alive. So will you be alive, dear devotee?

Abrokomas (Ἀβροκόμας), “with delicate hair.”

Agathos Daimon (Άγαθός Δαίμων), “good spirit.”

Aglaomorphos (Άγλαόμορφος) “fair-formed.”

Agnos (Άγνος), “holy.”

Agrios (Ἄγριος), “wild, savage.”

Aigobolos (Αἰγοβόλος), “goat-slayer.”

Androgynos (Άνδρόγυνος), “androgynous.”

Anax (Ἀνᾰξ), “king.”

Anthion (Ανθιον), “the blooming.”

Anthroporraistos (Ανθροπορραιστος), “render of men.”