dionysianivy

[dionysianivy]

“Too often we think of Dionysus as “jolly Bacchus,” whom the Romans in particular portrayed as the god of drinking and sexual orgies. But he was far more, a god of the dark side of humanity, of passions and the life force, companion of the Mother, a dying and rising god of the year cycle, god of the mountain rather than the city, whose followers were mainly male satyrs and female maenads (“the mad women”), who dressed in animal skins, wreathed their hair with ivy, wielded thyrsoi (poles tipped with foliage), hunted their prey on the mountainside, tore it apart, and ate the flesh raw.”

—

Introduction by Ian C. Storey Under “Comic Festivals and Production” For Aristophanes The Clouds (via conceptvals)

@perditious

(via hipeerpressure)

the only Olympian for me.

(via perditious)

[dionysianivy]

Dionysus is so much more than the god of ecstasy and wine and madness.

He’s beating of your heart when the music begins.

He’s the movement of your step.

He is the breath in your lungs that is stolen in awe.

The terror in your heart and He is the feeling of your soul in flight.

He is also so much darker than that.

He is the depth of the forest.

The fang that tears into the flesh of prey.

The bones that snap.

The blood that is spilled.

He is also the vine climbing from the ground.

The seed springing forth from the warmth of the sun.

The gentle hand that picks you up off your knees and keeps you moving forward.

The sensation in your loins when you fuck.

The gasp in your breath as you cum.

He is complex, so much more than we can possibly imagine and his meaning to each of us is unique.

He is a god of many faces, many masks.

He wears as many as he needs to maintain his freedom, as he has for all time.

[dionysianivy]

“He is the sap of life, the blood throbbing in the veins, the sweet burst of the grape in the mouth… For the other gods keep their distance, but Dionysus possesses his followers completely and is wholly possessed in turn”

— The Greek Myths, by Robin Waterfield, about Dionysus

[dionysianivy]

This athenian 540bce amphora depicting two maenads bringing Dionysus a hare and a deer.

Look how they're holding each other over the shoulders agdgdhsshfjt

[dionysianivy]

I’m so glad this religion exists and isn’t lost to time. I listened to a hymn to Hermes today and I’m just so overcome with emotions. We worship beautiful gods. Kind gods. Gods who care about us and want us to succeed. I’ve seen so much proof that this religion is real. It blows my mind every time. I adore the gods I worship. I live for them. And I would die for them. This religion is so much more than I could ever ask for. It’s such a great honor to worship the gods.

[dionysianivy]

fucking happens all the time

Me seeing a panther made of glass while shopping: Oh wow! That would be a great offering for Dionysus!

Then seeing the $200 price tag on it: Actually maybe not...

[dionysianivy]

I see too many people who are interested in Dionysus worry that he will reject them if they aren't some flavour of alcoholic, so I say this as gently as possible: please research him

Dionysus is so much more than some drunkard wine god who requires inebriation to worship him. He's a god of the oppressed, of insanity, of liberation, of death and rebirth, of fertility, and yes, of wine

He is violence and love, the calm before a storm and the rage within one, the breath before you scream and the roar of victory, communion and ecstasy, dance and utter stillness, anger and joy

And he will love you no matter what

[dionysianivy]

Flowers that I’ve found in my garden today 🍇🐆🌷. I’m so excited to see the rebirth of nature I truly love this season. 🥰 I’m a bit disappointed though, because the crocuses only bloomed a little and I didn’t catch them in time I really wanted to offer some to my Lord Hermes. :/ Still, I’m really waiting for more hyacinths to bloom since they’re my favorite flowers (along with pansies of course). Thank you my Lord Dionysus, for giving me such a peaceful day. Thank you, my Lord Hermes, for helping me travel safely without feeling sick. And thank you my Lady Brigid for this warm spring day 🌸🕯☁️

Hope everyone is having a peaceful saturday <3🍇

[dionysianivy]

🍇Dionysus Post🍇

Words of advice: Don't let this horribly unimaginative, boring, high standard world crush and can you into something you aren't. Lose those friends. Lose that family. Lose the learned fear through learning and therapy. I used to be a slave to other peoples perception of me and would cater to my ex friends' insecurities so I wouldn't be judged/embarrass them by being me. Now idgaf. Be "ugly", be happy, be wild, laugh as loudly as you want, eat what you want, dance however you want, take up space (it is yours as much as it is theirs), consume life as it is meant to be consumed. Loose yourself in the pleasure of happiness, not in the negativity of others.

[dionysianivy]

Preparing my Dionysus altar for the road🍇🌅🌷 Tomorrow I’m leaving the city for spring break and I can’t wait to reconnect with nature again ♡ I was really hoping for nice weather at the start of April, but unfortunately I saw it's going to rain quite a bit. 😭 I’ve packed everything and I’m so ready to honor my deities out there yay🌲🏺🐢

Wishing everyone a blessed weekend 🍷☀️🕯🌼

[dionysianivy]

i think it’s very important to be at least be a little playful with your own religion. feeling comfortable and safe enough in your own faith to have fun with it is genuinely so, so important to me. it takes some of the pressure off of always ‘getting it right’. and besides! i like to think that the gods really do appreciate the trust we place in them when we allow ourselves to be truly ourselves, with all our vulnerabilities and flaws, in their presence.

don’t get me wrong; reverent, formal, ceremonial, worship is beautiful!! but so is being able to drop all formalities and just talk to your deities… telling them everything that’s on your mind when you need to, or maybe when you’re just too overwhelmed to worship more traditionally. it’s about being able to pray formal hymns and prayers at their alter (if that’s something that feels right for you), but also feeling comfortable enough to simply reach out and talk to them as if they were an old friend or family member that loves you dearly.

cultivating balance is so important for maintaining a healthy relationship with your religion! so just make sure you don’t forget to actually enjoy your practices. at the end of the day, worship should feel fulfilling, whatever that means for you. ♡

[dionysianivy]

You can't be a hellenic polytheist and be homophobic.

You can't be a hellenic polytheist and be transphobic.

You can't be a hellenic polytheist and be racist.

You can't be a hellenic polytheist and be anti-imaginate.

You can't be a hellenic polytheist and be a nazi.

You can't be a hellenic polytheist and mock ANY of the gods.

You can't be a hellenic polytheist and hate ANY of the gods.

Pick a side. The gods or hatefulness.

You. Can't. Choose. Both.

[dionysianivy]

↠ god of the month | july:

➝ dionysus; “I begin to sing of Dionysos ivy-crowned (kissokomes) the loud-crying (eribromos), splendid son of Zeus and glorious Semele. The rich-haired Nymphai (Nymphs) received him in their bosoms from the lord his father and fostered and nurtured him carefully in the dells of Nysa, where by the will of his father he grew up in a sweet-smelling cave, being reckoned among the immortals. But when the goddesses had brought him up, a god oft hymned, then began he to wander continually through the woody coombes, thickly wreathed with ivy and laurel. And the Nymphai followed in his train with him for their leader; and the boundless forest was filled with their outcry. And so hail to you, Dionysos god of abundant clusters (polystaphylos)! Grant that we may come again rejoicing to this season, and from that season onwards for many a year.”

[dionysianivy]

Someone: Why are you crying!?

Me: I just love Dionysus so much!!!!

[dionysianivy]

Bacchus and Putti

Volterrano (1611–1689)

Oil on canvas

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[dionysianivy]

Bacchus and Ariadne

19th century

Joseph Paelinck (1781–1839)

Oil on canvas

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[dionysianivy]