#i may delete this later im kinda thinking out loud via tumblr post

[thevibrationofatoms]

"Dionysus wants nothing except for you to be yourself :))"

You know...you know that isn't nothing right? It isnt a non-sacrifice. It's a very uplifting and true message that I see a lot in a couple different Dionysiac circles online but it just always seems framed like that's easy.

Yeah compared to other Hellenistic theoi (or hell even compared to a lot of those old school bronze-age pantheons) Dionysus is pretty chill. A lot of devotees have the same experience of a less rigorous vibe and prayer feeling more relaxed like you're chatting with a friend/mentor figure. (Even in what glimpses of ancient cult practice there are there are mentions of Dionysian cult being less structured with "temples of open air" in the woods and a combination of secret initiation rituals but also an approach of everyone being equal in worship. But ANYWAY I'm getting sidetracked into fun history nerdery, back to the point.)

The point is this is still a god, and a Balls Old one at that. So when you say "this old god wants you to be you" we can't overlook the big implication of what it means when you then devote the idea of You and Your Self Improvement/Bettering to a Balls Old God. Being your best self involves uncomfortable self awareness and introspection, it's uneasy and challenging and it takes work. Hell it may take sacrifice of one type or another in life.

And it's not something that I think people are gonna get hurt with, or like it's gonna be a "don't get in over your head" but with growing online interest in Dionysus as a liberator I do think it's good to be aware of what a relationship with an old god could entail.

It may feel like you are, in effect, putting yourself on the metaphorical altar as the sacrifice. If you're asked to strive and try to be the true you, and you agree, you're gonna be held to it. Trying for your best is going to look different every day, and failure is involved, but the trying will be expected.

And this may feel different to different levels of devotion for people. I'm mostly speaking from my experience as someone who got hit with a metaphysical pinecone and went full Maenad, where it has at times felt like getting grabbed by the scruff of the neck and being forced to go through tumblrs dreaded Mortifying Ordeal of Being Known.

I'm definitely ADHD rambling via text, but I think my point may be directed at people I see who are like, wondering how they can get a deeper connection and asking for the right prayers or the best altar items and more standard ritual stuff. And that all may help you get into the mindset and visualization may help, but I see some stressing that they can't seem to make that connection or that they may not have an altar.

So maybe what I'm getting to is that if that's the case, remember that you are reaching out to an old god whose themes often involve releasing and giving in to a primal, more true and real version of you and accepting that. If you are striving for a deeper connection, that mindset may help you out more.