[undertheirinfluence]

Intro Post

▪︎ Call me Mic, or Micheal

▪︎ 21 y/o

▪︎ they/it or one/ones pronouns

▪︎ English & Français

▪︎ Indigenous Canadian

▪︎ 🍇Dionysus Devotee

▪︎ Interested in Hellenic Polytheism, Hinduism, Indigenous Canadian mythology, & witchcraft. I'd like to explore each with this blog

[ihcoon]

Print designs to hang on my altar

[aziscribs]

Princess Ariadne 🍇🧶

[chthonic-cutie]

lord dionysus, stay by my side when i lose my mind, protect me and care for me. make sure i come to no harm. when i am wild, cradle me in your arms, draw me close.

[crab-milk]

A large man reclines in repose, tending to a glass of red wine and gazing off dreamily. Grapevines adorn his hair like laurels and delicately twine around his body. From his temples are bunches of grapes, not unlike the jewels that sparkled on his body like stars or the spillage of wine. He takes in a deep sigh before turning to the party, a mist of alcohol clouding his gaze. "Would you like a drink?"

[khaire-traveler]

I believe it's a good idea to check in on deity relationships to see if they're becoming transactional. Reaching out with the sole expectation that you must give an offering in return, reaching out only when something has gone wrong/you need help, etc. If this is the type of relationship you want with deities, that's absolutely ok, but if it's not, then it's good to be aware of these behaviors. It can lead to feelings of burn out and exhaustion within your spiritual practice, especially if there's a silent expectation placed upon yourself to constantly be giving and giving and giving every time you interact with a deity. In my opinion, a religion or spirituality should uplift you. If your practice feels more exhausting than anything else, it's ok to take a step back and examine the reasons for that. It's never a bad thing to take care of yourself. 🧡

[gargvlec]

maenad

first post kinda nervous

[dionysianivy]

𝐃𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐱 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞

"In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,

In the bleak midwinter, long ago."

[wrathful-warhound]

Dionysus

Χαιρέ!

Happy Winter Solstice everyone! Time passes so quickly these days, I can't believe it's already here.

During this festival I will be celebrating nature, cycles, and rebirth. I personally associate this time heavily with Dionysus, hence the moodboard.

May the new season be bountiful with knowledge and new beginnings!

Blessed be!

[held-in-twilight]

I put this in the tags of another post but I decided I wanna make my own post and elaborate a little bit

if you primarily associate or connect to apollo through the sun and light and warmth. obviously you're gonna feel disconnected when it's cold and dark. maybe to you that means he "leaves". it could also mean that if you want to feel close to him during winter as well, you could explore his numerous other epithets that are not related to the sun at all.

if you don't and you would rather worship him as a seasonal deity, that's fine you're totally allowed to do that. but that doesn't mean it applies to everyone else too.

and this goes for every deity that has seasonal aspects. you only wanna worship persephone in spring because you connect to that more? great, go ahead! other people can still worship her at other times because she does have other aspects. and vice versa.

[child-of-earth-and-starry-heaven]

Epithets of Dionysus

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.”

Areios (Ἄρειος), “warlike.” 

Arretos (Άρρητος), “ineffable, unutterable.”

Bakkhos (Βακχος), “frenzied.”

Bassareus (Bασσαρεύς), “the fox.”

Boukeros (Bουκερως), “bull-horned.”

Bromios (Βρόμιος), “the roaring.”

Botrokhaites (Bοτρυοχαίτης), “with leaves in his hair.”

Dendrites (Δενδρίτης), “of trees.”

Dikeros (Δικέρως), “two-horned.”

Digonos (Δίγονος), “twice-born.” 

Dimetor (Διμήτωρ), “of two mothers.”

Dimorphos (Δίμορφος), “two-formed.”

Diogenes (Διογένης), “son of Zeus.”

Diphyes (Δῐφῠής), “dual-natured.”

Dithyrambos (Διθύραμβος), “of the dithyramb.”

Eiraphiotes (Ειραφιωτης), “insewn” [referring to his birth]

Eleutherios (Έλεύθεριος), “the liberator.”

Eubouleos (Εὐβουλεύς), “of good counsel,”

Eukhaites (​​Ευχαίτης), “lovely-haired.” 

Euios (Εὔιος), “howling” [referring to the ecstatic cry “euoi.”]

Eumenes (Εὐμενης), “fair-minded, kind.”

Gelotos (Γελωτος), “of laughter.” 

Gethosunos (Γηθόσυνος), “joyful.”

Gonoeis (Γονόεις), “virile.” 

Himertos (Ίμερτός), “desirable.” 

Hiraphiotes (Ίραφιώτης ), “hierophant”

Hulēeis (Ύλήείς), “forest-dweller.”

Hyes (Ὕης), “of moisture/the dripping.”

Karpios (Καρπιος), “of fruit.”

Keraos (Κεραός), “horned.” 

Kharieis (Χαρίεις) “graceful.” 

Khoreutes (Xορευτές), “the dancer.”

Khthonios (Χθόνιος), “of the Underworld.”

Kissios (Κισσιος), “of the ivy.”

Kissobryos (Κισσόβρυος), “adorned with ivy.”

Kissophoros (Κισσοφορος), “ivy-bearer.” 

Kissostephanos (Κισσοστέφανος), “ivy-crowned.”

Komastes (Κωμαστής), “reveller.”

Kryphios (Κρύφιος), “hidden.”

Lenaios (Λήναιος), “of the wine-press.”

Limnaios (Λιμναίος), “of the marsh.”

Lyaios/Lysios (Λυαῖος/Λύσιος), “loosener/deliverer.”

Lyknites (Λυκνίτης) “winnower/in the cradle.”

Mainoles (Μαινόλης), “the mad.”

Melanaegis (Μελαναιγις), “of the black goat-skin.”

Meilichios (Mειλίχῐος), “the mild/gracious.”

Melpomenos (Μελπομενος), “singer, of the tragedy.”

Methydotes (Μεθυδώτης), “giver of wine.” 

Mystes (Μύστης), “of the Mysteries.”

Nebridopeplos (Νεβριδόπεπλος), “clothed in fawnskin.” 

Nyktelios (Νυκτελιος), “of the night.”

Nyktipolos (Νυκτιπολος), “night-stalker.”

Nyseus (Νυσεύς), “of Nysa.” 

Oineus (Οἰνεύς), “of wine.”

Oinops (Οινοψ), “wine-faced.”

Omadios/Omophagos/Omestes, (Ώμάδιος/Ώμοφάγος/Ωμεστης), “eater of raw flesh.” 

Phleon (Φλεων), “the luxuriant.”

Philomeides (Φιλομειδης), “laughter-loving.”

Phriktos (Φρικτός), “scary.” 

Polymorphos (Πολυμορφος), “many-formed.” 

Polykomos (Πολυκῶμος), “of many revels.”

Protogonos (Πρωτόγονος), “first-born, primordial.”

Psilas (Ψιλας), “giver of wings.”

Psilax (Ψιλαξ), “uplifted on wings.”

Psykhodaiktes (Ψυχοδαϊκτής), “render of the soul.” 

Soter (Σωτηρ), “savior.”

Staphylites (Σταφυλίτης), “of the grape.”

Tauropos (Ταυρωπός), “bull-faced.”

Thelymorphos (Θηλύμορφος), “womanish/effeminate.”

Theoineos (Θεοινος), “god of wine.”

Thyrsaphoros (Θυρσοφόρος), “thyrsus-bearing”

Trigonos (Τρίγονος), “thrice-born.”

Trieterikos (Τριετηρικός), “of the three-year period.”

This is maybe the longest list I've compiled so far! (And it's not even all of them!) Sources include the Theoi page, Otto, The Bacchae, Orphic Hymn 30, and the alphabetical hymn from the Anthologia Palatina.

[androphonos-theoi]

Low - Effort Worship

I've been pretty down lately due to...various reasons...so! I decided I'm going to post what you can do when you're just down in the dumps or possibly don't have time. I think a good reminder for us all is that, in Hellenic Polytheism, everything centers around reciprocity. We do things for the gods, they do things for us in return! Not everything will be a giant Aphrodisia or Gamelia celebration. Without further do, here's a list of things you can do that I consider low effort worship (I recognize everyone will have different abilities and different ways of worship!): 1. Invite the gods to be around when you're doing something. This could be something as intense as a metalworking workshop and inviting Hephaestus, or just playing Assassin's Creed and inviting Athena (something I've done many times). How to invite? You could go for a full blessing - such as "white-armed Hera, be with me for this duration" - but when I'm in true low effort mode, what I will do is, "hey, wanna watch this with me, Dionysus?" (or whoever I'm inviting!) It's a great way to involve worship in your daily life. 2. Pray. Just take some time and send a prayer to the gods; whatever that looks like for you. Most recently, my prayer was literally just "Lord Zeus, help me". It can be as simple as that! 3. Whatever you're doing, similar to inviting the gods, dedicate it to that deity! Got a picture you're proud of on HappyColor? Say it's for Eirene! High score in a video game? Bam, it's for Hermes! You don't even have to say it before the activity, you can say it just after - like, "hey, this top score is for you". 4. If you really can't do anything - like full on bedrest - just thank the gods. Thank them for what they've given us; what they've done for you. It doesn't even have to be out loud. The gods can hear you, wherever you are and whatever you're doing. Take care of yourselves. Your mental health and physical health are important. Praise to Apollo, god of medicine, and praise to all the Theoi.

[theoiprayers]

O Semele, beautiful daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia, beloved of Zeus prematurely died, consumed by the fiery glory of Zeus;

O mortal born goddess, beloved of Dionysus, risen from Hades' dark depths to the heavens in the arms of your golden son to join the undying Gods;

Fair Semele, now assuming the name Thyone, taking your rightful place beside deathless ones, presiding over the wild frenzy;

At the shrine of you and your golden son do we pour libations and dance in your honour, through you do we find our way to the frenzy, through you do we find the way to bliss.

E*

[beatingdrumspouringwine]

Hymn to Semele-Thyone, Mother of Queer Folks

I praise the mortal Semele-become Immortal Thyone, The Mother of Raving and Joyful Dionysos, Who holds the hands of men He loves in gentle ecstasy, And who shakes Her locks when, in shaded mountain pastures, She runs wild with Her beloved maenads. I praise You, O Semele-Thyone, One so beloved by this God that He descended to the Underworld to raise You again, And who continues to nurture His flocks of maenads, Leading them deeper into revelry, Lifting wines sweeter than mortals can comprehend to lips pleading for madness. Come now to Your Son's people, The ones wrapped in vibrant cloaks that shimmer like bright flowers in early-summer breezes, Or the ones who can only hold themselves. Come to those who kick up their heels among friends, Waving their heads and laughing in bodies that glitter and are perfectly their own, Or to those who sit rebellious in church pews, Knowing not yet their worth or their joy, and living a painful experience. To all may You lift the same sweet cup that You give to the maenads, And may we drink to our hearts' content, And share in the same joy.

[winedarkgod]

The connection between these myths and these rituals is explicit, since, according to one myth, Dionysus descended to find his mother Thyone, and when he returned, he erected the phallus pole which was also called "Thyone." Dionysus' phallic mother is an interesting structural parallel for his paternal womb: the god of ambivalent gender is born from parents of ambivalent gender.

Riding the Phallus for Dionysus: Iconology, Ritual, and Gender-Role De/Construction, Eric Csapo

[aeternica]

The Great Mystery Was Always There

#indigenous theology #apophatic christianity #mystical synthesis #religious studies #decolonize metaphysics

Funny how no one talks about the fact that Native American spiritualists probably had more in common with Christian mystics than with modern evangelical Christians.

While missionaries were busy trying to replace Wakan Tanka with a white-bearded sky-God named Jehovah, they completely missed that the Lakota were already doing negative theology — seeing the Divine as an ineffable force beyond name, gender, or form.

Wakan Tanka doesn’t mean “Great Spirit” in the European sense. It means “Great Mystery.” Not personal. Not impersonal. Beyond both. Not a guy. Not a ghost. But the Ground of Being itself.

Sounds a lot like Pseudo-Dionysius or Meister Eckhart if you ask me. But instead of reverence, Western colonialists reduced Indigenous beliefs to “primitive animism.”

No academic thought to say: “Hey, maybe this isn’t myth. Maybe it’s metaphysics.”

This is why I’m convinced that Indigenous cosmologies were more “Platonic” than the literalist theologies that colonized them.

And yet, no one in religious studies seems to be talking about this. Why? Because we’re still trapped in a Eurocentric idea of what “real theology” looks like.

But the Great Mystery doesn’t care for your credentials.

It was here long before Plato. It will be here long after systematic theology folds in on itself.

[dailydccomics]

Absolute Wonder Woman #6 by Kelly Thompson and Mattia De Iulis