Dionysos and the Pirates

As part of some rumination with a group of satyrs, maenads, and other fascinating folk calling themselves the Bacchic Underground, we were tasked with making art from Dionysian themes. This week’s homework assignment was to contemplate an ancient story about Dionysos and some pirates. Following is my attempt at rambling poetry:

The ship has sailed, I tell you.
It’s been headed toward the Deep since that strange night
when we picked up the boy on the island.
No mere boy it was. But at the time,
only one of us was paying attention.
He got to leave the ship intact.

Since then, we’ve followed:
swimming circles in the wine-dark water
Maybe it is wine? Or maybe blood?
No matter now. We keep swimming,
because if we stop we sink down
down
down
to where the faceless things live,
nine days past Hades’ rusted gates
to the place the island-boy called home.
They tried chaining him there, too.
Who chains a loosener?

Fools.

Lucky for us, he has use for fools.

O Holy Night….

I don’t know if P. Sufenas Virius Lupus intended for this prayer to Nox to be able to be sung to the tune of O Holy Night… but it can be.

An excellent and very moving addition to the celebration of Mother Night here.

Thank you so much, PSVL!

Reconstructionism (thisthisthissomuchthisthankyou)

Reconstructionism.

Polytheist Leadership Conference: So far, so good.

A great many new friends have been made. Presentations have been excellent, even challenging. In the hallway I heard someone say “the only thing I hate about this conference is that I feel like I’m stupid. There are so many intelligent people here, making me think.”

Hard things have been discussed. Alliances have been made. Arguments have been hashed out, or tabled, or set aside in favor of attempting to work together. Sure, not everyone is ready for this or getting as much out of it as I have. But the signs are encouraging.

There’s already talk of another. I’ll be there. Will you?

Yeah, um, about that intermission.

…it’s been longer than expected. My apologies. There have been Important Things Happening, though, and most of them related to the Horseman I started talking about before I disappeared.

He’s even sending snakes to my Anomalous colleague. (How cool is that?)

Solstice blessings and may you all enjoy the month of Julius about to dawn over us. I’ll be back with something more substantial to say soon.

Dele Mezenai!
Hail Sabazios!