So, earlier, I was reading this book on the ancient Greek world. The book said Dionysus is a "Transgressive" deity. In that he dissolves social boundaries through drunkenness.
I interpreted that as to mean he can help me make connections and find friends. Especially in a party environment. So, I've debated on calling on him. Especially considering that the book says that snakes are one of his sacred animals. Considering that snake dream I had.
The problem, though, is when I consider this pragmatically.
1. Alcohol is a depressant. I already have enough psychology BS to worry about.
2. Drunkenness leading to people getting along is an ideal. Drunkenness leading to people getting into fights is a reality.
3. I don't know about in ancient Greece, but alcohol tends to be a sign of wealth and elitism. Just watch any rap video.
4. When I go out, I go alone. So, I have to remain sober to get home. Gods, I need friends.
5. I am autistic, and can't stand the sensation of drinking. The taste, smell, and sensation of swallowing it. My body seems to refuse any alcohol. It's a gag reflex.
What do you think?
Dionysos embodies a wealth of experiences. He is not simply the god of drunkenness--he is the spirit of the wine. He is transgression, liberation, madness, joy, and ecstasy. Dionysos is also a god of rebirth, and immortality; he is Zagreus, the Thrice-Born.
A group of young people finish off bottles of alcohol and smoke some x, y, or z. They start playing music, doing stupid things, engage in affectionate acts with their partners--or a stranger. The next day they go to church. The young man who ran into the lake after drenching himself in alcohol and setting himself on fire is the pastor's son. The young lady who was very openly making out with another young lady is the church pianist. Very musically inclined. Their little Saturday night revelry makes their Sunday morning (and the rest of the charade) endurable. Eventually, in the next generation, the binds that keep the previous generations in thrall will loosen. Why is this? They have experienced life at the boundary of accepted behavior, so-called civilization. These experiences can be a source of joy, inspiration, etc.
It's a state of consciousness which
can be accessed using drugs, sex, and rock and roll--but not alone. It loosens inhibitions.
Association of Dionysus with wine is a very late invention. All Ancient Traditions mention that Gods enjoy special divine drink which isn't available to conmon mortals. This totally excludes such vulgar drinks as wine, etc. Need to consider that some people are interested in blocking others from getting knowledge and power, so they invent all this kind of nonsence that Gods drink wine and so should the practitioner in order to be able to form connection to these Gods. Hah, no.
This is simply untrue; if you have sources for that claim I would love to see them. Wine was not considered a vulgar drink, beer however was. Drinking wine
was a part of connecting with Dionysos. It featured explicitly in various aspects of his cultus.
I am pretty anti-alcohol and psychoactive in general when it concerns spiritual practice. But that is a personal thing that I recognize is not always the case. However, most of the time it is. I recognize psychoactives have a long history with spiritual practice and religion but it is important to remember these were in guided religious settings similar to going to a therapist, and their availability and potency werent as dramatic as they are today.
With this being said, there is an often looked over fact towards Greek practice and religion that people like to gloss over in order to justify turning sex and drugs into their religion. And its that Greece's excessive culture was its downfall and why their civilization degenerated so quickly. It is important to remember that looking at the behaviors of every day libertine religious practitioners, even if they are more ancient, is not magic. You are just practicing a mundane religion, the only difference is its dead. So looking at an exoteric ancient religious practice as a way to inform magical practice, which requires more discipline and fortitude than every day religion, is similar to taking communion at a mass and calling it magic.
Now whats at the core of the Dionysian revelry is ecstatic experience, and this can definitely be useful for magic and help, but using substances and sex ritualistically is highly problematic as they are addictive behaviors and more often than not filter people from spiritual experience. And this is exactly what happened to the Greeks and why their philosophers spent so much energy trying to break from those religious expressions to save their culture.
They were conquered by the Romans, who absorbed a lot of their culture and ideas. Classical ideas and culture form the basis of Western civilization (when there was one). So I'm not sure what you mean by their civilization degenerating so quickly. Besides, there's nothing wrong with sex and 'libations', unless the person is weak and prone to addiction--uncontrolled. They can be used to great effect in both solitary and ceremonial workings. They're not necessary, of course, but still very potent when used right. It is better for the person(s) conducting the rite or working to remain in control, everyone else can let loose. It's actually better that way.
Of course, I'm more prone to trapeze with the Green Man than Dionysos; I still used to chug wine straight from the bottle.
