I want to share something nice with y’all after that unpleasantness, so here is a preview of a special project I have been working on, a collection of sources for the Starry Ram tradition. It is only about a third of the way complete. I have been harvesting sources like a fiend, but a lot of them require editing, formatting, standardizing, and so forth, and that is just the material I have gleaned thus far. I have 7 or 9 folders, each with dozens of links to PDFs I still need to go through. What can I say? When I research something I am thorough.

While working on the last prayer (which is a response to a question brought up in regards to my declaration of a fatwā on the sexual predators in the Hellenic and Dionysian communities) I realized that I wasn’t really living up to the values it prescribed. Thus far I haven’t named any names. I mean, I haven’t exactly hid it. If you’ve spent any time in those communities you probably know exactly who I mean when I say stuff like “AA, otherwise known as that Australian Asshole.” But it’s not right to play coy when you’re making the kind of accusations I am. So, to be crystal fucking clear, I am referring to the child-fucker Δ, a devotional persona focused on Dionysos (his description) of the Melbourne-based street artist Markos Gage. He is the moderator of the Reddit forum r/dionysus which as you can see for yourself is largely populated by vulnerable, alienated, often confused youth. (Their Discord is even worse.) When not playing the role of hierophant and religious authority figure (again, his words) to the lost children of Reddit, Markos Gage can be found on Tumblr, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, the Thyrsus, the Dionysian Artist, the Boukoleon, the Gargarean, polytheist.com and numerous other places trolling for his next victim. May the hunter become the hunted.

O Many Times Born, Triumphant, Lord of the Vine,
Dionysos who loosens the tongue
and reveals what lies hidden in the heart,
grant me clear sight amid confusion,
and mastery over the manifold passions
which flood my heart, my mind, and my soul
if I am not careful and exert control.
Strip away the masks I wear before others
and the masks I wear when alone with myself,
so that only the truth will remain.
Let me not mistake desire for wisdom,
nor fear for righteousness,
or comfort for success.
Teach me to know when to speak
and when to remain silent;
when to forgive
and when to resist evil;
when to correct my companion in private
and when to take a public stance against their villainy;
when to celebrate life and all of its potential
and when to mourn what has been broken and lost.
If I am wrong, correct me without cruelty.
If I am proud, humble me without destruction.
If I am lost, lead me gently back to what is good and true.
May my joy not blind me to suffering.
May my convictions not harden into hatred.
May my freedom never come at the cost of another’s dignity.
O Opener, Destroyer, Refashioner,
let me walk neither in cowardice nor fanaticism,
but in honest conscience, clear mind, moral certainty,
and respect for the inherent value that all life holds.
And when the world grows loud and chaotic,
let truth remain like a quiet flame within me—
difficult to extinguish, and a sure guide
to what is right, just, and pleasing to you
my Lord, my Savior, my God—
Dionysos, Bakcheios, Zagreus.

Neptunesdolphins had a good question about how sexual predation in our communities should be handled based on my previous post. Since there’s been some positive progress, including new people coming forward to share their stories, I’m going to post my response here to keep the conversation going.

I actually have a more complex, detailed plan than I described here. Posting shit on the internet doesn’t really accomplish the goal of removing these predators from our midst, except that it might intimidate his co-moderators into either removing him from a position of authority or kicking him out of the group so that he no longer has access to vulnerable children. It won’t stop the problem, however, because he’ll just move on, change his online persona, and start the predation somewhere else.

I mean, I suppose that’s better than doing nothing, but I actually want to stop this problem. Which is difficult when most of my information is 5+ years out of date, from accounts that are no longer active, and often lacking actionable evidence. Hell, I don’t even know what part of Australia this guy is currently residing in, so I can’t even forward the information I do have to the local authorities. However, by making it known that this behavior is going on and action is being taken to stop it, I have already had people come forward and contact me, with more recent and progressively worse accounts of abuse. I am encouraging them to take action themselves and share this with the moderators, and more importantly local authorities. Even if he’s no longer there it gets the process started, and in the hands of people who can actually do something tangible about it.

I don’t want this son of a bitch to have a shitty reputation in online Hellenic forums. I want him behind bars, where he can’t harm children any more. If that has the added effect of signalling to potential predators that we won’t tolerate this kind of behavior in our communities all the better. But this shit thrives where there is silence and indifference. And I understand why a lot of folks are intimidated and don’t want to come forward initially. They aren’t heard, action isn’t taken, and these people are usually well-liked and have supporters who are going to harass and threaten and damage their reputations, both in public and private. That is a lot to go up against, especially if you’re an isolated kid who is just starting out in our communities.

Well, I’ve got nothing to lose. People have said the worst things imaginable about me, excluded me from the mainstream, doxed me, etc etc etc. And I’m still here, still speaking out on dangerous and controversial issues, still sharing my perspective on the Gods and the religion. Their threats are meaningless, even when they dox my address and phone number and other personal information. I have no skeletons in my closet I need fear being exposed, I am self-employed as an author and religious specialist, and I’m a big guy with a high pain tolerance and am comfortable with violence, so it would be very foolish of them to step to me in person. Therefore I am in a privileged position to be a gadfly on the ass of these abusers and their accomplices until something’s finally done about it. I’ve been responsible for the removal of 3 predators so far. Pyrokanthos publicly, and the others were handled more privately. Possibly more I’ll never know about. And I have every intention to keep doing this as long as the Gods give me the vitality and opportunity to do so, and I will do it by whatever means necessary.

O far-wandering Dionysos, descend
from your verdant sanctuary on Mount Zion,
crying out to those who inhabit the history-rich
land of holy Israēl, and those who are scattered
far and wide, with hearts full of emptiness and longing,
in their places of suffering and exile. You who establish
your precious vines in the soil of every place,
seek them out, guide them home, and teach them
songs of rejoicing in whatever tongue they speak.
Where there is division, awaken understanding.
Where there is privation, sow the seed of renewal.
Where there is fear, loosen its grip with gentle clarity.
Teach a piety that does not exclude, a law that does not harm,
a celebration that invites all life to the dance that frees.
O Liberator, you who have cast down Legiōn the confounder,
and broken the chains of Choronzon the oppressor,
continue to work wonders, and fill the hearts of all
who call upon you with dignity, justice, and peace,
and guide them back to the perfect way of their ancestors,
and the soil in which it blossomed, O ivy-crowned King.

O Dionysos Mekal, establisher of Beit She’an,
Great God of luxuriant growth and Sun-warmed stone,
who wields the was-sceptre in your right hand
and an ankh in your left, you who are honored
where East and West entwine, among your city’s
gleaming temples, houses of study, colonnaded
walkways, teeming theaters, gymnasia and public baths,
as well as the hills, groves, orchards, and fertile valleys
of Judah and Samaria— hear me.
And you, virgin Chokmah, Cupbearer
of the ancient Council, clever daughter
of ʾĂšērāh the Queen of the Gods,
and handmaiden of ‘El Šadday the King,
who cherishes you above all his children,
and made you concubine of Mount Zion’s
valiant Defender against the onslaught
of Amalek and the hated Nephilim,
enemies of divine order— hear me.
O happy couple, may your powers
be joined in fruitful union
like the star-gleaming Sky
and the precious Earth,
like law and liberty,
like ecstasy and wisdom,
like justice and mercy.
O Dove and Bull, as you rise pure from
your mikveh in the holy Jordan— hear me.
May your chuppah forever bless
the land upon which it is erected.
May the lifting of the bride’s veil
inscribed with the entire oral Torah
reveal salvific mysteries to the people.
May you recite the seven blessings
together over wine, and circle
the Ark of the Covenant seven times.
May your first dance together
drive away misfortune
and bring luck and protection
to the people of Israēl,
who have been called as guests
to the feast by the groom who traveled
near and far on his donkey,
seeking them out in their exile
to bring them home, that they might celebrate
the marriage of Sophia and Yēšaʿ before the living
throne of Yahweh of Samaria and his ʾĂšērāh,
as well as the entire Bene ʾĔlōhīm,
both divine and mortal, who have come
from all over to attend the festivities.
Šālōm. Šālōm. Šālōm. L’chaim!

O Dionysos giver of strength and victory,
you who revel on Mount Zion, who hunt on Hebron,
you who inspired the psalmistry of David on the harp
just as you put mystic music in the heart of Orpheus;
protector of Alexander who conquered the Persians
and made sacrifices in the temple at Jerusalem,
walk beside me in battle and in hardship.
Embolden my heart when I grow weary
and sharpen my mind when obstacles stand before me.
May I overcome fear without losing compassion,
and achieve victory without arrogance.
Let my efforts bear worthy fruit, you who are called
Anthios in the garden, and Nabōth in the vineyard;
let perseverance carry me through every trial,
and may truth, courage, and justice prevail.

O Dionysos, Lord of the Vine
and giver of the fruit of the Earth,
who makest glad the heart
and renewest the spirit—hear my voice.
Look upon the hills of Zion,
and remember all who dwell therein.
Son of Samarian Zeus Xenios,
nursed by the slim-ankled Nymph Nysa,
who playeth with her charge in the groves of Eškol,
the glad God, founder of Skythopolis, jewel of the Decapolis,
I pray, let peace take root where strife hath grown.
Break the hardness of hearts, and turn them toward mercy.
Let no hand be lifted in wrath, nor voice in hatred,
but teach thy people to walk in piety and celebration.
Thou who revealest hidden truth and bringest forth new life,
pour out renewal upon the weary and the burdened.
Let justice rise with compassion, and memory be joined with healing.
Abide among the people of this ancient blood-soaked
and battle-scarred land, O wanderer divine, and make of it
a place of shared blessing for all who reside here where the Jordan flows.

May Psuchadaïktēs Dionysos stand watch
over this place and all within it.
May every harmful thing be turned away,
every cruel intention scattered,
may all who enter remain safe
in body, mind, and spirit.
And may every shadow be driven
back by the living light of the son of Zeus.
So may it be. Alpha Lēōn Phōnē Anēr.

Through the terrible might
of Dionysos Phrikōdēs I pray,
make the walls of this place strong,
the threshold and yard
guarded by his Retinue,
and the hearts within be filled
with courage greater than our fear.
May peace dwell here,
may truth be spoken here,
may no malice ever take root.
Askei kataskei erôn oreôn eôr mega semnyêr baui.

May Ōmophonōs Dionysos encircle you
with unseen protection, may hostile voices
lose their power, may hidden dangers pass you by,
and may fear find no dwelling place within your heart.
May your steps be guided away from harm,
your mind remain clear in troubled times,
and your spirit remain unbroken through every trial.
Let those who wish you well draw near,
and let all malice fade like smoke before the wind.
May you walk in safety beneath sacred watch,
through day and night alike.
So may it be. Satōr, Aretō, Tenet, Ōtera Rōtas.

If this war happens it looks like I’m not just going to be a Nazi and a Zionist, but an oath-breaker too. So be it. May Dionysos forgive me.

Speaking of Communists, they are especially gifted at causing suffering, which makes for good art. In keeping with that, my wife posted about the jewel of her collection of ballet shoes, which was signed by Maya Plisetskaya:

She signed in Russian and English. The shoes are heavily broken in. I had strong feet when I danced, but these shoes are too broken for me to ever have worn! there is literally no blocking left in them. They’re darned around the tip; extra stitches are added at the vamp to add support for the dancer ( Soviet shoes were notorious for breaking down mid-performance) and stitching along the side to take up slack and highlight the foot. They’re absolutely broken and absolutely gorgeous. One of the things I find fascinating with shoes is that, having been a ballet dancer myself, I can read the shoes: date them, look at the ways they’ve been broken in or prepared for use and tell something of the dancer. Here, her shoes tell me she was a powerhouse with incredibly strong feet.

You should read the rest of the post, as she discusses her lineage of dancers and how she honors them.

Hey guys, I’ve upgraded! According to the folks at r/dionysus I am no longer a Nazi but a Zionist now.

Which is really weird because I generally don’t talk politics outside of history, and have certainly never discussed how any piece of land inherently belongs to any population (except the territory which Anglos call Alberta, Montana and Wyoming which did, does, and shall always belong to the Blackfoot Confederacy! Technically our empire extended down into New Mexico but I’m not partial to the in-between states so y’all can go ahead and keep them.)

It’s weird that they’ve somehow inferred my Zionism from the fact that I’ve been discussing the polytheistic religions of the ancient Kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and venerate many of the divinities once revered there and throughout the Levant, but I’m not bothered by the apparent accusation. I don’t believe that border disputes should be settled by divine fiat; on the contrary I am of the opinion that might makes right, and the Jews have always been formidable fighters, from their utter devastation of the Amalakites to their defeat of Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and assorted other Arab states in the Six Days War. This is why there deserves to be a modern state of Israel (nor do I believe that they should have given up the territory won during that epic confrontation, any more than the Blackfeet should have stopped fighting the French and Americans, or signed the humiliating treaties they were presented with; but since I am not now nor have I ever been a member of the Knesset — or a Blackfoot Chief — that’s not really my call to make. I am content to stay out of politics entirely — I’m not even registered to vote — and instead focus on serving Dionysos as an Orpheotelest.)

The Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, on the other hand, despite claiming to have founded a Thousand Year Reich, saw their polity collapse within a dozen years, and — as if that wasn’t shameful enough — were largely brought down by a bunch of rag-tag Commies led by a semi-literate, inept horse-thief from the Caucasus. There are a bunch of reasons why I have resented being lumped in with such ilk (mostly by a group moderated by a buffoon who hasn’t had an idea he hasn’t plagiarized from me for almost as long as the Third Reich lasted, a pedophile from Australia, and a former teenaged demonolator, no less) but after their socialism, their leader being a syphilitic meth addict, and a couple others I could name, the fact that the NSDAP were such losers has always severely chafed me. Sorry, but I like winners.

So, while confused, I am pleased that they have now taken to calling me a Zionist and will continue to cheer on the IDF as they trounce Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, the Islamic Republic of Iran, their proxies and allies, and anyone else who threatens Jews around the globe. And may Yahweh Sabaōth and Dionysos Abraō continue to bless their efforts and grant them victory.

And may those dumb enough to make themselves foes of a Blackfoot find diversions other than harassing me (like figuring out their genders) or so help me I will publish the dirt I have on you disgusting antisemites. And that will just be my opening salvo.

Now back to writing prayers for Dionysos.

O Dionysos, Lord of the winding road and hidden gate,
companion of wanderers, outcasts, and heroes,
guide me through the labyrinth before me.

When the corridors seem endless
and every turning resembles the last,
keep my spirit from exhaustion and bitterness.
Do not let confusion become hopelessness,
nor fear become surrender.

Grant me the wisdom to recognize illusion,
for many paths glitter while leading deeper into darkness.
Teach me to distinguish the voice of truth
from the echo of my own desires and anxieties.
Let me not follow pride into ruin
or despair into stillness.

Carry a torch before me through the twisting halls.
Reveal what is hidden:
the traps laid by others,
the traps I have laid for myself,
the old wounds that distort my judgment,
and the fears that stalk behind me like beasts in shadow.

If I must face a monster within the maze,
grant me courage enough to confront it honestly.
If I must endure solitude,
let me remember that the Gods still walk unseen beside mortals.
If I stumble or lose my way,
do not abandon me to panic or self-hatred,
but guide me back toward the living path.

O Liberator, Loosener, giver and taker of Life,
teach me that the labyrinth is not only a prison
but also a place of transformation.
May I emerge from its winding depths wiser than I entered,
more compassionate, more truthful, and less afraid.

And when at last I reach the center—
whether it holds revelation, sorrow, joy, or judgment—
grant me the strength to meet it with open eyes.

Lead me onward through mystery and darkness
until I again behold the open sky.

O Dionysos Philokapnos,
as this incense rises into the air,
may all heaviness, malice, and corruption
be carried away with the smoke.
Cleanse this space
of fear,
of hate,
of harmful intent,
and let every shadow depart
before the sacred fragrance and living light.
Through your graciousness and power,
may only what is life-sustaining remain.
Let peace dwell here,
let truth remain here,
let your spirit be felt here,
O Dionysos Psolos.
May this place be blessed with renewal—
fit for joy, celebration, prayer, and Bacchic ecstasy.

O Dionysos Xenodokos and Plektos,
I thank you for the sweetness woven into life:
for ripe fruit and cool rain,
for music that stirs the heart,
for companions who lighten sorrow,
and for the strange beauty of being alive at all.
Thank you for nights of celebration
and for the wisdom hidden inside grief.
Thank you for the courage to begin again after failure,
and for moments of freedom when the soul remembers its own joy.
May gratitude keep me humble in times of abundance
and hopeful in times of hardship.
Let me never grow blind to wonder
or careless with the gifts placed before me.
May my life itself become an offering of thanks—
through kindness, honesty, creativity, and love.

O Dionysos Charidōtēs,
I give thanks for this day,
for the breath within me,
for those I love,
and for every small joy that keeps the spirit alive.
May gratitude deepen and expand my heart,
and teach me to cherish what is good.

Blessed be bull-horned Dionysos,
Lord of wild mountains and fertile valleys,
keeper of the sacred cup, bearer of the fruitful branch,
awakener of hidden truths within the human soul.

May your blessing descend like rich wine poured into empty vessels,
filling hearts with courage, inspiration, fellowship, and joy in living.
Where spirits have become dry with sorrow, bring renewal.
Where fear has hardened the heart, bring liberation.
Where despair has silenced song and laughter,
destroy the tyrant and restore the sacred fire of life.

Blessed be the God who dances between celebration and grief,
teaching mortals that both belong to the fullness of existence.
Through your mysteries may we learn
that tears and laughter are not enemies,
but companions upon the same sacred road.
May we neither flee sorrow nor worship it,
but move through life honestly,
awake to all its beauty and fragility.

O Liberator,
bless those who seek truth beneath appearances.
Bless the artists who reveal hidden realities
through music, theater, poetry, and dance.
Bless the wanderers who refuse to let fear imprison their spirits.
Bless the outcast and forgotten, and remind them
that dignity belongs to every human soul.

May your followers honor you not only through celebration,
but through compassion, courage, hospitality, and reverence for life.
May every feast deepen friendship,
every ritual awaken wisdom,
and every shared cup strengthen peace among companions.

Bless the vineyards and the forests,
the drums and the flutes,
the stages where stories are told,
and the sacred spaces where
hearts open without shame.
May your spirit continue to inspire
creativity against dullness,
freedom against oppression,
and joy against hopelessness.

And when darkness falls upon the world,
may your torch still burn through the night—
wild, untamed, loving, and abundant with life.
May those who invoke your name remember
that sacred ecstasy is not escape from life,
but deeper participation in its mystery.

Blessed be Dionysos,
now and for all ages to come.
May the vine continue to grow,
may the wild ones continue to run,
may the songs continue to be sung,
and may your liberating spirit endure
wherever human beings seek
beauty, truth, and renewal.

May Dionysos bless all Dionysians
who walk the ivy-covered path
with sincerity and reverence.
May Dionysos bless his people
with abundance and luck,
ferocious integrity and savage grace,
joyful hearts, clear minds, and steadfast spirits,
as well as an unwavering commitment
to their God and his traditions.
May their gatherings be filled
with honest fellowship,
music, dance, screaming,
inspiration and holy terror.
ecstatic celebration,
liberation and blessedness.
I pray that Dionysians find
courage in times of hardship,
wisdom in times of confusion,
and renewal after sorrow or exhaustion.
May the cup be shared in peace,
the flame kept burning through every season,
and the mysteries of the Liberator create new life in them.
May artists, seekers, wanderers, and celebrants alike
find inspiration in your worship,
and receive your blessings graciously.
And so may the tradition flourish through every generation.

O Dionysos Diosphōs, walk beside me
through dark roads and uncertain hours.
Guard my body, steady my mind,
and strengthen my spirit, Egersiphaēs.
Turn away malice, misfortune, and hidden danger,
let no cruelty take root within or around me,
and let fear not rule my heart, Zaphleges.
May I move beneath your protection
with courage and clear sight, doing what is
just and honorable, Hēdymelēs.