Zagreus who hunts by moonlight,
and holds life and death in your hands,
may my heart never rest until it finds you
who are its center, its love,
the only certainty and peace it knows,
and source of boundless, overflowing joy.
Place my fragile, cracked heart
in your own mighty and enduring heart,
so that it may be healed and made whole,
and remain continually under your protection
and guidance. O son of Persephonē
and snake-formed Zeus.
May your compassionate heart
help me make right the wrongs I have done
whether from ignorance,
or irrational, destructive desires,
or the guilt I have inherited
from my wicked ancestors.
And may your holy heart cleanse the rest of my heart
so that I may persevere in doing good
and in fleeing evil until my final breath,
and please, I pray, pour your intoxicating
inspiration into my heart, you who walk
through the crowd of celebrants with snakes
draped over your shoulders, delighting
in their passionate veneration. Along with
inspiration, I implore you, pour some
of the pain of your indestructible heart
into my heart, O Suffering God, so that I
may carry some of it for you,
even if it is only a small amount,
for your burden is great indeed,
redeemer and restorer of mankind,
perpetual sacrifice poured out
so that the Gods may grant us
grace in abundance.