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.