New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
| This day was sacred to the Roman god Bacchus and Greek god Dionysus. Both gods (and Pan, the forest god) are associated with intoxication, imagination, our "wild side," and our deeper intuitive nature.
Set up your altar with some grapes or a small goblet of wine or beer, and a crown of ivy (traditionally worn by both gods). Stand before your altar unclothed or wearing a simple robe. Play music with drums and flutes that reminds you of the forest (such as music by Deep Forest or Gabrielle Roth, or the Jethro Tull song "Pan Dance"). Put the crown of ivy on your head. Eat some grapes or sip from the goblet. Give thanks to the gods for their gifts of fruit and wine. Close your eyes and move to the music. Imagine dancing in the forest to the drums, as the ancients did. Keep the ivy crown on your altar to remind you to honor your wild side and your connection to nature. |
