Autumn Equinox Rite
Sassafras Grove, ADF, Pittsburgh PA
Friends Meeting House
Saturday, September 25, 2004; 7:00 pm

I.	BEGINNING THE RITE & ESTABLISHING THE GROUPMIND
A.	Ritual Briefing – Emerald & Rowan (w/ help from Diana)
B.	The Consecration of Time
1.	The Nine Knells –Diana with tambourine
C.	The Consecration of Space and of Participants
1.	Purification of the Participants  Sea (wash hands), Land (put hands on Earrach’s labyrinth rock), Sky (incense)--Blessers On Site
2.	While purifications are taking place, Earrach will talk about the season and the harvest (connecting John Barleycorn lore with Dionysos lore)
3.	 Procession: (“Come We Now as a People,” up tempo)  Congregation will process into the meeting room carrying giant thyrsus, torches, baskets of figs and grapes, ivy, etc.  All will process behind the bilé and around the space once.  On the next pass, the giant thyrsus will be put in place in the center of the room and the“harvesty stuff” will be placed on the regular altar.
4.	Warding of the Site / Acknowledgment of the Outsiders--Earrach
D.	Bardic patron- Arion– Maria & Emerald
Emerald
Poet and Harper beyond compare,
Your praise of kings and prayers
To gods most high resound
As players, ivy crowned,
Whirl words to stir the heart,
Illuminating mysteries by your art.

Maria
Arion,
Pride of Corinth
Excellent in challenge
Darling of Sicily
Scholar and teacher
Entrancing, enthralling,
Hear and attend us!
	
Emerald
Arion,
Defiant in death
Charmer of dolphins
Reborn of the waves
Avenged by Poseidon
Honored by Apollo
Hear and attend us!

Maria
Arion, harper, master of melodies

Emerald
Give music to our dance

Maria
Arion, golden voiced, honey-tongued bard

Emerald
Give words to our music

Maria
Arion, poet, beloved of gods

Emerald
Give grace to our words

Maria
Arion, Light of heaven, divinely inspired

Emerald
Hear our prayer

Maria
Arion, Light of heaven, divinely inspired

Emerald
Heed and attend us

Both
Arion, Light of heaven, divinely inspired
Accept the place we have prepared.
Sacrificer (Maria) makes offering to Arion.
E.	Earth Mother – Maria
Maria
O mother Gaia, of Gods and men the source, endured with fertile, all-destroying force; all-parent, bounding, whose prolific powers produce a store of beauteous fruits and flowers. All-various maid, the immortal world’s strong base, eternal, blessed, crowned with every grace; from whose wide womb as from an endless root, fruits many-formed, mature, and grateful shoot. Deep-bosomed, blessed, pleased with grassy plains, sweet to the smell, and with prolific rains. All-flowery Daimon, centre of the world, around thy orb the beauteous stars are hurled with rapid whirl, eternal and divine, whose frames with matchless skill and wisdom shine. Come, blessed Goddess, listen to my prayer, and make increase of fruits thy constant care; with fertile seasons in thy train draw near, and with propitious mind thy suppliants hear.  (Orphic Hymn 25 to Mother Earth)

All touch or kiss the ground.

(Song:  “Oh Earth Mother. . .”)
F.	Brighid (as Matron of the Grove)– Earrach
Earrach
I light this candle in honor of Brighid
The Matron of Sassafras Grove
Through the years you have been midwife
To many changes and new beginnings within our grove.
You foster our hope through good times and hard,
Through challenge and victories
You are the source of all our work
The voice in our song
The strength of our arm
The hand that heals discord
The inspiration of all we create
Lady of the Hearth Fire
Lady of the Sacred Wells
Lady of our grove
Remember us as we remember you.

G.	Unifying the Grove -- Emerald
Tree Meditation, Merge into Grove, (Song:  “We are one....”)
H.	Declaration of Intention & Historical Precedent –Emerald
[Brief recounting of the two different Dionysos birth myths.]

Emerald

As we prepare to enter the dark time of the year, the time when everything's dying around us, life still endures.  And Dionysos, like Persephone whom we encountered in last year's Autumn Equinox rite, is a symbol of that.  I think a lot of people need tobe reminded of that as the days get shorter and they start to despair because it's dark when they get out of work and it seems like the cold will never end.  In honoring Dionysos, the very embodiment of "zoë," the life-force itself, and experiencing his blessings in the rite, we are actively preparing to face the dark.  We are reminded that life does indeed endure, even in the darkest days.  Instead of resenting the dark time of the year, we embrace it.

In a literal harvest, we are gathering in the food that will sustain us through the winter.  In this rite, we are experiencing the power of Dionysos, taking that into ourselves to sustain us through the dark time of the year.  By becoming one with the god, we experience his divine essence, the life force itself.  We will call him to the rite, present him with offerings of praise, and ask for his blessings.  We will receive those blessings through music and dance.  As we dance, we take on the personas of the maenads and the satyrs, Dionysos's mythological companions, as we break down the barriers between human and divine.  Dance is a way of connecting with the god, of becoming one with his power, of feeling the pure, undifferentiated life force flowing through us.  In the second phase of the celebration, the post-rite sacred drinking party, we will engage in his gift of wine, literally taking the god into ourselves to achieve a similar state.  By learning about Dionysos and what he represents, we know on an intellectual level that life endures.  And by experiencing the mystery of the rite, we know it in our hearts as well.

II.	RECREATING THE COSMOS & PRELIMINARY POWER RAISING
A.	Creating the Vertical Axis
1.	Evoking the Spirits of Fire and of Water
a. The Sacred Fire:--Diana 
	i. Lighting, evoking and venerating the Sacred Fire: As sacrificer) lights the sacred fire

Diana
Fire of the Sun and Stars;	
Fire of our hearts and minds;	
Fire of the Gods and Goddesses!
Fiery radiance of the Upper Worlds
and Animating Spark, burning within all that lives...
Let this flame ignite as the most holy and SACRED FIRE...
and let its light and heat sanctify this place, these people and these proceedings.

				ii. Salutation of the Fire:  Gesture to the Sacred Fire
Diana
BEHOLD ! - THE SACRED FIRE ! ...
SACRED FIRE:  BURN WITHIN US !  (all repeat)

b. The Waters of Life—Rowan 
i. Decanting & Descriptive Invocation of the Waters :  As sacrificer makes offering to the well and fills the Grail
Rowan
Waters of Life’s Origin;
Waters of our sustenance;
Waters of the Cauldron of Rebirth!
Around us, below us, and within us,
the Waters flow from the Well
at the foot of the Great Tree...
Let this Vessel, as the Grail of our rite
receive, contain and convey to us
the Sacred Waters of the Blessed Ones.

ii. Salutation of the Waters:   Gesture to the Sacred Waters, exclaiming
Rowan
BEHOLD ! -THE WATERS OF LIFE ! ...
SACRED WATERS, FLOW WITHIN US !  (all repeat)
2.	The Creation Myth—Earrach
Earrach
WHO ARE WE?  FROM WHENCE DO WE COME?
  WHAT IS THE STORY OF OUR PEOPLE?
(-Not hard...)

A great misty cloud had gathered together in the void
Swirling and spiraling; spiraling and swirling
Drawing ever-in upon itself.

At its center a radiance shone forth
And drove outward the surrounding cloud
gathering the waters together here below.

And so it was that the stuff of creation drew apart
To form the Fire Above
And the Waters Below.

The Solar Fire warmed the Cauldron of Creation
And stroked upon its waters with thunderbolts
And begat upon it  Life.

And the Life begat the Creatures
And the Creatures begat the Ancestors
And the Ancestors begat Us, the Living People.

Upright, like you, Great Tree
We bear upon us the mark of Creation
Then, now, and for all time.

Rooted in the ancestral waters of the World Below,
Spanning this Middle-World of form
And reaching ever-upward to embrace the Fire Above.
3.	Honoring the Great Tree /Axis Mundi  (“Bilé”)—Earrach
			a. Sacrificer Asperges and Censes the Tree 
			b. Salutation of the Tree:

Earrach

Sacred Tree, Grow Within Us!
The Well, the Fire,  the Sacred Tree
Flow and flame and grow in me!”(all repeat)
B.	Opening the Ways – Diana
1.	Calling the Gatekeeper:  Ariadne Aphrodite, Holy of Holies, Queen of the Cretan Labyrinth
Diana
Cave-dwelling Ariadne
She who rules the darkest passages
Ariadne Holy One, Show us the Way!

Sacrificer lights the candle.

Congregation
Ariadne Holy One, Show us the Way!

Diana
Light-bearing Ariadne
She who guides our souls through the Labyrinth
Ariadne Holy One, Show us the Way!

Sacrificer unspindles the thread

Congregation
Ariadne Holy One, Show us the Way!

Diana
Thread-giving Ariadne
She whose mysteries are as sweet as the priestesses who bear them
Ariadne Holy One, Show us the Way!

Sacrificer offers honey to the Melissa bowl

Congregation
Ariadne Holy One, Show us the Way!

Diana
Honey-tongued Ariadne
She who bestows the dance of life, death and life again
Ariadne Holy One, Show us the Way!

Sacrificer bangs a frame drum 9 times

Congregation
Ariadne Holy One, Show us the Way!

Diana
Sacred-dancing Ariadne
She who rises by Her love of the wine-dark god
Ariadne Holy One,
Show us the Way!

Sacrificer Strews red roses/rose petals

Congregation
Ariadne Holy One,
Show us the Way!

2.	Opening the gate:   Diana picks up the red thread and takes it around the periphery of the hallows and spins it into a spiral/labyrinth shape.  When completed, she announces:
Diana
Ariadne, Most Holy of Holies!
She has shown us the Way!
The Gateway is open!

 (No Song)
C.	Filling Out The Cosmic Picture: The Kindred Invocation Triad
We remember and invite in the Dwellers of the Three Worlds.
Sacrificer makes offering to each Kindred during the invocation.
1.	Nature Spirits --  Earrach
Earrach
Nature Spirits,  Worldly Spirits!  Spirits of Place!
We beg your attention and presence here!
YOU:  who swim in the Waters!
YOU:  who creep upon the Land!
YOU:  who fly in the Skies! ... -be with us here!
YOU:  who dwell with one foot in this world!
YOU:  of the "Shee"; the"Fey-Folk"!
YOU:  of those who dwell Under-the-Hill! ... -be with us here!
YOU:  of mountain, plain or valley!
YOU:  of bubbling spring or flowing river!
YOU:  Genius Locii; Spirits of Place! ... -be with us here !
 (Song:  “Fur and feather…”)
2.	Ancestors--FreyaDragon 
FreyaDragon
Ancestors, we, your sons and daughters, grandchildren, students and new souls-call to you and ask your witness.  To the north, and south, and east, and west we invite you. Hear our voice and feel our welcome.  To all who once walked this plane, who have stood along side of us, and watched from your sacred realms, whispering inspiring wisdom, and guidance.  We are the branches extending out from your trunk and the solid roots that keep us forever connected.  Hear our voice and bless us with your presence this night, and in humble honor we uphold our sacred promise that ‘you will not be forgotten.’ Ancestors, across the ages we call to you!

(Song:  “From far beyond this mortal plane…”)
3.	Shining Ones—Maria
Friend, use it to good fortune.
Learn now, Mousaios, a rite mystic and most holy,
A prayer which surely excels all others.
Kind Zeus and Gaia, heavenly and pure flames of the Sun,
sacred light of the Moon, and all the Stars;
Poseidon, too, dark-maned holder of the earth,
Pure Persephone and Demeter of the splendid fruit,
Artemis, the arrow-pouring maiden, and you kindly Phoebus,
Who dwell on the sacred ground of Delphi.  And Dionysos,
The dancer whose honors among the blessed gods are the highest.
Strong-spirited Ares, holy and mighty Hephaistos,
And the goddess foam-born to whose lot fell sublime gifts,
And you, divinity excellent, who are king of the Underworld.
I call upon Hebe, and Eileithyia, and the noble ardor of Heracles,
The great blessings of justice and piety, The glorious nymphs and Pan the greatest,
And upon Hera, buxom wife of Aegis-bearing Zeus.
I also call upon lovely Mnemosyne and the holy Muses,
All nine, as well as upon the Graces, the Seasons, the Year,
Fair-tressed Leto, divine and revered Dione,
The armed Kouretes, the Korybantes, the Kabeiroi,
Great Saviors, Zeus’s ageless scions,
The Indaian gods, and upon Hermes, messenger and herald
Of those in heaven; upon Themis, too, diviner of men I call and upon Night, oldest of all, and Light-bringing Day;
Then upon Faith, Dike, blameless Thesmodoteira,
Rhea, Kronos, dark-veiled Tethys,
The great Ocean together with his daughters,
The might preeminent of Atlas and Aion,
Chronos the ever-flowing, the splendid water of the Styx,
All these gentle gods, and also Pronoia,
And the holy Daimon as well as the one baneful to mortals;
Then upon divinities dwelling in heaven, air, water,
On earth, under the earth, and in the fiery element.
Ino, Leukothe, Palaimon giver of bliss,
Sweet speaking Nike, queenly Adresteia,
The great king Asklepios who grants soothing,
The battle-stirring maiden Pallas, all the Winds, Thunder and the parts of the four –pillared Cosmos.
And I invoke the Mother of the immortals, Attis and Men,
And the goddess Ouranie, immortal and holy Adonis,
Beginning and End too, which to all is most important,
And ask them to come in a spirit of joyous mercy
To this holy rite and libation of reverence. (“Orpheus to Mousaios”)

(Song:  “Hail all the gods, hail all the goddesses…”)
III.  TOP TIER:  INVOCATION TO DIONYSOS, PRAISE OFFERINGS AND OMEN

A.  Dionysos Invocation

Three Priestesses (Emerald, Diana & Rowan) are placed around the space, Emerald in the back, Diana on the right and Rowan on the left.  Theywill each bang their tambourine three times in unison, Emerald leading.  The first line is said in place, and then they begin to prowl as they begin their individual lines, weaving in and out between the bilé, giant thyrsus, and congregation.  They end up standing in front of hallows, facing away from the congregation, by their last individual lines.

Three Priestesses
Dionysos we call, Divine & Thunderous, God of Ecstasy!

Emerald
Primeval, two-natured, thrice born, Bacchic Lord!

Diana
Savage, ineffable, primal, obscure; two-horned and two-shaped

Rowan
Bull-faced and martial, Bearer of the vine

Emerald
Ivy-crowned, triennial, howling and pure

Diana
Whom the leaves of the vine adorn, of the Underworld’s Queen divinely born

Rowan
Reared with the Nymphs, the Mother’s bright bloom

Emerald
Frenzied and howling through the high holy places

Diana
Basaarian God, mighty and universal

Rowan
Delighting in swords and bloody sacred rage

Emerald
In heaven rejoicing, mad-resounding god

Diana
Furious inspiration, armed with the thrysis

Rowan
Beloved of men and all the Deathless Gods

Pause.  Emerald and Rowan crouch down and pick up the basket (linknon) from the hallows and hand it to Diana.  All turn and face the congregation.  Diana raises the basket over her head and Emerald and Rowan place their hands on the basket.

Three Priestesses
Immortal Dionysos, hear the voice of thy supplicants!  Blessed God of Abandon, come to these rites in holy jubilation!

The spirit of the god is called into the mask which is hidden inside the basket.  Diana holds the basket while Emerald and Rowan draw the mask out by ribbons attached to either side.  They hang the mask on the giant thyrsus, signifying the god’s presence in the rite.  Diana comes forward and sprinkles the mask with water and blessing oil in an act of sanctification.
 	
B.	Group Praise Offering:  Orphic Hymn 49 to Lysius Lenaeus – Dionysos

All

Hear us, Son of Two Mothers, Blessed Dionysus, God of Wine,
Lysian, Evion Bacchus, Many-named, secret and holy, fertile and nourishing,
Who brings the spark of life and makes the fruits to flourish and increase,

Pause, bring offerings of wine from the hallows to the altar around the giant thyrus

All

Resounding, Magnanimous Power, Many-Formed God of Health, Holy Flower,
Mortals find repose from labor in Your magic, and You are desired by all.
Fair, Bromian, Joyful God who bears the vined wand

Pause, bring offerings of ivy from the hallows to decorate the giant thyrus

All

Incline to these rites, Whether You favor Gods or mortals,
Be welcome and listen as Your mystics pray,
And come rejoicing, bearing abundant fruits.

Pause, bring offerings of figs, grapes, etc.  from the hallows to the altar around the giant thyrus.  Drummers play quietly during each pause to maintain energy.
C.	Individual Praise Offerings
D.	Conclusionary sacrifice—women rip apart paper bull
E.  Taking of the Omen (scrying)—FreyaDragon
IV.  RECEIVING AND USING THE RETURNED BLESSINGS/POWER
A.	Stirring up the frenzy

Once the omen is good. . .

Emerald
The god he is pleased by our outpouring of praise.
And now, by his will, may we come to know his blessings of ecstasy and joy.
 Let the life-force sing within us!  Evohe!

All
Evohe!

Earrach
Dionysos!  Dionysos!
He is sweet upon the mountains.
He drops to the earth from the running packs.
He wears the holy-fawn-skin.
He hunts the wild goat and kills it.
He delights in the raw flesh.
He runs to the mountains of Phrygia, to the mountains of Lydia he runs!
He is Bromios who leads us!
Evohe!

All
Evohe!

Rowan
With milk the earth flows!
It flows with wine!
It runs with the nectar of bees!

Like frankincense in its fragrance is the blaze of the torch he bears.
Flames float out from his trailing wand
as he runs, as he dances,
kindling the stragglers,
spurring with cries,
and his long curls stream to the wind!

And he cries as they cry:  Evohe!

All
Evohe!

Emerald
Blessed, blessed are those who know the mysteries of the god.
Blessed is he who hallows his life in the worship of the god.
Blessed is he whom the spirit of the god possesses,
who is one with those who belong to the holy body of the god.

Blessed are the dancers and those who are purified,
who dance on the hill in the holy dance of the god.
Blessed are they who keep the rite of Kybele the Mother.
Blessed are the thrysus-bearers,
those who wield in their hands the holy wand of the god.
Blessed are those who wear the crown of the ivy of the god.

Blessed, blessed are they:  Dionysos is their god!

All
Dionysos is our god!

Diana
On Bacchae, on you Bacchae,
Crown your hair with ivy!
Grow green with bryony!
Redden with berries!
Come dance the dance of the god!
Fringe your skins of dappled fawn with tufts of twisted wool!
Handle with holy care the violent wand of the god!
And let the dance begin!

All
Let the dance begin!

B.	Begin the chant and the dance.

All

It’s with tambourine and drum
With our god, make way we come
It's to life and death and life we sing our song.
It’s with tambourine and drum
With our god, make way we come
 Dionysos, vine and grape the whole night long

Everyone dances with thyrsus and/or percussion instruments, dancing, singing and playing in order to commune with Dionysos and take his power into themselves.

C.	Regrounding:  Once the dance has run its course, Emerald will do a brief regrounding and centering.

D.	Final Blessing--Emerald will sprinkle the grapes with the waters from the Grail, infused with the energy of the dance and then go around and feed a grape to everyone present (continuing to ground).

E.	 Call for unfinished work--Earrach
•	
V.  UNWINDING AND ENDING THE CEREMONY
A.	Thanksgivings to Entities Invited   (in reverse order of arrival:)
1.	Dionysos—Emerald, Rowan, Diana
All three will come forward, Diana with the basket.  Emerald & Rowan will remove the mask from the pole and place it back in basket, asking Dionysos to come with us to next phase of the rite.
2.	The Triad of the Kindred—Deities, Ancestors, Nature Spirits – Maria, Freya-Dragon, Earrach
3.  Bardic Patron-- Arion – Maria
B.	Thanking the Gatekeeper and Closing the Threshold—Diana

Diana
As she winds up the thread
With awed reverence, I call upon the pure and sacred Stars,
The spirits of Celestial Realms, and daughters of Night.
In whirling circles of eternal fires, the source of life, 
You have poured your light out upon the darkness,
To make a path the Fates have shown unto the Wise,
In Seven kingdoms run you with wandering flames, unwearied diamond truth forever piercing the Stygian veil,
Hail joyful, dazzling, and ever wakeful fires,
And on my desires shine with high regard,
These sacred rites attend, and end our works devoted to your praise.
(Orphic Hymn VI “To The Stars”)
C.	Affirmation of Past/Future Continuity and Success—Earrach

Earach
As it has been done in the past...
As we have done it now...
and  as it likewise will be done in the future...
we have again forged a link in the sacred chain of Tradition...
LONG LIVE THE TRADITION !

All
LONG LIVE THE TRADITION!

D.	Draining Off the Excess Power - The Restoration of the Ordinary--Earrach
E.	Clear-cut Ending:  De-consecration of Time and Space
1.	Final Benediction -Earrach
2.	Announcement of End -Earrach
3.	Musical Signal
a.	The Nine Knells--Diana
b.	Chant-song:  (“Walk with wisdom....”)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
While the inspiration and overarching vision for this rite were mine, its creation was truly a collaborative effort.  Dionysos gave me the charge to perform a rite in his honor, and I did the bulk of the research, decided on the theme and intent, chose the Bardic Patron and Gatekeeper, and came up with the magickal working of the Induction of Receptivity.  But the actual nuts and bolts of how this rite would happen were hammered out by the three primary planners—me, Earrach, and Rowan.  The countless hours they spent listening to my ravings and their suggestions as to how to make all of this raw material into a ritual that worked were invaluable.  This rite would not have happened without them.  Diana, Maria and FreyaDragon also contributed greatly to this rite.  All of the ancient texts were selected by me with the exception of the Gateway closing prayer “To the Stars” which was chosen by Diana.

Emerald*
December 16, 2004

Credits

I. D.  Bardic Invocation to Arion:   Stoy, Maria.  2004.

I.E.  Earth Mother Invocation:  “Orphic Hymn 25 to the Earth Mother.”  Taylor, Thomas, trans. and ed.  The Hymns of Orpheus.  London, 1792.  Hare, John B., ed.  Internet Sacred Text Archive.  16 Dec. 2004   http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/hoo/hoo30.htm>.

I.F.  Brighid Prayer:  Stoy, Maria. 2004.

I.H.  Statement of Intent:  Bronowicz, Diane Lynn “Emerald.”  2004.

II. A.  Creating the Vertical Axis:  Earrach of Pittsburgh.  Sassafras Grove Liturgy.

II. B. 1 & 2 Opening the Ways and Gatekeeper Invocation:  Paar, Diana.  2004.

II.C.1.  Nature Spirits Invocation:  Earrach of Pittsburgh.  Sassafras Grove Liturgy.

II.C.2.  Ancestor Invocation:  FreyaDragon.  2004.

II.C.3.  Deities Invocation:  “Orpheus to Mousaios.”  Athanassakis, Apostolos N., trans.   Meyer, Marvin W., ed.  The Ancient Mysteries:  A Sourcebook:  Sacred Texts of the Mystery Religions of the Ancient World.  Philadelphia:  University of Pennsylvania Press, 1987.

III.A.  Dionysos Invocation: “ Orphic Hymn 30 to Dionysos,” “Orphic Hymn 46 to Liknitus- Dionysus,” “Orphic Hymn 45 to Trieterieus - Dionysos.”  Adapted by Emerald from translations by Athanassakis and Stewart-Avalon, M.Ed., Virginia.  Trans.  Website of the Sibyline Order of Wicca.  Trinity, ed.  16 Dec. 2004.  http://www.sibyllinewicca.org/sacred_writing/oh_dionysus.htm, http://www.sibyllinewicca.org/sacred_writing/oh_dionysus3.htm, http://www.sibyllinewicca.org/sacred_writing/oh_trieterieus.htm>.

III.B.  Group Praise Offering:  “Orphic Hymn 49 to Lysius Lenaeus – Dionysos.”  Stewart-Avalon, Virginia.  Trans.  http://www.sibyllinewicca.org/sacred_writing/oh_lysius.htm>.

IV. A.  Stirring up the Frenzy:  Euripides.  The Bacchae.  Arrowsmith, William.  Trans.  Meyer, Marvin W. ed.  The Ancient Mysteries:  A Sourcebook:  Sacred Texts of the Mystery Religions of the Ancient World.  Philadelphia:  University of Pennsylvania Press, 1987.  Adapted by Emerald.

IV. B.  Chant:  “It’s with Tambourine and Drum.”  Cleerdawn, Rowan.  2004.

V. B.  Thanking the Gatekeeper and Closing the Threshold:  “Orphic Hymn 6 To The Stars.”  Stewart-Avalon, M.Ed., Virginia.  Trans.  Website of the Sibyline Order of Wicca.  Trinity, ed.  16 Dec. 2004.  http://www.sibyllinewicca.org/sacred_writing/oh_stars.htm>.

Bibliography

Burkert, Walter.  Greek Religion.  Trans. J. Raffan.  Cambridge: Harvard UP, 1985.

Kerenyi, Karl.   Dionysos:  Archetypal Image of Indestructible Life.  Trans. Ralph Manheim.  Princeton:  Princeton UP, 1976.

Lonsdale, Steven H.  Dance and Ritual Play in Greek Religion.  Baltimore:  The Johns Hopkins UP, 1993.

Meyer, Marvin W., ed.  The Ancient Mysteries:  A Sourcebook:  Sacred Texts of the Mystery Religions of the Ancient World.  Philadelphia:  University of Pennsylvania Press, 1987.

Otto, Walter.  Dionysos:  Myth and Cult.  Trans.  Robert B. Palmer.  Bloomington:  Indiana UP, 1965.

Shinoda Bolem, Jean.  Gods in Every Man:  A New Psychology of Men’s Lives and Loves.  New York:  Harper & Row, 1989.

Theoi Project:  A Guide to Greek Gods, Spirits and Monsters.  Atsma, Aaron, ed.  27 Jan. 2005.  http://66.90.77.92/.

Thiasos Dionysos.  27 Jan. 2005.  http://www.thiasosdionysos.org/.

Website of the Sibyline Order of Wicca.  Trinity, ed.  16 Dec. 2004.  http://www.sibyllinewicca.org/order/index.htm.