About a week ago, I wrote a post that was supposed to be about my relationship with Dionysus and Ariadne, but turned into Myth Gods and Real Gods.
When I was a teen I had a handful of deities: Sister Moon, Hestia, Vesta, Artemis, Hephaestus, and Anubis. Over the years, that number would change, especially as I started working more with animal spirits.
Then as I went through a phase of dark depression and rejected being an artist—I listened to what asshole students and teachers of Wright State University’s art department, who said that I was mediocre and talentless and had no place in that major. I pushed Hephaestus away, and the others (although Hestia-Vesta and Sister Moon stayed). (My drawing teacher, Penny, brought me back by saying that I had the potential, but I was standing in my way).
In 2014, I started working with the Roman Ceres. During one of my full moon rites with Her, Sister Moon, and the Land Spirits, Dionysus showed up. He stayed…and with Him came a flood of other Gods and Spirits, that doesn’t seem to have stopped—although it has slowed a bit. Hephaestus and Artemis also returned. Well, technically They didn’t go very far, just waited for me to wake up.
Dionysus is both a Minoan and a Hellenic Deity…possibly from other places, especially if you read the myths. He’s a demigod—son of Zeus and the mortal Semele. A god who tends to like humans in the myths and spends a lot of time around us. His domains are agriculture, fertility, wine making, celebrations, theatre, and other things like moderation and addictions. He’s known more as a party god, but He’s so much more than that.
I’ve known a lot of people who say that Dionysus helps them with their various addictions—be it alcohol, drugs, gambling, food—helps them stay sober. Empowers and supports them.
If you look at His stories, I personally see some of them teaching about moderation. Showing what can happen if you indulge too much. The frenzy that follows. The lives it can destroy.
He’s definitely been a healer for me, too. Helping me through my eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and cPTSD. Learn to accept and even love my learning disabilities and neurodivergences. Help me combat my food addictions.
Helping me see that my Shadow Self wasn’t my enemy, but a wounded, distrustful fragment that needed love (when my Shadow came into alignment with the rest of me, it opened the door to find my Inner Child fragments).
Dionysus became a Shadow Work Guide, a Psychic Teacher, a Godspouse, and I’d eventually serve Him as a Maenad and a Priestess. He became a God of Moderation and a Liberator for me. I’d see the lovely sides of Him, the fun sides, and even the terrifying sides, too. Although seeing His darkness is rare for me, it was never out of anger towards me. His dark side was always about healing and initiations.
On one journey, I was following a shed snake skin into a cave. Inside, a sickly looking man was devouring a snake. They realized that I was there, turned and looked at me, crazed and hungry. It was Dionysus. Scary as hell. He roared and chased me, eating me alive.
It’s not unusual for me to be dismembered, eaten alive, stabbed, burned to death, boiled alive, etc. on my journeys. Which I’ve learned is normal for Spirit Workers, Shamans, and whatever else folks may call themselves. Death and Rebirth. Initiations. Leveling Up. Spiritual shit like that.
For while, whenever I’d see Baba Yaga, She’s cut me open in horrific ways and take stuff out of me. Later She might put it back, if it needed to be put back.
The Morrigan almost always ambushes me—but not out of malice. It’s training. I’ve gotten better at deflecting. My spidey-tingles, if you will, have grown.
And Medusa also almost always stabs me, or Her snakes would bite me, especially the venom-y ones.
Yeah, it hurts. In trance, in dream. I don’t always feel it when I come back, though. But I have ‘returned’ with marks, bruises, and scratches that have healed and faded. Returning to my Astral Form, I may still have those marks. They’re like glowing tattoos—which I have many marks from many lives of serving my Kindreds. I’m practically just glowing symbols in a humanoid form!
Purification. Death and Rebirth. Initiations.
Listen, the deeper you go, this spiritual shit gets wild.
Dionysus would also give me a taste of what a conduit was like, with automatic typing and writing, and trance possession. He was one of the deities who taught me about trance. Hekate is also a Shadow Work Guide and a Psychic Teacher—She was more about the foundational skills, and He about showing me my potential—giving me tastes, like a parent giving their kid a taste of wine before their 21st birthday. Here and there, nothing that would risk angering my Spiritual Mothers, Hestia-Vesta and Hekate.
Not too long after 2016, a red ball of yarn rolled through my personal Shadow Labyrinth. Ariadne, a Minoan Goddess of the Underworld and a Path Finder began working with me on my Shadow Work too. Especially when I found myself lost. Through Her came The Melissae—the Bee Priestesses and Dancers found in both Minoan and Hellenic cultures, too.
I began honoring both on the 13th of every month.
In the Fall, Dionysus sacrifices His body to sustain us. In the Spring, He returns from the Underworld.
I include Him in my June Pride Month celebrations, too, especially since Dionysus helped me accept that I was Bi/am Pansexual and Polyam.
Ariadne and Persephone follow a similar path, although for different reasons, so I celebrate both on the Spring and Fall Equinoxes, too.
Ariadne also gets World Bee Day (March 20), Honeysweet (August 1), and World Honey Bee Day (August 17), along with The Melissae and other Bee Entities.
Over the years, I’ve decorated Their shrines with fake grapes and ivy, real ivy, air plants, and aloe vera. Bottles of wine, wine opener, corks, and a dedicated wine glass. I’m really not that into wine—I’m very picky, preferring Apothic Wines and meads. Honestly, I’m a lightweight and I only drink alcohol 1-2 a month on full moons and special days. If that.
On Their shrines, there’s also Nymphs, Satyrs, dragonflies, ivy crowns, hand bells with colorful ribbons, a hand sickle, LGBTQ+ pride flag, labyrinth pictures, drum mallets, wooden flute, a thyrsus, and spiders and webs for Arachne—a guardian of grapes (Arakhneiad by Sannion). A picture of the Minoan Snake Goddess, a fertility goddess painting by me, and goats, big cats, seeds, and bees. Starman Tarot for Dionysus and the Hedgewitch Botanical Oracle by Siolo Thompson for Ariadne. Candles, thread, avocado seeds (because they look like testicles to me), phallus, vulva, a Sheela na gig, and other little trinkets and things. Items and gifts of self-care, love, healing, fun, and empowerment.
It has definitely been a journey so far with these two—They are very patient and give gentle encouragement. There’s a calmness with both Dionysus and Ariadne, but with Dionysus, there’s never a dull moment, although He’s not as fiery as Loki. Before Loki showed up, Dionysus seemed to be around me a lot, giving His opinion on things, especially when I was having a conversation with others. Nothing snarky, save those kinds of opinions for Loki. Although Dionysus can be a little sassy.
For me, Dionysus usually appears as young androgenous person (although sometimes more masculine. Sometimes He takes the form of David Bowie!). Blonde or brown shoulder length curls. Golden brown or pale skin. Clean shaven. No hair on chest, back, or legs. Not wearing much, to be honest, save for a ivy crown, and a white and gold tunic or big cat furs draped around his shoulders and groin. Thyrsus or a wooden goblet in hand. Ivy vines here and there. Always very handsome.
I can usually find Him in a grove with a bonfire in the middle of it, with Maenads singing and chanting, and playful Nymphs and Satyrs fucking all around. It’s quite the party. Usually at the fire, it’s calmer, though, and usually just sits Him waiting for me to sit by the fire for whatever it is we have to talk about. Or it’s just the wooden goblet waiting for me to drink from.
As for Ariadne, She’s usually dressed in traditional Minoan dress, like the Snake Goddess, or sometimes She may have a long golden or beige veil over Her head that almost touches the floor. She’s not always bare chested. I think certain outfits depends on the holy day or heck, maybe even Her mood. I’m not a fashion person, so I don’t usually notice the clothes of my Kindreds, unless I’m supposed to. She has black hair in ornate styles with beads and ribbons. Tan skin from dancing in the sunlight (sometimes I’ve seen Her dance with The Melissae). Always with a ball of thread, sometimes red, sometimes white. Sometimes Ariadne just straight up appears as the Snake Goddess, but when She does, She’s dancing—like belly dancing with the serpents and The Melissae.
Where do I meet Her? Well, the ball of red thread finds me. Leads me to Her. The scene is always different, but I know we’re in a deep, dark labyrinth or very rarely, we’re at the surface. Walking and talking. Rarely dancing. Sometimes the bees come and whisper into Her ear. She nods and the bee returns to the surface.
Although since Elen of the Ways entered my life, I haven’t seen Ariadne around as much. But that happens. Ariadne hasn’t left, it’s just that it’s Elen’s turn. Another Way Finder with lessons to teach. Ariadne was one of many who helped me navigate my depths and Shadows, now that Hekate has instructed me to come to the surface and follow joy, the antlered Elen comes with Her lantern.
I don’t see Dionysus and Ariadne together very often, but when I have there was a deep joy and love between Them. I’m grateful for Their presence in my life and all of the things They’re taught me over the years. I look forward to more years to come.
Have you ever experienced Dionysus and/or Ariadne? What was it like? Do They still walk with you?
Thanks for reading. (also posted on Substack)
~ Priestess Kristy "Foxlyn" Wren
I offer psychic readings, if interested. I’m a Psychic Medium who can channel Deities, Spirits, and the Dead—human and animal. These entities may use pendulums, cards, runes, automatic writing/typing/drawing, possession, or energies to answer your questions. There are no time or question limits. I accept venmo and trade. Click the link above for more information.
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