The thyrsus has been about two months in progress. I acquired the base staff a few months ago, but only about two months ago did I bring it to my dad's shop to start actually preparing it. He helped me sand it, stain it, apply polyurethane to the shaft and the cone, and attach the cone. I then brought it home, and promptly procrastinated attaching the ribbons and actually blessing the thing. I guess Dionysos got impatient, because that happened tonight.
The ritual was a fairly standard ritual, with the exception of the actual working. For the working, I poured a glass of wine, calling upon it as the blood of Dionysos. I then cut my own finger just deeply enough to get a few drops of blood from it, and mixed those with the wine. That mixture was then used to coat and bless the thyrsus, with a prayer that I wrote:
I call to the rushing Bull God.
I call to the Thrice Born.
I call to the Giver of Madness.
Let he who leads the throngs become Dionysos.
Bestow your blessings upon this staff, upon this cone, upon this thyrsus.
Mighty Zagreus!
By your blood and mine, let the bearer of this, your thyrsus, know the paths through the underworld.
Mighty Zagreus!
By your blood and mine, let the bearer of this, your thyrsus, know sparagmos and rebirth.
Mighty Zagreus:
By your blood and mine, let the bearer of this, your thyrsus, know the fires and lightening of the heavens.
Mighty Bromios!
By your blood and mine, let the bearer of this, your thyrsus, know the freedom of childhood.
Mighty Bromios!
By your blood and mine, let the bearer of this, your thyrsus, know the love of and for Semele and Ariadne.
Mighty Bromios!
By your blood and mine, let the bearer of this, your thyrsus, know the paths through the underworld and to Olympus, sharing with you your godhood.
Mighty Iakchos!
By your blood and mine, let the bearer of this, your thyrsus, follow the torches upon the initiate's path.
Mighty Iakchos!
By your blood and mine, let the bearer of this, your thyrsus, gaze deep into the mask without fear.
Mighty Iakchos!
By your blood and mine, let the bearer of this, your thyrsus, know the mysteries you have given.
Dionysos, Zagreus, Bromios, Iakchos!
Bestow your magic upon this thyrsus.
Bestow your blessing upon this thyrsus.
Bestow your power upon this thyrsus.
Let the bearer of this become Dionysos--
See with your eyes,
Speak with your voice,
Hear with your ears,
Know with your mind.
Let the bearer of this work your wonders in the world.
By your blood spilled, by my blood mingled--
ESTO!
Nine times was the wine/blood mixture rubbed into the staff--three times for Zagreus, three times for Bromios, three times for Iakchos. I then stood with the thyrsus in hand for... who knows how long (my cat started mewling pitifully from the bathroom in which he was locked to prevent him from chasing the ribbons). Closed the rite, put a bandaid on my finger, and took a picture of the staff.
The offering I gave to Dionysos this time was some of the Orphic incense powder formulated for use by the Thiasos of the Starry Bull. And when the seller says a little goes a long way... she means it. I did not have charcoal, so I formed a small mound (half an inch high and about an inch around) and lit the top. It's still burning an hour later, and my entire apartment smells wonderfully heady and rich.
I very rarely work any kind of... magic, outside from that involved in opening and closing the gates. I blessed some wine for friends a few months ago, and I bless my own ritual tools, but that's about it. This particular working was... distinctly powerful. The only part that made me nervous was cutting my own finger--it proved to be difficult, as the knife was apparently not very sharp. I never use my own blood in other rituals, though, so I'm not too worried about finding a better way to do that.
All in all, though, I'd say it was an exceedingly successful rite. Now let's see what kind of mischief I can get up to...
