Dionysus, god of wine, ecstasy, and madness. Spirit of the vine, pushing the boundaries, and life triumphant. Soul of freedom, sensuality, and fiercely embracing life. I honor you.

Dionysus is one of the gods that I have been in relationship with since my early days of working consciously with the gods. He's been in and out of my life several times, coming back this time with an agenda for my artwork.

Loosen up. Let go of your need to control the paint. Make love with the spirit moving through you and onto the canvas. Take a risk. Jump!

Throughout the process of painting his image above, he urged me to document the process through video, to create a performance of the creation of the work itself. He really pushed hard at some of my edges around exposure and expression. I listened to him, but I didn't act on the visions and images he sent my way. 

What would people think of me?

Now, I have a video camera, I have a few people who would definitely be willing to help me with this, and I know where to buy cow's blood. Yes, I know that's weird, but it was seeing a tub of the stuff at the Asian market and opened the door to thinking about creating a performance piece in his honor. 

I am both exhilarated and scared out of my mind.

I feel this deeply in my body and blood when I think about this work. It is heady stuff, and I feel a bit drunk. I don't think I get to turn back from this one.

The naga spirits (serpent spirits found in Hindu religious practice and folklore) have been intermittently talking to me over the past year or so. I have a bronze Nagakanya (female serpent spirit) to hang by the door, but I haven't put it up yet. I started reading a book on naga magick, but I never finished it. I painted a self-portrait with snake wrapped around my wrists. Some of my first and most powerful (and frightening) dreams when starting to work with Reflections Mystery School (about 12 years ago) starred jumping and flying snakes. I've have nudges in increasing urgency to get a Nagakanya tattoo on my back. But last night's experience outshines them all.

My mother and I were at Magical Muse, a witch shop in Mount Dora, Florida, for a birthday celebration and New Moon ritual. We met a bunch of lovely, welcoming Pagans and enjoyed a beautiful rite outdoors in the breezy night surrounded by live oaks and Spanish moss. After browsing through the shop, I stepped up to the register to pay for my selections when I noticed what looked like a bronze naga sculpture hiding in the shadows at an angle behind the register. I asked if I may see it closer. 

The second it touched my hands a shudder went through me. My hands trembled, my breath fluttered out in a gasp of "oh!" and a wave of loving, protective energy flowed through my body. She was so beautiful, so exquisite! You can see that in the photo above. My rapture was evident to everyone around me. I tried to give her back, but then my mother said she would buy it for me for my birthday and Yule. My response was that this could be my birthday and Yule for many years to come!  (Thank you so much, Mom!)

What is interesting is that, while I have been in Florida, I have participated in two rituals in which we have worked magick towards a person intent. Mine both times has been banishing fear and anxiety, and loving my life. Perhaps Nagakanya is here to help with that intent. The nagas are known for eating away negative and destructive energy, and transmuting that to neutral energy. They are protective spirits of springs and wells. And they are conduits of vital energy.

When I get home, she will go in a place of honor on my main altar. I need to build her a little shrine to support her and hold her upright.

Oh yeah, I also need to install the Nagakanya by the door, finish the book on naga magick, and spend some time journeying to learn more about this beautiful spirit that has stepped into my life.

Blessings.