Calendar of the Moon
12 Luis/Gamelion
Lenaia Day I
Colors: Purple and green
Element: Water
Altar: A large post is set up behind the altar, draped in robes of purple and green, with a mask of
Dionysus upon it, and arms raised upwards made of grapevine and fruit tree branches. The altar
is draped in purple and green, and upon it set two purple candles, a wreath of grapevines, two
jugs of wine (one white and one red), and a chalice.
Offerings: Dancing. Drumming. Music. Transforming dreams into reality.
Daily Meal: Wine. Goat or lamb. Lentils. Grape leaves. Greek food if possible.
Lenaia Invocation I
Son of Semele! Iakkhos, Giver of Wealth!
Not wealth from below the Earth,
But wealth from above it!
Fruit like jewels, wealth of tree and vine!
Tonight your living coffers sleep
In stasis through the winter's cold.
Yet their roots are anchored firmly
In the frozen soil of life,
And soon they will awake
To draw upon its nourishment.
We sing fertility into your roots!
Our dances prepare the soil
That you may in turn be fed.
From our heads down through our feet,
From our feet into the Earth,
From the Earth into your body,
We give you our life force
That you may one day return it.
(Instead of a particular chant, a drum circle is formed and all dance for at least an hour. Any
appropriate chant may be used. After the drum circle is closed, the red wine is passed around
and shared, with the worker saying, "Behold the blood of Iakkhos." The remainder is poured out
as a libation. Then the white wine is passed around and shared, with the worker saying, "Behold
the dreams of Iakkhos." The remainder is poured out as a libation.)
[Pagan Book of Hours]