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Originally a vegetation and fertility god, Dionysus became popular in the ancient world as the god of wine and theatre. But there is much more to him. His initiation rites combined maddening music, frenzied dances, the drinking of psychotropic beverages, and ceremonial sexuality, all leading to collective states of modified consciousness. These were interpreted as states of divine possession with the ability to heal trauma and induce mystical experiences of union with the divine; they also were seen as having the power to foster group solidarity among the participants of all genders, orientations and provenances. This talk will look at the non-patriarchal nature of Dionysan veneration; it will also examine his revolutionary aspects, how he ridiculed tyrannical systems of oppression, and what we can learn from him about contemporary struggles against patriarchy and how we might build a more Dionysian future.