The Delphic Oracle
An Oracle is a person, place or
thing generally regarded as a source of wise counsel or prophetic
opinion. It is often considered to be an infallible authority
on topics that are spiritual, moral, ethical, or philosophical
in nature. An Oracle can also be taken as a prediction of future
events, usually spoken by a deity through the use of an avatar.
In the ancient world, many sites
gained a reputation for the dispensing of oracular wisdom. Perhaps
the best known of these was the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi,
located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus in Greece. This website
is a cyberspace tribute to the Delphic Oracle, and you are welcome
Dispensation of Wisdom
The Pythia was the high priestess
who presided over the Oracle of Apollo. She was probably selected,
at the death of her predecessor, from amongst a guild of priestesses
of the temple, and was likely required to be a woman of good character.
Although some priestesses were married, upon assuming the role
of Pythia, they were absolved of all family responsibilities,
and, further, were expected to surrender their identity as individuals.
In the heyday of the Oracle, the Pythia may have been a woman
chosen from a prominent family – one who was well educated
in geography, politics, history, philosophy, and the arts. In
later periods, however, uneducated peasant women could also be
chosen for the role.
What to Ask
In coming to the Oracle, it is
important that you remain cognizant of the following four stages
- Step 1:
Clearly Understand Your Reasons for Seeking the Oracle.
You should be motivated by a need to have answered an
important question about your life. In other words,
it’s a waste of time to ask the Oracle about the
right time is to get a haircut: the Oracle works on
a much larger scale.
Formulate Your Question. Recognize that in ancient times,
you would have been interviewed by the attending priests
in preparation for an audience with the Oracle. The
priests were responsible for ensuring that cases brought
before the Oracle were genuine and possessed of an appropriate
gravitas. You would have undergone rituals to assist
in the proper framing of your question. As those ancient
“controls” are not present here, you are
asked to take your time in the formulation of a question
that is relevant, useful, and beneficial.
Pose Your Question. Entering the Adydon (the holiest
part of the Temple of Apollo) and clicking the Submit
button is the modern-day equivalent of putting your
question to the Pythia. As was the case in ancient times,
your answer will come instantly.
Contemplate The Response. Oracles are meant to give
advice to shape your future actions. At times, the answer
can seem ambiguous – but that is a key aspect
of its wisdom: How you interpret the Pythia’s
words says as much about you as it does about the Oracle.
May you find what you seek.
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