The Oracles of Apollo: Practical Ancient Greek Divination for Today

by John Opsopaus PhD

Overview

Throughout history, divination has been an important tool for seeking guidance from the gods. Fortunately, several classical divination systems are available to us again today. The Oracles of Apollo shows how to use two rediscovered divination systems: the Alphabet Oracle, a system that uses the ancient Greek alphabet, and the Counsels of the Seven Sages, a series of 147 short, oracular statements that were inscribed on tablets at Delphi.

This book shares divination techniques and rituals—including the use of alphabet stones, dice, staves, beads, and coins—and interpretations of the outcomes to help you integrate the wisdom of the gods and goddesses. These oracles were originally designed thousands of years ago to provide insights into practical matters and deeper issues...and they can be used again today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738751979
Publisher:	Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
Publication date:	07/08/2017
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

John Opsopaus, PhD, (Tennessee) has practiced magic since the 1960s and his writing has been published in various magical and Neopagan magazines. He frequently presents workshops on Hellenic magic, Neopaganism, Pythagorean theurgy, and spiritual practices. John is a retired university professor with more than forty-five years of experience reading ancient Greek and Latin. He is also the author of Oracles of Apollo.

Table of Contents

Contents

Acknowledgments … xiii

Part I. Ancient Greek Divination
Chapter 1: What You Will Learn … 3

Chapter 2: Divination in the Ancient World … 7
Mythical Origins of Divination 7
Methods of Divination 19
Cleromancy 26
Theory of Divination 29

Chapter 3: Rituals… 39
Consecration Ritual 39
Divination Rituals 43
Dealing with Miscasts 46
Accepting the Oracle 46
Divination Journal 47
Repeating Divinations 47

Part II. The Alphabet Oracle
Chapter 4: Introduction to the Alphabet Oracle … 51
Origin of the Alphabet Oracle 51
What About the "Limyran Oracle?" 53
Learning the Greek Alphabet 53
We Are All Wayfarers 55

Chapter 5: Consulting the Alphabet Oracle … 57
Alphabet Stones 57
Alphabet Leaves 58
Astragaloi 59
Long Dice 63
Dice 64
Teetotums 65
Twenty-Four–Sided Die 66
Alphabet Tablet 66
Coin Methods 67
Geomantic Method 69
Bead Methods 70
Pebble Methods 70
Mixed Dice Methods 71
Three-Out-of-Four Method 71
How to Choose a Method 72

Chapter 6: The Esoteric Greek Alphabet … 73
Alphabet Lore 73
Alphabet Magic 80

Chapter 7: Text of the Alphabet Oracle … 89
Interpreting the Oracles 89
Memorizing the Alphabet Oracle 91

Part III. The Oracle of the Seven Sages
Chapter 8: The Counsels of the Seven Sages … 139
The Origin of the Counsels of the Seven 139
The Importance of 147 142
Meditating on the Counsels of the Seven 144
Talismans for the Counsels of the Seven 145

Chapter 9: Consulting the Seven Sages … 147
Methods for Consulting the Seven Sages 147
Interpretation 150

Chapter 10: The Oracle of the Seven Sages … 155

Conclusion … 229
Appendix A: Glossary … 231
Appendix B: Probabilities … 235
Bibliography … 239
Index … 247