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The Way of the Oracle: Recovering the Practices of the Past to Find Answers for Today
Throughout history, the uncertainties of life have driven people to seek counsel from prophets, seers, and oracles on everything from love to livelihood: people want to talk to their lost loved ones, heal old family traumas, find out about work, and determine what the future will bring.
In The Way of the Oracle, bestselling author, scholar, and priestess Diana L. Paxson offers a broad overview of the traditions of famous oracles in history: from the pythia at Delphi, the son of Beor, the Irish druidess, and the Greenland völva, to today’s modern seers who are resurrecting ancient skills to serve their communities.
Paxson identifies the core elements of prophetic practice, her belief in probability rather than predestination, and offers exercises and examples to demonstrate how anyone can be trained to do oracle work. Her methods focus on trance skills and improving communication between one’s unconscious and conscious mind to encourage selfknowledge and decision making.
The Way of the Oracle introduces the practice of oracle work to a wider audience, and shows how exploring the potential of other minds can expand our own.
In The Way of the Oracle, bestselling author, scholar, and priestess Diana L. Paxson offers a broad overview of the traditions of famous oracles in history: from the pythia at Delphi, the son of Beor, the Irish druidess, and the Greenland völva, to today’s modern seers who are resurrecting ancient skills to serve their communities.
Paxson identifies the core elements of prophetic practice, her belief in probability rather than predestination, and offers exercises and examples to demonstrate how anyone can be trained to do oracle work. Her methods focus on trance skills and improving communication between one’s unconscious and conscious mind to encourage selfknowledge and decision making.
The Way of the Oracle introduces the practice of oracle work to a wider audience, and shows how exploring the potential of other minds can expand our own.
272 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2012
29 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
About the author
Diana L. Paxson
168 books409 followersDiana L. Paxson (born 1943) is a novelist and author of nonfiction, primarily in the fields of Paganism and Heathenism. Her published works include fantasy and historical fiction novels, as well as numerous short stories. More recently she has also published nonfiction books about Pagan and Heathen religions and practices.
In addition to her multiple novels and collaborations, she has written over seventy short stories. Her best-known works are the Westria novels, and the later books in the Avalon series, which she first co-wrote with Marion Zimmer Bradley, then took over sole authorship of after Bradley's death.
Paxson was nominated for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards twice, in 1989 for the "White Raven" and in 1983 for "Lady of Light".
Paxson's non-fiction books include Taking Up the Runes, Essential Asatru, and Trance-Portation. She writes a regular column for the women's spirituality magazine, Sagewoman.
Paxson has been active in the leadership of a number of organizations. She hosted the first activities of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and was subsequently among that group's founding Directors and Corporate Officers when it incorporated[1]. She was the western regional director of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, and is a frequent panelist at science fiction conventions, especially Baycon, where she was the 2007 Fantasy Guest of Honor.
A leader in the Neopagan and Heathen revivals, Paxson is the founder of the The Fellowship of the Spiral Path and has served as First Officer of the Covenant of the Goddess. She has been Steerswoman of the Heathen group, The Troth, a member of its Board of Directors, and currently edits its journal, Idunna. She is a pioneer in the revival of Oracular Seidh, which she has taught and performed at many Neopagan and heathen festivals and retreats.
She composes and plays music for the harp. She currently lives at her home, Greyhaven, in Berkeley, California.
More can be found on her blog: http://dpaxson.livejournal.com
In addition to her multiple novels and collaborations, she has written over seventy short stories. Her best-known works are the Westria novels, and the later books in the Avalon series, which she first co-wrote with Marion Zimmer Bradley, then took over sole authorship of after Bradley's death.
Paxson was nominated for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards twice, in 1989 for the "White Raven" and in 1983 for "Lady of Light".
Paxson's non-fiction books include Taking Up the Runes, Essential Asatru, and Trance-Portation. She writes a regular column for the women's spirituality magazine, Sagewoman.
Paxson has been active in the leadership of a number of organizations. She hosted the first activities of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and was subsequently among that group's founding Directors and Corporate Officers when it incorporated[1]. She was the western regional director of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, and is a frequent panelist at science fiction conventions, especially Baycon, where she was the 2007 Fantasy Guest of Honor.
A leader in the Neopagan and Heathen revivals, Paxson is the founder of the The Fellowship of the Spiral Path and has served as First Officer of the Covenant of the Goddess. She has been Steerswoman of the Heathen group, The Troth, a member of its Board of Directors, and currently edits its journal, Idunna. She is a pioneer in the revival of Oracular Seidh, which she has taught and performed at many Neopagan and heathen festivals and retreats.
She composes and plays music for the harp. She currently lives at her home, Greyhaven, in Berkeley, California.
More can be found on her blog: http://dpaxson.livejournal.com
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 29, 2013
Diana Paxson is still one of my go to authors when it comes to runes. Taking up the Runes was informative and in my opinion one of the better books on the subject. Although I wish that Taking Up the Runes had been published without some of the rituals, the book does provide a good introduction to runes.
To be honest, however, I have never been a fan of Paxson’s works on oracular seidr. When I read Trance-Portation, I thought to myself, what is this? It seemed more like a manual for preparing for psychic work rather than anything to do with seidhr itself.
Although Trance-Portation came out first, in many ways The Way of the Oracleshould be purchased and read before Trance-Portation as it will provide a foundation for later work. Paxson provides a great deal of explanation of the path, as well as enough evidence to show the importance of oracles and their place in society. The Way of the Oracle introduces the reader to oracular seidr and explains in depth what it is, covering it’s historical correspondences, its rituals, the types of questions people ask, and a complete guide to setting up an oracular session.
I think if you read this as a heathen, you are going to be disappointed. The book relies heavily on Celtic and Greek references and when it does use more heathen references they seem to be taken out of context or conveniently interpreted.
Despite this and the overly Wiccan tone of the book, Paxson does at least provide a full view of the oracular path making it very clear to readers that this is a unique path and not necessarily seidr. I wish that some author out there would actually go into seidhr more and provide more insight into it. I was hoping that
The Way of the Oracle would do that, but felt it was more about oracular work. There are things in there that will not jive with many reconstructionists as Paxson relies too much on her own personal UPG. This was not a big deal, necessarily, but the book is obviously not written for scholars; it is written for those interested in learning about her methods. In that regard, the book does well and for that reason alone I would give it a 4.5/5.5
To be honest, however, I have never been a fan of Paxson’s works on oracular seidr. When I read Trance-Portation, I thought to myself, what is this? It seemed more like a manual for preparing for psychic work rather than anything to do with seidhr itself.
Although Trance-Portation came out first, in many ways The Way of the Oracleshould be purchased and read before Trance-Portation as it will provide a foundation for later work. Paxson provides a great deal of explanation of the path, as well as enough evidence to show the importance of oracles and their place in society. The Way of the Oracle introduces the reader to oracular seidr and explains in depth what it is, covering it’s historical correspondences, its rituals, the types of questions people ask, and a complete guide to setting up an oracular session.
I think if you read this as a heathen, you are going to be disappointed. The book relies heavily on Celtic and Greek references and when it does use more heathen references they seem to be taken out of context or conveniently interpreted.
Despite this and the overly Wiccan tone of the book, Paxson does at least provide a full view of the oracular path making it very clear to readers that this is a unique path and not necessarily seidr. I wish that some author out there would actually go into seidhr more and provide more insight into it. I was hoping that
The Way of the Oracle would do that, but felt it was more about oracular work. There are things in there that will not jive with many reconstructionists as Paxson relies too much on her own personal UPG. This was not a big deal, necessarily, but the book is obviously not written for scholars; it is written for those interested in learning about her methods. In that regard, the book does well and for that reason alone I would give it a 4.5/5.5
April 12, 2012
This book is a fabulous companion to Trance-Portation for the aspiring Oracular seer. Paxson even refers the reader to specific exercises within Trance.
Set up in three different sections, the reader can take the journey in pieces. The first section is the history of oracles across many cultures. The reader can see many different traditions and practices with excerpts from the source texts themselves.
The second section is filled with exercises to prepare one to do the work. This is where Trance-Portation becomes a good companion. Many of the exercises are better practiced after doing ones previously discussed in Trance.
The third and final section of this book, though it is not formally set off as a section, is the Ritual. There are many different ways of working the ritual, and she gives a basic overview of a few of them.
This book is informative and easy to read. The author is gifted in writing such manuals of instruction. They give a 'beyond basic' understanding, but also allow the learner room to explore and find their own fuller understanding.
Set up in three different sections, the reader can take the journey in pieces. The first section is the history of oracles across many cultures. The reader can see many different traditions and practices with excerpts from the source texts themselves.
The second section is filled with exercises to prepare one to do the work. This is where Trance-Portation becomes a good companion. Many of the exercises are better practiced after doing ones previously discussed in Trance.
The third and final section of this book, though it is not formally set off as a section, is the Ritual. There are many different ways of working the ritual, and she gives a basic overview of a few of them.
This book is informative and easy to read. The author is gifted in writing such manuals of instruction. They give a 'beyond basic' understanding, but also allow the learner room to explore and find their own fuller understanding.
March 12, 2024
Ms. Paxson is a Germanic Neopagan and this book is only of real use for the Germanic Neopagan community-all the book is is quoting Old Norse literature to reconstruct an oracular ritual.
August 22, 2012
Interesting, but unless you are going into business as an oracle for the public, there are more informative books on the subject.
Want to read
September 1, 2013mobi
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews