The Oracles of Apollo: Practical Ancient Greek Divination for Today

by John Opsopaus

Since ancient times, divination has been an important tool for seeking guidance from the gods. Fortunately, several ancient divination systems are available to us today. The Oracles of Apollo shows how to use two surviving divination systems—the Alphabet Oracle (dating from early third century Greek culture) and the Counsels of the Seven Sages, which were inscribed on tablets at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi.

There are several different techniques for consulting each oracle. This book provides rituals based in ancient practice for consecrating your divinatory tools and for conducting the most effective divinations. You will also discover important insights into the history and mythology of ancient divinatory practices.

Genres: Divination, Spirituality, Paganism, Philosophy, Mythology, Witchcraft, Nonfiction

265 pages, Paperback

Published July 8, 2017

Reviews

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly thorough book on both Greek Alphabet Oracle and the oracles of the seven sages. My only issue was the author's tendency to stray from faithful translations and traditions to insert his own worldviews and practices. It was interesting but maybe should have been marked and put in a separate section about his own preferences and workings. Some of it I understand. For instance, he wrote his own dismissals, for gods invoked, that were inspired by the PGM, which makes sense considering that most of the dismissals in the PGM that I've read involve going to a door and yelling "go away" or something similar. That makes sense and he drew from his own practices and experiences to flesh out that part of a ritual. It did seem that in a lot of the cases where his translations deviated from others it was to fit his own views or chosen messages and I wasn't a fan of the interjection he made about 'the threefold law' which has no place in a book about ancient Greek oracles.
But the book was well sourced, thorough, and insightful. Most of it, understandably, is instruction on how to use the divinatory systems he outlines, but I actually found the introductory bits to be the best (the first ~50 pages). He starts by giving historical context and etymological context which is very interesting.

[Alan D.D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was really, really heavy to read, as one of those that you need to take your time with. I'm inclined to think so because of the academic tone the author used in everything, the many quotes and lot of content in every single page and it became hard to follow the idea at times, but I managed to understand like a 90% of it.
Maybe this is because of the other books I read on similar topics are not intented to be written in an academic style, as this is the first one for me. However, there are usefull tips in the chapters, a lot of interesting history, mythology facts, tables, and even some pictures that help to understand what Opsopaus was explaining.
There were times when the text became pretty hard to swallow, making it needy to read carefully the lines so you could know what are they about, and yes, it's not a big deal if this is the kind of reading you're rearching for, but it gets harder for those who prefer a lighter style; it's interesting, catches your attention, but be careful before starting with it.
Now, on the good side, it's more than obvious that there's a lot of research for each of the sections, which helps to believe in what the author says, and helping the reader to do their own work on the topic with the same toold this man had.
I ended with many different notes, quotes and ideas to further reading, right after discovering things I thought wouldn't be possible, and helping find my own way in divination, alternatives that I'm already trying; I'll tell you something, there are some that work more than nicely with me, and pat of me didn't think that was posible.
As a practical tool , it's awesome, as a starting point to research, amazing, but as a reading, I'd rather say challenging. There's a sense of victory when you end with it, both because the hard times are done and because of the large quantity of information you just learned.
Complete review to be published in the blog, stay alert!

[Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Subjects (Sadly Entwined With Wiccan Magic)

I am enthralled with the Alphabet Oracle and the Maxims of the Seven Sages, but it is obvious to anyone reading this matter that the author has mixed in a great deal of Wiccan Principles. I love the historical references but abhor the addition of Wicca. The wisdom of Apollo and the Seven Sages of ancient Greece do not need or require Wiccan Spells or rituals in order to provide validation...PERIOD!

[Nicholas xx · Rating 3 out of 5]

It almost lost me a few times with how often it seems to suddenly dip into later hermetic and even gnostic beliefs, of which the ancient Greeks didn't participate fully in, and some of the rituals feel adapted in some utterly pretentious ways... it's a good book if you can take what resonates and leaves the rest, in addition to truly giving you everything and letting you walk away with what you came for. Khaire Apollon <3

[Nikos · Rating 4 out of 5]

helpful, but llewelyn sucks major ass