Paxs “Not only does Paxson reveal what seers do and how, she also restores the ancient and honored role of oracle to a questioning O world.” —caiTlín Matthews, author of Celtic Visions: Seership, n The Way of The Omens and Dreams of the Otherworld hroughout history, the uncertainties of life have driven people to seek counsel from prophets, seers, and oracles. People everywhere have shared T of The Way this desire to talk to lost loved ones, find out about work and love, and deter- mine what the future will bring. Oracle in The Way of the Oracle, noted author, scholar, and pagan 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, thei rish 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 and offers exercises and examples, illustrations and chants, to demonstrate how to do oracle work and do it wisely. T he “A fascinating account of these traditional arts ... which have a wide range of applicability in healing, problem solving, and spiritual guidance.” —ralPh MeTzner, PhD, psychologist, author of O The Well of Remembrance and Alchemical Divination racle “What a fascinating journey into the oracular tradition: personal, profound, and enlightening.” —Michelle BelanGer, psychic/medium from a&e’s Paranormal State, author of The Psychic Energy Codex “A wonderful introduction for the beginner and a wealth of recovering the Practices of information for the trained oracle or scholar.” —Dana KraMer-Rolls, social historian and folklorist, author of The Way of the Cat the Past to Find answers for Today ISBN: 978-1-57863-483-5 U.S. $21.95 52195 9781578634835 Diana l. PaxsOn Praise for The Way of The oracle “ Diana Paxson helps priests and priestesses give voice to the spirits with confidence. Not only does she reveal what seers do and how, she also restores the ancient and honored role of oracle to a questioning world.” — Ca it l ín Mat t he ws, author of Celtic Visions: Seership, Omens and Dreams of the Otherworld “ Paxson makes a complex subject accessible. The Way of the Oracle will help readers hear the winds rustling the leaves of the sacred oak at Dodona. More importantly, it will help to keep prophesy from becoming a lost art.” — Eil een Hol l a nd, author of The Wicca Handbook and The Spellcaster’s Reference “ Reading a new book by Diana Paxson is entertainment coupled with scholarly information, with a twist of humor on top like a cherry on a cake. This book on the way of the oracles is yet another journey to remind us what we used to have, how humans can be in touch with more than just the visible world. We live in an invisible world as well, a mystery to most, but not to Diana. She has traveled over there many times, and she knows how to get out and, most importantly, how to get back. Mixed in are many real-life stories about how the Oracles worked their healing magic, and we begin to trust ourselves again—and that is a huge gift! Thanks Diana!” —Z. Budapest , author of Grandmother Moon “ Gerald Gardner is considered to be the father of modern witchcraft, Michael Harner the father of modern shamanism. Diane Paxson, with the publication of this book, clearly places herself as the mother of mod- ern trance-prophecy practice. With her other books on the subject, The Way of the Oracle is an essential primer for anyone interested in following the practices of Seidr, the Delphic Sibyl, or trance-prophecy in general. It is a book we will be happy to recommend to all of our students who prac- tice this tradition.” — Ja net F ar r ar a nd Gavin Bone, authors of A Witches’ Bible, The Witches’ Goddess, and The Inner Mysteries OraclePages.indd 1 1/18/12 1:04:12 PM “ Diana Paxson is a writer of historical fantasy novels as well as an expe- rienced seeress, skilled in the oracular arts and practices of her Nordic and Celtic ancestors. In this book she gives a fascinating account of these traditional arts, covering both the Nordic and Greek realms. Her meticu- lous scholarship and practical experience testing and working with the methods of the ancient völvas make this book a unique guide to these practices, which have a wide range of applicability in healing, problem solving, and spiritual guidance.” — Ra l ph Met zner , PhD, psychologist and author of The Well of Remembrance and Alchemical Divination “ Diana Paxson is a pioneer in recovering oracular divination. She has a remarkable ability to draw from ancient sources from around the world to describe what seers did and still make seeing accessible and viable for a modern world. Paxson also presents a vast body of experience explor- ing this mysterious process. I worked as a seer with Paxson’s Nordic seith group, her primary cultural focus. But I am also an academic folklorist, and an objective observer, and I am impressed by how she has used origi- nal sources, a deceptively simple method (trance and guided meditation), and her own lyrical poetry to weave a portal to another world where both the seer and seeker can discover knowledge to untangle the ordinary problems which confront us all. This is a wonderful introduction for the beginner, and a wealth of information for the trained oracle or scholar.” — Da na K r a mer -Rol l s, social historian and folklorist, author of The Way of the Cat “A fascinating journey into the oracular tradition: personal, profound, and enlightening.” — Miche l l e Bel a nger , psychic/medium from A&E’s Paranormal State and author of The Psychic Energy Codex “As ever, Diana Paxson continues to make strong contributions to the Neopagan enterprise, grounding her suggestions and methods in a broad base of research in numerous Western traditions, augmenting her approach to altered states and ancient oracular techniques with a healthy respect for current trends in depth psychology and the neurosciences. Paxson’s knowledge of myths, sagas, folk magic, and history is impressive and well matched by her considerable skills as an entertaining teacher and writer.” — Er ik D. Goodwyn, MD, author of The Neurobiology of the Gods: How the Brain Shapes the Recurrent Imagery of Myth and Dreams OraclePages.indd 2 1/18/12 1:04:12 PM conTenTs Acknowledgments ix Introduction xi Part one: in search of the oracle I. Seers and Speakers: The Selection, Training, and Role of an Oracle 3 II. Psyche and Setting: Oracular Sites and Spirits 17 III. The Prophetic Process: Techniques for Achieving Oracular Trance 37 IV. Questions and Answers: Past and Present 57 V. Sources and Spirits 75 VI. Mania and Mantike: Issues and Opportunities 99 VII. The Problem of Prophecy 113 Part Two: invoking the oracle I. Preparation 133 II. Journeys 167 III. Working the Ritual 183 IV. Applications 197 An Appendix of Songs 231 Bibliography 241 OraclePages.indd 7 1/18/12 1:04:13 PM OraclePages.indd 8 1/18/12 1:04:13 PM acknoWleDgmenTs I have always found it easiest to learn in a group context, and I could not have developed this material without the cooperation, suggestions, and dedication of those who have worked with me in Seidhjallr, our work- ing group in the San Francisco area, and participated in our training workshops. I would especially like to recognize the contributions of Laurel Men- des, Lorrie Wood, Jordsvin, Winifred Hodge, Rod Landreth, Patricia Lafayllve, and the many others with whom I have worked over the years. Thanks also to Lorrie and Azi Vajravai for help with the music files. And finally, my thanks go to all those who have asked questions at oracle sessions from Berkeley to Britain. Without people who are looking for answers, there would be no oracle work at all. OraclePages.indd 9 1/18/12 1:04:13 PM OraclePages.indd 10 1/18/12 1:04:13 PM inTroDucTion “ A lot of help you are.” “ But we are,” said the calico koi. “We’re just not supposed to do it directly. That’s not part of being oracular. Our job is to make you think.” Dia ne Dua ne, Wizards at War PANTHEACON, FEBRUARY 13, 2010 I sit in the high seat, pulling the veil down to hide my face, clasping my hands around the staff carved with the images of raven, cat, and bear. With doubled vision, I see the hotel function room, where sixty people are thinking about how to word their questions, and the mighty gate to Helheim, its timbers banded with iron and graven with runes of power. Outside, energy surges as the rest of the two thousand pagans who have come to Pantheacon continue to celebrate. But here we have created a warded place outside of time, and the way to wis- dom is opening. Passive, I wait as I have done so many times before, trusting my guide to watch over me, trusting the warders to take care of the people. The scene blurs, and I see a lantern-lit circle of redwood trees at an ´Asatrú camp-out in Big Sur, torches and tall images at an Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship (ADF) festival in Arizona, a green lawn beside a luminaria maze at Troth- moot in Indiana, the banner-hung walls of a Unitarian church in Berkeley, whispering trees in the Runestead at Brushwood in New York, a log building at a Covenant of the Goddess (CoG) Merrymeet in Washington, and a succes- sion of workshop spaces and hotel function rooms, all transformed, like this one, by candlelight and song.