When ancient Greeks had to make everyday decisions, they consulted the gods by drawing lots, casting dice, and interpreting dreams. For matters of utmost importance, however, they sought the words of the gods directly from the mouth of an oracle.
It’s all Greek to me.
An oracle is a person who was a source of great knowledge, wisdom, or prophecy (no, we’re not talking about a software company). The most famous was the Oracle of Delphi, located in a city about 75 miles west of Athens. Starting in the eighth century B.C.E., people flocked there by the thousands to hear what they believed to be truth.
An oracle’s advice was considered divinely inspired. For nearly 1,000 years the peoples of the Mediterranean had faith in the Oracle of Delphi’s ability to help them make the right decision (today we have Dr. Laura). In time, Delphi flourished as an international center and became one of the wealthiest sanctuary cities in the ancient world.
Straight from the horse’s mouth.
Although classical Greece was male dominated, paradoxically the Oracle of Delphi was a series of virgin women. Referred to as the Pythia, or “one who spoke on behalf of the gods,” it was her job to prophesize on behalf of the god Apollo. We know about this through the writings of the Roman historian Plutarch (ca. 46–120 A.D.), who had served as a priest at Delphi.
Plutarch tells us the Pythia sat on a tripod over a rock fissure in the temple’s inner sanctuary. Inhaling deeply, she lapsed into a trance and then delivered her prophecies.* As these were often incomprehensible, sanctuary priests interpreted her messages and delivered them to waiting petitioners. One message never left to the imagination was “Will that be cash, check, or Capital One?”
In practice, the Pythia dealt less in visions of the future than in making smart choices. For example, where to locate a new colony, when to attack an enemy, how to lift a curse, is a business deal wise, which studly is right for our daughter, and so on. No kingdom, city, or ordinary citizen could afford to make these important decisions without consulting her.
Who reads the tea leaves now? You do!
Fortunately, we don’t need to rely on the Pythia to divine our choices. Yet, since everything we do requires a decision of some kind (see: The sum of your choices), it makes sense that the ability to make good choices is a particularly important skill to master. Despite our expectations (optimism trap**), however, success is not a done deal. It’s no fun being old. It’s less fun being poor. It’s hell being old and poor.
At some point in their life, most all young persons will face several important, controllable decisions. Do I want to go to college? Who will I marry? How many kids do I want? Where shall I live? What kind of lifestyle is right for me? How do I participate in the American Dream? If you learn how to choose wisely, you’ll likely enjoy a longer, happier, and more fulfilling life.
NeXters, your controllable decisions not only affect your own life, but often the lives of your friends, your family, and your community. The bottom line: these choices are too important to leave to the fickle fissure of fate!
* Plutarch described an intoxicating gas that emanated from the cleft, with a sweet smell like expensive perfume. In 1996, when modern investigators excavated the sanctuary at Delphi, geologists found active faults in the rock. They also identified the limestone under the temple as bituminous (i.e., oil bearing). Of the hydrocarbon gases, only ethylene has a sweet odor, leading researchers to suspect that ethylene was likely inhaled by the Pythia. Did the Oracle at Delphi divine her inspirations while stoned? Now, that’s classical gas!
Success is just another word for happiness.
~ Anonymous
** Questionable beliefs can “trap” our better judgment, leading to poor decisions and unintended consequences. In the optimism trap, we often overestimate the likelihood that the outcomes we want will occur. Learn more about these, and other interesting topics, in the Young Person’s Guide to Wisdom, Power, and Life Success.
Image credit: “beautiful girl with flowers” by Alexander Shadrin, licensed from 123rf.com (2017).
