Really great reference book on this particular method of divination, it nevertheless left me a little bit confused. Not a particularly easy read but it was fascinating.

A fascinating take on oracles with plenty of practical advice!

This is a first for me here on NetGalley. I actually could not get into this book. I loved the idea behind it but I tried several times to get interested in the book to no avail. I just couldn't make it past chapter 2.

This book explores Ancient Greek methods of divination- the Alphabet Oracle, and the Oracle of the Seven Sages. The author spends a considerable amount of time discussing the origins of divination and the underlying philosophical and mythological meanings behind these two systems. Both divinatory systems were engraved on ancient stone tablets which adds some historical proof to what is otherwise considered “magic.” The author does a wonderful job of differentiating the two systems as the Alphabet Oracle should be used for more practical everyday questions, while the Oracle of the Seven Sages is suited towards more spiritual questions. The author provides plenty of instructions on how to use both systems and the tools and or talismans that can be used, such as dice, dominoes, or stones. The Oracles of Apollo are not unique in that there is much hidden symbolism throughout much like the Tarot or Runes, but is unique in that the oracles are written with classical ambiguity- challenging the diviner to rely on their intuition more than the common meanings. Additional information such as the planetary correspondences and other symbology was provided to assist with understanding the basic meanings of the oracles. Rituals to mentally, emotionally, and spiritually prepare the user for the divination was also included, which I found added an additional mystical and ancient element to this way of fortunetelling. I am in the process of creating my own Alphabet Oracle using the tips that were included in this book. The author highly encourages the reader to create their own system using these oracles as a foundation. There are not any Greek Oracle divination systems on the market as far as I know, which is why this book is quite user-friendly.

The Oracles of Apollo will not only change the way you view divination, but it will also add a hermetic layer to understanding the Ancient Greek culture. While we know that the Ancient gods and goddesses have become archetypal symbols- we often forget that the Ancients did not view them as simply symbols. They were real- and divination was real, as everyday life was filled with magic- and every question asked could be answered through mystical means. This is why I feel The Oracles of Apollo will help you to reconnect to your mystical roots and help you to tap into divine wisdom.

The Oracles of Apollo, by John Opsopaus, it’s one of those books you have a relationship of love-hate with, because of the subject and the way it was developed, in this specific case. I’m in love with the first one, but the second gave nightmares more than once, to be honest.
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.
Between the many descriptions, the reader can easily feel overwhelmed, trying to process it all, but there also pages, much more than the heavy ones, with fresh writing that allow you to have a faster and more comfortable pace.
Maybe this is because of the other books I read on similar topics are not intended 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 searching 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 tool this man had.
Considering myself a curious person, I can only thank the author for that, as I’m waiting for the right time to do my own homework in the subject and see what else I can discover, learn, and (why not?) practice.
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 part of me didn't think that was possible.
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.