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oracle. The import seems to be that this gift will be the answer to the
question asked of the oracle. So, for example, if the querent asked when
something will happen, the gift is the sign that it's immanent.
Xi (16-16; 60) "There is no fruit to take from a withered {Xeros} shoot."
Fruit: produce, return, profit, result; withered: lean, harsh. There is no
good to be gained from an angry young man or woman. The frayed end of a good
line. Harshness and stinginess will achieve nothing. You can't get blood from
a turnip; you can't get water from a stone. Don't polish a turd.
Omicron (15-15; 70) "There are no {Ou} crops to be reaped that were not sown."
Crops: fruit-trees, corn-fields, crop-lands; reap: mow, cut off; sown:
engendered, begotten, scattered. What we spread about, comes back to us. What
goes around comes around. You must plan ahead in order to achieve anything.
Pi (14-14; 80) "Completing many {Polus} contests, you will seize the crown."
Contests: struggles, trials, dangers; crown: wreath, garland. If you persist
in your struggles, after many trials you will succeed. Perseverance through
adversity.
Rho (12-13; 100) "You will go on more easily {Rhaion} if you wait a short
time." Go on: live, continue; easily: willingly, recklessly, thoughtlessly;
wait: stand fast, remain, stay. If you will hold your ground for only a short
time, you will be able to proceed (more easily or with greater cooperation).
You will go faster by waiting than by going now; on the other hand, delaying
too long may provoke reckless action. By standing fast you live recklessly. By
remaining where you are, you live life thoughtlessly.
Sigma (12-12; 200) "Phoibos (Apollo) speaks plainly {Saphos}, 'Stay, friend.'"
Plainly: distinctly, certainly; stay: wait, stand fast, remain. Neither
advance nor retreat; wait or hold your ground, as appropriate; the best action
is inaction. "Phoibos" refers to Apollo as Bright and Pure, which also
characterizes His advice in this oracle.
Tau (10-11; 300) "You will have a parting from the {Ton} companions now around
you." Parting: release, deliverance; companions: those accompanying. This may
be an unwelcome parting from friends or a welcome release from enemies; in
either case they are now around you. This may also mean a growing apart or
forced separation of a person from his or her family, peers or fellow
travelers on the path.
Upsilon (9-10; 400) "The affair holds a noble undertaking {Huposkhesis}."
Affair: deed, act, issue; holds: involves, implies, gives cause for, holds
fast, hinders, guides, steers; noble: high-born, high-minded, excellent,
notable; undertaking: engagement, promise, profession. There is some issue to
be resolved, or some deed is under consideration; it involves high-mindedness,
either in commitment, deed, or professional pursuit. The oracle may tell us
that the affair is admirable due to this noble element, or that the situation
may guide us to seek the appropriate noble undertaking or profession. The
hero's quest. On the other hand, the oracle may mean that the situation
hinders this fine undertaking. Thus you should try to understand the
situation: does it demand an excellent undertaking or impede it?
Phi (8-9; 500) "Having done something carelessly {Phaulos}, you will
thereafter blame the Gods." Done: caused, accomplished, made, managed,
negotiated, transacted, practiced, fared; carelessly: thoughtlessly,
indifferently. Take responsibility for your actions (or inactions); don't
blame the Gods (or the universe, or fate, or society, or nature) for your own
failings. The Greeks said, "Hermes will help you get your wagon unstuck, but
only if you push on it."
Chi (7-8; 600) "Succeeding, friend, you will fulfil a golden {Khruseos}
oracle." Succeeding: gaining your end, hitting the mark, meeting someone;
fulfil: bring to pass, cause, accomplish. "Golden" may be a metaphor for rich,
noble, excellent, etc. This admirable oracle will be fulfilled by you
attaining your ends, or a mere chance meeting could constitute the golden
event.
Psi (6-7; 700) "You have this righteous judgement {Psephos} from the Gods."
Righteous: just, fitting, meet, fair; judgement: resolve, decree. Literally, a
psephos (Lat. calculus) is a stone used for voting, counting and similar
purposes, so this oracle refers to collective judgement rather than individual
judgement. This implies that the majority of the Gods concur in this
judgement, and that this judgement is appropriate, fair and righteous, though
there is no implication that the result is that desired by the querent.
Omega (5-5; 800) "You will have a difficult {Omos} harvest season, not a
useful one." Difficult: cruel, rough, untimely, unripe; harvest season:
fruit-time, autumn, summer bloom, bloom of youth; useful: suitable, apt.
Concretely, there will be a poor harvest, or autumn will be difficult; the
harvest will be too early, before the fruit is ripe. More abstractly, too
early grasping of the fruits of your labor (whether voluntary or necessary)
will yield a poor return; the rewards will not be suitable for their purpose.
Your youth will be rough; you will have to grow up before your time.
finis