The Oracle Not At Delphi
Recently I was asked what “The Oracle “means. This is a tongue-in-cheek way I refer to a search on the Internet, mostly via Google. The original Oracle, however, was a female priestess. These women were devotees of Apollo, and served at a temple to him located at Delphi, in Ancient Greece. When I was turning 18, my parents took me and a brother on a trip around Greece, and my mother insisted we visit The Oracle of Delphi. She loved the ancient history of the priestesses, and we used the term “Oracle” often in our family. The site itself is remarkably peaceful, tucked in the mountains and preserved fairly well.
In ancient Greece, the priestesses held a great deal of power, and leaders would consult The Oracle for predications regarding wars, decisions, and political ideas. The original shrine at Delphi was to Gaea (Earth Mother), though it seems she “gifted” her powers to Apollo in the 8th century B.C. Personally, I’m not buying that – historically female-based societies were overpowered, literally, by patriarchal ones, and the Greeks were no exception. The Greeks referred to the Temple at Delphi as the “omphalos” – the navel of the world. This alludes to the birth of a child, with its connection to the umbilical cord. As the site originally honored Gaea, literally the “Earth Mother”, the Greeks recognized the power of knowledge and wisdom in the origin of humanity. (As an aside, one of my favorite words during college was “omphaloskepsis” which describes the act of thinking while staring at your belly button!)
During the ritual at Delphi, the priestess would fall into “divine frenzy”, with numerous ancient Greeks describing this process. It has actually been proven by modern science that this was due to geology (fascinating story). According to a New York Times article the “region's underlying rocks turn out to be composed of oily limestone fractured by two hidden faults that cross exactly under the ruined temple, creating a path by which petrochemical fumes could rise to the surface to help induce visions.
In particular, the team found that the oracle probably came under the influence of ethylene -- a sweet-smelling gas once used as an anesthetic. In light doses, it produces feelings of aloof euphoria.” The power and wealth of Delphi waned as the Roman Empire took over and banned “pagan” worship around 2nd century B.C. (https://www.nytimes.com/200203/19/science/for-delphic-oracle-fumes-and-visions.html).
This white statue is neither Greek, nor of an Oracle priestess. Instead, she appears to be of Asian origin, standing on a lotus flower, with incredible details in her dress. Remarkably, there is not a chip on her, including her delicate fingers. I found her at an estate sale last summer, and while I am not much of an Asian art fan, her details and serene nature spoke to me. She also only cost $10 which helped. I knew virtually nothing about her, as she is not marked in any way, nor is it clear how old she is.
A quick visit to my favorite source, The Oracle, determined she is a “Blanc de chine” statue of Guanyin. This is a specific type of pottery, literally “white from China”, that has been made in the kaolin-rich, south-eastern Chinese coastal town of Dehua in central Fujian province. These pieces were being produced as early as 960 A.D., and, starting in the 1800s, were exported by French merchants to Europe. “Guanyin” is the Chinese translation of “Avalokiteshvara”, the bodhisattva of compassion. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who chose to stay on earth as accessible examples for Buddhist faithful to follow. She is considered the Goddess of mercy, compassion, and kindness in Chinese mythology.
Unfortunately, “Guanyin” doesn’t roll off the tongue quite like “The Oracle” does. Honestly, given my dyslexia, I’m not sure I could even pronounce it. I’d have to turn to The Oracle for a YouTube video on pronouncing it no doubt! But it did make me pause, to learn those women in ancient Greece were simply cooking up an excuse to get high. They managed to make a good living at it, as the petitioners had to provide very specific donations. It is possible they were honest and gifted. It is also possible they were not. Guanyin, on the other hand, requests nothing. She does not judge nor cause wars. She does not partake of fumes, which apparently are non-toxic to humans but can cause frost bite. She shows mercy, compassion and kindness. I’m thinking we could all use a bit more Guanyin and a lot less Oracle. Unfortunately, The Oracle remains the source of much information, though we should take some of it with a grain of ethylene.