What the Oracle of Delphi Knew That We Forgot
One of the more notorious oracles from ancient times was the Oracle of Delphi.
People would travel long distances, seeking answers, guidance, and clarity about what to do next.
And as they approached, the first thing they would see inscribed at the entrance was: Know thyself.
Not: Here are all your answers. Here’s what your future will bring, but know thyself.
Which is interesting because the assumption most people bring to divination or intuitive work, like pulling cards or going to a reader, is tell me what's coming or tell me what to do.
The belief is that if you have the answers, you’ll have the clarity you need to move forward and feel less uncertainty.
And…
One of the most famous oracles in the Western world said*: Hang tight. Before any of that, you need to know yourself.
Flash forward to present day. Thousands of intuitive classes are available. You can buy card decks in most boutiques and online. Access to the Oracle has never been easier.
Why then are we more confused than ever?
It’s because somehow along the way that critical piece of information carved over the entrance got skipped. The thing that should have been a prerequisite was the ball that got dropped.
And it’s left us disconnected and scrambling to make sense of something that should feel completely natural – our intuition.
Our intuition only really works if we know who we are. Because it isn’t something that’s separate from us. It’s not spirit guides, angels, or crossed over loved ones. It’s not clairs or something we channel or call in.
Our intuition is us. It's the deepest expression of who we are…
Which means if we don't know who we are, we can't hear it clearly or consistently. Not in a way that we can trust.
Most people don’t have an intuition problem.
They have a know-thyself-problem.
This doesn’t mean you have to stop what you’re doing and dive eyeballs deep into identity work.
Keep pulling the cards and developing your clairs. Keep doing the work you've been doing.
But at the same time, push yourself to go beyond What is my intuition telling me?
And start asking: Who am I?
Because the Oracle had it right 2,500 years ago. Before the answers, the guidance, any of it was…
Know thyself.
*Ok – technically it was a group of men called the Seven Sages. But the point still stands.
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