Sibyls Oraculum

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The Sibyls Oraculum Oracle of the Black Doves of Africa TAYANNAH LEE McQUILLAR Artwork by KATELAN V. FOISY A system of divination inspired by the Libyan Sibyls, the African prophetesses of the classical world • Includes 44 full-color cards in Latin and English with a comprehensive guidebook • Details how to consult the oracle, providing in-depth write-ups about the meaning of each card and the symbolic language represented by their imagery • Designed to directly address the spiritual lessons underlying the seeker’s query and facilitate self-examination and decision-making • The cards feature full-color paintings in the style of the Libyan mosaics popular with the Roman elite in the 1st century B.C.E.

The Oracle of the Black Doves is a system of divination inspired by the Libyan Sibyls, the African prophetesses of the classical world. According to the Greek Historian Herodotus, two black doves flew away from the city of Waset (Thebes) and established the Siwa Oasis oracle in Libya and the first oracle in Greece at Dodona. These powerful Sibyls were consulted by all levels of Greek and, later, Roman society. Created by tarot reader Tayannah Lee McQuillar, this contemporary oracle pays homage to the oft forgotten African founding mothers of the sibylline traditions. Drawing on both the African and the Classical traditions, it features full-color paintings by artist Katelan V. Foisy, who created the card art in a style reminiscent of the Libyan mosaics popular in the 1st century B.C.E. In the accompanying guidebook, McQuillar details how to consult the oracle, providing in-depth write-ups about the meaning of each of the 44 cards and the symbolic language represented by each card’s imagery. She demonstrates how there is only one correct way to phrase a question to the oracle, making it nearly impossible to receive a vague or biased response. Designed to directly address the spiritual lessons underlying the seeker’s query, the oracle facilitates self-examination and decision-making, helping the seeker improve the likelihood of success in all undertakings and choose their best possible future by broadening their perspective of the situation. The author also includes a history of the Sibyls of the ancient world and explores the continuing Sibyl tradition in North Africa today. Tayannah Lee McQuillar is a tarot reader and researcher of religion, esoterica, and mysticism. The author of several books, including Rootwork, she lives in New York City. Katelan V. Foisy is an artist, circle leader, and tarot consultant who has been featured in the New York Times and Elle Magazine. Her work has appeared in exhibits throughout the United States and UK. She lives in Chicago. Destiny Books • ISBN 978-1-62055-671-9 • $19.99 (CAN $24.99) • Boxed set, 6 x 9 Includes 160-page book with 44 full-color cards • Rights: World • Divination

May 2018

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The Siby ls Or aculum

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the

S iBylS O R acuLum Oracle of the Black Doves of Africa

For Review Only A K V. F

Taya nna h Lee McQuill a r rtwork by

atelan

oisy

Destiny Books Rochester, Vermont • Toronto, Canada

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Destiny Books

One Park Street Rochester, Vermont 05767 www.DestinyBooks.com Destiny Books is a division of Inner Traditions International Copyright © 2018 by Tayannah McQuillar and Katelan Foisy All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data [cip to come]

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Text design and layout by Virginia Scott Bowman This book was typeset in Garamond Premier Pro, Legacy Sans, Stone Sans, and Gill Sans with Cinzel Decorative and Carrig Refined used as display typefaces To send correspondence to the author of this book, mail a first-class letter to the author c/o Inner Traditions • Bear & Company, One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767, and we will forward the communication, or contact the author directly at [email protected] and the artist at [email protected].

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This book is dedicated to my mother, grandmother, ancestresses, the Sibyls, and the Goddess of innumerable names in her dark, warrior, crone, and most uncompromising aspects. This book is also dedicated to my brilliant daughter, SELAH. ♦♦♦

For Review Only beyond words. I hope you are pleased.

You are all loved, admired, and appreciated

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Contents

INTRODUCTION

A Brief History of the Sibyls Awakening to the Sibylline Symbols

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Art, Meaning, and the Power of Symbols

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How to Awaken Symbols

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The Sibyls Mirror: The Significance of Dreams and Omens

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Religio-Mythological Associations

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The Fundamental Ethics of The Sibyls Oraculum

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How to Use the Oracle

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How the Oracle Works

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The Structure of the Oracle

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How to Use the Epigrams

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Consulting the Oracle

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Reading for Others

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A Note about “Negative” Outcomes

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Where and When to Do a Reading

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Suggested Don’ts for Readings

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Reading Examples

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Keeping a Sibylline Journal

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Applying the Oracle’s Wisdom in Your Life The Core Issue Assessment Scoring

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The Core Issue Quiz

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Reflections on the Core Issue Quiz

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Overall Reflections

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Fortifying Your Mind against Fear

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Designing Your Ideal Life

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Creating Your Site Plan

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Identifying Your Survival Techniques

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Writing Your Mission Statements

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Creating Your Personal Motto

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CARD MEANINGS Core Issue (Fundamentum) Cards MYSTERIA / MYSTERIES

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SAPIENTIAE / WISDOM

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UNUM / UNITY

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ADVERSUS / OPPOSITION

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MORTEM / DEATH

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TRANSFORMATIO / TRANSFORMATION

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CUMULUS / ACCUMULATION

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LIMITATIONEM / LIMITATION

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NUMERO / RHYTHM

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GRATIAM / GRATITUDE

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VIBRATIONIS / VIBRATION

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Projection (Proiectura) Cards

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IUSTITIA / JUSTICE

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FUROREM / RAGE

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SPECULO / MIRROR

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PROPOSITUM / PURPOSE

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AVARITIA / AVARICE

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COMPLEXIONEM / COMPLEXITY

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LIBIDINE / LUST

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TUMULTU / CONFUSION

106

DUBIUM / DOUBT

108

SUPERBIA / PRIDE

110

SUFFICIENTIA / CONTENTMENT

112

Action (Actionis) Cards: Blue “Cool” (Frigus) Set PRAESIDIO / DETACHMENT

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QUESTIO / QUESTIONING

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ANALYSIS / ANALYSIS

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SYNTHESIS / SYNTHESIS

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PRIORITIZING / PRIORITIZING

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OBSEQUIUM / SUBMISSION

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MENSURAE / MEASUREMENT

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CUPIDITAS / DESIRE

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OPTIMIS / OPTIMISM

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MILITARIUM / STRATEGY

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INCEPTUM / INITIATIVE

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Action (Actionis) Cards: Red “Hot” (Caldarius) Set

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CASTITATE / PURITY

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CELERITATE / SPEED

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ALMUM / NURTURING

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PROGRESSUS / GRADUAL PROGRESS

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DEDITIO / ABANDONMENT

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TRANSCENDENTIUM / TRANSCENDENCE

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SILENTIUM / STILLNESS

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VIDEBATUR / AGGRESSION

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HABITUM / DISGUISE

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LUDERE / PLAY

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PRAESIDIUM / DEFENSE

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Assessment Answer Key

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About the Author

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About the Artist

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Suggested Reading

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A Note to the Reader As someone with an academic background in cultural anthropology, I try to accurately represent the culture of others. That’s always a challenging task, but it is particularly difficult when writing about ancient societies, since a lot of what we think we know is, at the end of the day, just sophisticated guesswork. Adding to the difficulty of forming a clearer picture of the past is the legacy of centuries of conquest. The superimposition of alien interpretations, reinterpretations, and biases by successive waves of conquerors

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continues to get in the way of uncovering historical truth. Sexism, racism, classism, and every “ism” imaginable often tints the lenses by which we view civilizations or populations that inhabit entire landmasses, which is especially true of Africa. Therefore, throughout the book I have tried to maintain the original identities of African people, deities, civilizations, and places. Foreign terms are all placed in italics for your convenience as I understand it makes them more recognizable. However, it is my hope that by doing this the usage of indigenous terminology will become more commonplace. It is, I believe, one small step toward the rectification of past insults and injuries as well as trying to understand people within their own cultural contexts as best as we can.

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[There will be a] coming of the day when that which is hidden shall be revealed. The Libyan Sibyl

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INTRODUCTION

A Brief History of the Sibyls

The Sibyls Oraculum is an oracle inspired by the Libyan Sibyls. The Latin word sibyl comes from the Greek word sibylla, the etymology of which is debated but is believed to be Phrygian. The colloquial meaning, however, is “prophetess.” The word oracle comes from the Latin verb orare, which means “to speak.” The Sibyls were women of the ancient world who were reputed to possess the powers of prophecy or divination. They would go into trance and speak the will of the deity of the temple. The oldest oracle on historical record was the temple of the Goddess Wadjet in Kemet (ancient Egypt). Wadjet is one of Kemet’s oldest deities and was symbolized by a snake or a snake-headed woman. Serpents symbolized divine authority, royalty, fertility, creative life force, rebirth, transformation, eternity, and immortality. Some of Wadjet’s epithets were the Eye, She Who Loves Silence, Serpent Mother, and She Who Brings Truth and Justice. Her oracle was located in Per-Wadjet, or Buto, as the Greeks called it, which existed during the predynastic period. While most people have heard of the oracle of Delphi and are aware of the influence the Nile Valley civilizations had on ancient Greece and Rome, few are aware that the Sibylline tradition began in Africa and that the Greek and Roman cultures were heavily influenced by ancient Libya. In fact, the original name of Delphi was Pythia, or “House of Snakes,” which later became one of several titles of the Sibyl priestesses who presided over the temple.

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According to the Greek historian Herodotus in The History of Herodotus (book 2, chapter 54), the oracular tradition of Greece (and eventually Rome), originated in Kemet. Two black doves had come flying from Thebes in Kemet, one to Libya and one to Dodona; the latter settled on an oak tree, and there uttered human speech, declaring that a place of divination from Zeus must be made there; the people of Dodona understood that the message was divine, and therefore established the oracular shrine. The dove which came to Libya told the Libyans (they say) to make an oracle of Ammon; this also is sacred to Zeus. Such was the story told by the Dodonaean priestesses, the eldest of whom was Promeneia and the next Timarete and the youngest Nicandra; and the rest of the servants of the temple at Dodona similarly held it true.

In the ancient Mediterranean world, the dove was a symbol of the soul, the great mother Goddess of innumerable names and her priestesses. Therefore, the reference to these two “black doves” (darkskinned women?) from Thebes (Waset) identifies them as Sibyls. Pindar, an early Greek poet, named the cluster of dazzling stars located in the constellation of Taurus “the Peleiades,” which means “a flock of doves.” This star cluster in now known as “the Pleiades,” named for the seven sisters of Greek mythology—Maia, Electra, Alcyone, Taygete, Asterope, Celaeno, and Merope—who were inextricably linked to Africa. According to the story, the Pleiades’s father was Atlas, the Titan who carried the celestial sphere that is associated with the mountains of Libya. Atlas was also the name of a polymathic king of Mauritania (western Africa) who was an expert in mathematics and philosophy and was credited with the invention of astronomy until as late as medieval times. The ancient Kemetians associated the Pleiades with the Taurean/horned goddess Het-Heru (Hathor) and the Libyan goddess Neith as both were titled “Queen of Heaven.” The Sibyls of Dodona were also known as Peleiades.

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This dove symbolism can also be found among the ancient Israelites’ worship of the goddess Asherah, who was known as the consort of Yahweh. The Hebrew Bible equates the Holy Spirit with the dove, and, prior to the prominence of the cross in the fourth century CE, the dove was the dominant symbol of Christianity. Though we only see sparse or superficial representations of the Sibyls today (if at all) and almost none represented as distinguishable women of color, they wielded a tremendous amount of power and influence throughout the ancient world. The Sibyls were consulted by the aristocracy prior to all major undertakings and provided comfort and spiritual guidance for all who sought them. It is also important to note that prior to the advancement and ultimate supremacy of patriarchal values, the temples dedicated to Zeus, Apollo, Dionysus, and other gods were originally the domain of the Goddess (Isis, Hathor, Tanit, Themis, Gaia, etc.). After centuries of uninterrupted power, the Sibyls, temples, and mystery schools were all outlawed with the advent of Nicene Christianity. The beginning of the end being Constantine’s legislation against “magic” and private divination that was even more aggressively enforced by Constantius II. Anyone caught venerating the old deities, attending or performing ceremonies, practicing astrology, or consulting diviners was put to death. The sites of shrines, temples, and other sacred places were then converted to churches or administrative buildings for the new rulers, the new God and his clergy. Ironically, the patriarchs of the church would create false Sibylline prophecies to legitimize their teachings and rationalize their destructive acts to gain followers who still believed in and trusted the word of the Sibyls. As the pressure mounted to adhere to mono-patriarchal religions and their rules, people who didn’t want to forfeit their ancestral beliefs and knowledge formed secret societies throughout Europe and beyond to avoid persecution. Sacred teachings and practices were redefined as evil by the new ruling class to maintain control and discourage a resurgence of interest in “paganism.” However,

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despite all efforts, esotericism has never been completely abandoned. The legacy of the Sibyls is still with us even if the symbols and terminology related to these sacred women and the Goddess have been desecrated or repurposed to suit the narratives of the victors. For example, the English word hag originally just meant “serpent” but is now a pejorative for a “bad” witch or a woman who is not sexually desirable to men (usually because she’s old or ugly). A synonym for hag is gorgon. The connotations and associations between the fear of and revulsion toward the dark, warrior, or crone aspect of the Goddess and occult knowledge are clear. The Sibyls Oraculum was created to pay homage to the oft forgotten African founding mothers of the Sibylline tradition and the amalgamation of spiritual concepts that made the ancient Mediterranean world interesting.

THE PEOPLE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF ANCIENT LIBYA

For Review Only I thought it was important to take the time to explain how different Africa was during the time of the Sibyls compared to what it is today. An examination of world maps throughout the centuries will show that the labels given to people and places shift quite often, depending on the needs of those in power at any given time. During the time of the Sibyls, the terms “Libya,” “Tamazgha,” “Tha,” or “Thamorth” referred to the area now known as the Maghreb, which includes present day Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Mauritania, and the northwestern part of Kemet. The indigenous people of the region included the Nubians, Beja, and the Timazighin/Imazighen (a.k.a. Amazigh/ Berbers). A significant number of characters from the Greco-Roman pantheon/mythology were originally Libyan deities or spiritual concepts. They included Athena, Poseidon/Neptune, Atlas, Ammon, Metis, Triton, Lamia, Hesperides, the Gorgons (Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale), the lotophagi (lotus eaters), the Timeoroi, the Graeae, and

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others. Not only were ancient Libyans a profound source of artistic and spiritual inspiration for other peoples of the Mediterranean, but the Roman Empire was also economically and politically reliant on Africa for its very survival.

THE ORACLE OF AMMON IN SIWA The name “Siwa” is an indigenous Timazighin/Imazighen word meaning “bird of prey which protects the god Amun.” Siwa’s ancient Kemetian name was Sekht-am, meaning “palm land.” Although the oasis has been inhabited since Paleolithic times, the first temple of Ammon was not built until the reign of Pharaoh Ahmose (Amasis) II of the twenty-sixth dynasty. Until then, most of the indigenous people of the region lived for millennia having minimal contact with outsiders. The foreigners they did encounter consisted of traders from central Africa and royalty, diplomats, mystics, and pilgrims from all over the world seeking the wisdom of the Sibyls. It was a brave decision to visit the oasis, because to reach it travelers had to cross approximately 423 miles (680 kilometers) of sand in temperatures that could easily reach more than 110 degrees Fahrenheit (40–45 Celsius). The desert regularly claimed the lives of travelers. In fact, the Persian army lost 50,000 soldiers when they attempted to reach the oracle in 524 BCE. Oracles were considered manifestations of the word of the God/Goddess to the ancients, so to seek counsel with a Sibyl was well worth the risk. If a traveler did manage to survive, they would be welcomed by a virtual paradise that included thousands of palm and olive trees not to mention freshwater in the form of streams and springs. Myths of talking doves aside, it is most likely that the Greeks learned about Siwa and the talents of the Sibyls after they invaded Libya in 637 BCE. There was widespread famine in Greece at the time, and they decided to usurp the wealth and prosperity of Cyrene. The

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Cyrenaicans inhabited thriving cities on the coast of North Africa and had established settlements surrounding the oases long before the Greeks arrived. After the domination of Libya was complete, however, the foundation of civilization in the region as well as the oracle were credited as p rimarily Greek cultural achievements, especially after the correspondence was made between Zeus and Amun. The oracle of Ammon at the Siwa Oasis also welcomed the infamous Alexander of Macedon, who visited the temple in 331 BCE. The details of Alexander’s experience were recounted by his biographers, Arrian and Callisthenes, but there are no firsthand accounts by Alexander himself to verify their accuracy or the reason he chose to visit. What is known is that the Libyan oracle was so impressive to the Greeks that they considered it the third holiest place on Earth after the sanctuaries of Zeus at Olympia and Dodona. By the time the Romans came to power in Libya, the temple of Ammon and its oracle still flourished but had lost some of its popularity. The reasons given for this were the ever-growing interest in astrology and the rise of new, exotic Near Eastern cults. The ruins of the temple of Ammon still stand today.

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According to historian Gerald Massey, archaeologist George Michanowsky, and classicist/historian Livio Stecchini, three African priestesses were responsible for outstanding advancements in mathematics and astronomy. Their names were Tekhi, Seshat, and AterTshema-T. Tekhi is credited with the creation of geometry, Seshat with the creation of trigonometry, and Ater-Tshema-T with the creation of calculus more than four thousand years ago. While this may be considered mere fantasy to mainstream historians that claim Pythagoras as the father of mathematics, there is considerable new evidence being found every day to challenge that theory. In 2013,

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Dustin T. Donaldson and Robynn Iwata documented the advanced solar mechanics of the temple of Ammon at the Siwa Oasis in Kemet (Siwa was considered Libyan territory from ancient times until 1819). Their discoveries were verified and accepted by the Siwa Council of Antiquities on March 8, 2015. There is also compelling evidence, presented by Dr. Raul Perez-Enriquez of the University of Sonora in 2000, that the placement of the oracles in Dodona and Siwa was done with highly advanced mathematical/astronomical considerations in mind. This would mean that the concepts credited to Plato and others were already known in Africa long before they were encountered by the Greeks. Did these “black doves” calculate the appropriate placement of these sacred sites before they were brought from Waset to establish and oversee them? Did the Greeks purposely hide the identities of the true custodians of science and mathematics because they were women? What other amazing discoveries could be made if scholars of all disciplines felt free to do research that might contradict established Eurocentric and/or patrifocal narratives without fear of retribution, ridicule, or isolation?

For Review Only THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN ANCIENT LIBYA

While North African people, like those in other African cultures, have been described as matriarchal, such labels are alien and therefore inadequate to describe the multilevel approach to governance that indigenous societies had. Sanctity was the domain of both genders so that neither ever had sole authority over the other. However, the fiercely patriarchal Greeks, Romans, and later colonial-era scholars—who abhorred any system where women had any rights or power—put a series of negative descriptions upon these indigenous societies. From the patrilineal, patriarchal, and patrifocal viewpoint, “matriarchal” cultures were pathological, infantile, sexually immoral, or weak at worst and absurd at best; thus, their horror and disgust

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at the p roliferation of influential priestesses, female warriors, and allpowerful mother Goddesses they encountered in Africa. Yet, it was only in this more equalitarian environment that the Amazons, Sibyls, and the world’s first-known universal religion, the cult of Aset (Isis), would have been possible and permitted to flourish.

SYNCRETISM IN THE ANCIENT MEDITERRANEAN The traditional African worldview was not “religious” in the contemporary sense of the word as that was a foreign concept that arrived later, so there was always room for the adoption of new deities, new rites/rituals, and adaptations to preexisting beliefs. The more the merrier! The ancient Libyans and Kemetians were particularly good at incorporating the ideas of the foreigners they encountered via commerce, conquest, or immigration without ever destroying their foundational beliefs. This did not cause identity crises or conflict in their society, because, though they had welcomed many alien deities and concepts, they remained fiercely loyal to the essence of their own spirituality. However, it must be noted that no one at that time was obsessed with “purity” in regard to race, religion, sex, and so on like people are today because that came later in history. People felt in no way inauthentic or hypocritical about having multiple creation stories or adding new goddesses/gods or the like. The reason being that the ancients focused more on abstract lessons and the underlying symbolism of personages than on literal or historical facts. The majority of the modern world simply does not have within its consciousness the possibility of monolatry, henotheism, or logic in the form of complementary propositions. Remember, the cosmopolitan centers of the ancient Mediterranean were as racially and culturally diverse as New York or Paris is today. Like modern cities, there were significant portions of the population that were first-, second-, or third-generation immigrants who continued

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to serve the pantheons of their homelands. This had an influence on all the peoples of the Mediterranean who interacted with different ethnic groups on a daily basis as either tradesmen, artists, diviners, priestesses/ priests, sex workers, or domestic slaves. Adherents to African and Asiatic “mystery cults” reached their height in Rome and other parts of the region from the first to the fourth centuries.

THE SIBYL TRADITION IN NORTH AFRICA TODAY The indigenous peoples of North Africa/the Saharan region still exist today. While most of them have been Islamized, there are still many communities resisting Arabization. They have always desired to retain their African identity, languages, and culture despite a consistent wave of brutal foreign invasions since ancient times. They have fought against the Greeks, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, French and Spanish, just to name a few. These indigenous communities not only protest the physical occupation of their land but also reject the classifications given to them by outsiders as “Arab” or “Middle Easterners.” They also reject the racial categorizations imposed on them by foreigners because after centuries of intermarriage their people have a wide range of skin tones, eye colors, and hair textures. To them, culture and land are what matter most, and they just want to be themselves as Africans. Their struggle for freedom and independence from Arab hegemony is greatly hindered for two very important reasons: (1) most people outside of Africa think North Africans are all Arabs, and (2) the majority of the world population still gives credence to the colonial theory of two unrelated Africas, one consisting of North people and the other “sub-Saharan” people, as if they were different. Unsurprisingly, this idea had its foundation in the racist science of eugenics when entire populations were reclassified based on superficial phenotypical variations. So, despite several millennia of trade, migrations, communication, and intermarriage between North and “sub-Saharan” Africans linking them

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all by blood and culture, all of a sudden they inhabit two distinct worlds and are no longer related. All expressions of mysticism and female sacerdotal power (Sibylline authority) are also being suppressed and relabeled as witchcraft or demonic by the succession of patriarchal, patrifocal, and patrilineal invaders. However, long-held traditions are tough to eliminate, so the practice of syncretism of traditional beliefs with Islam is not uncommon, though divination (cartomancy), zar, and other rituals are done discretely to avoid social ostracism, arrest, or worse.

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Awakening to the Sibylline Symbols

ART, MEANING, AND THE POWER OF SYMBOLS The artwork of The Sibyls Oraculum pays homage to the Libyan mosaic art favored by the Roman elite. Because humans are not represented on any of the cards, the reader is allowed to focus solely on the symbolism of each image without distraction. The symbols included in the deck reflect the rich cultural diversity of the ancient Mediterranean people who mated, mixed, and borrowed ideas from one another for millennia. It is important for me to note that each symbol is only explained within the context of the deck. The majority of the symbols have multiple meanings and such a rich and complex history that it would be impractical for me to attempt to address them all here. The ancients were very aware that a picture was worth a thousand words and that art/symbolism had the power to impress the mind/spirit. They also knew that using art was a way to facilitate “differentiated learning” as every painting, every object, and every deity could be interpreted according to the knowledge and experience of the viewer. The lesson went as deep as each individual’s level of consciousness and their desire or capability to comprehend. Those who were content with the exoteric explanations of spiritual or religious concepts (or had no access to teachers) were able to benefit from rites and rituals just as the initiates did even though the internal conversation and the way each processed information was quite different.

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HOW TO AWAKEN SYMBOLS If you are living in a westernized, urban environment surrounded by contemporary technology and conveniences, many of the symbols in this deck may be meaningless to you at first. You will see the symbols as scenes from life, objects, buildings, furnishings, animals, flora, and fauna that you have never experienced, seen, or used and probably never will. They are included in The Sibyls Oraculum because they reflect the experiences of cosmopolitan people of the ancient Mediterranean. That means you will have to “awaken” them in your consciousness. Only the awareness of the living gives symbols power; without it they are merely relics of the past. As much as we may feel an affinity with or admire the ancients (I assume you do since you are reading this), this was their world, not ours. So, if you see an ox-drawn cart and you have no experience with such a thing then take a moment to imagine what it would feel like to journey in one, see it arrive in town, or hear the sounds the animals make. In cases where you may have access to an herb, flower, or fruit but have never tried it or sought it out, buy one to examine its taste or texture. Experience these things, then jot down any feelings or impressions that you have. Then if you feel like going further, imagine the same objects and experiences from the perspective of someone from that time. Imagine the joy of being brought your favorite food once a year because it is the only time the ingredients are in season to make it. Imagine the luxury and privilege of languishing in a spring in the middle of the desert. Imagine the anxiety of the neophyte who is having his head shaved just before he embarks on his journey as a devotee of the Goddess/God. These are very simple but powerful ways to make the symbols come alive via a sensory time machine. Try not to censor what you feel at any time during this exercise because you think you should be having a different reaction than the one you’re having. It does not matter if your impressions seem to conflict with the meanings provided. Just write them down, and if you can-

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not immediately make sense of them, do not strain; simply reflect on them later. If you put in this effort, you will learn the ability to transmute any visual stimuli into a personalized pictographic text. Doing so will bring you closer to that which is apparent and the inner workings of your own mind/spirit simultaneously. The reason for training the mind/spirit in this way is to prevent “idolatrous” reverence or fear of that which is apparent to obscure the essential reality or realities the symbol was designed to convey. This includes the belief in crystallized notions of one’s personality (whether it is perceived as positive or negative), which is yet another way of mistaking the “object” for the “subject.” The inevitable result is self-serving classifications of “good,” “evil,” or worse, delusions of occupying a neutral space in a universe always in various stages of becoming. The triangulation of a flexible perspective of self, a flexible perspective of all that is apparent, and a flexible perspective of that which is not permits the mind/spirit the elasticity it needs to grow in any direction that you direct it. Remember, you are the ultimate symbol to be reflected on and decoded first.

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THE SIBYLS MIRROR: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DREAMS AND OMENS In most ancient Mediterranean and Asiatic cultures, people took the interpretation of dreams and omens very seriously. It was considered a serious science by physicians, priests, and philosophers. In Libya, Egypt, and Greece, priests and Sibyls were regularly sought to decipher the meaning of their clients’ dreams. Not all dreams were deemed significant, but when they were, they were considered divine messages from the gods. The function of dreams was to provide advice and warnings to the faithful. In Libya, dreams could also be messages from the ancestors. People would sleep next to the tombs of their ancestors with the hope of receiving a message. They considered this the best method to communicate

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with their loved ones, because the deceased were associated with the night and the underworld. The ancestors were also associated with fertility and fertility rites. The connection between the living and the dead was possible because people believed that not only did they inherit physical or personality traits from their ancestors but also that they were their ancestors. It was this link with one’s lineage, which was oneself, through blood and spiritual ties that eliminated any apparent disconnect in space or time. It was also the reason why the living petitioned the dead to fix/maintain the fertility of their communities via “fertility cults” and resolve familial problems. It was in their ancestors’ best interest to assist their relatives so that they may reincarnate into the most healthy, harmonious environment. A proliferation of 10,000-year-old (or older) cave and rock paintings has been discovered throughout the Sahara depicting cow goddesses representing fertility placed next to or in close proximity to burial sites. It should also be noted that dreams were not only sought from blood relatives but from communal ancestors as well. Royalty, famous poets, priests, Sibyls, and warriors could also be petitioned for assistance. In Egypt, dream interpretations took place in the Per-Ankh, or “House of Life.” These temples not only functioned as spaces where rituals took place but also as libraries, administrative centers, and hospitals. Dream interpretation, however, did not require priests or priestesses to perform any additional initiations or training to fulfill their duties but was considered a basic task that any of them should be able to execute. Ancient Egyptian texts discussing the Duat (underworld) or “the darkest hours of night” more than five thousand years ago might also allude to knowledge of REM, the stage of sleep in which we do the most dreaming. In Greece, dreams were also associated with prophecy, health, and healing. Health seekers spent a designated number of nights in temples that were erected in honor of Asclepius, the god of medicine. Priests would then interpret the patient’s dreams to provide them with the appropriate solution or cure. Priests and the Sibyls were also responsible for the interpretation

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of omens. As I stated before, everything in creation was believed to be connected and associated with a divinity or divine concept. Everyone and everything was a symbolic manifestation of a greater idea, so when something particularly uncanny occurred it was perceived to be a message from the force that governs that person or thing. Contrary to popular belief, omens were not thought to foretell the future but rather to act as a heads-up that something might occur. The concept of predestination did not exist in the ancient Mediterranean, so omens were perceived to reflect a conditional future that could be altered with proper rituals if the change was seen to be unfavorable. It was very rare that a person’s fate was considered “sealed,” as the idea of passive acceptance to the will of a god was not in their consciousness. If one god wouldn’t provide aid or protection then you sought out one that would until your issue was resolved. The priests and Sibyls were there to provide guidance to the deity or ancestors that required propagation and/or the performance of necessary rites or rituals to ensure the best outcome.

For Review Only RELIGIO-MYTHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATIONS

Each card of The Sibyls Oraculum corresponds to one or more divinities from the mythology of several ancient Mediterranean cultures: Libyan, Nubian, Kemetian, Greek, Roman, Phoenician, Canaanite, Etruscan, and so on (see the “Card Meanings” section of this book for the specific associations of each card). I did this to reinforce their essential interrelatedness and to provide an additional method to help you understand the cards. Myths are real. They are vehicles of transmission for the teaching of complex concepts and ideas that might otherwise be incomprehensible if explained in more academic or philosophical terms. The divinities represent the fantastic realm of possibilities (positive and negative) within their areas of stewardship while simultaneously personifying the possibilities themselves. The deities also serve as teachers and “role models” who guide people through every phase of

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their lives, as everything that is or could be experienced is sacralized. Deities that govern huge concepts like “love” or “strength” may have several different aspects (though they may be referred to by different names), which are based on the ancients’ recognition that there are different ways of expressing love and various forms of strength. By associating a deity or its aspect with each card, I hope to facilitate additional insight into the big picture regarding your query and also to encourage the consideration of the subtle nuances of the oracle’s divinatory meanings. Most pre-Abrahamic divinities have external/internal, active/ passive, male/female attributes often personified as wives, husbands, or consorts that are always present even if they are unseen or unmentioned. If these associations make you uncomfortable or confuse you in any way then I would advise you to skip this section, since it is not necessary for the oracle to work. If you decide to use them then I highly suggest that you further investigate the possible esoteric significance of each deity as designations such as “Crocodile God” are overly simplistic and at times merely condescending colonial attitudes toward non-Abrahamic belief systems—attitudes that often place cultures in an evolutionary order, with those that focus on earth, underworld, and snake teachings at the bottom and sky and light teachings at the top. Also, monotheistic religions are described or implied to be more advanced than polytheistic ones. These labels themselves are problematic, because they represent linear foreign concepts that reduce the complex systems that encapsulate those realities and everything in between, sometimes simultaneously. This is especially true for ancient Africa, where creation was not perceived to be complete but ever-becoming, the gods were alterable, and absolute values did not exist. The gods could be combined to create new ones, because they were more conceptual than fixed, concrete forms. In the ancient world, it was also quite common to exclusively worship one god out of their pantheons and only live according to the laws of that particular deity (without denying the power or existence of the others). This method of spiritual practice is known as “henotheism” and is still quite common in Hinduism today.

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THE FUNDAMENTAL ETHICS OF THE SIBYLS ORACULUM All of the sacred artifacts of a population—be they art, oral or written teachings, or divination tools—reveal the fundamental worldview of their creators. Notions of who or what is divine, who or what has access to the divine, what the characteristics of the divine and the rules regarding interaction with the divine are, who or what is permitted to have authority, and how those who perceive the world differently are to be treated are determined by the collective soul of a people. All things have a philosophical origin, and The Sibyls Oraculum is no different. This oracle was designed to advise seekers based on a traditional African worldview. Let me explain. Though the Sibyls’ tradition spread throughout the world and was gradually adapted to suit the cultural proclivities of those who adopted it, the fundamental root of the tradition was based on African ethics. Therefore, the embedded ideas, beliefs, and attitudes about good, evil, right, and wrong were based on an African perspective. Granted, Africans have never been a monolithic people, and the continent has always consisted of a multitude of different ethnic groups, social structures, and the like, but there are fundamental ideas about life and living that unite them all across space and time. These include the following:

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Emphasis on the common good. The idea is that individuals only have a right to nourish, increase, or benefit their community. What is allowed is not the issue, as we are all free to do as we wish. What is of vital importance, however, is how what is being done will affect the whole. Reverence for, means to communicate with, and obedience to ancestors and the god(s). Creation is considered multidimensional, and the polyrhythmic nature of traditional knowledge reflects that perspective. During ceremonies, celestial spirits (ancestors/ god[s]) as well as earthly ones (family, community, animals, rocks,

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flowers, and so on) are present, reflecting the power and totality of existence. Differentiation between what constitutes a human being and what constitutes a person. A human being is such at birth, but personhood requires various stages of initiation and the successful fulfillment of obligations to the community. No revelation tradition. There is no concept of a special person or group of people that was meant to reveal an absolute truth or rubric of behavior for everyone in the entire community, let alone the entire world. This allowed variations of and adjustments to pantheons, rites, and rituals if and when they were deemed necessary. No concept of sacred or secular. In traditional Africa, everything was under the domain of a divine force so there was no concept of “sacred” and “secular” spaces or activities. Simple definitions of good and bad people. “Good” character was based on how much a person did to unify and improve their community, whereas “bad” character was based on how much a person did to cause separation and discord in their community. Morality and immorality were determined as much by what a person did do as what they didn’t do. Morality was based on social harmony, not the commands of supernatural forces. Importance of submission to elders. It was expected that people would submit to their elders and do what they were told. An elder didn’t have to be older than you; they just had to know more than you did. There was no problem with strict hierarchical structures based on knowledge, wisdom, and experience. Belief in and respect for mysticism/metaphysics. Those in the community with the ability to connect with “other worlds” and provide greater insight were highly respected, celebrated, and encouraged to continue their work. Apotheosis of mortals to the status of deities. The apotheosis of a person (alive or dead) was an honor given to those who consis-

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tently exemplified the most cherished values of their community, and, by gaining their divine status, they inspired everyone else to do their best. I tried my best to imbue all the suggestions in this deck with these principles while simultaneously keeping them comprehensible to readers. As a person born and raised in North America, I am aware of how difficult it can be to process information outside of the Western positivist scientific model. However, I felt I had to at least attempt to bridge worlds as the Sibyls did. They were not afraid to exhibit their unique perspectives or share their inspired messages before diverse populations, so nor shall I be. My mission will be complete if after encountering this work you always consider the deeper significance underlying every major situation, drama, problem, beginning, ending, or rite of passage. According to traditional African wisdom, the universe will forever be a special and enchanted place, filled with equally fantastic beings in all forms where anything is possible. It is a created and also a co-creative space where all may participate in the perpetuation of that which is already in motion or choose to create new pathways. This was the world of the Sibyls, and it is your world every time you consult this oracle.

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The Sibyls Oraculum is not a fortune-telling tool. It is a cartomantic method of divination designed to facilitate self-examination and decision-making to improve the likelihood of success in all undertakings. It is best likened to homeopathic medicine as it focuses on the root causes of a discomfort, disorientation, or disease rather than analyzing its conspicuous manifestations. There are plenty of excellent divination tools out there that will accommodate external inquiries, but The Sibyls Oraculum is not designed to do so, and any attempt to force it to be what it is not will most likely frustrate, enrage, or confuse the seeker.

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Using The Sibyls Oraculum to facilitate self-examination and decisionmaking is accomplished through the following three-step process. 1. Focus on the core spiritual issue underlying the inquiry. 2. Reveal and analyze what your mind is projecting onto the core issue that may be a help or a hindrance to achieving your longterm goals. 3. Manifest the ideal state of mind and comprehend how to immediately move forward for best results.

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The Sibyls Oraculum was not designed to address any of the following: Minutia surrounding the seeker’s question What anyone else thinks, might think, does, or might do Outcomes of situations

THE STRUCTURE OF THE ORACLE The forty-four cards in The Sibyls Oraculum are color-coded on the back according to the following categories. 11 Black Core Issue cards 11 Copper Projection cards 11 Blue “cool” Action cards 11 Red “hot” Action cards

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About the Core Issue (Fundamentum) Cards The Core Issue cards reflect the essential spiritual principles that a seeker should deeply reflect upon in relation to the query. Every challenge has a source, and that source is always on the querent’s mind. Thus, the Core Issue card identifies where there is a fracture or a miscalculation in logic related to the question. It is advisable to set aside any defensive emotions, such as anger, denial, or self-deprecation, that may arise upon receiving the message, because those emotions are contrary to the purpose of clarification. Receive, reflect, realize, accept, and move on. About the Projection (Proiectura) Cards The Projection cards reflect the rationalizations or justifications in the querent’s mind that are preventing them from seeing the core issue. They are the comfortable masks of excuses that are placed on the truth that if not removed and worked out will eventually cause the querent internal suffering, and possibly, external hardships.

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About the Action (Actionis) Cards The Action cards are the oracle’s advice to the querent about what to immediately do next in relation to the query. They are divided into two sets: one blue, the other red. The blue set relates to the suggested internal state of mind the querent should foster in relation to their question. The red set relates to the suggested external response to the situation. The logic being that thoughts always precede actions and therefore are causal agents that affect everything that happens afterward. Thus, what one thinks is just as much an action as picking up a glass. The Sibyls Oraculum acknowledges this natural two-part process of action and advises the querent accordingly.

HOW TO USE THE EPIGRAMS An epigram, derived from the Greek word epigramma, which means “inscription” or “to inscribe,” is a rhetorical device that is a brief, memorable, interesting, and/or surprising satirical statement. The earliest known Greek epigrams were usually brief poems covering a diverse subject matter and inscribed on votive offerings at sanctuaries and on funerary monuments. It wasn’t necessary for the inscriptions to be serious or conspicuously pious. This was especially true for the Romans, who didn’t shy away from using a lot of humor and obscene language if and when they found it necessary to do so. It would appear that the only requirement of the writer was to speak from the heart. I decided to compose an epigram to accompany each card as a way for me to communicate additional insights or reinforce the sentiments included in the general text. Some may be written with an obscure tonality while others may be straightforward or playful. They are brief enough to jot down on a sticky note as a reminder of the advice given to you by the oracle or used as a tool for meditation and reflection.

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CONSULTING THE ORACLE Consult The Sibyls Oraculum by following these six steps. 1. The seeker poses a question phrased in a neutral way using a simple “Comment on . . .” method. For example: • “Comment on getting back together with . . .” • “Comment on loaning money to . . .” • “Comment on what lesson I need to master in this lifetime.” • “Comment on the meaning of the dream I had last night.” 2. The seeker shuffles the entire deck while thinking of their question, selects one black Core Issue card, and sets it aside. 3. The seeker shuffles the deck (excluding the Core Issue card that has been set aside) while thinking of their question, selects one copper Projection card, and sets it aside. 4. The seeker shuffles the deck (excluding the Core Issue and the Projection cards that have been set aside) while thinking of their question, selects one blue “cool” Action card, and sets it aside. 5. The seeker shuffles the deck (except for the Core Issue, Projection, and blue Action cards that have been set aside) while thinking of their question, selects one red “hot” Action card, and sets it aside. 6. Once all four cards have been selected the oracle’s response may be interpreted. Read the meaning of each card and jot down any “inner whisperings” that may be giving you more information. Keep in mind that the divinatory meanings provided are not fixed but instead are merely a guide to get you started.

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READING FOR OTHERS Reading for others is similar to reading for yourself, but there are some additional tips to keep in mind.

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Doing a Reading for Another Person

1. Before you begin, remind the seeker that The Sibyls Oraculum is not a fortune-telling tool. 2. Help the seeker properly frame their question as explained in the previous section and allow them to shuffle and select the cards. 3. Once they have finished, turn the chosen cards toward you and begin to explain the meaning of each card. 4. Remember to synthesize the reading so the querent is clear about the essential nature of their problem, their projections, and the best way to reestablish balance. You might also choose to do a reading for someone who is not physically present. Doing a Reading for a Person Who Is Absent

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1. Evaluate your motivation. While a person’s permission is not required to do a reading in their absence, it certainly doesn’t hurt to understand your reasons for doing so. If you feel the information will be of service to you or others, then do it. 2. Ask the question while keeping the absentee in mind, and proceed with the process as usual. 3. Decide if you would like to share the results with the absentee. If the person is not into “this stuff ” then they do not have to know where the advice or insight you give them is coming from. No one has to believe in anything in particular.

A NOTE ABOUT “NEGATIVE” OUTCOMES If your reading yields an outcome that you perceive to be unfavorable and/or you didn’t expect, don’t despair. While it may be initially disappointing, remember that the purpose of using any oracle is to dis-

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cover the unknown or gain additional insight into that which is already known. Remember, clarity is one of the greatest gifts you could ever bestow on yourself or anyone else. It is better to know the truth now than to gradually make things worse.

WHERE AND WHEN TO DO A READING A reading can be done at any location that is comfortable and appropriate. Ideally, you and/or the person you are doing the reading for should be in a calm state. Some times in life are well-suited to oracle reading. Consider the following: 1. Before the beginning of any new or important ventures (engagements, marriages, or partnerships of any kind; starting a business; moving, etc.) 2. On your birthday or New Year’s Day to determine what needs to be done for you to grow and prosper. 3. After the birth of a child to determine their life’s purpose. The reading will provide valuable insight regarding ideas/beliefs that should be avoided and ideas/beliefs that should be cultivated throughout their lives. This type of reading can also be done for anyone else seeking to know their life’s purpose.

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SUGGESTED DON’TS FOR READINGS Not every time or situation is appropriate for a reading. Following are two of examples of when to refrain from consulting the oracle. 1. Don’t do a reading with a closed mind. If you are determined to do whatever you plan to do, exactly how you plan to do it, and with whom you plan to do it no matter what, then admit that and just do it. Don’t play games.

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2. Don’t do readings if you are scared of the cards or feel guilty about consulting them for any reason.

READING EXAMPLES Kiara Dear Tayannah, My boyfriend Sean and I broke up two years ago after I discovered he was cheating on me. He begged for my forgiveness, and we got back together a few months later. Our relationship was better than ever, but now we seem to be growing apart again and we fight over practically nothing. Should I stick it out or break up with him once and for all? Thanks.

Core Issue card: Numero/Rhythm Projection card: Propositum/Purpose Blue Action card: Obsequium/Submission Red Action card: Silentium/Stillness

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Summary: This reading tells me that your relationship was never accurately defined in terms of harmonious goals, and until that is accomplished there will be problems. How do you both exist in the world? Some people can stay together happily for years without defining this, because their relationship is more of a “jazz improv” situation. That may even work with you and someone else, but it will never work with you and Sean. Every couple is a unique alchemical experiment, and there is typically a reason(s) for them getting together. That being the case, one or both of you are misunderstanding why you hooked up in the first place. My suggestion is to honestly assess if you ever were on and/or remain on a complementary path physically, mentally, and/or spiritually. If you discover that you are still in sync but just got seriously off track, then both of you need to do whatever you have to do to get back on. If you discover that your needs, dreams, and so on are no longer

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compatible then submit to that knowledge. Once you’ve come to terms with the reality of the situation, consider the consequences of breaking up if there are any. They may be financial, parental, or emotional. Then figure out your next moves and put as many plans into action as possible before announcing it’s over. Just remember this: The time for talking, rehashing, debating, and arguing is over. No more ripples; now is the time to move and act in silence. ##HASitAllbutSTILLsad Dear Tayannah, I am a wealthy, middle-aged, not-too-bad-looking white guy from the West Coast. I have a great job, a beautiful home, a wife who’s to die for, and three wonderful kids. That’s why my friends can’t understand why I’m so miserable. I don’t understand it myself, because I have the life most people dream about. Please help me. #HASitAllbutSTILLsad

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Core Issue card: Mortem/Death Projection card: Iustitia/Justice Blue Action card: Militarium/Strategy Red Action card: Videbatur/Aggression

Summary: You are right West Coast. Most people think they want your life just like you did. People often dream the dreams of others indiscriminately. The only difference between them and you is that you’ve attained it so you now know for a fact that there’s no one-size-fits-all path to fulfillment. This reading suggests that you’ve known for a very long time that the life you’re living is not the way for you, and it also tells me that you already know what you would rather be doing. Yet you have refused to make the necessary changes because you feel guilty for throwing away what others pray for every night. The time has come to stop torturing yourself and wishing you were somebody else. I suggest you utilize every resource that’s available to you for advice on how to get

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out of this rut and make your transition while doing as little harm to your family as possible. This advice may come from a life coach, therapist, or loved one. Begin reading books by people who have reinvented themselves—or reach out to those you know who have done so—for inspiration and useful tips. Shannon Dear Tayannah, I hate my office job and I want to leave it. I would love to pursue my baking hobby as a career—I dream of being a pastry chef. I don’t have much money in my savings though, so I only have about fourteen months to try before I am in a real mess. Do I have a shot at making this dream come true? I look forward to hearing from you.

Core Issue card: Cumulus/Accumulation Projection card: Furorem/Rage Blue Action card: Synthesis/Synthesis Red Action card: Progressus/Gradual Progress

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Summary: I think your chances of success look great, but I don’t think you will be Bobby Flay in fourteen months. This reading suggests that you already have an incredible amount of resources at your disposal that you might not consider to be so at this time. This reading also suggests that you are feeling highly frustrated that you cannot express your creativity the way you would like to. It also points to the fact that you are so obsessed with focusing on what is not happening that you are forgetting to use that energy to figure out how to make it happen. If you are trying to accomplish this goal on your own, that too is a mistake. People like sweets! Are you baking goods and selling them to coworkers at your job? Do you regularly take photos of your delicious creations and post them on a page solely dedicated to all things culinary? Have you made business cards so that supportive family, friends, and coworkers can spread the word in the event that someone they know needs

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a cake, cookies, and so on for a party? This reading is all about communal effort, utilizing the connections you already have to get things done, and lots of patience. I highly recommend that you stay at your job for now but make sure you spend most of your free time working at establishing yourself as a pastry chef. Then quit when you have a steady stream of clients that permits you to maintain a lifestyle that is comfortable for you.

KEEPING A SIBYLLINE JOURNAL If it is your goal to develop your spiritual talents then I recommend keeping a journal to record the results of your Sibyls Oraculum card readings, your responses to and reflections on the exercises in the next chapter, and your dreams and any events you classify as omens, which I discuss further below. It is imperative that you keep this journal, because you might otherwise forget critical details after a few hours, days, or weeks have passed, potentially losing hints to the very answers you are seeking. Everyone has a world of associative symbols in their head that at times they attribute to external phenomena even if they are not into “this stuff.” For example, a friend of mine and I were discussing her frustration with not being able to find the right guy for her. I told her that I didn’t believe she was really over her ex-boyfriend and that was probably the reason. She was annoyed by this suggestion and vehemently denied its merit. Later that day, we decided to grab a bite to eat and, as the waiter placed two glasses of water in front of us, a song came on that made her burst into tears. It was their song, one of the symbols of their relationship, and it showed up less than two hours after our conversation about it. Other people may classify what happened as a coincidence (and that’s fine), but I, a person that has never agreed with or accepted the complete disenchantment of the world, perceived it as an omen. My friend did too and decided to do the necessary work that would permit her to finally let him go so she could

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move on. She is now happily married with three beautiful children. There are innumerable examples I could give about prophetic dreams and omens, but I know you get it because most people have experienced one or the other in their lifetime. Unbeknown to many, dreams and omens may be elicited with faith and practice. The Sibyls Oraculum contains a wealth of symbolism from which to draw, but don’t forget about the symbolic world that is your environment. There are streets, towns, and landmarks in your city that have meaning to the wider community and specifically to you. The same is true of numbers, colors, and everything else. That is what will always make your dreamscape and your omens unique—because you are. Following are some tips on how to record your dreams and omens in your Sibylline journal. 1. Select a journal or notebook that is a convenient carrying size just in case you want to tote it around. If not, then keep the journal and a pen near your bed for quick, easy access. 2. Write down every detail you remember about a dream or an omen, and I mean everything. It may seem tedious, but in my experience of interpreting dreams and omens for myself or others, it was often the little things that cracked the case. If you are recording a dream, jot down how you felt in the dream (if you were in it) and/or how you perceived the feelings of others. Don’t forget to write down the date and time of awakening if you can remember it. 3. Reflect on possible meanings of the dream or omen. What was going on in your life? Was there anything you were anxious or worried about when you had the dream or experienced the omen? Do you consider it a positive or negative message and why? 4. Write down what you think you should or should not do based on your final interpretation of the dream or omen and why. 5. If you are in doubt or would like additional insight into the pos-

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sible meaning of your dreams or omens, then consult The Sibyls Oraculum. Of course, you could do that from the beginning if you choose. It should be interesting to see how your interpretations compare to the reading. Be sure to write down the Sibyls’ response as well. The important things to practice as you seek answers are gratitude and patience. I find that the more thankful I am for receiving prophetic/ instructional dreams or omens, the more I receive them whether I perceive the messages to be “good” or “bad.” As you permit yourself to be open and not fear the connection you have with nature, God/Goddess, and the universe, you will begin to process information differently. I liken it to being a meteorologist who certainly must have biases about favored weather patterns, but ultimately their job is to report what they see and help us all prepare for what’s ahead. If a storm is predicted but doesn’t happen because the wind changed course, the meteorologist shouldn’t feel bad that they told us to carry our umbrellas. Especially if we have avoided getting soaked so many times before by heeding the advice on other days. I am also okay with the fact that the complete meaning of dreams or omens may not be decoded immediately. I simply do the best I can to interpret the messages, take any necessary action according to what I do understand, and continue to expect further clarification—I always receive it. Please don’t become obsessive, paranoid, or anxious when things don’t make sense right away, because that doesn’t make things happen any faster. Some messages you will comprehend instantaneously and others will take time, and that’s just the way it is.

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Applying the Oracle’s Wisdom in Your Life

This chapter was created to help improve your self-understanding. The first exercise, the Core Issue Assessment, is a quiz designed to assess your current beliefs in relation to the lessons of the Core Issue cards and help you transform any limiting beliefs you discover into empowering thoughts and attitudes. The exercises that follow the Core Issue Assessment will allow you to reflect on what it is you want out of life and determine the fears that might be holding you back. This should be taken very seriously as every choice you make is either bringing you closer to or farther from your ideal. For best results, consult The Sibyls Oraculum and carefully review your responses to the exercises before you accept that job, make that move, or get involved in that relationship and ask yourself if it’s in alignment with the future you want.

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The Core Issue Assessment This assessment consists of 121 statements in 11 sets of 11. Read the statements carefully and, in your journal, write a T if you think the statement is true or an F if you think it is false. Answer each question honestly and resist the urge to change your responses. Your first reaction reflects your genuine feelings. There is no “maybe,” “kinda,” or “a little” option, because your mind is either affirming or not affirming, choosing or not choosing, whether or not you are aware of it. So, respond the moment you read a statement and move on. DO NOT sit 32

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there staring while you chew on your pencil. The truth does not take that long, but rationalizations do!

Scoring The answer key is at the back of the book. Resist the urge to peek before you finish the quiz, because if you do, you will only be lying to yourself (the absolute worst person to lie to). Compare your answers to those in the key and mark those you got wrong with DT, which stands for “unbalanced/disempowering thought,” and those you got right with ET, which stands for a “balanced/empowering thought.” If you are unclear as to why a statement has been classified as either a DT or an ET then read the commentary for the corresponding Core Issue card in the “Card Meanings” section. Once you’ve labeled all of your answers as either DT or ET, tally the number you have of each and write the totals at the bottom of the answer page in your journal. Following is a sample setup for section 1.

For Review Only Core Issue Assessment Score: Section 1

1.

5.

9.

2.

6.

10.

3.

7.

11.

4.

8. Total ETs

Total DTs

The Core Issue Quiz Section 1: Mysteria/Mysteries

1. Ignorance is bliss. 2. If humans uncover any more of life’s mysteries, there won’t be any left! 3. I need the aid of gurus and experts to empower me.

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4. Too much knowledge is dangerous. 5. I feel unlikeable. 6. I pay more attention to what is going on in other’s lives than my own. 7. I am comfortable considering the possibility of “the impossible.” 8. I am ready to receive guidance whenever I ask for it. 9. I ignore my instincts if someone is more educated than I am. 10. I purposely ignore intuitive messages on a consistent basis. 11. I have no idea what my life purpose is. Section 2: Sapientiae/Wisdom

1. I am almost always aware of my vibe at any given time. 2. If something or someone is negative I ignore it if I like it/them. 3. Some people are luckier than others. 4. If karma were real, there wouldn’t be so many bad, prosperous people. 5. Others often misunderstand my intentions. 6. I generally practice what I preach. 7. I am often accused of being unpredictable or untrustworthy. 8. I regularly succumb to peer pressure. 9. I often feel lost or confused for no specific reason. 10. I enjoy reading, thinking about, and discussing topics related to tragedy and lack on a consistent basis. 11. I expect the best outcome in all situations.

For Review Only

Section 3: Unum/Unity

1. I often feel disconnected from others. 2. I believe that there are certain racial, ethnic, or cultural groups that are superior to others by nature. 3. There are aspects of my personality that I could never change. 4. I believe that my present course in life is unalterable. 5. I believe the world would be a much better place if certain religious groups didn’t exist.

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6. I feel sad or anxious when I’m alone. 7. I feel inferior to others with a higher income or social status. 8. I resist opportunities to try new things because I’m afraid. 9. I believe everything happens for a reason, so I don’t have to try to improve anything. 10. Love is undefinable. 11. I feel attacked when I am criticized in any way. Section 4: Adversus/Opposition

1. I fear that terrible things will happen to me if I change. 2. I feel extremely angry when my ideas and beliefs are challenged. 3. I am my gender, race, ethnic group, nationality, and/or occupation. 4. I fear what others may think of the changes I would like to make in my life. 5. I am absolutely clear about who I am and what I stand for. 6. All negative circumstances contain a valuable opportunity to improve something or someone. 7. There was a period in history that was simpler or better than today. 8. I tried to reinvent myself in the past, and I am afraid I will fail again. 9. I see the value of every phase I have gone through. 10. I know exactly what it would take to improve myself. 11. I know exactly what it would take to improve my life.

For Review Only

Section 5: Mortem/Death

1. I find it difficult to finish what I start. 2. Procrastination is normal for creative people. 3. I have sacrificed a dream for someone else’s comfort. 4. I feel I would be spiritually prepared if I had to face significant obstacles on my path. 5. I would be less productive without my energy drinks, coffee, and/or other vices.

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6. My life is boring by necessity. 7. I strain to keep things the way they are even if they aren’t working. 8. I am able to “go with the flow” if necessary. 9. I get extremely upset if there are any changes to my daily routine. 10. My way or the highway. That’s what I always say. 11. Routines are totally unnecessary. Section 6: Transformatio/Transformation

1. Wisdom comes with age. 2. Enduring hardships makes one wise. 3. I need others to forgive me for my past mistakes in order to move on. 4. Sometimes what appear to be cursed circumstances turn out to be blessings in disguise. 5. I ask the opinion of others before I consult myself. 6. I find myself constantly repeating the same mistakes. 7. I don’t think I’m smart enough to be wise. 8. I often get annoyed with others for not being as smart or advanced as I am. 9. No one in my family has ever been wise so I doubt I’ll be able to be either. 10. Wise people are boring people. 11. I’ll think about “deep stuff ” when I get older.

For Review Only

Section 7: Cumulus/Accumulation

1. I often feel others are against me for no reason at all. 2. People generally cooperate with me and are helpful when I need them to be. 3. I enjoy being contrary just for the shock value. 4. I regularly seek pity. 5. I enjoy a little “drama” now and then. 6. Some people are dealt a better hand by fate than others.

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7. Compromise is easy for me when it is necessary. 8. I have my issues, but other peoples’ are much worse. 9. If I do have a dark side, I don’t see the point of exploring it. 10. If everyone were more like me, the world would be fabulous! 11. There is someone harming me that I would like to confront, but I am afraid of hurting their feelings. Section 8: Limitationem/Limitation

1. I often fear losing people. 2. Death is a part of life. 3. I would feel satisfied with how I lived if I died today. 4. I am tortured by regrets. 5. I wouldn’t want to live without my significant other in my life. 6. Endings are misunderstood transformations. 7. A powerful legacy makes a person immortal. 8. I know exactly what I would want to be remembered for. 9. I am still grieving the loss of a relationship that ended too soon. 10. Relationships get better and stronger with time. 11. I feel I was born in the wrong century.

For Review Only Section 9: Numero/Rhythm

1. I am thankful for all the blessings in my life. 2. I always say thank you when something good happens no matter how small it may seem. 3. I search for any hint of a silver lining in the darkest cloud. 4. I get furious when I do someone a favor and they don’t express gratitude. 5. I hate doing favors for people. 6. I show my gratitude to the people I care about even when it is not a special occasion. 7. I indulge in pessimistic or self-defeating thoughts on a regular basis. 8. I am afraid to trust anyone.

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9. I feel jealous of others when they succeed. 10. There is nothing in my life to be grateful for. 11. I often remind others of how much I do for them. Section 10: Gratiam/Gratitude

1. The desire for material things is shallow. 2. It is better to just be happy with what you have than seek more. 3. I fully use and appreciate everything I have. 4. I try to avoid giving because I am cheap. 5. No matter how much money I have, I always feel that there is not enough. 6. I always take more than I need just in case. 7. I pretend to be okay with my life because I’m too lazy to do anything about it. 8. I will never stop pursuing my life purpose. 9. I use people because I want to survive. 10. I rarely complain about what I don’t have. 11. I get new things just to make others jealous.

For Review Only Section 11: Vibrationis/Vibration

1. I generally have a problem with authority and/or following rules. 2. I get very angry when others try to put me “in a box.” 3. I feel the choices I made in the past limit future possibilities for success. 4. People like me rarely succeed. 5. Freedom means doing whatever I want, whenever I want, and however I want to do it. 6. It is difficult setting and maintaining personal boundaries. 7. I lack self-discipline. 8. I rarely procrastinate. 9. I am a short-term thinker. 10. I am focused on getting what I want. 11. I feel comfortable blaming others by “passing the buck.”

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Reflections on the Core Issue Quiz How do you feel after taking this assessment? Record any feelings or thoughts in your journal before moving on to the next exercise, Fortifying Your Mind against Fear, on page 48. After you have checked the answer key for each section, write down in your journal the statements that you got wrong—the DTs, or unbalanced/disempowering thoughts—leaving some space under each for your reflections. Then review the list of undesirable outcomes that may result from them. Take a moment to reflect on each outcome and write down how you see the result of each DT playing out in your life right now. Do this for all eleven sections, then complete the overall reflections on page 47. No matter what, don’t feel bad! This is not about self-criticism; it’s about getting stronger. Section 1: Reflection

The assessment statements in section 1 relate to the Core Issue card Mysteria/Mysteries. If one or more of the statements received a DT score, they may have created or are presently creating undesirable outcomes such as the following:

For Review Only

The constant underestimation of your potential, resulting in cowardice and the failure to take action The constant underestimation of humanity’s potential to improve and do good deeds, resulting in mistrust, fear, and pessimism A habit of being afraid to ask hard questions and seek the answers for yourself, resulting in dependency on others to define the meaning of life for you The consistent belief in the opinion of “experts” over your own intuition, resulting in the inability to hear and trust one’s inner voice over time The fear of being exposed after being deceptive, resulting in ill health, paranoia, guilt, and/or mistrust of others The “ignorance is bliss” choice to keep a truth masked that should

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not be, resulting in ill health, feelings of guilt, lack of self-respect, and/or the alienation and suspicion of others Excessive nosiness, prying, and spying on others, resulting in physical harm, loss of good reputation, and/or irreparably damaged relationships Section 2: Reflection

The assessment statements in section 2 relate to the Core Issue card Sapientiae/Wisdom. If one or more of the statements received a DT score, they may have created or are presently creating undesirable outcomes such as the following: A tendency to entertain torturous feelings of regret over past mistakes, resulting in self-hatred and the belief that it is too late to atone and change course A habit of repeating the same negative actions but expecting different results A consistent failure to reevaluate the wisdom of making a certain choice before taking action, resulting in repetitive losses and disappointments A tendency to make excuses for complacent feelings, resulting in stagnation A habit of belittling others that don’t have as much experience, resulting in a superiority complex and the alienation of others The inability to see the value of life experiences, resulting in a mean, grim, or bitter outlook on life The excessive glorification of struggle as a means of gaining wisdom, resulting in self-mortification, deprivation, and/or negative feelings about others who disagree with renunciation

For Review Only

Section 3: Reflection

The assessment statements in section 3 relate to the Core Issue card Unum/Unity. If one or more of the statements received a DT score,

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they may have created or are presently creating undesirable outcomes such as the following: A pattern of discriminating against others for superficial reasons and being discriminated against General feelings of inferiority, isolation, loneliness, and/or depression The inability to see “the big picture,” resulting in a shallow character A superiority complex, resulting in a smug attitude and a baseless sense of entitlement that alienates and annoys others Constantly seeking others to complete or validate you The inability to recognize, accept, and make peace with every aspect of yourself Section 4: Reflection

For Review Only

The assessment statements in section 4 relate to the Core Issue card Adversus/Opposition. If one or more of the statements received a DT score, they may have created or are presently creating undesirable outcomes such as the following: A consistent habit of blaming others/external factors for your own failures and/or shortcomings, resulting in a “me against the world” attitude Inability to forgive others for their mistakes or a tendency to hold long-lasting grudges A tendency to attract petty conflicts with others and lots of “drama” A habit of playing the victim to get attention or divert attention from others A general inability to compromise, resulting in many losses of all kinds Failure to see how your own behavior contributes to the development of negative situations

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The negation of your own “dark side,” resulting in a general lack of self-control Section 5: Reflection

The assessment statements in section 5 relate to the Core Issue card Mortem/Death. If one or more of the statements received a DT score, they may have created or are presently creating undesirable outcomes such as the following: A persistent fear or paranoia related to the end of the world, resulting in the inability to fully enjoy and appreciate the present A lack of consideration regarding the legacy you want to leave behind resulting in the failure to make choices (big and small) that are in alignment with your vision The persistent belief that your life is over because someone you love has died, resulting in depression, stagnation, and neglect of the living The inability to take risks when they are necessary, resulting in missed opportunities for “rebirth” The failure to pass on the valuable lessons of loved ones resulting in a disconnection from one’s ancestors The inability to accept the non-solidity of matter resulting in fears of all kinds related to beginnings, endings, changes, and the belief in the inevitability of fate

For Review Only


The assessment statements in section 6 relate to the Core Issue card Transformatio/Transformation. If one or more of the statements received a DT score, they may have created or are presently creating undesirable outcomes such as the following: The inability to accept the necessity of change, resulting in stagnation and/or obsessively wishing for the return to “the good old days”

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The habit of trying to pressure others not to make changes disagreeable to you, resulting in the alienation of a person/people you care about The consistent tendency to throw temper tantrums when things don’t go precisely according to your plan, resulting in perpetual immaturity, the alienation of others, and the attraction of weak, dependent, unstable people The inability to identify what needs to be changed in your character to reach your goals, resulting in a general feeling of dissatisfaction with life The tendency to indiscriminately adopt the personality traits/ habits of others, resulting in an unclear sense of purpose and i ndividual identity The habit of postponing/abandoning commitments, resulting in the loss of self-respect and the respect of others

For Review Only The assessment statements in section 7 relate to the Core Issue card Section 7: Reflection

Cumulus/Accumulation. If one or more of the statements received a DT score, they may have created or are presently creating undesirable outcomes such as the following: The tendency to use or exploit others, resulting in the creation of enemies and a state of perpetual and insatiable greed A general feeling of emptiness despite how much you have, resulting in a lack of joy and/or the contemplation of suicide The tendency to feel extreme jealousy when others—especially people you know—succeed, resulting in thoughts of guilt, selfsabotage, and inadequacy The habit of equating happiness with material things, resulting in superficiality and an obnoxious demeanor when material things are acquired that alienates others A habit of failing to adequately reciprocate kindnesses,

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r esulting in the loss of beneficial alliances and opportunities A habit of failing to ask for what you feel you deserve, resulting in guilt, self-loathing, and humiliating circumstances A general feeling of going nowhere and a lack of purpose, resulting in self-pity and a lack of ambition Section 8: Reflection

The assessment statements in section 8 relate to the Core Issue card Limitationem/Limitation. If one or more of the statements received a DT score, they may have created or are presently creating undesirable outcomes such as the following: The failure to establish and enforce personal standards, resulting in self-loathing, depression, and being mistreated by others The tendency to feel fear, hatred, or paranoia around or about authority figures, resulting in excessive penalizations, the desire for confrontation, and extreme feelings of hopelessness, rage, and inferiority/superiority A generally conspiratorial attitude, resulting in feeling unsafe and vulnerable The failure to extricate consistent violators of your personal boundaries from your life, resulting in emotionally or physically abusive situations A general lack of self-discipline, resulting in perpetual incompetence The tendency to rebel or be contrary to others for its own sake, resulting in extreme or inappropriate behavior that alienates others and/or creates a feeling of being superior to others The consistent tendency to “pass the buck,” resulting in dependency on others to handle your affairs

For Review Only

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The assessment statements in section 9 relate to the Core Issue card Numero/Rhythm. If one or more of the statements received a DT score, they may have created or are presently creating undesirable outcomes such as the following: The consistent inability to finish what you start, resulting in the failure to achieve said goals and objectives A habit of overworking, resulting in irritability, poor appearance, fatigue, and the neglect of loved ones A habit of excessively worrying, resulting in ill health and existing in a perpetual state of vulnerability The tendency to try to force others to be “on your level,” resulting in the alienation of others and/or the development of a superiority complex The failure to realize how you permit others to affect your productivity, resulting in the acceptance of lower standards and/or missed opportunities The habit of excusing stagnation/procrastination, resulting in lack of self-respect and/or missed opportunities The tendency to rely on artificial/external means to maintain stamina or inspiration, resulting in an addiction to that product/ person/pattern in which the power has been given

For Review Only


The assessment statements in section 10 relate to the Core Issue card Gratiam/Gratitude. If one or more of the statements received a DT score, they may have created or are presently creating undesirable outcomes such as the following: The inability to fully appreciate what you have, resulting in a constant feeling of lack

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A habit of feeling indifferent about life, resulting in excessive cynicism and generally becoming a “parade pisser” A tendency to regret giving to others if they don’t show gratitude in the precise way you imagine it should be shown, resulting in conflicts, self-pitying attitudes, and getting a kick out of making others feel guilty The habit of taking advantage of the generosity of others, resulting in the development of illegal or harmful schemes The habit of constantly allowing others to take advantage of you, resulting in a general lack of self-respect, depreciation of your possessions, and loss of all kinds A habit of failing to do for others what you want them to do for you, resulting in the alienation of others and loss of all kinds Rarely or never feeling truly blessed, resulting in covetousness and/or resentment for those that do

For Review Only The assessment statements in section 11 relate to the Core Issue card Section 11: Reflection

Vibrationis/Vibration. If one or more of the statements received a DT score, they may have created or are presently creating undesirable outcomes such as the following: Blaming misfortune on random accidents, coincidences, and/ or bad luck, resulting in more misfortune and the repetition of mistakes A general feeling of being “unlucky” or that you were born to suffer, resulting in fatigue and a dreary countenance A belief that you are meant to be unhappy because of bad deeds done in a past life (or this one), resulting in half-hearted efforts, expectations of failure, and morbidity A habit of ignoring intuitive guidance that something or someone is bad for you, resulting in emotionally damaging situations and alliances

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A tendency to harbor vengeful feelings against others for hurting you, resulting in the inability to trust and love without fear A habit of being oblivious to moodiness, resulting in lack of peace of mind, a feeling of general unwellness, and the alienation of others A general state of feeling lost and/or confused, resulting in the inability to make coherent plans that are in alignment with your goals and objectives Lack of focus, resulting in inconsistent outcomes

Overall Reflections In which sections did you score the most DTs? List them in your journal. In which sections did you score the most ETs? List them in your journal. What have you learned or realized about yourself after completing the Core Issue Assessment?

For Review Only

If you are feeling a sense of frustration, don’t panic. That feeling only confirms what you already know . . . that you can be and do better. If you did not know this was true, then you would not have purchased this book in the first place, so essentially the only thing that happened was that you increased your self-awareness, which is a good thing. Now that the proverbial cat is out of the bag, take a moment to consider the implications of your increased self-awareness. Understand that by identifying how you have limited your possibilities as a result of disempowering thoughts, ideas, and attitudes you may begin to see that you have had a choice your entire life to think otherwise. This in turn may lead to the ability to make choices based on what is best for you in the long term instead of what feels good or is convenient right now. A legacy of greatness is impossible to build for yourself, your family, and your community as long as you continue to give precedents to fleeting fancies and short-term goals at the expense of the bigger picture. You

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will also become an active player in the game of life instead of simply reacting to situations. It is often said that we can accomplish almost anything we put our minds to. That is true, but it is also true that big ideas cannot mature to manifestation within the confines of a small mind.

Fortifying Your Mind against Fear Because there is ultimately no other fear but the fear of loss, you must know what you’re afraid to lose in order to fortify yourself against fear. In your journal, I want you to list everything and anyone you fear you might lose if you decide to pursue your goals and begin to take control of your life. This is your opportunity to write your own horror-movie script by describing all the ways you might fall on your face, the horrible consequences of trying and failing, why you simply “can’t do it right now,” all the love and support you will lose, and the ridicule you will receive (be it in your face or behind your back). Do that now. Now that you’ve scared yourself out of your mind, review what you wrote and consider how things could work for you. Write that list in your journal below your fears description.

For Review Only

Designing Your Ideal Life Having consulted The Sibyls Oraculum, worked through the Core Issue Assessment, and uncovered your fear issues, you should now have a pretty good idea of what thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, and fears are preventing you from living your “perfect” life. By writing them all down, you’ve gotten them out of the way for the moment and opened up space to really envision the life that you want. Using the prompts below, describe your ideal life in as much detail as possible in your journal. In addition to what you would like to do, make sure to consider how you want to feel and how you want to be treated by others. Mind/body/spirit: What are you doing to nourish your spirit? What are you focused on most of the time? How do you look? What are you wearing?

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Home: Where do you live? What kind of dwelling is it? Who lives with you? What is the décor? Do you entertain guests there? Intimate relationships: Who is in your life? What do you do for them? What do they do for you? How do you show affection? How do you resolve conflicts? Finances/career: How do you make money? How much money do you make doing that? How do you invest your money? What is your goal of achievement in your field? Travel/leisure: Where do you want to visit? What do you want to do when you get there? Where do you want to stay? What local culture/cuisine would you like to try? Extracurricular activities: What do you do just for fun? Do you meet like-minded people and/or relax? Where do you do these activities?

Creating Your Site Plan

For Review Only

A site plan is a detailed illustration of proposed improvements to a given lot. In this case the “lot” is your life. Cut out pictures that reflect all of the goals that you established in the ideal life exercise above and keep them in a folder or paste them on a poster board. This is especially effective if you are more of a visual person. If it’s helpful, brainstorm some ideas for the images you will need in your journal.

Identifying Your Survival Techniques If you have done a thorough job with all the exercises, you should have an excellent vision of what you want your life to be in every way. I would love to tell you that everything is going to go smoothly, but if your experience is like that of many others, there will be a few bumps in the road. While we may not know when that negative-person parade or unexpected setback will rear its ugly head, we can make sure that we have a good septic system in place to help us easily and effectively eliminate negative feelings/energy. What will you do when there is buildup or a blockage that threatens to soil your environment? In your journal,

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list the things you plan to do to help yourself get back on track if something happens that is so disappointing, so infuriating, or so overwhelming that it makes you want to throw all your plans out the window. I suggest listing at least four things you can do to immediately get yourself back on the road to peace and positivity.

Writing Your Mission Statements Copy the following life-area list into your journal and write a brief mission statement for each one. Mind/body/spirit mission statement: Home mission statement: Intimate relationships mission statement: Finances/career mission statement: Travel/leisure mission statement: Extracurricular activities mission statement:

For Review Only

Following are examples of mission statements for some of these life areas. Home mission statement: To create a warm and uplifting atmosphere in my home. Intimate relationships mission statement: To be a kind, considerate, sensual, and flexible mate. Finances/career mission statement: To invest more of my money on experiences and activities I enjoy on a consistent basis. Travel/leisure mission statement: To visit someplace I have never been twice a year, even if it is just another neighborhood or county within my state.

Creating Your Personal Motto For centuries, countries, institutions, and noble families have adopted mottos to keep them focused on their most cherished values. It is a

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way to create a sense of pride and facilitate social cohesion among their people. It is an affirmation that may certainly be utilized for the benefit of individuals, but, like any other tool, having a motto will be of no value unless you use it. If you make a habit of focusing on your motto to inspire and encourage you to right action it can be of great service. Following are two points to consider as you create your personal motto. 1. What do you value most? 2. Which of those values will help you to get where you want to be? Below are a few examples of mottos. The present is a gift Forever Grateful Growing Daily Independence. Integrity. Innovation. Victory. Loyalty. Legacy.

For Review Only

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C ard M eanings For Review Only

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Core Issue (Fundamentum) Cards ♦♦♦ For Review Only The Core Issue cards reflect the essential spiritual principles that a seeker should reflect deeply upon in relation to the query. Every challenge has a source, and that source is always on the querent’s mind. Thus, the Core Issue card identifies where there is a fracture or a miscalculation in logic related to the question. It is advisable to set aside any defensive emotions, such as anger, denial, or self-deprecation, that may arise upon receiving the message, because those emotions are contrary to the purpose of clarification.

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Core Issue (Fundamentum) Cards

MYSTERIA/MYSTERIES Superior knowledge only initiates the audacious.

Key Symbols The crow represents intelligence, higher knowledge, adaptability, the underworld, and resourcefulness. Crows dine on the remains of dead animals that died naturally or are left over from the meals of predators, but they do not kill. The scroll represents the mysteries of all the ages, both oral and written. Roses in general represent passion, but here the buds represent the beginnings of a great desire to seek the unknown.

For Review Only

Religio-Mythological Associations The Ogdoad of Khmunu (Hermopolis) The eight amphibian/serpentine primordial gods/goddesses of the ancient Kemetians represented the obscurity of the primordial state of the universe. They were Nun and Naunet (water), Amun and Amunet (invisibility), Heh and Hehet (infinity), and Kek and Keket (darkness). They had no priesthood but merely represented the imperceptibly vast, creative potential of existence. The concept spread to Greece and Rome. Amun/Amen/Ammon/Amon Amun was worshipped by the Kemetians, Libyans, Kushites, Greeks, and Romans. His name means “the hidden one.” He represents that which cannot be fully comprehended and all that is internally felt but cannot be perceived by the five senses.

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Commentary There is nothing that must remain unknown to us even if it is currently inexplicable. Somehow, we know that there is always more to learn, which ultimately leads to experimentation and eventually the revelation of previously inconceivable truths. We also know that what was once common knowledge in the past may revert back into the category of mystery again until the cycle toward rediscovery begins anew. Contemporary scientists have proclaimed that the universe consists of “dark matter,” but there is as of yet no unanimous decision about what it is or how it works; it is for the time being a great mystery to them. It may not be in our lifetime, but the qualities of dark matter will one day be easily explainable once someone receives a flash of inspiration that leads them to the answer. It is easy to forget that everything we use and have learned to cultivate had its origin in someone’s aha moment, which shed light on paths we didn’t believe could possibly exist. If there is something that you are unclear about, the first step to realizing the answer is to stop believing in the unknowable as an intrinsic fact. Loyalty to the perception of permanence creates stagnation. It is the mother of desperation and hopelessness. The second step to clarification is to stop believing that you can’t be the vehicle for the solution. If you feel the light can only come through someone else, then it is not the right time for you to receive the answers you’re seeking. The reason being that even if you were gifted with an amazing insight that could change your life or the lives of others for the better, you would probably deny its validity and end up back where you started but with the additional burden of wondering if you were correct. However, if you really want to know, believe that it is absolutely possible for you to know; it is possible for you to know, and you’re ready to receive the answer. Then the third step is to hold the question consistently in your heart and wait.

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Questions to Consider If you get Mysteria/Mysteries in a reading, The Sybils Oraculum may be asking you to stop and consider the following questions related to your query/situation. Do you have a nagging question that just won’t go away and that if answered would allow you to move more peacefully through life? Are you afraid to ask what you want to know because you think it’s impossible to know? Are you relying too much on the “experts” on the matter? Is ignorance really bliss for you? Are you attempting to hide or think you’re too clever to be exposed? Are you purposely trying to misunderstand and make something confusing that does not have to be, out of fear of what the plain truth may reveal? Are you prepared to be right or wrong when the truth surfaces? Are you considering the consequences of revelation? Why do you really want to know? Does your knowing benefit your life or are you just being nosy? Have you already had your aha moment or received intuitive guidance regarding the matter but are purposely choosing to ignore it?

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SAPIENTIAE/WISDOM True wisdom is effortlessly applied knowledge.

Key Symbols The tree of life represents a spiritual bridge between Earth and the heavens. It is a reminder that wisdom is accessible from the macrocosm to the microcosm, because, although one is “bigger” than the other, they are still the same in composition. The ocean is vast, and the glass of water on your table may be small, but they both consist of one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms. The duplex knot is a symbol that has been ubiquitous throughout the cultures of the world since the stone age and therefore predates its later identification with the Celts or King Solomon. It is used here to reinforce the message of the inextricable link between all.

For Review Only

Religio-Mythological Associations Anatha/Neith Anatha, or Neith, was the indigenous Moon Goddess of Libya with three aspects as Athena (new moon), Metis (full moon), and Medusa (dark moon). Medusa represented wisdom and protection as Queen of the Amazons. The worship of Anatha spread to Kemet, while only her new-moon aspect as Athena was accepted in Greece. Her dark/ warrior aspect was Hellenized as a hideous monster that turned men into stone. Tehuti (Thoth)/Hermes Tehuti was the Kemetian God of Wisdom whom the Greeks equated with their God, Hermes. Tehuti and Hermes would become syncretized

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as another aspect of Hermes called Hermes Trismegistus or “Hermes the thrice great.” The Roman equivalent of Hermes was Mercury.

Commentary Wisdom is evolution. It is being one way, reaching the limit of that way, and making a new way, then integrating all ways as a situation demands. There is no shortage of intellectually brilliant people in the world, but the wise are few and far between. The ability to absorb, regurgitate, or cleverly manipulate information has nothing to do with a person’s ability to apply what they know to their daily lives. There are many who think age, formal education, or enduring challenging situations makes one automatically wise, but no one can deny the existence of old fools, educated idiots, and the impoverished souls who have failed to integrate their hard-earned lessons for their maximum benefit. Because it is common to associate wisdom with certain occupations, we tend to give these people a hard time when they make silly mistakes and should have “known better.” Unfortunately, it is not that easy, and things just don’t work that way.

For Review Only

Questions to Consider If you get Sapientiae/Wisdom in a reading, The Sybils Oraculum may be asking you to stop and consider the following questions related to your query/situation. Was that situation (i.e., a number of years spent with a partner that didn’t work out) really a waste of time? Have you forgiven yourself for it? If not, then when will you? Do you expect someone else to “wise up” just because you have gotten the point now? Is it time to reevaluate your position on the matter at hand based on past experience? Are you listening to the advice of someone who doesn’t have any direct experience about the matter?

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Are you negatively prejudging possibilities, making excuses, or coming down with a case of the “what ifs” because you secretly fear growth? Does the colloquial definition of insanity as “repeating the same behaviors but expecting different results” apply to you? Be honest. Do you feel you’re too old, too educated, or too “tried and tested” to learn more?

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UNUM/UNITY The universe is single but still hopelessly in love.

Key Symbols The fountain represents communal reflection, refreshment, healing, divine insight, and interdimensional travel. Throughout the Mediterranean world, sacred fountains attracted devoted pilgrims from near and far seeking spiritual purification and divine inspiration. The white doves symbolize the unifying power of love. Religio-Mythological Association Aset/Iset/Isis Aset was the mother Goddess of the Kemetians and Libyans whose worship spread throughout the ancient world. Her worshippers were so widespread that the cult of Aset is considered by some scholars to be the world’s first universal religion. In Rome, she was particularly adored by women of all classes and the poor.

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Commentary Everything that exists is but an expression of a greater reality. There is nothing outside of the universe; therefore, everything is by its very nature unified. Taking this basic precept further, we know by deduction that all is absolutely necessary to make this “thing” work. Everyone and everything is a soul mate. We need to understand the essence of what a soul mate is in the most basic sense rather than compartmentalizing it in the realm of romance. The heart of unity is also not a superficially “Kumbaya” feeling toward others so much as it is an observation and an acceptance of a

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responsibility to others. To put it simply, if we have accepted our interconnection and interdependence with everything else in existence then we must examine our negative beliefs about other people and beings— the people and beings whom we obviously need or they would not exist in the same space and time with us. For example, there are people who hate certain animal species so much that they wish they did not exist. They don’t realize the important function of that particular species in the grand scheme of things and that if they got their wish it might cause them discomfort at best or total annihilation at worst. Now that doesn’t mean they should suddenly run out and buy a T-shirt with the image of the creature on it or adopt one as a pet, but it might be wise to find out how the animal contributes to the function of the whole. It is very difficult to continue to despise, wish away, or harm what we know to be ultimately beneficial. It is when we don’t see the value in others that inharmonious thoughts occur and suffering ensues for the despiser and the despised. Until the individual can see and feel the bigger picture they will continue to have a laundry list of things, people, and groups they “can’t stand,” not realizing that their extremely negative reaction is a complete metaphor for an aspect of their own nature that the despised merely represents. When the essential idea of unity is integrated into the consciousness, vain thoughts to annihilate perceived aliens and inferiors in thought, word, or deed are removed simply because we would not want to be similarly classified based on another being’s limited perception of who, what, or why they think we are. On the other hand, when we feel a strong positive connection to someone or something we are elated because they somehow remind us of characteristics we either like in ourselves or want for ourselves. No matter what we perceive to be external to ourselves everything is filtered according to only one point of view—the one you have chosen. It is based on this fact that wisdom teachers from many cultures asked people not to negatively judge others. If you make it a daily practice to search for commonalities when you

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see something or someone who is disagreeable to your personality, you will be rewarded with a greater capacity to feel compassion toward all aspects of yourself.

Questions to Consider If you get Unum/Unity in a reading, The Sybils Oraculum may be asking you to stop and consider the following questions related to your query/situation. Are you about to make a choice that would positively influence your entire life or are you blindly following what feels good right now? Have you considered the big picture? Are you denying an opportunity to unify with others for superficial or negatively discriminatory reasons? Are you truly comfortable with the different aspects of yourself? Are you looking for someone or something else to “complete you”? Are you merely pretending to be unified with others? What are the long-term consequences of your masquerade?

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ADVERSUS/OPPOSITION Adversity is desire’s unwanted child.

Key Symbols The lion represents pride, and the spears represent an external threat. All cats are territorial, but the lion will go to any lengths to protect its space whether the threat is real or only imagined. Religio-Mythological Association Yam Yam was the Phoenician/Canaanite god of chaos and the relentless adversary of Baal Hadad, god of order and the son of the supreme God, El. Yam personified the ocean when its waves are the most turbulent and unforgiving.

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Commentary If a person, place, thing, or idea is rubbing you the wrong way, I strongly advise you to dig deeper to try to discover what the antagonistic feelings are really about. This is especially true if nothing has been done directly to you. What does that person, place, or thing really represent in your mind? Why does how a person looks, perceives the world, communicates, or behaves irritate you so much if what they do has absolutely no effect whatsoever on your life? The sooner you realize your antagonistic feelings have nothing to do with them but everything to do with you, the sooner you will either change your mind or have no reaction at all. If the opposition you’re experiencing is with someone who has done something directly to you and you can’t forgive them, then ask yourself why they are still in your life. If you are too emotionally dependent to let them go, then be aware that you are making a conscious decision to continue hurting. If the antagonist is someone whom you can’t cut off or keep your distance from, then it may be time for a forthright

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d iscussion. There are times when we build up resentments against others without ever giving them the opportunity to make things right. If you allow your feelings to amass to a breaking point rather than saying something because you expect others to just “get it,” that isn’t fair, especially if your gripe is about someone’s selfish or insensitive behavior. Why? Because if they “got it” they wouldn’t have been selfish or insensitive in the first place! But before you wag your finger at anyone else make sure that you are aware of how you may be contributing to the continuation of the problem so as to prevent overemphasizing someone else’s deficiencies while conveniently ignoring your own.

Questions to Consider If you get Adversus/Opposition in a reading, The Sybils Oraculum may be asking you to stop and consider the following questions related to your query/situation.

For Review Only

How does the opposition affect the quality of your life? Are you blaming others for your misfortune, poverty, or some other loss? Do you subconsciously want to be antagonized, get a thrill from drama, or feel a sense of validation/importance being the receiver of antagonistic feelings directed at you? Is there a part of you that feels comfortable being the victim or at least being perceived as such by others? Has a reasonable compromise or middle ground been proposed already that you’re stubbornly refusing? What are the most likely consequences if you continue to fight? Why do you feel stuck if you’re free to move forward? How do your weaknesses factor into the equation? Do you repeat the same negative behavior, thereby creating opposition time and time again? Have you faced your dark side?

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MORTEM/DEATH

[inse tif]

Only distance is death.

Key Symbols Gebel al-Mawta, a.k.a. the Mountain of the Dead, at the Siwa Oasis in Libya is thus called because the hill contains several tombs that date from the twenty-sixth dynasty and the Greco-Roman periods of Kemet. It represents the perception of death by the living. The remains of bones and artifacts of the nobles buried there only signify their apparent end. Religio-Mythological Association Honorable Ancestors These were people in the family/community who led exemplary lives and were to be consulted about matters of importance and given offerings as required. Deceased relatives were still considered present even if they were unseen. Ancestor reverence was a part of daily life for all people of the ancient Mediterranean.

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Commentary Death is usually understood as the end, but this is an unscientific position that we continue to perpetuate because we become emotionally attached to specific forms, in specific ways. Most of us have heard that matter cannot be created or destroyed, but that is of little importance when we are grieving what such a short time ago was “present” that suddenly has become the “past.” So, if people know all matter is immortal then what is the source of our pain and longing? The source of our pain and longing is whatever we have accepted to be accurate in relation to time and space. This is

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why death hurts us so much. Even if we are advanced enough to see the necessity of an apparent ending and do not view it as “bad” or unfortunate, we will still suffer because of our perception of distance. When something or someone we adore is not in the form and space-time we are used to we are wounded and we long to travel back in time to experience that relatedness again. Do not feel bad about this but understand that the present is actually where you belong. Be grateful for those times you were with someone or doing something that brought you joy, love, and/or understanding. Make peace with any mistakes you made and prove that you have learned from those mistakes by agreeing not to entertain thought patterns that resulted in the choice to do what you did if a similar situation presents itself in the future. Doing this will make you focus on the best aspects of your ever-present experience by permitting the lessons learned to make you a better person. The beauty of your relationship with that person, place, or thing will always be relevant as a continuously beneficent force. The cycle of positivity will be perpetual because long after you have moved on, your ability to extract good from apparent loss will inspire others to do the same or, at minimum, know it is possible. How many generations could be affected by such an example? If you are experiencing an ending or an apparent loss, don’t focus on a new beginning if you’re not up to it yet. Instead, focus on how much good you have because you had the experience.

For Review Only

Questions to Consider If you get Mortem/Death in a reading, The Sybils Oraculum may be asking you to stop and consider the following questions related to your query/situation. Are you focused on how much more you could have received instead of how much you’ve already received? Do you believe you can lose what is truly yours?

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Has not making peace with your mistakes prevented the best of the experiences from shining through? What did you learn from them? How can your wisdom practically benefit others? What would you want others to feel and learn from your interaction with them if you were the one who died or otherwise had to move on? Are there fears related to this ending that have nothing to do with the actual person, place, or thing?

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TRANSFORMATIO/ TRANSFORMATION Transformation is our only fate.

Key Symbol The swan represents flexibility and gracefulness. To others, the swan seems to be in great danger with its neck bent back like that, but the swan knows it is completely safe despite all appearances to the contrary. That is the attitude we must take to be victorious as symbolized by the olive and laurel leaves. Religio-Mythological Associations Ptah Ptah was the ancient Kemetian god of craftsmen, rebirth, and creation. According to some scholars, the name “Kemet” is derived from the Greek spelling of a temple in Men-Nefer (Memphis), “Hwt-kaPtah,” which means “the temple of the spirit of Ptah.” Ptah’s worship also spread to the Greco-Roman world in his aspect as the sacred Apis bull. The Greeks and Romans did not like deities depicted with animal heads, so they gave him a human form.

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Heka Heka was the ancient Kemetian god of magic. The term magic is problematic, because there was no distinction between religion and the supernatural. Every aspect of existence and daily life was perceived as a reflection of spirit. The concept of separating religion, magic, science, math, sex, art, cooking, dance, and so forth simply did not exist to the ancient Egyptians. Heka referred to the divine power of words to facilitate change.

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Commentary Today will never be exactly like yesterday, and tomorrow will never be exactly like today; this is a fact. The Earth is spinning toward winter even as you crank the air conditioner to full blast in the middle of July. We know this, and that is why we don’t run down the beach flailing our arms and shouting, “Run! Winter is coming!” You know that change is inevitable if you live where there is such a season. So, the saying “people fear change” is erroneous. People don’t fear change in general; they fear unpredictable changes they would classify as negative. Who has ever heard of a lottery winner or a woman in love recently proposed to by her boyfriend say, “Oh God, Nooooo!” and collapse in a sobbing heap? No one, because change itself is not the issue and never has been. What we are really disturbed by are situations that force us to transform our perception of a reality we are somehow comfortable with. A change that is perceived to be positive by our minds almost always validates or supports who we already are or will sustain how things have been. As long as our identity remains intact we’re usually okay, but when we are not sure how we fit any more or something we feel we need in our lives is suddenly no longer there, it can feel like the whole world is coming to an end. People understand if you’re down in the dumps about a breakup, a death in the family, or an unexpected loss of a job, but transformations are even harder to deal with when they are inexplicable or internal and are not considered that serious to others. The challenge has suddenly become ten times worse, because without external validation we may feel embarrassed, betrayed, or even isolated. It is important to deal with the shock or pain of whatever has occurred or been realized in a secure environment either alone or with someone else that you absolutely trust. It doesn’t matter if the incident happened thirty minutes or thirty years ago, sometimes you may get a message that requires a transformation today. Reflect, discuss, weep, cry, scream, or punch pillows if you want, the important thing is to give yourself that initial reaction time to express whatever you’re feeling

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inside. If you have chosen not to go through this difficult time alone it is extremely important that your support buddy not try to suppress your feelings or become unglued themselves so you will not have to end up comforting them. The more honest you are with yourself about how you’re feeling, the easier it will be to identify what must be done to transform into a better version of yourself than into something worse. The unexpected circumstance you perceive to be negative cannot be permitted to permanently transform you into something you don’t want to become. Keep in mind that you have a choice to be broken or refashioned by the circumstances of life.

Questions to Consider If you get Transformatio/Transformation in a reading, The Sybils Oraculum may be asking you to stop and consider the following questions related to your query/situation.

For Review Only

How has this situation or circumstance altered your self-perception? Is someone else’s transformation also forcing you to transform and/or redefine yourself? How can you make the situation work for you instead of against you? Are you aware that it is time to move on but are fighting to hold on to an idea, situation, or person out of fear of losing a comfortable identity that you associate with it/them? What must you transform into to achieve that goal? How hard are you trying to change?

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CUMULUS/ACCUMULATION All consume, few thoroughly digest.

Key Symbols The bees represent productivity, sacrifice, teamwork, focus, and order. Their entire existence is dedicated to accumulation for the sake of their community, and the bowl of fruit symbolizes the abundance of such efforts.

Religio-Mythological Associations Dedun Dedun was the Nubian god of prosperity, wealth, incense (especially frankincense), and the protector of all Nubian royalty. He is one of the oldest Nubian deities and was particularly loved by the Medjay, the elite soldiers of the ancient Kemetian military. Pharaohs Senusret III and Thutmose III both paid him homage with a stela and the refurbishment of his shrines at Semna and Uronarti. Dedun was worshipped at the temple of Ammon at the Siwa Oasis.

For Review Only

Abundantia/Felicitas/Annona Abundantia was the ancient Roman goddess of wealth. Her name means “plenty” or “overflowing with riches.” There were few temples dedicated solely to the worship of Abundantia, but she was invoked in public and private rites. She was associated with the aristocracy and was particularly favored by them. Nikkal Nikkal was the Phoenician/Canaanite goddess of fruits. Her Sumerian/ Babylonian counterpart is called Ningal. The priestesses of Nikkal were said to be experts in the art of dream interpretation.

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Commentary It is rare to meet a person who is absolutely content with what they have, because people often feel that they could do more if they had more. This would be positive if they fully utilized what they had already accumulated and desired more to avoid the stagnation and boredom that inevitably lead to decay. In this scenario, the desire is healthy for a person’s growth and development. However, if we want more without first using what we already possess it leads to waste and greed. None need be reminded of the suffering caused by the inability to stop consuming more long after satisfaction has been achieved. Having a sense of abundance is a by-product of recognition, appreciation, and giving. In other words, you must notice the bounty that surrounds you, appreciate it, and contribute to the well-being of others in any way you are able. It is the failure to do this that is the cause of the “bottomless bucket” syndrome that makes people feel impoverished and never completely satisfied regardless of how much “stuff ” they have. Yet, many of us become vexed and critical if we hear a wealthy person complaining about anything, because we automatically associate accumulation with happiness. This is clearly not true as someone else with far less than we have could want to strangle us for complaining too. The truth is, bottomless-bucket types could be sitting upon heaps of gold coins, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires but still find a reason to sigh listlessly for just one more . . . something.

For Review Only

Questions to Consider If you get Cumulus/Accumulation in a reading, The Sybils Oraculum may be asking you to stop and consider the following questions related to your query/situation. Will more really make things better? Are you feigning contentment because you are too afraid to ask for or seek more?

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Is your plan to get more morally/ethically sound? Do you fully appreciate and use what you already have? Are you upset or angry that someone else is asking you to contribute or give more even if their request makes sense? Are you okay but just being greedy? Do you know exactly what it will take for you to feel fulfilled?

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LIMITATIONEM/LIMITATION Limitation is the prerequisite to infinity.

Key Symbols The blooming tree symbolizes existence and all of its lushness. The leashed dog represents our ego’s experience of limitation. The canine is comfortable until it encounters that which is unfamiliar to it. The only way to make it stop barking is to separate it from the source of agitation or to otherwise distract it. Religio-Mythological Associations Enlil Enlil was the Canaanite/Sumerian/Babylonian god of inalterable fate and the granter of immortality. He was the god of air, wind, and breath.

For Review Only

Fortuna Fortuna was the Roman goddess of fortune and luck. She could be appealed to for a change in circumstances and had many aspects.

Commentary Boundaries and limitations are probably very filthy words if you consider yourself to be cosmopolitan and open-minded. However, it is important to remember that without boundaries and limitations we would not be able to live. If our kidneys decided to suddenly function like a liver, bees suddenly hated nectar, and trees just didn’t feel like emitting oxygen anymore, we would be in trouble. We expect boundaries to be strictly maintained in the natural world around us, but sometimes we forget that we too must adhere to laws to ensure things run smoothly according to a greater plan.

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The reason why so many people grumble at the mere mention of limitation is because they usually associate it with boredom, restriction, and suppression. This is a very short-sighted point of view, because there are situations where imposing boundaries and limitations will permit the attainment of an ultimate objective. In that regard, holding your desires in check would be an investment in what you want, because you are remaining focused on the bottom line. Naturally, we are all free to change our visions/goals at any time, but if you sincerely desire a particular outcome but put it aside to “be free” now, then be aware that that choice may come back to haunt you later. If a situation arrives that you feel you are not ready to handle, toss that idea right out of your mind. You are ready or it would not be happening. If you search within for the ultimate cause you will discover that you manifested the situation whether or not you were aware of it. “Free will” is exactly what it says it is; you are absolutely free to make choices, but it will never mean release from the consequences of those choices. It simply does not work that way, and the faster you accept that the better you will get at seriously judging the long-term value of certain decisions. Guilt, lack of confidence, and “the coulda, shoulda, wouldas” always prevent people from being relaxed, cheerful, and genuinely content with themselves and the people in their lives. Everyone is disciplined at something, even choosing to remain ignorant in the age of information takes discipline. Therefore, everyone is a disciple of something. It is up to you to decide what master you will serve and thereby set how life will eventually limit you based on the nature of your allegiance.

For Review Only

Questions to Consider If you get Limitationem/Limitation in a reading, The Sybils Oraculum may be asking you to stop and consider the following questions related to your query/situation. Are you dodging responsibility?

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Are you rebelling unnecessarily against authority? Do you fail to see why limiting circumstances have occurred based on choices you have made in the past? Is your definition of “freedom” unrealistic or immature? Is it time to restructure your life according to what you know you want to achieve? Have things gotten out of control because you have been lax in setting boundaries, are too laid back, or have “passed the buck” too often? Are your priorities/goals in life supported or negated by the people with whom you consistently surround yourself? Could it be time to rearrange the social hierarchy according to your definition of success? How might it benefit you to pull back? Are you clear about what you want and what you expect from others?

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NUMERO/RHYTHM The eyes are the source of rhythm.

Key Symbols The lute was commonly used during rituals throughout the ancient Mediterranean and symbolizes higher states of consciousness. The hare represents death and resurrection. The ibis represents knowledge and wisdom. All of these represent the rhythm of life. Religio-Mythological Associations Marqod/Baal Marqod Marqod was the Phoenician/Canaanite god of healing and dance. The Romans also worshipped him and sometimes identified him with Jupiter.

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Apollo Apollo was the Greco-Roman god of music, prophecy, light, and healing.

Commentary Rhythm is often associated with music, but the concept may be just as aptly applied to one’s spiritual state. Great emphasis is placed on completing something one has started, but few realize the key to reaching one’s goal without stress and strain. The harder we try to force an issue, the more resistance appears to inevitably frustrate and exhaust us. Sure, the goal may eventually be reached, but the toll it takes on the mind, body, and/or spirit to get there may take a long time (if ever) to fully recover from. This effort is not only unnecessary, it is foolish, especially if we consider natural rhythm to be the ability to sustain the right momentum despite sudden changes and pauses in the environment.

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The natural world provides wonderful examples of how different forms of life continue to thrive because of their ability to find a way to reach their destination despite the appearance of an altered course. This does not mean that the altered course always has to be challenging. In fact, there are just as many times that we allow our rhythm to be broken in the pursuit of something we know is right for us for a happy reason. It is especially important at these times to reflect on the wisdom of changing the beat in midstep by questioning our motive for doing so. There are times in life when we learn new information and intuit that our rhythmic pattern must be changed for the greater good. You will know if the feeling is genuinely coming from your higher self if you would feel absolutely no regret if the new “thing” or relationship did not work out, and you would not even think of returning to the old thing or relationship. It is so easy to get excited over something new that makes us feel good that we may abandon our destiny in exchange for a temporary rush and regret it later. The same is true when we lose our rhythm because we feel it will be too difficult to continue due to either stagnation or sudden obstacles to progress. This is not the time to quit without first examining how you will feel about yourself if you throw in the towel and abandon your vision. To succeed it is imperative to precisely identify your objectives and how far you’re willing to go to make it happen—that’s the easy part. The more challenging part is identifying what you will rely on to maintain your rhythm no matter what as you pursue your goal. There may be many interruptions, both “good” and “bad,” on your journey, so make sure that whatever you choose as your main source of assistance in maintaining focus on the bottom line fits the following criteria.

For Review Only

Always available Always accessible Cannot be lost or damaged by any means Encourages faith and constant centering on/remembering your purpose

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Questions to Consider If you get Numero/Rhythm in a reading, The Sybils Oraculum may be asking you to stop and consider the following questions related to your query/situation. Are you full of enthusiasm to begin something new but have not considered the hard work required to do it well? Is the sudden feeling of ecstasy or hopelessness going to last long enough to really justify the decision to change the rhythm of your life? Are you spiritually fortified to face any challenges that may appear? Are you overly relying on artificial or external means to maintain your rhythm? Are you continuing to dance even though the beat of your life is becoming monotonous? In what ways may you be seeking to control the natural rhythm of life at this time?

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GRATIAM/GRATITUDE Appreciation is greater than salt.

Key Symbols The pear symbolizes diligent effort and enlightenment. The oxen represent reliability, hard work, wealth, and power. The wheel represents the ever-changing nature of fate and fortune. Enlightenment comes from the hard work and harvesting of information and the knowledge and gratitude for what was harvested and how it came to be. Religio-Mythological Associations Min Min was the ancient Kemetian god of fertility and the eastern desert and the protector of traveling caravans and foreigners. The Greeks saw a correspondence between him and their god, Pan.

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Dionysus Dionysus was the Roman god of viticulture, festivity, sexuality, and freedom. The festivals of Bacchus/Liber Pater were joyous affairs designed to celebrate life and its blessings. According to Greek mythology, Dionysus was raised in Libya.

Commentary The words thank you feel great to hear but only when the spirit of genuine gratitude is present. We all know when gratitude is listlessly or dully expressed. It feels like a great insult, because it is clear that no matter what assistance was provided it was underappreciated. On the other hand, when someone smiles while communicating their gratitude, it makes us want to do more for that person. If we know

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this to be absolutely true in everyday situations, then this general principle must also be applied metaphysically, being conscious of the maxim “As above, so below.” When we are grateful for every good thing that happens to us no matter how small it is and make it a practice to purposely seek something—anything—to be grateful for in challenging situations, then life becomes more of a play than a “daily grind,” and you instantly become an optimist. This attitude will also alter your speech, and it will become increasingly difficult to flippantly proclaim pessimistic attitudes such as “I don’t care,” “Whatever,” “It doesn’t matter,” or “I can’t.” Unfortunately, defeating language is so commonplace that we no longer recognize it is as such. Granted, these are more often than not harmless phrases meant to communicate disinterest or a temporary inability to do something, but language is so much more powerful. Every word or phrase that is repeated makes an impression, and if a repeated word or phrase is meant to communicate limitation or indifference or mask how we really feel about what is occurring, it will be reflected in our surroundings. So we should not wonder why others around us don’t seem to care, are indifferent, ignore us, or are unable to be “response-able.” So let’s review: existing in a perpetual state of gratitude = optimistic attitude = more positive thoughts = more positive communication to others = more positive actions = more of the positive outcomes you want. I must point out that your intentions do not need to be honorable for you to get what you want; others tend to offer their support when they feel they are appreciated. Of course, it is recommended that your intentions be honorable, but history proves “dirt bags” and demagogues manage to obtain unbelievable power just by showing gratitude to those who help them realize their master plan. And not only did they have to show their minions gratitude, but they also had to be optimistic or they would not have succeeded. “I don’t care,” “Whatever,” “It doesn’t matter,” and “I can’t” are incapable of making waves because they were phrases designed for the passive observers of the wave makers.

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Questions to Consider If you get Gratiam/Gratitude in a reading, The Sybils Oraculum may be asking you to stop and consider the following questions related to your query/situation. Do you really appreciate what you already have? Are you taking advantage of someone else’s generosity? Are you permitting someone to take advantage of you? Do you do for others what you want them to do for you? How can you show more gratitude? Are you mindful of ungrateful, indifferent, or apathetic speech/ behavior that may be aggravating the problem? Do you feel you are entitled to more “just because” and not because you earned it?

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VIBRATIONIS/VIBRATION A sigh is both womb and grave.

Key Symbols The colors of the flowers are the same as those commonly used to make Roman clothing and represent the following: Purple—Royalty, higher knowledge Saffron yellow—Nobility, wealth Teal and blue—Fermentation, that which can be reused Green—Commonalities, common experience The peacock literally represents vibration, because its feathers vibrate when it wants to communicate.

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Religio-Mythological Association Bast Bast was the ancient Kemetian goddess of cats, protection, joy, sensuality, and the sacred rattle known as the sistrum. To the Greeks, she was an aspect of Artemis they called Ailuros. Commentary Everything in existence emits a vibration. Even if something appears to be inanimate, there are still molecules moving it that release a measurable force. Likewise, our thoughts are considered powerful things with dynamic force, because every action originates with an idea that has been given sufficient and consistent energy to facilitate movement. This is the same notion prescribed in the universal law of attraction, which is also known as karma, the law of vibration, or any other term used to describe the idea of like attracts like.

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Everything that has ever happened, is happening, and will happen has a common origin in the unseen mind. There are no random events, circumstances, coincidences, accidents, or instances of good or bad luck that would imply that there is no such law. If we put our emotions aside (even happy ones) from what has occurred or is occurring and seek out the past thought that created the present experience, we will remember the seed thought that sprouted the current reality. If this were not possible we would be incapable of gratitude or regret for having chosen a particular path. The law of vibration may make us uncomfortable, because it means that none of us are victims and we are responsible for every vibe we put “out there.” If this concept is new to you it may seem cold and frightening, but it is in fact quite the contrary. There is tremendous freedom and power in knowing that payment will always be made and that you can decide to cut a check or create a new bill anytime you choose. Gone will be the days when you believed someone could do something foul to you or anyone else and get away with it. Even if there are no outward signs that the person who wronged you is suffering (or even if they seem to be thriving) there are still consequences that occur below the surface in some way.

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Questions to Consider If you get Vibrationis/Vibration in a reading, The Sybils Oraculum may be asking you to stop and consider the following questions related to your query/situation. If something went wrong, did you really not know or see it coming? Or did you willingly let something/someone slide because it was comfortable for you to do so at the time? If something is starting to go wrong but things haven’t completely fallen apart yet, be aware of the vibes you are putting out there that are contributing to the decay.

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Do you practice what you preach? Are your professed beliefs in alignment with what you actually do and how you live? What do you spend most of your time thinking about, and how may that be affecting the results you’re seeking? Are you clear about how you feel and what you really want?

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Projection (Proiectura) Cards ♦♦♦ For Review Only The Projection cards reflect the rationalizations or justifications in the querent’s mind that are preventing them from seeing the core issue. They are the comfortable masks of excuses that are placed on the truth that, if not removed and worked out, will eventually cause the querent internal suffering and, possibly, external hardships.

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IUSTITIA/JUSTICE The court is in the heart.

Key Symbol Kemetians placed a scarab over the heart of the deceased to symbolize resurrection after the judgment of the soul. Religio-Mythological Associations Maat Maat was the ancient Kemetian goddess of truth, balance, morality, divine justice, and cosmic order. Her Greek and Roman counterparts are Themis and Veritas.

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Jupiter Jupiter was the Roman god of the sky and the protector of the state and its laws. There was a temple to Jupiter in Libya.

Commentary Everyone has at one time or another felt betrayed by circumstances. When we are disillusioned or disappointed we often complain that life is not fair and retreat into a self-pitying state. It rarely occurs to us that the circumstances and/or conditions we attract are in direct alignment with a thought process that preceded and facilitated the manifestation of events. We never doubt or question the necessity for the existence of natural laws for all things to remain in order, yet somehow we forget that we, as the microcosm, are also subject to universal regulations for the exact same purpose. As a result we miss opportunities for growth by blaming other people, fate, bad luck, a lost charm . . . anything but taking the time to examine how we may have lost balance.

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Divinatory Meaning If you get Iustitia/Justice in a reading, it may be a warning to avoid perpetuating yourself as a victim—to yourself or others. Seek not pity or revenge at this time, but instead analyze how your choices and decisions contributed to the outcome of the situation. If you go deep enough you will recall all the ignored hunches, reservations, or red flags. They were there.

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FUROREM/RAGE Eternal flames commemorate the honorable; the dishonorable are commemorated by the void.

Key Symbol The chimera was a fire-breathing female monster in Greek mythology with a lion’s head, a goat’s body, and a serpent’s tail. The Romans also represented the creature in their art as the most terrifying of beasts. Though her symbolism is debated, it is highly likely that she represents the desecration of the divine Mother (especially the darker/warrior aspects of the Goddess) as a precursor to the patriarchal religious traditions that would dominate the world. Principally, this is because all of the animals who composed the chimera were sacred to countless goddesses throughout Africa, Asia, and the Mediterranean. Her symbolism is used here to warn against blind, destructive rage.

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Religio-Mythological Association Menhit Menhit was the Nubian and Kemetian goddess of war. She was a ferocious aspect of Sekhmet, who was eventually assimilated by the goddess Mut. Commentary Rage is a reaction to pain caused by the lack of or insufficiently expressed love we feel we deserve to receive. Whether we become enraged by someone bumping into us or angry at the government for creating a law that doesn’t support us, this definition will apply. There is great power in knowing this, because once we are aware that anger is a reaction to the pain we experience from not receiving the love we feel we deserve,

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then we can more effectively move passed it. The problem is that it is much easier for most of us to rant and rave about how mad we are about something or someone then to acknowledge that we are just plain hurt. The inability to admit to feeling pain and to deal with that pain then makes us more enraged, which eventually leads to retaliatory thoughts, which of course only leads to . . . more rage. All we have to do is reflect on times in our own lives when we have deeply regretted having said or done something out of anger to know this is true. The majority of history books consist of little more than tales of rage, with few agreeing on what the original catalyst for the negative feelings was. Naturally, this inability to properly deal with rage has caused untold suffering and cost billions of lives. Though there may be disagreements among people about whether they have a right to be angry or not, all will certainly agree that unchecked anger can have no positive result. So, let us not focus on the person or persons committing the wrongs but rather try to bring the focus back to where it belongs . . . ourselves. It may be difficult but the reasons for this are simple. First, the other party may not think they’re wrong at all, and even if they do they may be unwilling or unable to compensate you in a way you perceive to be satisfactory. Second, you put your emotional, physical, and spiritual health in jeopardy by holding on to your rage. And lastly, you could be planting seeds of hatred in the minds of the impressionable such as children or others to whom you give guidance. This is, of course, the worst possible scenario, because by doing so you are ensuring that your pain will remain a focal point long after you have passed away. Who is to say that the major conflicts in the world today did not begin over a small beef between two myopic, selfish idiots? We can’t know for certain, but what we do know is that someone somewhere got angry and taught others to remain just as angry as they were—forever. Fortunately, there is a solution, and that solution involves the proper channeling of energy, not the denial of pain as some suggest. If the issue that made you angry is small, meaning the occurrence will not affect

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your entire life in any significant way, then acknowledge the nuisance and let it go as quickly as you can. If we get into the habit of putting things into perspective then we will become increasingly less annoyed when things don’t go exactly as planned. If there is a delay, you spill coffee on your shirt, or someone looks at you the “wrong way,” it won’t affect you as much. In the greater scheme of your life, it doesn’t really matter, so don’t waste time and energy pouting about it for the rest of the day or recounting the story to everyone else. Try your best to focus on what went right, and you will see that far outweighs the extra five minutes you had to wait for the grocery line to get moving. If the situation that enrages you is way more serious or perpetual and you believe it does significantly affect your life, then you will have to take further steps to deal with your rage. Usually, people feel angriest when they perceive themselves to be powerless against an adversarial person or cyclical condition. The result of feeling disempowered for any considerable length of time is that it puts a person in grave danger of losing hope that circumstances could ever be different, and that leads to both conscious and unconscious self-destructive behavior. The reason for this is found throughout nature: that which no longer serves any useful function in its environment (in this case the mind/spirit) is unwilling or unable to adapt and eventually becomes extinct. Therefore, perpetual rage about anything must equal despair, and your despairing then becomes validation of the superiority of the adversarial person or condition by default, which gives them their greatest chance to not only survive but to thrive well into the future, because you have agreed that they are stronger and therefore more fit to continue. Instead, seek ways to show yourself the love that they have not, because this lack of love is what spawned the rage in the first place. For example: rather than getting angry because someone you care about repeatedly fails to give you attention, find ways to do more things you enjoy and spend more time with others who appreciate your company. Obsessing and remaining angry at others for not changing

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instead of focusing on improving ourselves is vain and ultimately ineffective.

Divinatory Meaning If you get Furorem/Rage in a reading, there is an indication that you have been hurt and may be seeking refuge in rage as a way to cope with the pain. You are advised to recognize that you are just hurt, to stop focusing exclusively on the anger, and to deal with the core issue so you may move forward with your life in a healthy, productive way.

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SPECULO/MIRROR How one lives is their only face.

Key Symbol The mirror represents self-knowledge and physical and spiritual reflection. Religio-Mythological Associations Het-Heru (Hathor) Het-Heru was the ancient Kemetian goddess of beauty and love. She was also considered the patroness of astrology. More temples were built in her honor than for any other goddess. Women primarily danced in her honor, but men sometimes did as well.

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Nebt-Het (Nephthys) Nebt-Het was the ancient Kemetian goddess of secrets, nighttime, and beer. She is the mirror image of Aset/Isis.

Commentary Everyone who has ever looked at themselves in a mirror is aware that the image reflected back is reversed, but never do we question if it is really us. In fact, if we saw someone looking at themselves in a mirror holding up their right hand and insisting it was not really them because the mirror reflected their raised left hand, we would call them crazy. Yet, intelligent people do this every day when they fail to see how situations reflect the mind of the perceiver. I must point out this is only an accurate statement when the situation reflects something oppressive or otherwise negative. Strangely, the same individuals will readily acknowledge that a situation reflects them if they perceive the situation to be fortunate or otherwise positive. It is only when we acknowledge that whatever is occurring in our lives has its origin in us that we will cease

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living in denial and grow by taking full responsibility for the good, the bad, and the ugly times.

Divinatory Meaning If you get Speculo/Mirror in a reading, it is highly unlikely that you have a clear awareness of how your words and/or actions have created the circumstances you are now experiencing, for better or for worse. If you continue along this course you may end up placing blame on someone or something else, or not giving yourself the credit that may be due if you have been in some way rewarded. In either case, you will miss a golden opportunity to learn what works or what doesn’t work for you. If you have already discovered the origin of the matter within your word/deed, then this card is letting you know that there is a critical point that you have missed. Review the Core Issue card again.

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PROPOSITUM/PURPOSE Reason determines the weight of every harvest.

Key Symbol The omphalos, or “navel stone,” is a symbol of the great Goddess and can be found throughout the world. Some scholars suggest that these stones were deliberately placed at oracle centers according to geodetic principles. Likewise, people of the ancient world constructed the majority of temples and other sacred places with great purpose according to sacred geometry and/or astronomical considerations to benefit themselves and the generations to come. They represent the critical importance of remaining focused on essential themes in our lives, the source of our energy.

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Religio-Mythological Associations Cybele Cybele was the ancient Phrygian (Anatolian) supreme Mother Goddess. Her worship spread to Greece, Rome, Libya, and Kemet, and her temples and sanctuaries were in caves or mountains. Melissae Melissae (Neith, Artemis, Rhea, Diana, Aphrodite, etc.) was the Great Mother and was referred to as “Melissa” or “Queen Bee.” The Pythian/ Sibyl priestesses of Delphi were called “Melissae,” which means “bees.”

Commentary We may often hear people say, “Everything happens for a reason.” While this is certainly true, it is also true that this axiom is often used

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to divert attention from a purpose or from why a choice was made that led to what appears to be a fateful occurrence. There is nothing in the universe that does not have a purpose, and, as expressions of that law, we must also have a reason for why we think or act in a particular way. It does not matter if we are conscious or unconscious of the reason something occurs in “outer space” or inner space; we know that everything is based on laws and is therefore following orders dictated by those laws. There are plenty of times in life when we feel that there are good reasons to believe in or do something. In other words, we apply meaning or purpose to our lives every day with every choice or decision we make whether great or small. When we read an obituary, we see very plainly that in the end, all of our lives are defined by a series of choices. There is no reason for wondering why the deceased chose one path or the other, because in terms of legacy it does not matter. All that counts is the purpose of their lives as dictated by what they actually did or did not do. It is a great exercise to consider what we want the ultimate purpose of our lives to be and to make choices that are in alignment with that ultimate purpose if we want to be secure in who we are and at peace with the legacy we leave for others once we are physically gone.

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Divinatory Meaning If you get Propositum/Purpose in a reading, there is a possibility that you are making the inessential essential by incorrectly ascribing a good purpose for a belief, decision, or action. This card may also be a warning to be aware of how the attachment of purpose or necessity to a belief, decision, or act you may be considering will positively or negatively affect your self-esteem in the short term and your overall legacy in the long term. You may also need to reflect on whether you are treasuring your divine ability to define (and therefore determine the purpose or value of) everything in or around you as one with the universe.

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AVARITIA/AVARICE A nude soul is the best adorned.

Key Symbol The smashed vessel represents haste to acquire something and/or greed. Religio-Mythological Association Cronus Cronus was the pre-Hellenic god of time known for his destructive, all-devouring force. His Roman counterpart was Saturn. Commentary The desire for more than you need is the direct result of failing to selfdefine success. Instead, we erroneously seek to apply prepackaged definitions and ideals of love, romance, health, wealth, and happiness even if as individuals we require less than what we are told by external forces we should want. If everyone honestly assessed what they truly needed instead of concerning themselves about what others might think about it, the world would be a much different place. The results of “democratic desiring” are exhaustion, frustration, exploitation, waste, and a feeling of emptiness that persists no matter how much we have or who we “possess” in our circles. Identify your principles, identify your standards on every level, then make choices and plans that support your ideals be they great or small. Then you will discover what is and is not absolutely essential for you to be, do, or have to live comfortably and contentedly in the world. Once you’ve identified the nonessentials, you will no longer scrape, beg, claw, rob, humiliate, or destroy just to acquire or hold on to things that upon discovery, never really mattered to you in the first place.

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Divinatory Meaning If you get Avaritia/Avarice in a reading, it is a warning that you might be seeking more than what is necessary to be satisfied. You are advised to realign with what is most important to you and make sure your beliefs, ways, and actions reflect that. This card may also be warning you against imposing your principles or standards on someone else. Respect the fact that their needs may be different from yours.

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COMPLEXIONEM/COMPLEXITY Omens are the stars in our night sky.

Key Symbol The immortal jellyfish represents adaptability. This amazing creature may be killed or eaten by predators, but it never biologically dies. When the jellyfish reaches full maturity, it simply makes itself a polyp again by converting its cells. This process is called transdifferentiation. Religio-Mythological Association Khnum Khnum was the predynastic Kemetian god of creation, the Nile, and humankind.

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Commentary Blessed are the times when we plan to invest our time and energy into something or someone, and we get blatant red flags early in the game to stop and change direction. Unfortunately, some of us fail to see the blessing when this happens. Instead, we purposely choose to force our will by suppressing our intuition and the external voices of reason that try to warn us things are not right. This is most likely to occur when we have reached a point of desperation and have lost faith that the right opportunity will come in due time. If we are really determined to have our way, then we may even go as far as to purposely misunderstand the signals and create the habit of making excuses so we can continue the masquerade. In other words, we consciously decide to make a simple situation way more complicated because we fear losing, starting over, waiting longer, or seeking the help we need. Dissatisfaction is the only possible result of unnecessary complexity.

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Divinatory Meaning If you get Complexionem/Complexity in a reading, it is certain that you are choosing to ignore the obvious. In fact, you were probably not even surprised by the Core Issue card you selected. If you are prone to pessimism, be aware that this card may be a warning not to ignore the clear signs of a wonderful opportunity. If there are no hints of insincerity then be aware that you might be complicating your life by entertaining unfounded fears.

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LIBIDINE/LUST To a moth, all lights are the moon.

Key Symbols The luxurious bed represents lust and indulgence; the sconces represent the promise of passion; and the pomegranate represents indulgence, fertility, prosperity, and ambition. Religio-Mythological Association Alpan Alpan was the Etruscan goddess of sexual activity and the underworld. Commentary When the urge to gratify a desire feels out of our control we have the potential to cause tremendous pain to others as well as ourselves. For us to remain masters of our own lives, our desires must be tempered with focused reason so that we don’t make mistakes that could have easily been avoided. This makes sense if we actually realize that our motivation to act originated from lust. However, lust is rarely identifiable as such but instead is mislabeled as ambition, perseverance, or courage. What must be understood is that emotions in and of themselves, positive or negative, are not designed to “care” about you or anyone else, because they are merely the effect of a belief. Caring about anything is based on an agreement of what you perceive to be true or false in any given situation. Once you agree or disagree you make a choice about if and how you will emote or respond. The emotion you select at that point only seeks to be gratified, but herein lies the dilemma. Because people are essentially divine they are not satisfied with the mere gratification of lust, they want to feel justified. For example, it is much harder to carry out an irresponsible act if you say to yourself, “I am lusting for

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(fill in the blank), and I am incapable of self-control because I am weak, so this must be done even if I cause great harm and inconvenience to myself and others in the process.” This would make most people feel awful. But if you say, “I know this may get me in a heap of trouble, but you only live once and I want to grab the bull by the horns!” then it’s not so bad. Clearly the second example is a better mask for lust, because it makes the person feel heroic instead of impotent and selfish. Lust may get you what you want in the short term, but eventually you must lose, because lust for its own sake is not a creator but a destroyer.

Divinatory Meaning If you get Libidine/Lust in a reading, there is a danger that you are masking lustful intentions as something nobler. If you continue to fool yourself, understand that lust for its own sake can only result in pain. If what you are lusting after can only be accomplished by potentially wreaking havoc, then consider the following: (1) why you feel you can’t be happy or complete without the attainment of this goal and (2) what you could do to accomplish your goal with as little harm to yourself and others.

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TUMULTU/CONFUSION Confusion is a rotting belief yet undetected.

Key Symbols The fish represent one’s faith. The octopus represents the complex situations that test faith. The inky water represents fear and unclear emotions. Religio-Mythological Association Eris Eris was the Greek goddess of rivalry, discord, and strife. Commentary When there are too many factors to be analyzed in a situation or there doesn’t appear to be any order, we become confused and varying levels of panic ensue depending on the importance we place on resolution. If solving a riddle becomes top priority, it will be solved if we remain calm and focused and work on solving one problem at a time. That is the only way. Instinctually we all know this, but sometimes an issue may intimidate us so much that we become overwhelmed by the daunting tasks ahead of us. This is a critical time for many people, because it is at this point of confusion that they abandon something that was worth pursuing because it’s “too hard.” What we must remember is that clarity is a prize that we must bestow upon ourselves by being patient and persistent in the quest.

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Divinatory Meaning If you get Tumultu/Confusion in a reading, you are not clear about one or several important factors related to your question, and you need to be in order to move forward. It may be telling you not to be afraid to seek more information and ask questions, or you may be warned against giving up altogether because you find the quest to clarification too difficult.

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DUBIUM/DOUBT Kill the rooster still crowing at noon.

Key Symbols The hawk represents reason, and the snake represents intuition, which are often at odds with each other. The evil eye at the bottom is a warning to avoid becoming your own worst enemy or succumbing to paranoid beliefs that everyone is out to get you. Religio-Mythological Associations Flaunta Flaunta was the Roman goddess of confidence and the cousin of Aphrodite.

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Qebhet Qebhet was the Kemetian serpentine goddess of harmony. She was the personification of freshwater and one of the caretakers of the souls of the dead in the afterlife.

Commentary Doubt has gotten a bad rap for a long time, and it is often blamed for many failures. It is known as one of the main annihilators of dreams, but I think that is unfair. Doubt serves a very useful function in everyday life. If we never had doubts we would blindly follow everything anyone ever said to us without question. Therefore, without doubt we would never have become seekers. Doubt is like the arrow that pops up on a computer screen once you move the mouse or cursor. There are several options to click, but the arrow has no mind of its own with which to consider and select; that is your job. If your spirit is full of

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fear, then, like the arrow on a slow computer with a slow hard drive, you will either go back and forth aimlessly missing all targets or not be able to move at all. In any event, the failure to move forward has absolutely nothing to do with the arrow but everything to do with crossed internal signals. There may be a very good reason to wonder if you should choose one option over another; that’s normal. What is not normal is continuing to remain stagnant while you complain, curse, whine, or cry about why nothing is moving. Focus on what you value most and what would be best for you ten years from now, make the choice that has the potential to put you closest to where you want to be, and don’t go back once you’ve made the decision.

Divinatory Meaning If you get Dubium/Doubt in a reading, you should reflect on the most frightening points related to the Core Issue card. If you feel extremely uncomfortable it is probably because the core issue revealed that in order to succeed you will have to change or leave your comfort zone completely. If you doubt whether you are capable of dealing with the core issue, then understand that you might be choosing predictable mediocrity over greater possibilities.

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SUPERBIA/PRIDE Pride is the wide mouth of a narrow vessel.

Key Symbol According to Roman historian Pliny the Elder, Cleopatra wagered Marc Antony that she could consume the most expensive meal in history. Antony was skeptical that it was possible. Cleopatra then removed one of her pearl earrings and dropped it into a vessel filled with vinegar and drank its contents. The pearl was said to have been worth ten million sesterces, which was equivalent to thousands of pounds of gold. She won her bet.

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Religio-Mythological Association Nemesis Nemesis was the goddess of revenge and divine retribution and the punisher of arrogance against the gods. Commentary Pride is caused by a lack of humility. In situations where a person is said to be prideful there is almost always a complaint related to stubbornness and/or arrogance. A person who is being stubbornly prideful may realize that they have made an error, but they are simply too vain to admit or correct their mistake. For this individual, saving face is way more important than saving grace. This is doubly true if someone else has erred in a minor way and is seeking forgiveness. The prideful person is more prone to make the seeker jump through unnecessary hoops or refuse them altogether for the tiniest infraction. Moving on is most likely not their strong suit (though they are often annoyed if

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people don’t forgive them), and they think their vain, sadistic behavior is justified. The other manifestation of pride is excessive self-praise, bragging, and showing off. There is a big difference between acknowledgment of our strengths, talents, and fortunes and rubbing everyone else’s nose in them. An arrogant, obnoxious person is surely not as secure with themselves as they would like us to believe, or they would never purposely want their blessings to invoke envy, jealousy, or resentment. Seeking hatred is not the hallmark of a healthy, happy person who loves themselves. Then there is the person who is prideful about not being prideful or caring about the “things of this world.” This person is arguably the most prideful of all, since they may take great pleasure in announcing their renunciations for the purpose of making others feel less “spiritual.” When this is the case, the person desires to be worshipped as a supermoral or ascetic character for the purpose of dominating rather than inspiring.

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Divinatory Meaning If you get Superbia/Pride in a reading, it is a signal that your ego may be out of control. It may be time to consider how your interpretation of what is happening in your life may be the result of ignorant self-serving attitudes.

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SUFFICIENTIA/CONTENTMENT Contentment is criminal to those who worship suffering.

Key Symbol The temple of Aset (Isis) at Pompeii represents safety and comfort. It was not a big temple, but it undoubtedly served c ountless devotees of the goddess who were seeking aid and advice.

Religio-Mythological Association Meret Meret was the goddess of the treasury and merriment.

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Commentary To be truly happy, we must learn the art of being completely honest with ourselves. If we feel something is not right and we repeatedly try to convince ourselves otherwise, then mediocrity is all we can ever hope to achieve. Perhaps we harbor soul-stunting beliefs such as “we can’t have it all,” “don’t rock the boat,” or “we would rather be safe than sorry,” but if you reflect on these axioms it will not take long to see how disempowering they really are. By pretending to be content you not only betray yourself but also set in motion all the negative effects that you would experience if you had betrayed another person. Lying to yourself only increases the number of things for you to lie to yourself about and ensures anger, remorse, and shame. Beware the diminishing theories that promote the idea that there is nobility in lack. This is untrue for all but a very small number of ascetics in the world. However, even ascetics have made a choice to experi-

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ence lack, so they are not suffering as the choice to do without was not made in the spirit of settling or giving up. If you are not satisfied with an aspect of your life do not allow the ego to convince you to play the martyr. There is no greater cause than your development. Don’t fear being wrong; fear being afraid.

Divinatory Meaning If you get Sufficientia/Contentment in a reading, you are choosing to smile on the outside while you suffer silently on the inside. You are being warned to take the necessary steps to change the situation or risk missing out on rich opportunities and untold adventures. If you refuse to heed, one day you will feel the anger, remorse, and/or shame that all betrayers must ultimately feel, but you will have no one to blame but yourself.

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Action (Actionis) Cards ♦♦♦ For Review Only The Action cards are the oracle’s advice to the querent about what to immediately do next in relation to the query. The Action cards are divided into two sets: one blue, the other red. The blue set relates to the suggested internal state of mind the querent should foster in relation to their question. The red set relates to the suggested external response to the situation. The logic being that thoughts always precede actions and therefore are causal agents that affect everything that happens afterward. Thus, what one thinks is just as much an action as picking up a glass. The Sibyls Oraculum acknowledges this natural two-part process of action and advises the querent accordingly.

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Action (Actionis) Cards: Blue “Cool” Frigus Set

ACTION (ACTIONIS) CARDS: BLUE “COOL” (FRIGUS) SET

PRAESIDIO/DETACHMENT When loss is an investment in peace, defeat is illusory.

Key Symbol The broken rose symbolizes dispassionate thinking, detaching head from heart.

For Review Only Religio-Mythological Association

Hecate Hecate was the goddess of the wilderness, magic, and witches. She was associated with isolation and the underworld.

Divinatory Meaning Stop obsessing and completely let go of any emotional attachments related to the matter in question.

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QUESTIO/QUESTIONING The fear of hearing “no” is the number one cause of all lost fortunes.

Key Symbols The key represents access. The feathers depict writing, truth, spirit, ascension, messages, and travel. The crossing of the feathers is the two sides of a situation needing to be resolved.

Religio-Mythological Association Janus Janus was the Roman god of gates, doors, portals, beginnings, and endings. He was probably originally an Etruscan god named Ani and was associated with the Babylonian god Usmu. All religious rites began with invocations to Janus.

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Divinatory Meaning Seek answers and don’t stop until you are satisfied. If you feel uncomfortable or afraid to ask questions, remember that your comfort zone is not necessarily the right zone regarding this issue.

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ANALYSIS/ANALYSIS The unexplored mind is the most easily conquered.

Key Symbols Laboratory spatulas were used to examine and probe substances. Religio-Mythological Association Imhotep Imhotep was the Kemetian polymath and nobleman who worked as a vizier, physician, and architect. He designed the step pyramid at Sakkara and was deified after his death. He was venerated along with his tutelary deity, Tehuti (Thoth). He was identified with Hermes Trismegistus and Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine, the syncretism of which resulted in Hermeticism.

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Divinatory Meaning Honestly review your intentions and motivations. Make sure you are clear about what they are.

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SYNTHESIS/SYNTHESIS Parts do not make the whole; the whole is made of parts.

Key Symbols This sphinx with the head of a ram, body of a lion, legs of a bull, and wings of an eagle represents creativity and physical, intellectual, and spiritual power. The looped cross is the ancient Kemetian symbol of life, the ankh. Religio-Mythological Association Serapis Serapis was the Greco-Kemetian Father God. He was a synchronization of Osiris and Apis invented to bridge the cultural gap between Greeks and Kemetians during the Ptolemaic dynasty.

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Divinatory Meaning Decide to put together every element of what you know regarding this issue. Include all facts, hunches, and insights. Exclude nothing. Take action as soon as the picture comes into focus.

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PRIORITIZING/PRIORITIZING Importance depends on import.

Key Symbols The wheat represents the harvest, and the hand mill represents the tedious work that must be done to ensure that we get sustenance from what we have gathered. Religio-Mythological Associations Nidaba Nidaba was the Sumerian goddess of learning and the harvest. Nidaba was linked to prophetic counseling and was the patroness of esoteric knowledge related to numbers (numerology, gematria, etc.).

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Ceres Ceres was the Roman goddess of agriculture. The cults of Ceres and her daughter Prosperina, who were known in Greece as Demeter and Persephone, respectively, were the most important in Sicily. The Cerealia was a jubilant festival celebrated in Ceres’s honor in April, and the word cereal comes from her name.

Divinatory Meaning Review your top priorities in life. Then consider how achieving whatever you asked about will help you accomplish, improve, or maintain the well-being of those top priorities.

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OBSEQUIUM/SUBMISSION A knee bent voluntarily is not broken.

Key Symbols Since time immemorial, Nile Valley civilizations relied on the storms in the Ethiopian highlands to wash rain water rich with volcanic topsoil into the Blue Nile to fertilize their crops. Every year, the inundation undoubtedly brought with it a plethora of tragic drownings, property damage, and other inconveniences. Despite that, people welcomed and celebrated the flood, because without it the glorious civilizations of Kemet, Nubia, and Kush wouldn’t have been possible. So, no matter what the floods brought, these civilizations were submissive to nature’s processes, which were inseparable from the will of the gods.

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Religio-Mythological Association Asherah Asherah was the Canaanite goddess of heaven, trees, and maternity. Jezebel, the Phoenician wife of King Ahas of Israel, was said to be a worshipper and possibly a priestess of Asherah. Divinatory Meaning Yield to whatever you consider to be the superior force or forces over the matter in question. This will not be an act of weakness but one of strength.

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MENSURAE/MEASUREMENT Will is the measure of choice.

Key Symbol The abacus represents higher intellect, precision, and perfection, for without the ability to measure accurately, without mathematics, the architectural marvels of the ancient world could not have been constructed. Religio-Mythological Association Seshat Seshat was the Kemetian goddess of wisdom, record keeping, knowledge, writing, astronomy, astrology, and mathematics. She was associated with the proper execution of rituals and the initiations of neophytes.

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Divinatory Meaning How much does this mean to you? If you can do without it, then stop struggling and let it go. If it is important to you and worth the struggle ahead, then pursue it.

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CUPIDITAS/DESIRE Passion is the nectar of the flower of life.

Key Symbols The chalice of wine represents the acceptance and satiation of desire. The blue lotus represents the ability to achieve unimaginable states of pleasure. Religio-Mythological Associations Qetesh/Qedesh/Qudshu Qetesh was the Canaanite/Sumerian/ Kemetian goddess of nature, sexual pleasure, eroticism, and ecstasy. Her rituals included sex transmutation practices (so-called sex magic). “Qadesh,” now modern-day Syria, was the name of the city where she was worshipped, and it was also a term that meant “consecrated” or “consecrated to the service of Ishtar.” After the advent of patriarchal control, the word came to mean “whore.” Qetesh’s priestesses were called “qadistum.”

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Nefertum Nefertum was the Kemetian primordial god of healing, perfume, and the blue lotus (Nymphaea caerulea). He was worshipped at Per-Wadjet (Buto) and Men-Nefer (Memphis). Perfume making and aromatherapy were considered extremely important sciences, and the priests of MenNefer were skilled parfumiers and aromatherapists. The blue lotus, which the Kemetians called “Sesen,” is actually a lily and was used to induce trance states and expand the consciousness. There are few temples or monuments that are not adorned with the symbol of the blue lotus as the embodiment of perfect wisdom.

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Divinatory Meaning Dare to want it. If whatever you are currently doing will not help you attain it, then you must do something else. If there are people in your circle that are trying to discourage you from what you desire, then find a new circle. If that is not possible, then refuse to discuss your desire while you work on attaining it. Your dreams are sacred. No one/nothing has a right to negate, defile, or molest them.

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OPTIMIS/OPTIMISM Optimism is the flag-bearer that rides ahead of an army of victorious thoughts.

Key Symbols The flowering garden of cypress, ferns, and orange trees represent optimism, abundance, and bliss. Religio-Mythological Association Spes Spes was the Roman goddess of hope. She had no priesthood but was venerated in public and private ceremonies. The church of San Nicola in Carcere, Italy, is the site of a temple that was dedicated to Juno, Spes, and Janus.

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Divinatory Meaning Believe that things will work out for the best and go forward with no doubt to the contrary. This is essential now.

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MILITARIUM/STRATEGY Admitting how far you are willing to go and how much you are willing to sacrifice should precede all plans.

Key Symbols The cat represents poise, and the mouse represents determination. Religio-Mythological Associations Gurzil/Agurzil Gurzil was the ancient Timazighin god of war. He was worshipped by the Hawwara of Oea (Tripolitania) until the eleventh century, three hundred years after the Islamization of the region. The town of Ghirza in modern Libya may be a reference to him.

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Apedemak/Maahes Apedemak was the Nubian and Kemetian god of victory and war. He was depicted with the head of a lion and the body of a snake to represent the unity between the masculine and feminine. In Kemet, he was known as the son of the goddess Sekhmet and the brother of Nefertum. He was one of the gods especially revered by the Medjay, the elite soldiers of the Kemetian military. The ruins of his temple are in Naga (presentday Sudan). “Naga” meant “Serpent Queen” in the Kemetian language.

Divinatory Meaning First decide that you will find a way to get what you want. Brainstorm ideas and ask for advice from others who have succeeded at what you’re trying to accomplish.

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INCEPTUM/INITIATIVE The hair of the procrastinator grays the fastest.

Key Symbol The seahorse represents slow but steady movement. Seahorses have great difficulty navigating the depths of the ocean, but they remain upright and give it all they’ve got. Religio-Mythological Association Poseidon Poseidon was the Libyan and Greek god of the sea and horses. Poseidon was the overseer of the Delphic oracle before Apollo. His son Delphos, or Delphus, the eponym of Delphi, was represented as an Ethiopian on coins. Delphos’s daughter Phemonoe was said to be the first priestess at Delphi and the first person to write in hexameters. She was also the first to use the aphorism “Know t hyself ” in Greece, though it was used in Waset (Luxor).

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Divinatory Meaning Prepare your mind to move. No matter how small the first step must be, step. Do not stand still for any reason.

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Action (Actionis) Cards: Red “Hot” Caldarius Set

ACTION (ACTIONIS) CARDS: RED “HOT” (CALDARIUS) SET

CASTITATE/PURITY If your conscience doesn’t respect you, eventually no one will.

Key Symbols This scene depicts a room where someone has just been initiated into the mysteries. Their hair has been ritually cut, offertory incense burns, and the clean white linen cloth is ready to be put on. The initiate has been or will be told the rules and what is and is not permissible for them to engage in. This card represents higher morality and the acquisition of or a return to one’s ethics regarding the situation.

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Religio-Mythological Associations Tanit Tanit was the Phoenician/Libyan lunar goddess of heaven, astrology, and weaving. Tanit’s name means “serpent lady,” and her temple in Carthage was called the Altar of the Heavenly Virgin. She was worshipped in Spain, Sardinia, Malta, and Sicily, and Romans identified her with Juno Lucina. A purification ceremony in honor of Tanit, called “Awessu,” takes place by the sea and is still celebrated by the Amazigh in Libya and Tunisia today. In August, participants enter the sea at sunrise

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with their clothing, blankets, and animals to be blessed with prosperity and protection by submerging seven times. The ritual concludes with several days of feasting with family and friends. Asar (Osiris) Asar was the Libyan and Kemetian god of death and resurrection. According to the myth, Asar was born first in the heavens as one of the children of Ra and then resurrected by his wife, Aset (Isis), after he was killed by his brother, Set. Asar was associated with the Dad, or Djed, symbol representing stability and possibly the Libyan god Daddu/Dadun.

Divinatory Meaning Make sure that you remain morally clean. Any attempts to be sneaky or underhanded or to otherwise “play dirty” will ultimately end in failure.

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CELERITATE/SPEED As soon as possible is now.

Key Symbol The horse represents transportation, speed, and effort. Religio-Mythological Association Turms Turms was the Etruscan god of trade and communication. He is said to be the precursor of the Greek god Hermes. Divinatory Meaning The time of pondering what is to be done has passed. It is time to act on what you know.

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ALMUM/NURTURING That which you feed will continue to sit at your table.

Key Symbols The coining of the mouth was a ritual done by the Greeks and Romans and in the Levant to ensure that the recently deceased gained safe passage to the otherworld. Not unlike today, the care by which a family conducted the funerary arrangements of a relative, what was said about the deceased at the service, and who was or was not in attendance often reflected the conduct of the decedent. The butterfly represents rebirth as the ancients believed in some form of afterlife, the pleasantries or discomforts of which were also determined by a person’s conduct when they walked upon the Earth. This card represents constant awareness of who and what we feed with our attention.

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Religio-Mythological Association Allat/Allatu Allat was the title of multiple pre-Islamic Levantine goddesses and also an aspect of the (sometimes indistinguishable) triad that includes alUzza and Manat. Allat was worshipped in Libya and was equated with Aset/Isis, Aphrodite, Urania, Artemis, Minerva, and the Persian god Mithra. Originally, Allat, al-Uzza, and Manat’s sanctuaries were located in present day Mecca and Medina. The goddesses were usually represented as stelae, cubical blocks, and/or in the form of sacred meteorites. Initially, the prophet Mohammed endorsed their worship in the Quran as they were considered daughters of Allah and referred to as “exalted cranes,” but he received a divine message to retract the statement. According to Muslim historian Hisham ibn al-Kalbi, the prophet

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ordered his soldier Khalid ibn al-Walid to destroy all of the sanctuaries of the goddess. One man named Dubayyah al-Sulami was killed, and an “Abyssinian” (Ethiopian) woman was decapitated before she magically crumbled to ashes. About this woman the prophet said, “That was al’Uzzá. But she is no more. The Arabs shall have none after her. Verily she shall never be worshipped again.” “Uzza” or “Ouza” would become the name of one of the wickedest of the fallen angels.

Divinatory Meaning Make sure that you are encouraging and nurturing only the qualities, circumstances, and kinds of people you want to see perpetually appear in your life.

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PROGRESSUS/GRADUAL PROGRESS Even a slow cart on the road eventually gets to town.

Key Symbols The larynx (voice box) represents unseen processes. The beginning of everything we see started with words. First an internal conversation took place, then the external manifestation of that thought process followed. Though we don’t realize it, speech is probably the most complex of human actions. We must use the air that’s expelled from the lungs by pressure exerted from the ribs, diaphragm, and abdomen. Then that air has to move up through the windpipe to the larynx, where the vocal cords vibrate to produce the voice. The throat, mouth, and nose then modify the sound while the lips, teeth, tongue, and palates work together to produce words. Saying “Good Morning” seemed like it just happened naturally, but it was actually a gradual, unseen process. We speak the world into existence.

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Religio-Mythological Association Abeona Abeona was the Roman goddess of outward journeys and first steps. Divinatory Meaning Take things one step at a time, and you’ll surely get there. Speed would exchange lasting value and peace for temporary gratification and suffering.

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DEDITIO/ABANDONMENT Gnawing on the rind will not make the fruit return.

Key Symbol This scene depicts the ruins of a firstcentury Roman theater. At one time, this was the location of great performances and joy, but the possibility of both was denied to certain people based on socioeconomic inequality that wouldn’t permit them to enter. It doesn’t matter now. It’s been decaying too long to be fixed. This card represents the necessity to move on and seek amusement elsewhere.

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Religio-Mythological Association Terminus Terminus was the Roman god of boundaries.

Divinatory Meaning Let it go. Say good-bye. This is not worth your energy.

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TRANSCENDENTIUM/ TRANSCENDENCE You swam the transcendent depths of the womb; it is there you learned what is right for you. It is here that you have met others who have also forgotten their way.

Key Symbol The cowry shell represents depth, transcendent knowledge, and good fortune. Religio-Mythological Association Amphitrite Amphitrite was a pre-Hellenic goddess and the personification of the Mediterranean Sea. She was known as Salacia in Rome.

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Divinatory Meaning This is an important test even if it doesn’t appear to be. Maintain right thought, put the ego in check, and take the “high road” for the best outcome.

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SILENTIUM/STILLNESS Destiny rewards patience.

Key Symbol Crocodiles do not normally chase their prey. They are patient and can wait hours, days, or even weeks for the opportune moment to strike. They can survive a long time without eating. Religio-Mythological Associations Sobek Sobek was the Kemetian god of strength and power. He was associated with the Nile crocodile and often depicted with a crocodile head.

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Har-pa-khered (Harpocrates) Har-pa-khered was the Kemetian and Greek god of secrets and silence.

Divinatory Meaning Action would not be productive right now. Maintain self-control by reminding yourself that waiting is not “doing nothing.” Make a move when a meal is certain. Until then, be quiet and observe like a good hunter.

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VIDEBATUR/AGGRESSION Slash and burn for richer fields.

Key Symbol The scorpion represents aggression against attack and unceasing battle until the very end. Religio-Mythological Association Ammut Ammut was the Kemetian goddess of divine retribution. In the Pert Em Heru, or The Book of Coming Forth by Day (a.k.a. The Book of the Dead), Ammut awaited the judgment of the deceased. If a person was found not to be in alignment with Maat (truth), Ammut would devour the person’s soul, thereby extinguishing them completely out of existence.

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Divinatory Meaning Destroy any and all obstacles to the attainment of your goal. Force is warranted at this time.

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HABITUM/DISGUISE Deception feeds and protects all life.

Key Symbol This animal represents the Amazigh deity Ash, who was known as the Lord of Libya and was a god of the oases, guardian of the Sahara Desert, and protector of the vineyards of the western Nile delta and royal estates. Depicted here as an unknown beast, he could be considered frightening or dangerous. Things are not always what they seem: he appears malefic but is benign. Religio-Mythological Association Zeus Zeus was the Greek god of the sky and thunder and the ruler of the Olympian Gods. The sanctuary of Zeus in Cyrene, Libya was larger than the Parthenon in Athens and also served the worshippers of Zeus-Ammon.

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Divinatory Meaning To survive this, you must enhance or further develop other qualities within yourself. All personality types exist within us, and they may be accessed when needed. Adaptation is not being fake; sometimes it is the only way to survive.

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LUDERE/PLAY Follow pleasure whenever the way is clear.

Key Symbol This scene depicts Cleopatra’s bath, a natural hot spring in the Siwa Oasis. The spring is one of many in the area and is located on the path that leads to the Temple of Ammon. Cleopatra’s bath represents fun, beauty, laughter, luxury, and relaxation and is a reminder never to forget to occasionally pamper yourself. Religio-Mythological Association Ash Ash was the Kemetian god of the Libyan desert and oasis.

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Divinatory Meaning Try to find joy in life’s circumstances to maintain your beauty. Laugh.

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PRAESIDIUM/DEFENSE Defend your point by making it sharp.

Key Symbol The fascinus was a popular Roman amulet in the shape of a phallus. It protected its wearer from envy, malevolent magic, and the evil eye. Religio-Mythological Association Heru/Horus Heru was the Kemetian god of the sky. Heru fought to restore his father Asar’s kingdom, which had been usurped by Set.

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Divinatory Meaning Honor your truth by protecting it from all that would attack it, including yourself.

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SECTION 1 1. F 2. F 3. F 4. F

5. F 6. F 7. F 8. T

9. F 10. T 11. F

For Review Only SECTION 2

1. T 2. F 3. F 4. F

5. F 6. T 7. F 8. F

9. F 10. F 11. T

SECTION 3 1. F 2. F 3. F 4. F

5. F 6. F 7. F 8. F

9. F 10. F 11. F

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SECTION 4 1. F 2. F 3. F 4. F

5. T 6. T 7. F 8. F

9. T 10. T 11. T

SECTION 5 1. F 2. F 3. F 4. F

1. F 2. F 3. F 4. F

5. F 6. F 7. F 8. T

9. F 10. F 11. F

SECTION 6 For Review Only 5. F 9. F 6. F 7. F 8. F

10. F 11. F

SECTION 7 1. F 2. T 3. F 4. F

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SECTION 8 1. F 2. T 3. T 4. F

5. F 6. T 7. T 8. F

9. F 10. F 11. F

SECTION 9 1. T 2. T 3. T 4. F

1. F 2. F 3. T 4. F

5. F 6. T 7. F 8. F

9. F 10. F 11. F

SECTION 10 For Review Only 5. F 9. F 6. F 7. F 8. T

10. F 11. F

SECTION 11 1. F 2. F 3. F 4. F

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About the Author

Tayannah Lee McQuillar is a cultural anthropologist and scholar of religion, esoterica, and mysticism. She has conducted fieldwork in New Orleans and Brazil and is a member of the Society for the Anthropology of Religion, the Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness, the American Academy of Religion, and the New York Classical Club. She is also the author of Rootwork (Simon & Shuster, 2003) and several other books. She lives in New York City.

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About the Artist

Katelan Foisy is a multimedia artist and writer. Her fine-art pieces have been displayed at the Worcester Art Museum, Ohio History Museum, MODA, WEAM, A&D Gallery, and Last Rights. She has graced the pages of the Grammy Award programs and the stage of Cynthia von Buhler’s immersive historical plays Speakeasy Dollhouse and The Brothers Booth. Katelan has been featured in the New York Times, Elle magazine, Paper Magazine, GQ Italy, Time Out New York, Witches & Pagans, and many others for her work as an artist, curator, and occultist. She has written for Motherboard/VICE, Electric Literature, Luna Luna, ERIS magazine, and Coilhouse; held events with Atlas Obscura; and lectured at Morbid Anatomy. Her short films have been shown at Cinémathèque Française as part of the Romani Cinema Avante Garde Film Sessions. She was called a “female Jack Kerouac” by Taylor Mead and a “modern-day Francesca Woodman” by Cynthia von Buhler.

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Suggested Reading

Bernal, Martin. Black Athena: The Afroasiatic Roots of Classical Civilization. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 1987. Bindman, Gates. The Image of the Black in Western Art, Volume I: From the Pharaohs to the Fall of the Roman Empire. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2011. Birnbaum, Lucia. Dark Mother: African Origins and Godmothers. Lincoln, Nebr.: iUniverse, 2001. Brinton, Daniel Garrison. On Etruscan and Libyan Names: A Comparative Study. Philadelphia: MacCalla & Company, 1860. Connelly, Joan Breton. Portrait of a Priestess: Women and Ritual in Ancient Greece. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2007. Cumont, Franz. The Oriental Religions in Roman Paganism. Charleston, S.C.: Nabu Press, 1906. Dashu, Max. Secret History of the Witches (series). www.suppressedhistories .net/secrethistory/secrethistory.html, 2004. Donaldson, Dustin, and Robynn Iwata. Ancient Origins.net, 2016. Enriquez-Perez, Raul. “Plato’s Triangle and Gnomonic Factor: An Application to Herodotus Oracles.” Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry 14, no. 3 (2014): 45–53. Fairman, H. W. Ancient Egypt and Africa. London: Royal African Society, 1965. Herodotus. The History of Herodotus. Available at www.sacred-texts.com /cla/hh. Hoffman, Katherine, and Susan Gilson Miller. Berbers and Others: Beyond Tribe and Nation in the Maghrib. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2010. Hornung, Erik. Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt: The One and the Many. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1996. Maddy-Weitzman, Bruce. The Berber Identity Movement and the Challenge to North African States. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2011.

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Suggested Reading

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Mbiti, John. African Religions and Philosophy. 2nd ed. Portsmouth, N.H.: Heinemann, 1990. Selin, Helaine. Encyclopaedia of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine in Non-Western Cultures. New York: Springer, 2008. Sertima, Ivan Van. African Presence in Early Europe. Piscataway, N.J.: Transaction Publishers, 1986. Snowden, Frank. Blacks in Antiquity: Ethiopians in the Greco-Roman Experience. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press, 1971. Stone, Merlin. When God Was a Woman. New York: Doubleday, 1976. Zogbe, Mama. The Sibyls: The First Prophetess of Mami (Wata). Martinez, Ga.: Mami Wata Healers Society, 2007.

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The Sibyls Oraculum Oracle of the Black Doves of Africa TAYANNAH LEE McQUILLAR Artwork by KATELAN V. FOISY A system of divination inspired by the Libyan Sibyls, the African prophetesses of the classical world • Includes 44 full-color cards in Latin and English with a comprehensive guidebook • Details how to consult the oracle, providing in-depth write-ups about the meaning of each card and the symbolic language represented by their imagery • Designed to directly address the spiritual lessons underlying the seeker’s query and facilitate self-examination and decision-making • The cards feature full-color paintings in the style of the Libyan mosaics popular with the Roman elite in the 1st century B.C.E.

The Oracle of the Black Doves is a system of divination inspired by the Libyan Sibyls, the African prophetesses of the classical world. According to the Greek Historian Herodotus, two black doves flew away from the city of Waset (Thebes) and established the Siwa Oasis oracle in Libya and the first oracle in Greece at Dodona. These powerful Sibyls were consulted by all levels of Greek and, later, Roman society. Created by tarot reader Tayannah Lee McQuillar, this contemporary oracle pays homage to the oft forgotten African founding mothers of the sibylline traditions. Drawing on both the African and the Classical traditions, it features full-color paintings by artist Katelan V. Foisy, who created the card art in a style reminiscent of the Libyan mosaics popular in the 1st century B.C.E. In the accompanying guidebook, McQuillar details how to consult the oracle, providing in-depth write-ups about the meaning of each of the 44 cards and the symbolic language represented by each card’s imagery. She demonstrates how there is only one correct way to phrase a question to the oracle, making it nearly impossible to receive a vague or biased response. Designed to directly address the spiritual lessons underlying the seeker’s query, the oracle facilitates self-examination and decision-making, helping the seeker improve the likelihood of success in all undertakings and choose their best possible future by broadening their perspective of the situation. The author also includes a history of the Sibyls of the ancient world and explores the continuing Sibyl tradition in North Africa today. Tayannah Lee McQuillar is a tarot reader and researcher of religion, esoterica, and mysticism. The author of several books, including Rootwork, she lives in New York City. Katelan V. Foisy is an artist, circle leader, and tarot consultant who has been featured in the New York Times and Elle Magazine. Her work has appeared in exhibits throughout the United States and UK. She lives in Chicago.

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Destiny Books • ISBN 978-1-62055-671-9 • $19.99 (CAN $24.99) • Boxed set, 6 x 9 Includes 160-page book with 44 full-color cards • Rights: World • Divination

May 2018

Sibyls Oraculum

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