The Goddess in Me

The Hermeneutics of Beekeeping

Divine Inspiration

The Hermeneutic Circle


Bridging the Gap (of Understanding)

[550] [Apollo to Hermes] “But I will tell you another thing,
Son of all-glorious Maia and Zeus who holds the aegis,
Luck-bringing genius of the gods.
There are certain holy ones,
sisters born — three virgins gifted with wings:
their heads are besprinkled with white meal,
and they dwell under a ridge of Parnassus.
These are teachers of divination apart from me,
the art which I practised while yet a boy following herds,
though my father paid no heed to it.
From their home they fly now here, now there,
feeding on honey-comb and bringing all things to pass.
And when they are inspired through eating yellow honey,
they are willing to speak truth;
but if they be deprived of the gods’ sweet food,
then they speak falsely,
as they swarm in and out together.
These, then, I give you;
enquire of them strictly and delight your heart:
and if you should teach any mortal so to do,
often will he hear your response — if he have good fortune.
Take these, Son of Maia, and tend the wild roving,
horned oxen and horses and patient mules.”

(Homeric Hymn IV to Hermes, trans. H. G. Evelyn-White. http://www.theoi.com/Text/HomericHymns2.html)

(For the lab.)