Prophecy has been a part of human history and culture, with predictions given by priests, shamans, and mystics. Prophets were once revered and associated with religions, and modern religions still include prophets and prophecies. Pagan prophecy involves achieving ecstasy through meditation or extreme physical conditions, with only a few individuals being prophets. They enter a trance-like state to deliver messages in clear or abstract forms.
Prophets and prophecies are an important part of human history and culture. A prophecy is simply a prediction about something that is about to happen, usually given by an authority such as a priest, shaman, or other type of mystic. Prophecies range from the mundane to the fantastical, and have been around for as long as humans have, in an effort to understand life’s deepest mysteries. Technically anyone could experience a premonition or foretelling of an event, but most prophetic traditions believe that only unique individuals can deliver genuine prophecy.
While prophets and soothsayers are often dismissed as insane in modern industrialized culture, they once wielded immense power in their societies and were revered by people of all classes. Many prophets were associated with religions; the ancient Greeks, for example, sought to understand the will of the gods through the oracles that resided in the temple at Delphi, while the Romans used the temple’s augurs to seek information about future events. Older religions included priests and priestesses who entered sacred trances to communicate with the gods and convey information to people in the form of prophecy. Many primitive and animist religions also contain the concept of prophecy and soothsaying, usually performed by a priest, sorcerer or shaman.
Prophecy is not limited to pagan or ancient religions; most modern Christians, for example, read a sacred text that is filled with prophets and prophecies, and many of them are awaiting a prophesied second coming of Christ. Monotheistic religions such as Christianity, Judaism and Islam include prophets such as John the Baptist, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Mohammed, who are believed to have spoken directly with God. The wise words of these biblical and Quranic figures are taken seriously by adherents of those religions and included in the teachings and lessons related to those religions.
Pagan prophecy is usually associated with a state of ecstasy achieved through meditation, pushing the body to extreme limits with fasting or drugs. Only a few individuals are prophets, and they are selected on the basis of abilities that often reveal themselves early in life. The prophet enters a trance-like state and then delivers messages, sometimes in a clear form such as “Beware the Ides of March” and sometimes in a more abstract format that takes the form of a riddle that needs to be unraveled. Some prophets use focusing tools like tarot cards, ski goggles, or crystal balls, while others rely on their connection to the divine for a prophecy.
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