Longing For Wisdom: The Message Of The Maxims

Know yourself. Nothing in excess. Give a pledge and ruin is near. These are the words inscribed on a stele just outside the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. Stunning in their simplicity, these Maxims have survived the test of time. Even today, they cause the reader to pause and think about what such short, poignant phrases mean. For those who study Hellenic Polytheism, either in historical or modern religious context, the Delphic Maxims are of great import because they hold a key to understanding early Greek thought. Delving into both the history and the current application of 34 of the Maxims to the creation of personal ethics and morals, Allyson Szabo provides us with a path to personal growth and understanding of the world around us.

Allyson Szabo is a middle-age woman with an unusual family. She started out life in a family devoted to atheism. During her teen years, she spent a lot of time investigating the mainstream religions, including Catholicism and Judaism. At 19, she met and became involved with Lord Davydd, an Initiate of Alexandrian Wicca. He was her teacher and mentor for 12 years, and remains a close and intimate friend. Through their years together, Allyson learned much about Wicca, mythology, and the history of religion in general. When she struck out on her own, she realized that what she was practicing could no longer be considered Wicca, regardless of how proud she was of her Degrees. In 2007, she ran into a ragtaggle group of Hellenic Polytheists on the Neokoroi and Neos Alexandria message forums, and discovered a strong interest in all things Greek. Today, she lives in chaos with her unconventional family. They are preparing for a move to the wilds of New Hampshire, where she hopes to turn out more books!