Modern theories concerning the nature of operations at Delphi posit that Delphic oracles had strong pan-Hellenic and pan-Mediterranean political influence. Most often this influence is analyzed as a coherent Delphic political policy or active political control, maintained and communicated by the Pythia herself or her attendant priest(s), made legitimate and authoritative through claims of Apollo's authorship, and accepted and enacted by consultants to the shrine. This approach is flawed insofar as it focuses meaning and, thus, power within the oracular text as a fixed and transmitted message from a Delphic political source rather than involving both Delphic functionaries and consultants within the process of the oracle's production, interpretation, enactment and entextualization. Theories of Delphic power marginalize the control that consultants have over oracular discourse within and outside Delphic consultations, ultimately relegating consultants to passive roles of recipients and enactors of politically charged oracular messages. The linear relationship between the annunciated oracular text, interpretive meaning and consultant political action, evidenced in most major theories of Delphic operations, is too simplistic and does not adequately reflect the roles of consultants or Delphic functionaries. The examination of oracular interactions, both within and outside the Delphic shrine, underscores the active and essential role of consultants in shaping the form and content of the final oracular message, ultimately calling into question the power of the Delphic shrine as an independent political force.