Oracles are individuals or systems believed to provide insights or predictions about the future. Historically, they were often associated with religious practices, where priests or priestesses would interpret messages from deities. These predictions could guide decisions in various aspects of life, including politics, warfare, and personal matters. In modern contexts, oracles can refer to various methods of forecasting, such as astrology or tarot readings. Additionally, in technology, the term is used in blockchain and smart contracts to describe systems that provide external data to facilitate decision-making. Both traditional and modern oracles aim to offer guidance based on perceived knowledge of future events.