A Muse is considered a source of inspiration. Whether it be a person, place or thing. Whatever you use to spark creativity in yourself becomes your muse. It doesn't matter why the thing you choose is your muse, but sometimes it's good to reflect on what effect the person, place or thing has on you.
The nine Greek Muses were considered goddesses on Olympus who became the representatives of poetry, the arts and sciences and sources of inspiration. They were: Calliope (Epic Song), Clio (History), Euterpe (Lyric Song), Melpomane (Tragedy), Terpsichore (Dance), Erato (Erotic Poetry), Polyhymnia (Sacred Song), Urania (Astronomy), Thalia (Comedy and Bucolic Poetry).
Who or what is your muse today? Does it change when your emotions change or you want different style input? I use one of my daughters as a muse when I'm writing. Heather has been someone that I can go to and bounce ideas off of and search out story ideas with. Although sometimes she can be extremely comical and play with me when I ask her questions, she can also be brutally honest with her opinion. One thing I know for sure, she will listen and hear what I'm saying. Sometimes she doesn't have to say anything. My other special muse is my sister Loretta Stephenson (Art By Retta). I like to bounce philosophical questions off her, because I consider her a person who thinks before she speaks. Having a good muse can help work out the difficult problems that arise when you are faced with creating a new story.
A muse can help bring your thoughts into perspective and clarify what's in your mind, or bring you new ideas to wrestle with. What are you wrestling with? Have you checked in with your muse?
I know this sounds weird coming from an artist, but I've never really related to the idea of a muse. :-O
ReplyDeleteSo I found it fascinating to read how yours works, and the origins of the word. Very interesting post.
Rettakat: Perhaps it's the word muse. I'll bet there might be someone you bounce ideas off of once in while?
DeleteAh, the topic of the hard-to-pin-down muse. The muse made quite an appearance in my I-post (Improvisation), because that's where I really seemed to be at a loss for words...
ReplyDeletehttp://writer-in-transit.co.za/improvisation/
Michelle: I'll have to check it out!
DeleteHi, Karen Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteYes I think my muse changes with my moods. Is that wrong? :)
Great post.
Teresa
Teresa: Absolutely not! At least not in my opinion. I've switched moods and ideas after talking things over with my "muse".
DeleteLooking at nature is frequently my muse. I'm weird, I guess. :)
ReplyDeleteSara: I don't think you're weird. Nature is very inspiring.
DeleteWelcome!
I love how some people talk about their muse as if it's a character. I've never felt that way. My muse is just me, or another part of me.
ReplyDeleteMatthew: I think anything or anyone that inspires you, including yourself (or a part of you), is your muse. So great!
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