Who Is Your Muse?

For those of us writing, creating, playing music, drawing, the process of inspiration is one filled with mystery and uncertainty. It’s a magical process where one moment we are at a complete loss and the next we have that special eureka! moment.

Recently I’ve been playing with an idea that I’ve read about in multiple places– books like Muse Food (Recipes for Creativity), Writing on Both Sides of the Brain: Breakthrough Techniques for People Who Write, and Holly Lisle’s How To Think Sideways Class. The idea is to actually get to know your own personal muse by associating it with a character or image. Then when you need to get creative you can pull this image to the fore front and allow the creative side of your mind to play around with it. With a notebook or your artist tools in front of you, bringing up your muse and perhaps entreating its help can be a surprising way to get through to great ideas.

Dance of Apollo with the Nine Muses

It sounded at first to me like a silly idea, but let’s think about the Ancient Greeks. They did the same thing! They personified the idea of “muse” as a collection of nine inspiring women who ranged in expertise from music to drama to poetry. There was a different face to every art, and these were treated as deities. The populace built shrines for them, and gave them their own springs. So when they needed to write a love poem there was a simple procedure: go to the holy place of Erato, maybe leave an offering or say a prayer, and mill around until you get an idea. Were Shakespeare, Chaucer and Homer in touch with their muses? I don’t know honestly, but entreaties to the muses can be found in their works.

So I see no reason why in a pinch you can’t borrow from the Ancient Greeks. But in the modern age wouldn’t it be great if you had your own personal muse? Someone who matches your style or the style of your current work? The way I think this method works is because it’s playful, it helps to encourage that silly imaginative side of yours to come out and start making things up. Just thinking about your muse should put a smile on your lips or give you a emotional reaction full of fodder for your art.

I’ll start! Like the ancient Greeks, I can’t just choose one. Several muses have come to me over the past few weeks.

Muse 1. Roomful of Unruly Children

If you’ve ever had to watch a group of kids, then you know there is nothing more terribly imaginative. Glance the other direction and they’ll be fighting, grinding gum into the floor, pulling hair and crying. It strikes fear into my heart honestly! But wouldn’t it be nice if you could borrow their creative powers? They sure as hell have a lot of fun, look at the unabashed glee in the picture above. And nothing helps a writing move like conflict conflict conflict! If there is a detail I need to work out, I think I’ll throw it into the kid pit.

Muse 2. Staff Twirling Woman on a Bridge

I don’t have a picture of this one, but to pamper my muse I’m going to pay an artist friend to sketch her out for me. A woman dressed in red and neutral tones stands on a wooden bridge. She guards it with a heavy staff that twirls between her hands so fast it’s a blur. In her hazel eyes you know that no challenger can get past her. She’s a force to contend with.

I admire her strength and discipline–things I need in taking criticism and writing novels with diligence. I wonder if one day she might tell me her story…

Muse 3. Mother Octopus

This last guide of mine has come to me in several scenes of my current work, Line of Isis. I am amazed by octopus, especially the idea that the animals could be enormous and waiting at the bottom of the ocean. I see “Mother Octopus” as an ancient and magical spirit who can transform into other shapes, too. She is quiet but powerful, rich with depth. While the kids deal with the petty stuff, she concerns herself with only things large enough to ensnare in her massive tentacles. (Did you know octopus sometimes carry around coconuts to hide in??)

So that’s my gang. If you’d like to find your own muse, look through magazines or doodle or journal. How does your creativity express itself? Is it fast or slow? Patient or erratic? Jumping up and down or sitting Indian style? Think of what it likes and dislikes, jot down a quick list. Perhaps try a mind map. Try for a bit and then work on your art, do you notice any inspiration? Muses are long term sources of creativity so revisit them and have fun!

See my pinterest of more muse images I’ve collected, or my inspiration board for my mermaid project, Line of Isis.