The muse
All of us have probably heard writers, artists, singers, dancers and other creative people talking about waiting for the muse. When the muse is visiting it seems as if one does not have to think about what one is doing. It is as if the creative juice just arrives and flows through one.
Most creative people know that one cannot depend on the muse to suddenly announce its schedule and, thus, allow one to arrange to be available at that designated time. In fact the muse tends, in my experience, to take rather long trips away from home base.
Most creative people I know discipline themselves to practice their craft at a particular time of the day and on a daily basis, or if not daily, on a set schedule, i.e. every other day at 10:00 a.m. for three hours.
My experience is that the wise, creative part of us will, if we are practicing our craft (writing, singing, dance, or otherwise creating) regularly, makes an appearance if we just keep practicing. I may often begin writing by writing , “I have nothing new to say. My muse has nothing it wants or needs to tell me. I have said everything I need or want to say. It feels as if I am back in high school or college and doing boring homework. Maybe I just need to clean the study and clean the rest of the house. I am really tired. I just need a nap. No, I know better. If I keep writing what I need to say will eventually make an appearance.”
The muse might make a brief appearance while I am driving or at the gym. If I do not stop to make a note I will lose what I needed to hear.
If one is a visual artists sometime one begins just by making lines or playing with the medium on the canvas or whatever surface one has available.
If the muse is still not visiting I may need to write about honestly, open mindedness and willingness. I need to know the extent to which I am open to hearing what that wise, perceptive part of me has to “say”. There is a drawing exercise I use which entails me with eyes closed scribbling on a 8 x 10 piece of paper with a pencil. Once I feel finished I open my eyes and trace whatever stands out with a colored pencil. Then I quickly give the object a title. 100% of the time the object which stands out in my scribbling has to do with whatever is going on with me emotionally. This could be grief over a past loss, fear of an upcoming event, or a host of other emotions. If I can allow myself to get out of the way my body will express whatever it needs to express. This is the muse for me. My muse has no filters or censors. It does not respect my fear of being open or vulnerable. It does not allow shame or embarrassment to determine what I am sharing or about to share. It is raw, honest, sometimes painful and unattractive, and perhaps unconventional. It may even be beyond the bounds of conventional wisdom. It has its own way of perceiving or experiencing reality. It is, however, above all else, an expression of a genuine part of me.
We all have a muse who is always with us. Making room for it may not come easily or naturally, but if we give it space it will visit.
Written January 25, 2018
All of us have probably heard writers, artists, singers, dancers and other creative people talking about waiting for the muse. When the muse is visiting it seems as if one does not have to think about what one is doing. It is as if the creative juice just arrives and flows through one.
Most creative people know that one cannot depend on the muse to suddenly announce its schedule and, thus, allow one to arrange to be available at that designated time. In fact the muse tends, in my experience, to take rather long trips away from home base.
Most creative people I know discipline themselves to practice their craft at a particular time of the day and on a daily basis, or if not daily, on a set schedule, i.e. every other day at 10:00 a.m. for three hours.
My experience is that the wise, creative part of us will, if we are practicing our craft (writing, singing, dance, or otherwise creating) regularly, makes an appearance if we just keep practicing. I may often begin writing by writing , “I have nothing new to say. My muse has nothing it wants or needs to tell me. I have said everything I need or want to say. It feels as if I am back in high school or college and doing boring homework. Maybe I just need to clean the study and clean the rest of the house. I am really tired. I just need a nap. No, I know better. If I keep writing what I need to say will eventually make an appearance.”
The muse might make a brief appearance while I am driving or at the gym. If I do not stop to make a note I will lose what I needed to hear.
If one is a visual artists sometime one begins just by making lines or playing with the medium on the canvas or whatever surface one has available.
If the muse is still not visiting I may need to write about honestly, open mindedness and willingness. I need to know the extent to which I am open to hearing what that wise, perceptive part of me has to “say”. There is a drawing exercise I use which entails me with eyes closed scribbling on a 8 x 10 piece of paper with a pencil. Once I feel finished I open my eyes and trace whatever stands out with a colored pencil. Then I quickly give the object a title. 100% of the time the object which stands out in my scribbling has to do with whatever is going on with me emotionally. This could be grief over a past loss, fear of an upcoming event, or a host of other emotions. If I can allow myself to get out of the way my body will express whatever it needs to express. This is the muse for me. My muse has no filters or censors. It does not respect my fear of being open or vulnerable. It does not allow shame or embarrassment to determine what I am sharing or about to share. It is raw, honest, sometimes painful and unattractive, and perhaps unconventional. It may even be beyond the bounds of conventional wisdom. It has its own way of perceiving or experiencing reality. It is, however, above all else, an expression of a genuine part of me.
We all have a muse who is always with us. Making room for it may not come easily or naturally, but if we give it space it will visit.
Written January 25, 2018
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