I guess I can start with what I've been reading recently. Mind you, I found my way to each of these places separately while looking for something else entirely. I believe that is called 'coincidence' of a kind that comes down to the Universe hitting one over the head repeatedly with a blunt object.
So, since it's the height of stupidity to attempt to ignore such a bonking (as the Universe will simply hit harder), I guess I'm in.
The blogs and books below all talk about the daimon and the daimonic. Though I am not quite sure how to define or explain that. Especially since each of the authors has a slightly different take on it, ones that are also different from my own. But they are close, and it really does I think come down to individual interpretations of the same phenomenon.
(By the way those of you in the know: feel free to sit over there and chuckle quietly to yourselves. Thanks.)
A good place to start would be with the blog Demon Muse, written by Matt Cardin. It was the opening paragraph of the latest post that got me thinking that it was, I don't know, safe outside, I guess. Here it is:
An ever-increasing segment of the population is becoming aware of and interested in the muse-based or genius-based model of creativity. More and more people are discovering the idea that creativity can rightly and fruitfully be viewed as an external or independent force that influences and works through a person in the manner of the classical muse, that divine spirit — or, for the ancient Greeks, the several divine spirits — whose function is to whisper inspiration directly into the human mind and soul.
I haven't had time yet to read all his posts there, as it is dense reading (my favorite kind), and, okay, 'muse-based model of creativity' kind of makes me giggle, as it's just so damned corporate sounding, but, still, so far, yes.
Then there is Patrick Harpur's book, The Philosophers' Secret Fire: A History Of The Imagination. I haven't read all of it either, as I don't own it (yet), but a preview at Google Books is available here. More dense reading, and I can't articulate any of my thoughts on it just yet, but, it too struck a chord, a deep and resonant one, about the nature of the realm of the soul.
There is also an article on Reality Sandwich by the same author, more specifically about daimones (I use the Greek spelling, like I do with everything else). That is a very good place to start.
And then there is Robert Moss's post on BeliefNet about creativity and the daimon. (Moss wrote the book Conscious Dreaming, which I have also read, and which I mostly liked. Only mostly, because a lot of the things he talks about as given have just not been my experience. And I refuse to sort angels into hierarchies.)
Those are all pretty good, though I have to say that the idea of the Muse as leannan sidhe, as vampire, strikes me as very much a symptom of living under a patriarchy. It has never been my experience. Then again, I'm a woman, and my Muse is not a man's Muse.
There is also of course the book I am always, always recommending: In Search of Women's Passionate Soul: Revealing the Daimon Lover Within, by Caitlín Matthews. This one is from a woman's point of view, as well as from a refreshingly Pagan point of view. Although, honestly, it didn't tell me anything I didn't already know.
So. Though I've been reading all that I'm still not sure what I want to say about it just yet; I suppose I must muse (there's that word) on it all a bit. I have taken a lot of information in at one go here, after all. (My usual modus operandi, I fear.)
But it intrigues and interests me that others are looking at this and are suddenly talking about it here and now. Actually, it blows my mind. I thought I was the only one. Or one of the only ones, anyway.
And now I'm going to ask a question, though it is cowardly of me. Do any of you have direct experience with a Muse, a daimon, your Muse, your daimon? Cowardly because I am, really, testing the waters a bit before I talk about (or own up to) my experience. Like I said, it is personal and I am shy. Also holy fuck that's my real name up there. Best not to think about that.
This should be interesting.
10 comments:
I'm not creative enough to have any sense of a personal Muse or daimon. Any little flashes of inspiration I've had are easily attributable to an origin in the Unconscious. But I have a friend who does have a very powerful relationship with a Muse. It appears to me to be a mixed blessing in that her Muse can be very demanding at inconvenient times.
I've been inspired by the Muses for quite some time now. First, in grade school, I studied a unit in Classics that made mention of them. Then a full-scale dalliance with them in 2000 for a project related to Community Arts. And more recently, in 2009, I wanted to get reacquainted, so I searched for poetry that made reference and then wrote one of my own, as related to a dream. Enjoy :)
http://zenmouser.blogspot.com/2009/04/kiss-of-sun-dances-with-muses.html
The muses may not be external in the sense that nothing is external. It makes sense to me to take the old Stoic view that all partake of the divine spark and are connected in the continuum of the living cosmos. In short, there is really only one and we are particular expressions of that. Divine inspiration is our birthrite because we are part of the divine. Not that I have any problem with personifying the creative/generative aspects of the one in the form of the muses. Just my 5 cents. Nice blog!
Oh, Thalia! So much to say, but I don't want to write a novel ;)
I am so glad that you aren't leaving us completely and, based on what you've shared so far, I look forward to reading more (and MORE) about _you_. I am working through my own fears and shyness in talking about these things - though I don't use my real name - but I don't think you need to worry about an unreceptive audience! It gives comfort and strength to the reader. Ripples, y'know?
As for the Muses or a Muse, Ive never recognized them specifically, though I did used to personify my different artistic personae, so I wonder how close I was getting? Recently, I _have_ started calling on them and thanking them (no one specific yet) and my artistic process, the flow of inspiration and the results have *definitely* changed.
I was inspired by this TED talk on "genius": http://blog.ted.com/2009/02/09/elizabeth_gilbe/
I love the bit about Tom Waits :)
p.s. I have OCP. It's not yet a "D" (though I can check off waaay too many of the symptoms on the list), but it has affected my life. I have hoarding tendencies, but am able to overcome them through various means and methods; rituals <-- spot the OCP! Mostly, it manifests in my head and is directed against myself; I am literally my own worst enemy. The way you have approached dealing with the aftermath of your father's life is really wonderful. It is amusing and poignant and honest, but never disrespectful.
p.p.s So funny that you should make this and the entry about planning art vs letting it happen, as I have always seen your work as being obviously divinely inspired. You're on my top list of "Artists I Admire & Want To Be When I Grow Up" for that very reason!
Hope to hear more about your Musey experiences :)
Yes! Sort of. This is a very interesting topic to me. You've obviously read more about it than I was aware was even available, and I'm going to have to track some of that down.
I approach this from the standpoint of someone who honors some Celtic goddesses, and I very much experience a state of artistic inspiration as a religious experience.
I haven't examined it from the Greek point of view. :)
Sorry submerina, you can't be me when you grow up. I want to be me when I grow up! :)
That's so funny; I was just over at your blog for the first time the other night, led there I think by the usual late-night bored egocentric googling of my own name. I don't even remember which entry I read now, but I remember thinking, if you want to do art of a numinous and divinely inspired sort, and you have a Guide, then draw that Guide.
That's what I've been doing. :)
Anyway, hmmmm. I'm wondering if some kind of series or opinion pieces, really, on making divinely inspired art would be helpful? Or a conversation about it more like, maybe? Though I do actually think my art is divinely inspired, I don't think I'm particularly special or anything; I think people with an already psychic or visionary bent certainly have the ability, even if it needs a little coaxing. And while I suppose that really is everyone, as I don't think recognition of divinity or psychic powers or whatever are something only a few people have, rather everyone has them to some extent as it's a natural human ability, my readers I'm going to assume are especially interested in it.
Don't know where I'm going, but, this is interesting.
Souris I only just found all this stuff and I was astonished that it was out there, especially since it seemed to suddenly appear all at once. So it seems like the time or something.
I'm using the Greek word, but I wouldn't say it's a particularly Greek point of view. More Jungian that anything else, maybe.
And okay, I was thinking less of the Greek Muses than the individual, highly personal Muse, or daimon. I guess I am differentiating them by sex, though I hold them to be the same thing. Debra, I would love to hear about your friend's Muse (if you can talk about it I mean).
I mean this very much in a spirit guide sort of way, though a bit closer and more personal, I guess. Less air, more earth. As in someone you actually dialogue or otherwise communicate with.
And less on the psychological side (though archetypes of animus—kinda sorta, I don't really like that word as it's not quite right—or psychopomp, soul guide, certainly apply) and more on the spiritual, divine side of things.
Though of course it's all the same thing.
I would love, if you feel comfortable, to learn more on how you connected with your Daimon...I find this interesting and as a Pagan, exciting!
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